Who is qualified to be a top lawyer?
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Friday 26 December 2025
Anyone who wants a career must put in the effort. In some sectors, it is quite normal to work extremely hard and barely have a private life. In the Netherlands, this is observed in the banking sector (especially in Amsterdam's Zuidas), but also in business services. In the legal profession, working extremely hard is not an exception, either. Legal professionals do everything they can to win for their clients, something that also helps to boost their own careers.
International experience is an appealing option for lawyers
Most of the larger law firms regularly deal with international cases. This is hardly surprising, as the Netherlands is home to many multinationals with offices all over the world. For this reason, law firms ensure that they have top lawyers in all major countries who can look after their clients’ interests locally. A cognitive ability test helps identify lawyers who have the analytical skills and learning capacity needed to operate effectively in complex, international legal environments.
Gaining international experience is indispensable for many lawyers to build an impressive resume. International positions are therefore extremely popular. For every position that becomes vacant in New York, a law firm will quickly find several candidates from its own circle.
Young lawyers who want to reach the top often have to go much further than expected. In some markets, the pressure and expectations are significantly higher than in others. Where a solid number of billable hours is considered sufficient in one country, elsewhere only extremely high workloads are seen as the norm. Availability outside office hours can also differ greatly, with some environments expecting lawyers to be reachable almost continuously.
These differences show how demanding top legal careers can be and how important it is to understand whether someone is truly suited to such roles. An online assessment helps organizations and law firms gain objective insight into key competencies such as resilience, analytical thinking, stress tolerance and motivation. By using an online assessment, you can better predict whether a lawyer is able to cope with the pressure and expectations that come with high-level legal positions.
Extreme demands act as a filter
The extreme demands on professionals in the U.S. act as a selection tool. Hofstee explained: "People here are so driven, each in their own way and in every job." That drive stems from an urge for proof that, according to Hofstee, is typical of working in New York. Those who are not cut out for a career in the U.S. will soon decide to look elsewhere.
The lawyers described are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work abroad through their law firm. They combine intensive work on complex cases with the energy and opportunities of a major international city. For some, the appeal lies in professional growth and challenging assignments, while others are motivated by the diversity, culture and dynamic environment outside work. A competency test helps law firms assess whether lawyers have the skills, mindset and adaptability needed to perform well in such demanding international roles.
"I really wanted to work internationally, also because of my international background. My parents are from Ghana, and I was born in the Netherlands, partly English educated with a cross-border study. I previously worked in Brussels, which was also great fun, but experiencing everything here in New York is fantastic," says the 32-year-old lawyer.
Despite their enthusiasm, however, they are not planning to work in the U.S. permanently. They want to get the work experience and fully immerse themselves in New York, and then return home to the Netherlands.
How do you select the right lawyer for that top job?
Although the extreme demands already have a filtering effect, selecting the right candidate for the job is far from an easy task. There are still many excellent, hard-working candidates to choose from.
The stakes are high: for the law firm, a chosen candidate is a calling card abroad. The client needs the best people on the spot, and it is also important for the lawyer that the right choice is made. For the most suitable candidate, a tremendously instructive and exciting time awaits. But for those who find international work disappointing, a time of abandonment awaits.
Online assessment for lawyers
Trial-and-error is out of the question when choosing which lawyer will represent your law firm abroad. Extensive selection procedures, with various rounds and committees, ensure a better-informed choice.
However, the best informed choice is made using an online assessment developed specifically for the legal profession.
This online assessment developed by TestGroup is the result of intensive collaboration between scientists, top professionals from the legal profession, and test specialists. It offers law firms a valuable tool that makes the recruitment of staff much more transparent. The test can be used both to vet outside applicants and to determine which lawyers are eligible for a promotion or for that coveted foreign experience.
The online assessment for the legal profession looks at various competencies that are important in the legal profession, such as analytical ability, flexibility, creative thinking, conscientiousness, customer focus, and so on.
Online assessment is relatively new in the legal profession
Assessments have been administered in the business world for decades. Over the past 20 years, online assessments have also taken off. In the legal profession, online assessments are still relatively unknown. Many selection choices are still based on experience and gut feeling. However, this turns out to be subjective and leads to many choices that, on closer inspection, are not optimal.
The online assessment is proven to be effective, even in the legal profession. The extensive scientific validation provides confidence in its reliability. By including a 4 color personality test, the assessment offers clear insight into behavioral styles and communication preferences. The clever algorithms, such as the normative ipsative split technology, put an end to socially desirable answers, ensuring an honest look at any test taker.
But the value of the online assessment for the legal profession is mainly proven in practice: the number of bad hires decreases. It offers an objective way of making selection choices and recognizing the real winners among the pool of good lawyers.
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What makes a lawyer qualified to be a top lawyer?
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A top lawyer combines legal expertise with strong analytical thinking, resilience, client focus, communication skills, and the ability to work under pressure. Firms increasingly use online assessments and competency tests to measure these qualities objectively.
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Why do law firms use online assessments for evaluating lawyers?
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Online assessments provide a structured, unbiased way to evaluate key competencies such as problem-solving, stress tolerance, adaptability, and teamwork. They help law firms compare candidates and make informed decisions about hiring, promotion, and international placements.
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What is a competency test in the context of legal careers?
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A competency test measures specific skills and behaviours that are critical in legal work, such as judgement, decision-making, leadership potential, and client management. These tests support talent development and help predict long-term success in demanding legal roles.
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How can cognitive ability tests improve lawyer selection?
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Cognitive ability tests assess reasoning, learning speed and complex problem-solving. In international legal environments, these skills are essential for handling complex cases, interpreting legal issues across jurisdictions, and adapting to changing client needs.
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Can personality assessments help law firms?
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Yes. Tools like the 4 color personality test help firms understand how lawyers work, collaborate and communicate. Insights from personality assessments support team placement, leadership development and client interaction strategies.
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Why is burnout risk assessment important for lawyers?
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Lawyers often work long hours in high-pressure environments. Burnout risk assessments spot early signs of stress and unhappiness, helping firms take action to support well-being, improve retention and maintain high performance.
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Do online assessments replace traditional interviews?
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No. Online assessments complement interviews. They add objective data about competencies and behaviour, while interviews allow firms to explore motivations, culture fit and real-world experiences.
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Are assessment results reliable for legal talent decisions?
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When scientifically validated, online assessments and tests offer reliable insights. They reduce bias, improve prediction of future performance, and help law firms build stronger, more capable teams.
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