Why are law firms using assessments for hiring?

Assessments provide a deeper and more accurate picture of a candidate's potential value, beyond GPA and law school ranking. They also enable law firms to diversify their hiring class and focus on the key professional skills that matter most in their organization. Other professional services industries have incorporated assessments into their hiring process for years, and we are excited that the legal industry has access to an objective and reliable method for evaluating candidates.

What does the assessment measure for?

Our entry-level assessment measures for professional competencies that have been scientifically proven to be good indicators of job performance. Our lateral assessment measures for both skills and competencies.

How long will the assessment take to complete?

Our entry-level assessment typically takes 15 minutes. Our lateral assessment takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete.

How does the assessment impact my candidacy?

The assessment is just one aspect of your application, and it will be considered alongside all of the other information you provide. When evaluating candidates, firms will continue to consider the totality of your application, including your law school and undergraduate accomplishments, professional and extracurricular activities, and feedback from your meetings with the firm. The expectation is that the assessment will give law firms greater insight into who you are, allowing them to get to know you better.

Does the assessment introduce bias into the recruiting process?

The use of an assessment in recruiting is intended to reduce the presence of bias by making it easier to assess applicants in the same manner. It provides employers with an objective framework against which students can be evaluated which has been shown to reduce bias, most of which is unconscious. In addition, the assessment itself and each competency that it measures for is regularly tested against a large data set to ensure that no particular group or demographic is adversely impacted by its use.

How do you ensure there is no adverse impact?

Our assessment has been validated across protected, and unprotected, demographic subgroups to ensure that it is valid, reliable, and free of adverse impact.

How long are the assessment results valid?

Competencies change over time. Your report, therefore, is not an endpoint but a snapshot of where you are currently. Your responses will be valid for two years, at which point you will be able to take the assessment again.

Do I have to take the assessment more than once?

You only need to take the assessment once. If you are interviewing with more than one firm that is using the assessment as part of this year's recruiting season, you will have the opportunity to send your responses to each firm separately.

Can I keep my results private?

Once you take the assessment, your responses are available to you and the law firm that sent it to you instantaneously. Other firms using the assessment will only get your results once you have followed the link provided by them. No one else will see the results of your assessment.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

Thine is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to ensure everyone can complete our assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact us at helpdesk@thine.co.

Should candidates respond to the questions with a specific firm in mind?

There are no good or bad competencies, and there are no right or wrong answers. It’s impossible to guess which competencies a specific law firm is looking for, so candidates should answer in a way that feels most authentic to them.

How should a candidate use the development report?

Our recommendation is that candidates use the strengths highlighted in the report to craft a narrative that communicates their key strengths within the context of an interview. The developmental priority includes coaching topics and a goal setting exercise that can help candidates in their professional development and growth.

Do the assessment questions vary based on the firm?

No. Entry-level candidates take the same assessment regardless of the firm they are applying to. Once complete, candidate responses will be filtered through a firm’s chosen competencies.