Linklaters has no time limit on its assessment, but it still records your time. Here is what to practise

Linklaters' UK page describes an online assessment of about an hour whose critical reasoning element is time-recorded and scored on accuracy and speed together. The verbal half of our reasoning test, which asks you to judge statements against a passage, trains the close reading that kind of element rewards.

Linklaters' Hong Kong page describes a Watson Glaser critical thinking test, which tests inferences, assumptions and arguments in a different layout from True, False or Cannot say. The UK assessment is built on the firm's Success Framework and also has strengths elements. Our test covers the reading and logic skill, not the format.

Linklaters' UK page says the online assessment has no overall time limit and no limit per question. It also says the critical reasoning element is time-recorded and that scoring weighs accuracy and speed together. In effect, you are unconstrained and measured at once.

The sensible behaviour is steady pace. Do not rush and make errors, and do not dwell on any one item. If a statement stalls you for more than a minute, make your best call and continue, because lingering costs speed without usually adding accuracy.

Critical reasoning tests give you a short passage or set of facts and ask whether a conclusion follows. The skill is separating what is stated from what is merely plausible. Weak candidates fill gaps with common sense; strong ones answer only from the text.

Our reasoning test includes 25 passage questions in the True, False or Cannot say style. Take them, then read verbal reasoning questions to see the deciding sentence behind each type of answer. For the Watson Glaser layout on the Hong Kong page, Linklaters points to a practice test hosted by Pearson, which is the right place to see that specific format.

Linklaters recommends reviewing the Cappfinity preparation hub before you start. The firm's Hong Kong page, however, says no preparation is required for the Capp Online assessment. These are not contradictory: preparation is available, and the firm does not insist on it.

The pragmatic reading is to spend half an hour in the hub to see the layout and the kinds of scenarios, then use your remaining preparation time on timed reading practice and on the written case study that opens the assessment centre.

At the centre, the firm says the day begins with a written case study, then a competency-based interview, then a commercial interview. Lead with the writing: you will read a pack and produce a short, reasoned piece.

Practise by taking a news story about a company deal, writing a half-page recommendation under time pressure, and checking that every claim traces to a fact in the story. For the commercial interview, follow business news for a few weeks and form a view on two or three deals, not a list of facts.

Linklaters runs separate pages for different offices, and the details diverge. The UK page speaks of an hour-long assessment based on the Success Framework. The Hong Kong page speaks of a Watson Glaser test and a five-day window. If you are applying to a London contract, the UK page and your invitation govern.

If you want a wider comparison of law-firm online tests, see our guide to what law firms say about their online assessments.