London training contracts
The direct route includes an online screen and later assessments. It is distinct from joining through a vacation scheme.
The Ashurst assessment process, explained
Current UK early-career stages, Australian assessment differences, and a practical preparation plan.
By the Game Assessment Prep research teamUpdated September 14, 2026How we research
The Ashurst hiring process at a glance
- 1UK application — Choose one route in the recruitment window and complete the application form.
- 2Online assessment — Reasoning and workplace scenarios, followed by individual feedback.Assessment formats
- 3Written case study — An online assessment centre tests how you analyse a problem.
- 4Office assessment — An interview and collaborative exercise, with opportunities to meet trainees.
What to expect in the Ashurst assessment
Start with the assessment guidance linked in your invitation. Current London pages describe reasoning and workplace situations; this evidence does not establish a named game battery.
Good to know: Older accounts of gamified Ashurst testing may describe an earlier cycle. Match practice to your current country, programme and invitation before investing time in a particular simulator.
Which Ashurst roles and programs does this guide cover?
Ashurst is the legacy name many candidates still search for. The firms announced their combination as Ashurst Perkins Coie in June 2026. Use the current London programme pages and combined-firm information when explaining your interest.
This guide concentrates on London early careers. Australian applicants should use the separate SHL guidance below; the London stages do not establish a worldwide hiring policy.
Winter vacation scheme
Finalists and graduates from any discipline can apply, subject to the stated academic criteria. Participants receive an interview for a training contract at the scheme’s end.
Source: UK winter vacation scheme
ACCESS programme
This school-level access programme has its own application, behavioural and cognitive assessment, and telephone interview. It explicitly identifies Cappfinity as its assessment partner.
Source: ACCESS Ashurst Perkins Coie
Australian early careers
The resource hub names SHL and recommends practice in behavioural assessment, inductive, deductive and numerical reasoning, and biodata. These are preparation categories, rather than a guaranteed test list.
How does the Ashurst assessment work?
One hour is guidance, not a countdown
Official sourceThe UK programme pages describe an untimed assessment taking approximately an hour. The seven-day invitation expiry is a separate deadline.
Feedback after completion
Official sourceThe winter-scheme guidance promises a personal report on strengths and development areas. It does not publish a numerical passing mark.
Australian provider guidance
Official sourceThe Australian applicant hub names SHL and links preparation categories. This is regional evidence and does not establish one universal provider for the combined firm.
Research the combined firm
Official sourceThe firms announced completion of the Ashurst Perkins Coie combination in June 2026, highlighting technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services. Those sectors offer starting points for firm-specific commercial research.
ACCESS identifies Cappfinity
Official sourceThe school-level ACCESS programme explicitly names Cappfinity as its assessment partner. Keep that named relationship scoped to ACCESS rather than treating it as a global graduate-test rule.
Source: ACCESS Ashurst Perkins Coie
What happens in the Ashurst hiring process?
London training-contract assessment stages
The published route distinguishes written analysis from interpersonal assessment.
- 1Complete the online application and assessment.
- 2Attend the virtual case-study stage if shortlisted; the training-contract page also mentions a telephone interview.
- 3Prepare for the subsequent office group exercise and interview.
Preparing for the commercial conversation
Trainee accounts published by the firm describe preparation methods, not guaranteed interview questions.
- 1Use firm publications, virtual work experience or podcasts to explore a practice that interests you.
- 2Explain how a commercial development could affect a client’s decisions.
- 3Draw on your own work, study or extracurricular experience when discussing transferable skills.
Source: Winter vacation scheme trainee perspectives; published before the combination
When is the Ashurst assessment?
Programme application dates and test-link expiry are separate. Check the live page for your chosen intake.
| Cycle | Application dates | Likely assessment window | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| London direct training contracts: 2029/2030 intake | 26 March 2027, 12 noon | May–June 2027 for assessment centres/interviews | Official source Applications are advertised to open on 1 February 2027. |
| Winter vacation scheme 2026 | 11 September 2026, 12 noon; now closed | October 2026 | Official source The advertised scheme runs 30 November–4 December 2026. Source: Winter vacation scheme key dates |
How to prepare for the Ashurst assessment process
Use the following exercises before recruitment begins. They build useful habits without assuming access to the firm’s actual questions.
1. Practice precise conclusions
Read a short business passage, write its main conclusion, and separate the supporting facts from assumptions. Explain what additional evidence would change your view; avoid importing facts the passage never supplied.
2. Write a client-focused case note
Set yourself a short fictional business problem. Produce a page covering the decision, risks, missing information and recommended next step. Edit it so a busy reader can identify the recommendation immediately.
3. Make motivation specific
Choose one practice and one recent public matter. Explain what interests you about the work and what you still want to learn. Connect that interest to an experience you can discuss comfortably.
4. Rehearse cooperative discussion
Practice proposing a plan, inviting another person’s view and summarising the strongest shared option. Aim to improve the group’s reasoning and progress, rather than maximising how often you speak.
Ashurst assessment FAQ
Is Ashurst now called Ashurst Perkins Coie?
Yes. The firms announced completion of their combination in June 2026. Current careers pages use the combined name.
Is the UK online assessment timed?
The London pages say it is untimed and suggest allowing around an hour. Follow the separate expiry in your invitation.
Does every Ashurst applicant use Cappfinity?
No single provider applies to all the evidence: ACCESS confirms Cappfinity, while Australian early-career guidance confirms SHL.
Can I apply for a vacation scheme and a training contract together?
The UK pages ask candidates to choose one opportunity within the recruitment window.
How should I prepare without legal work experience?
Practice explaining your reasoning, research a relevant practice, and use examples from study, paid work or extracurricular activities to demonstrate how you contribute.
Sources and references
The sources below support this guide. Claim labels distinguish official information, candidate reports, and research inferences.
- UK – London Training Contract
Ashurst Perkins Coie · Accessed
- UK – Winter Vacation Scheme
Ashurst Perkins Coie · Accessed
- UK – ACCESS Ashurst Perkins Coie
Ashurst Perkins Coie · Accessed
- Applicant Resource Hub
Ashurst Perkins Coie · Accessed
- Perkins Coie and Ashurst Finalize Combination
Ashurst Perkins Coie via PR Newswire · Accessed
- UK Winter Vacation Scheme – Trainee Perspectives
Ashurst Perkins Coie · Accessed
Game Assessment Prep is independent and is not affiliated with Ashurst or its assessment providers. Employer processes can change by program, role, country, and recruiting cycle. Follow your invitation over this guide. This guide was reviewed on . Claims are labeled by evidence strength. How we research and label claims.
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