Applicants for graduate jobs at Mishcon de Reya are to make their initial contact with the London firm through a chatbot rather than the traditional application form.  Candidates for the 2026 graduate recruitment scheme will send in enough basic information to start a conversation which artificial intelligence will turn into a tailored interview, the firm said. 

Potential recruits can then expand on their experiences, motivations and why they would be a good fit for the firm, with the conversation producing a transcript to be reviewed by humans. Staff will continue to make all screening decisions and candidates will still be invited to in-person interviews, the firm said. 

Mishcon de Reya said it will trial the Bright Apply screening system as an alternative to long application forms. The untimed chatbot interview is designed to give everyone a fair opportunity to showcase their potential and ensure the process is accessible and inclusive, it said. 

Tom Wickstead, early careers manager, said: ‘The Bright Apply tool puts candidates at the heart of the process, giving them a better chance to show us who they are and what they are able to bring to our firm, at an earlier stage of the process Our candidates will be able to tell us more about themselves, instead of being limited to a certain number of characters on an application form. Not only does this give candidates an opportunity to detail their achievements, experiences and motivations but also helps our recruiters to make more informed decisions at an early stage of the process.’

The new tool, developed by graduate careers platform Bright Network, has received positive feedback from students who have tested it. Almost three quarters of students gave the experience four or five out of five in an anonymous survey, while 93% of student responses said the AI chat responses felt personalised and relevant to them.

Kirsten Barnes, chief executive of Bright Network, said AI is transforming the recruitment process but not replacing the human element. ‘Crucially, this technology enhances human judgment, rather than replacing it, making it easier to focus on potential and talent instead of getting lost in the volume of applications.