Dutch Law Firm Uses Corporate Take Over Video Game to Test Candidates' Lawyering Skills

Houthoff Buruma, one of the largest law firms in the Netherlands, has created a video game simulation of a firm's role in a client's takeover of another company to test the analytical and problem solving abilities of job candidates. The law students represent a Chinese state-owned company who wants to take over a family-owned Dutch company.

One week before they play the game, students are briefed on the deal and are sent off to research the issues involved. During the game, teams of three students must collaborate to close the deal within 90 minutes. Gameplay requires students to review electronic and paper documents, communicate with representatives of both companies via email, instant messaging, and video chat, and conduct research to solve unexpected problems that arise during the game. Multiple teams compete against one another during each playing and then discuss their approaches and tactics afterward.

Houthoff Buruma The Game is a uniquely innovative way for a law firm's hiring committee to evaluate how a student will perform under the stresses of practicing law by allowing students to experience the kind of heavy involvement in a deal that they would not likely encounter until several years into their careers.