1x interview; 1x test
Discussion about case given before interview, academic experience so far
Books & online resources, practice essay writing
Nope
Remember this advice isn't official. There is no guarantee it will reflect your experience because university applications can change between years. Check the official Cambridge and Oxford websites for more accurate information on this year's application format and the required tests.
Also, someone else's experience may not reflect your own. Most interviews are more like conversations than tests and like, any conversation, they are quite interactive.
Interview with two
My interview was in early December. I had arrived the evening before as my interview was early in the morning. I was given a case study to prepare about 20 minutes before the interview, which was structured like a problem question that we get in our course, describing a fictional situation to see what my knowledge or intention regarding the relevant law was. No prior legal knowledge was expected, the two fellows interviewing just wanted to hear me talk through my thought process in approaching the facts. My personal background and academic history were also discussed.
Some hours later, I had a written exam comprising of two essays. Again, the questions were similar to what one might expect during a law degree, but the focus was, I believe, more on how I approached writing the essays rather than my substantive knowledge.
Everyone will tell you to read 'What About Law?', written by several Cambridge fellows, and I can only agree. It is a great introduction to the law, and especially to teaching at Cambridge.
I would also suggest that applicants follow blogs such as 'Public Law for Everyone', also by a Cambridge professor, to keep up to date with legal developments and become familiar with legal analysis.
In the weeks leading up to my interview, I also made a point of writing one essay a day - not necessarily about legal topics, but just to get used to writing under timed conditions. I recommend this strategy, though it is possibly one of the more time-consuming ways to prepare.
Nope!