Perkins Coie is an international law firm founded in 1912 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is the largest firm in the Pacific Northwest, with 20 offices across the U.S. and Asia. The firm has more than 1,200 lawyers and is known for providing strategic solutions and corporate, intellectual property, commercial litigation, and regulatory legal advice to clients in a broad range of industries, including:
Real estate
Fintech
Aerospace and Transportation
Digital Media
Life Sciences and Healthcare
Technology and Communications
Working at Perkins Coie
Perkins Coie values diversity and seeks people to join their “one firm” culture. They have opportunities for entry-level and experienced professionals and a summer associate training program for current law students.
Some of the benefits that employees enjoy include:
Employee assistance program (including mental health services)
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Fitness memberships
Generous paid time off and personal health days
Paid holidays
Paid sabbatical
Elder care services
Pet insurance
Paid parental leave
Hybrid work model
Paid community service day
Retirement plan with employer match
Flexible spending account
Educational assistance program
What Is the Hiring Process at Perkins Coie?
Online Application
Those interested in applying for a position at Perkins and Coie must create an account on the company’s website. You will then be able to browse open positions and find a role that suits your needs, experience, and skills.
You must answer questions about your work history, educational background, and salary expectations during the application process. You will also want to upload a current CV tailored to the position you seek.
This application is your first opportunity to present yourself to the Perkins Coie hiring team. Be sure to make a good impression by ensuring that your application is accurate and error-free. You should also showcase your skills in a way that sets you apart from the other applicants.
Phone Interview
Candidates who pass the initial screening will be invited to complete a phone interview. This discussion will be to confirm that you are qualified for the position and for the hiring team to learn more about you. In addition, they will ask questions about your experience and qualifications, so be sure to have a copy of your CV close by.
They will also ask why you are interested in a legal career and want to work for Perkins Coie. So, again, be sure to research the firm before the interview so you can point out specific details to answer this question.
Lastly, they may ask questions about what you want in a career and your current goals.
Numerical Reasoning Test
Candidates who do well on the initial phone interview will graduate to the assessment portion of the recruitment process. Perkins Coie gives their candidates several aptitude pre-employment tests to ensure they have the skills required to succeed in the position and to have a measure to objectively compare candidates.
The first test you will likely take is the numerical reasoning exam. The test assesses your ability to solve mathematical problems using fundamental operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You may also encounter questions with data in graphs, tables, or charts that you need to interpret.
The test will be timed, and the questions will all be multiple-choice. The difficulty of the test will depend on the position you are applying for.
Verbal Reasoning Test
Another test you may take is the verbal reasoning exam. Verbal reasoning and written communication skills are vital to your success. This test will assess your reading comprehension, problem-solving, and evaluation.
You will receive several text passages to read and analyze. Then, you will answer multiple-choice questions about what you just read, including drawing conclusions and deciding on the information. This test will also be timed, so you will want to read through everything quickly and accurately.
Logical Reasoning Test
Perkins and Coie also ask their candidates to take a logical reasoning assessment. This exam will assess your problem-solving skills and ability to analyze and interpret data. You must identify patterns or trends and decipher relationships between ideas and arguments.
This test will also be multiple-choice, and you will have a time limit to complete the exam.
Personality Tests
You will also take a personality test during the hiring process. The personality test is an excellent way for Perkins and Coie to see if you are a good cultural fit for the firm. In addition, this will give them a better understanding of your character, values, and behavior.
During this exam, you will receive several statements, and you must state how much you agree or disagree with each sentiment. While there are no right or wrong answers on the exam, the firm will look for candidates who embody their values and will fit in with their company culture.
Situational Judgement Test
In addition to the personality test, you will also need to take a situational judgement test (SJT). The SJT will assess your behavior and professionalism and will give Perkins Coie a better idea of how you may perform on the job.
The test will present several simulated scenarios that you must respond to. These scenarios will represent the ones you may encounter in the role you are applying for. You will have several response options, and you must choose either the most effective course or the least effective action for that particular scenario.
Again, it is essential to remember the type of person the firm is looking for when answering these questions.
Formal Interview
If you do well on the various assessments, you will be invited to the final stage of the recruitment process: the formal interview. Perkins Coie asks several candidates to come in at a time for two rounds of in-person interviews with the hiring team.
Group Interview
The first conversation will be a group interview. This will be done with several other candidates seeking the same position as you. The questions during this interview will focus on general law knowledge and current events as they want to ensure you are well-informed about the industry. They may also ask more specific questions about your work experience and qualifications for the position.
One-on-One Interview
After the group interview, you will complete a one-on-one interview with an attorney from the firm. This interview will be more detailed and focus on your experience, skills, and qualifications. Be sure to have a few good examples that showcase your talent and why you are the best candidate for the position.
During this interview, it is vital to form your responses in the STAR format:
Situation: Describe the situation for the interviewer to get a complete picture of the issue.
Task: Detail the tasks that needed to be done to accomplish the goal.
Action: Describe the actions that you took to achieve these tasks.
Result: Detail what result came from your efforts.
How to Prepare for the Perkins Coie Assessment?
Perkins Coie is looking for legal professionals and students with strong character and a passion for the law who fit well with their culture. There will be a lot of job seekers competing for a position at the firm, so you must make yourself stand out to show the hiring team that you are the best candidate for the position.
Doing well on the various assessments is the best way to do this. Companies use the scores on the aptitude and psychometric exams to compare candidates blindly and objectively and see who may be better suited for the position. Therefore, a high score on these exams will show the firm that you are qualified and a good fit for their company.
You can use online practice tests to prepare for the various exams. These free resources are a great tool because they allow you to practice your timing, see what questions will be on the exams, and read through solutions that will give you tips on responding to future questions.
Candidates who take the time to prepare using practice tests are significantly more likely to receive a high score on the exam than those who did not prepare. Give yourself the best chance of success at the firm by studying and preparing for the assessments beforehand.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
