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Legal research and writing test for hiring

See how candidates reason through fictional legal matters and choose clear, correctly cited wording.

10 دقيقة
15 سؤالًا
Intermediate
Multiple choice
Questions in الإنجليزية
Phone and desktop

Use this test free See the question formats

الإجابة المختصرة

The legal research and writing test is an intermediate, 10-minute assessment of day-to-day work in a US law office. It measures reasoning from cases and statutes, close reading, research planning and authority checks, and clear, correctly cited drafting. It is intended for paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks, legal researchers and document preparers.

ما الذي يقيسه

Legal reasoning, close reading of legal texts, research planning and authority checking, and clear, correctly cited drafting in US practice.

Legal reasoning

Candidates reason from cases and statutes to work through a legal matter.

Reading statutes, contracts and filings

Candidates read statutes, contracts and court filings closely.

Research strategy and authority checking

Candidates plan research and check whether authority still stands.

Clear drafting and citation

Candidates choose clear wording and apply citations correctly.

Question formats

Multiple choice

The candidate: Reads a short situation, table or statement and picks the right answer, or every right answer.

You see: Whether the candidate knows the material well enough to apply it, not just recognize it.

15 questions in 10 minutes, served one at a time.

Roles this test fits

Paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks, legal researchers and document preparers in law firms, corporate legal departments, courts and public-sector legal offices.

Evidence from legal office tasks

See reasoning in context
Candidates work from cases and statutes in fictional matters, giving you evidence of how they approach legal questions rather than relying on resume claims.
Keep prior case knowledge out
The parties, courts and matters are fictional, and rules that vary by state are stated in the question. Candidates do not need familiarity with a particular case.
Assess research judgment without a product test
Questions assess research planning and authority checking. No research product knowledge is needed, and search syntax is explained in each question that uses it.

What you get for each candidate

Example report (fictional data)Legal Research and Writing (US)

73‎%‎Percentile 51. Benchmark: HireValid candidates, n = 1,584

Legal reasoning66‎%‎

Reading statutes, contracts and filings81‎%‎

Research strategy and authority checking68‎%‎

Clear drafting and citation75‎%‎

Integrity Scoreثقة عالية

Stayed on the test tab throughout
No pasted answers
Answered at a steady pace

Scores, profiles and integrity signals are evidence for you to review alongside an interview, never an automatic decision.

Use this test free

Test controls and review signals

Each candidate receives a different question set from large pools, with questions and answer options in a different order. The browser presents one question at a time, and answer keys stay on HireValid’s servers. Timing runs on the server; reloading restores the same question with only the remaining time. Candidates cannot go back. Question text cannot be copied or selected, and a blocked copy attempt is recorded. Personal invitation links expire, and a finished test cannot be taken again. HireValid summarizes signals such as time away from the test tab, pastes into answers and unusually fast answers in an Integrity Score with an evidence timeline for employer review. It does not decide on its own. With candidate consent, employers can add random webcam photos. See How we build our tests.

كيف نمنع الغش باستخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي · Integrity signals

Review the score with other evidence

Treat the score as evidence for a person to review, not a pass mark or hiring decision. Pair it with a work sample that reflects the role’s research and drafting tasks, then explore the candidate’s reasoning in a structured interview. Consider the Legal Assistant (US) test for a related role, and read our pre-employment testing guide for broader hiring context.

أسئلة المقابلة المنظّمة

How would you check whether a cited authority still supports a draft, and what would you do if you found a later change?
Listen for a clear research plan, attention to whether the authority remains current and a willingness to explain what needs further checking.
How would you turn a dense filing and statute into a concise note for an attorney?
Listen for careful reading, relevant facts and rules, and clear wording that preserves the key points.
If a contract clause and a filing seem to point in different directions, how would you review them?
Listen for a step-by-step comparison of the text, identification of uncertainty and a sensible plan for further research.

Understand scoring and benchmarks

Fairness and accommodations

Questions use fictional parties, courts and matters, so no candidate gains from having read a particular case, and any rule that varies by state is stated in the question. Names come from many backgrounds, fact patterns avoid stereotypes and topics tied to one group, and the reading level matches everyday legal office work, with legal terms limited to those the roles use. No knowledge of any research product is needed: search syntax is explained in each question that uses it.

You can give any candidate extra time as an accommodation. Results are evidence for a person to review, never an automatic decision.

Provisional: no reliability figures exist yet; they are reported once 200 candidates have completed the test.

اقرأ نهجنا في الإنصاف

Test details

A short, timed test of the day-to-day research and drafting work done in a US law office. Candidates reason from cases and statutes, read statutes, contracts and court filings closely, plan research and check that authority still stands, and choose clear, correctly cited wording. Every matter is fictional, and any rule that differs from state to state is given in the question.

Questions are in English.
No aids are needed.
Each question is answered once, in order, with no going back.
4 practice questions, 3 minutes, before the timed test.

الأسئلة الشائعة

Which roles fit the Legal Research and Writing (US) test?+

It is intended for intermediate-level hiring of paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks, legal researchers and document preparers. These roles may be in law firms, corporate legal departments, courts or public-sector legal offices.

How does the Legal Research and Writing (US) test handle state-specific rules?+

All matters use fictional parties, courts and facts, and any rule that varies by state is stated in the question. Candidates reason from the information provided, read legal texts closely and check authority without needing prior knowledge of a particular case.

What aids can candidates use on the Legal Research and Writing (US) test?+

No aids are allowed. Candidates do not need knowledge of any research product, because search syntax is explained within any question that uses it. Each of the 15 questions is answered once, in order, with no going back.

What does the Legal Research and Writing (US) practice set include?+

The practice set has 4 questions and takes 3 minutes, so candidates can see the question style before the scored test. Every matter in both is fictional and there to test research and drafting skill; nothing in the questions or results is legal advice.