Davis Polk Interview: Process, Questions & Prep Tips

Understanding the Davis Polk Recruitment Process

Davis Polk & Wardwell recruits for trainee solicitor, vacation scheme, and lateral associate positions through a structured, multi-stage process. While the firm does not publish every detail of its internal selection methodology, candidates consistently report a process that moves from an online application and screening stage through to one or more rounds of interviews with partners and associates.

For trainee and vacation scheme candidates in the UK, the process typically includes a written application, a video or telephone screening interview, and a final assessment day or in-person interview round. Lateral hires generally expect a more tailored sequence of partner-level conversations focused on technical depth and client-facing experience. Timelines vary by intake, so check the firm's careers page for current deadlines.

• Online application form and CV — often includes motivation questions
• Initial screening: video interview or telephone call with HR or a junior associate
• Assessment centre or in-person interviews with associates and partners
• Offer stage: typically communicated within a few weeks of the final round

What Davis Polk Is Looking For in Candidates

Elite US firms with London offices, including Davis Polk, are well known for placing significant weight on academic excellence alongside interpersonal intelligence. Interviewers are generally assessing whether you can think clearly under pressure, communicate complex ideas concisely, and demonstrate genuine commercial awareness — not just knowledge of the law.

Beyond grades, the firm looks for intellectual curiosity, resilience, and evidence that you can work collaboratively in high-pressure deal teams. Partners will want to see that you have done your homework on the firm's practice areas — particularly its M&A, capital markets, and finance work — and that you can speak specifically about why Davis Polk rather than offering a generic answer about prestige.

• Strong academic record with evidence of intellectual rigour
• Commercial awareness: understanding of deals, clients, and market context
• Authentic motivation for the firm and its specific practices
• Team orientation and professionalism under pressure
• Clear, structured communication style

Common Interview Questions and How to Approach Them

Davis Polk interviews blend motivational questions, competency-based questions, and technical or commercial queries. You should prepare for all three. Competency interviews typically assess qualities such as analytical thinking, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving — and the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is the most reliable framework for structuring your answers.

Motivational questions you are likely to face include: 'Why Davis Polk?', 'Why corporate law?', and 'What draws you to this practice group?' Technical questions for experienced candidates might probe your understanding of a recent transaction or ask you to walk through the mechanics of a leveraged buyout or debt issuance. For trainees and vacation scheme applicants, expect scenario-based questions about how you would handle a client issue or manage competing deadlines.

• 'Tell me about a time you worked under significant pressure — how did you manage it?'
• 'Describe a situation where you had to persuade someone to change their position.'
• 'Walk me through a deal or case you found commercially interesting and why.'
• 'Why do you want to work at a US firm rather than a Magic Circle firm?'
• 'What does commercial awareness mean to you in practice?'

Applying the STAR Method: A Worked Example

When you are asked a competency question, resist the urge to give a general answer. Interviewers at top-tier firms can immediately distinguish between a rehearsed platitude and a genuine, specific example. The STAR method keeps your answer concrete and well-paced.

Here is an example answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time you had to manage competing priorities under a tight deadline.'

• Situation: 'During my final year, I was simultaneously completing my dissertation, sitting on the executive committee of the university law society, and preparing for a mooting competition final — all in the same three-week window.'
• Task: 'I needed to ensure I met my dissertation submission deadline without letting down the committee or my mooting partner, both of whom were depending on me.'
• Action: 'I mapped out every hard deadline and worked backwards to create a daily plan. I communicated clearly with both teams about when I was and wasn't available, delegated two committee tasks to vice-chairs, and protected two focused writing blocks each day for my dissertation.'
• Result: 'I submitted my dissertation on time and received a distinction. The moot team reached the final, and the event I co-organised had the highest attendance in three years. The experience taught me that structure and honest communication are the most effective tools when capacity is stretched.'

Commercial Awareness: How to Demonstrate It Convincingly

Commercial awareness is not about reciting headlines. At the partner interview stage, it means demonstrating that you understand how legal work connects to business outcomes. For Davis Polk specifically, you should be familiar with the types of transactions the firm advises on — cross-border M&A, investment-grade and high-yield debt capital markets, leveraged finance, and regulatory matters.

Prepare two or three recent deals or market developments that genuinely interest you and be ready to discuss them in depth. Useful questions to ask yourself: Who are the parties? What are the commercial drivers behind the transaction? What legal issues would counsel need to navigate? What does this deal signal about the broader market? Reading the Financial Times, deal commentary from law firm publications, and the firm's own press releases will give you the raw material — your job is to add your own analytical layer on top.

• Follow Davis Polk's own news page for recent transactions and client work
• Read the FT's Lex column and M&A deal coverage regularly in the weeks before your interview
• Practise explaining a deal out loud — not just understanding it on paper
• Be honest about what you don't know; say 'I'd want to understand more about X' rather than bluffing

Practical Preparation: A Pre-Interview Checklist

The difference between a good candidate and a great one often comes down to preparation discipline. Use the checklist below in the days leading up to your interview. If your process includes a video or one-way digital interview stage, practise speaking to camera under realistic conditions — tools like ScreenReady let you simulate timed video interview formats so you can hear how your answers land before the real thing.

On the day itself, arrive early for in-person interviews, dress professionally (business formal is standard for City law firms), and bring a copy of your application. For virtual interviews, test your audio, video, and internet connection at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time.

• Research Davis Polk's practice areas, recent deals, and key partners in your target group
• Prepare three to five STAR stories covering different competencies
• Practise your 'Why Davis Polk?' answer until it sounds natural, not scripted
• Prepare two or three intelligent questions to ask your interviewers
• Review your application form so you can speak fluently to every line
• Rehearse answers aloud on camera to catch filler words and pacing issues
• Read one substantial business news story on the morning of your interview

Questions to Ask Your Interviewers

The questions you ask reveal as much as the answers you give. Avoid generic questions that could apply to any firm ('What's the culture like?') in favour of specific, thoughtful ones that show you have engaged with Davis Polk's work. Good questions also show genuine curiosity about the person in front of you — partners generally appreciate being asked about their own career path or how a particular practice has evolved.

If you are interviewing with ScreenReady ahead of your assessment day, use the platform to rehearse your closing questions out loud — it is easy to forget them when you are under pressure in the room. Finish your preparation by reviewing your questions the morning of the interview so they feel fresh and conversational rather than read from a list.

• 'I noticed Davis Polk advised on [specific deal] — could you tell me more about how the team approached that transaction?'
• 'How has the [capital markets / finance / M&A] practice evolved over the last few years, from your perspective?'
• 'What do the trainees or associates who thrive here tend to have in common?'
• 'What has been the most commercially complex matter you have worked on recently, and what made it challenging?'