Fishing Out Red Herrings in Case Studies: A Guide for Aspiring Solicitors
In the high-stakes environment of assessment centres, case studies are a common tool used by law firms to evaluate candidates. One of the challenges you might face during these exercises is the presence of red herrings. Understanding what red herrings are, how to identify them, and the importance of explaining your reasoning in discarding irrelevant information can significantly enhance your performance.
What Are Red Herrings?
Red herrings are pieces of information included in a case study that are designed to mislead or distract you from the main issues. They are often irrelevant to the core problem but may appear significant at first glance. They might also be used to “cushion” relevant information - for example, you might encounter an otherwise irrelevant employment contract, save for clause 10 (buried at page 6 of the contract which weaker candidates may have given up on reading) which is highly relevant to the deal!
The inclusion of red herrings tests your ability to discern relevant from irrelevant information, a crucial skill for any solicitor. It challenges you to focus on what truly matters and avoid being sidetracked by extraneous details.
How to Identify Red Herrings
1. Understand the Objective
Clarify the Task: Before diving into the documents, ensure you have a clear understanding of the case study's objectives. What is the main problem you need to solve?
Focus on Key Questions: Keep the central questions in mind as you sift through the information. Anything that does not directly relate to these questions might be a red herring. Use coloured highlighters to help you keep track of the relevance (or irrelevance) of different pieces of information.
2. Evaluate the Relevance
Check Consistency: Assess whether the information aligns with the main narrative or contradicts other key data. Inconsistencies might indicate irrelevance.
Assess Impact: Consider the potential impact of the information on your analysis. If it does not affect your conclusions or recommendations, it might be a red herring.
3. Prioritise Information
Rank by Importance: Sort the information based on its relevance to the task. Prioritise data that directly supports your analysis and conclusions.
Use Logical Reasoning: Apply logical reasoning to determine the necessity of each piece of information. If something seems out of place, it likely is.
The Importance of Explaining Your Reasoning
When you have identified a certain piece of information to be irrelevant, if time allows - particularly in oral presentations where you are able to have a conversation with your assessor - you may want to explicitly address that piece of information and explain why you believe it to be irrelevant. This:
1. Demonstrates Critical Thinking
Show Your Process: By explaining why you have discarded certain information, you demonstrate your ability to think critically and make informed decisions with reference to the task given to you.
Highlight Analytical Skills: This explanation showcases your analytical skills, proving you can sift through complex data and focus on what's important.
2. Builds Credibility
Justify Your Decisions: Providing a rationale for discarding information enhances your credibility. It shows you are not making arbitrary decisions but are instead guided by logic and relevance, with a laser-focus on the task at hand.
Enhance Persuasiveness: A well-reasoned explanation makes your overall analysis more persuasive, as it shows you have considered all angles before arriving at your conclusions.
3. Avoids Misinterpretation
Clarify Intentions: By explaining your reasoning, you avoid potential misinterpretations of your analysis. It ensures the assessors understand your thought process and the basis for your conclusions, and particularly in oral presentations, allows the assessor an opportunity to correct you in case you were wrong in concluding the information to be irrelevant.
