Law · ~6-8% acceptance rate

Ashurst Interview Preparation

International law firm with Australian heritage — strong in energy, resources, and infrastructure

~6,000+

Applications

~6-8%

Offer rate

£48,000 (TC)

Graduate salary

Practise Ashurst HireVue free

Free for 3 days · Cancel anytime

HireVue Practice

Ashurst — HireVue Practice

Your question

30s preparation 2 min recording Camera + mic

Application process

How to get into Ashurst — step by step

Online Application

Vac scheme: Oct-Jan.

Ashurst is strong in energy and infrastructure. Show sector awareness.

Online Assessment

1-2 weeks

Verbal reasoning and situational judgement.

Video Interview

2-3 weeks after test

Competency-based. Know Ashurst's key sectors and a recent deal.

Assessment Centre

February-March

Group exercise, written exercise, partner interview. Collaborative AC.

Offer

1-2 weeks

Vac scheme conversion ~70%.

Interview questions

Ashurst interview questions by round

Questions change at every stage. Know what to expect.

1Why Ashurst?
2Tell me about a commercial trend.
3Describe a time you adapted to change.
4What practice area interests you?
5Why law?

What they value

What Ashurst looks for in candidates

Sector interest

Ashurst is strong in energy, resources, infrastructure, and digital. Show genuine sector interest.

Commercial awareness

Know what's happening in energy transition, infrastructure development, and ESG.

Australian connection

Ashurst merged with Blake Dawson. Show awareness of their Asia-Pacific reach.

Analytical skills

Written exercises test legal reasoning.

Teamwork

Collaborative AC. Support others in group exercises.

Drive

Ashurst is growing fast. They want ambitious people who want to grow with the firm.

Compensation

Ashurst salary & benefits

Graduate

£48,000 (first year TC)

Intern

~£400/week (vac scheme)

Bonus

NQ salary ~£105,000

Perks & benefits

Full SQE/LPC fundingHealth insurance25 days holidayGym subsidyInternational secondmentsPro bono programme

Culture & work style

What it's actually like to work at Ashurst

Australian heritage — Ashurst merged with Blake Dawson

50-60 hours/week

Strong energy, resources, and infrastructure practices

Growing rapidly in London

Fruit Street office

International secondments to Australia and Asia

Supportive training environment

Less formal than Magic Circle

Insider tips

How to stand out at Ashurst

Ashurst's energy and infrastructure expertise is their differentiator. Reference it.

The Australian merger gives them unique Asia-Pacific capabilities.

Ashurst is growing — position yourself as someone who wants to build, not coast.

Less formal than MC firms — show personality in interviews.

Know Ashurst Advance — their legal technology arm.

Compare

Ashurst vs competitors

Firm	Salary	Hours	Culture	Exit opps
Ashurst	£48,000 (first year TC)	50-60/week	Australian heritage — Ashurst merged wit...	—
Herbert Smith Freehills	£50K TC / ~£110K NQ	50-60/week	Also Australian heritage	Similar-slightly better
Clifford Chance	£52K TC / ~£125K NQ	50-65/week	Magic Circle, higher pay	Stronger
White & Case	£52K TC / ~£130K NQ	55-65/week	US firm, higher NQ	Similar
Norton Rose Fulbright	£46K TC / ~£95K NQ	50-55/week	Similar international reach	Similar

FAQ

Ashurst FAQs

~6,000+ people are applying.
Be the one who prepared.

Free HireVue practice with Ashurst questions. Scored report with competency breakdown. No signup required.

Practise for Ashurst free