AI-Powered screening at Mishcon de Reya: Transforming the law sector recruitment
Mishcon de Reya, one of London’s leading law firms known for high-profile cases and representing notable clients, has introduced an innovative approach to graduate recruitment by using artificial intelligence in its first-round interviews. This development, in partnership with Bright Apply, reflects how technology is reshaping the legal profession and offers candidates a more personalised, dynamic way to present their experiences and motivations at the first interview stage.
Read our summary below, or check out recent press coverage in The Times and Personnel Today.
How does it work?
Graduates applying to the firm took part in a virtual interview through Bright Apply. Rather than completing lengthy application forms with strict character limits, candidates instead engaged in a conversation that is tailored to their individual profiles and the scoring critera of Mischon de Reya. Bright Apply used information from each candidate’s application to guide the interview, producing a detailed transcript that the firm’s early careers team reviews.
Tom Wicksteed, Early Careers Manager at Mishcon de Reya, explains that the approach allows applicants “to tell us more about themselves, instead of being limited to a certain number of characters on an application form.” He adds that the technology not only gives candidates the opportunity to expand on achievements and motivations but also supports recruiters in making better-informed decisions early in the recruitment process.
Bright Apply, the screening partner behind this change, uses technology designed to enhance, not replace, the human element in hiring. Hiring teams remain in full control, making the final decisions.
Bright Apply’s CEO, Kirsten Barnes, highlights that the tool uses advanced machine learning to identify high-potential candidates in a fair, transparent, and data-driven way. She notes: “Our AI transforms the process for both applicants and recruiters, making it easier to focus on talent and potential instead of getting lost in the volume of applications.”
Find Kirsten’s comments in the full coverage in The Times and Personnel Today.
Mischon de Reya's approach makes the firm a sector leader
This initiative is part of a broader trend of integrating artificial intelligence into recruitment. While AI has been increasingly adopted by businesses across sectors, Mishcon de Reya is among the first major law firms in the UK to apply this technology to graduate recruitment, signaling a significant shift in how legal talent is identified and assessed.
By streamlining the early stages of recruitment, the platform allows law firms to concentrate on candidates’ strengths and suitability for the role, while applicants benefit from a more interactive and engaging process. This AI-assisted interview represents a shift from traditional application methods, offering a richer and more nuanced understanding of each candidate.
Bright Apply’s collaboration with Mishcon de Reya reflects the tool’s broader mission: using AI responsibly to improve the recruitment experience for both applicants and organisations. The technology ensures that the process remains candidate-focused and equitable, helping recruiters identify authentic potential from a large pool of applicants.
For applicants considering a career in law, this AI-driven approach offers a unique opportunity to present themselves beyond the confines of a traditional application form. It underscores the growing role of technology in shaping the future of professional recruitment.
Find out more about Mischon de Reya and Bright Apply in the press
To explore more about how Mishcon de Reya is using AI in graduate recruitment, read the full coverage in The Times and Personnel Today. These articles provide in-depth insight into the firm’s innovative approach and Bright Apply’s role in pioneering AI-powered interviews.
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