Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract Saturday 8 February 2020 The University of Law, Manchester
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Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Programme
10.00 – 10.30 Registration and refreshments
Welcome and overview of the day Callum Reed, executive committee member, Junior Lawyers Division 10.30 – 10.45 Adam Hattersley, general secretary, Manchester Young Solicitors Group, and executive committee member, Junior Lawyers Division Nelema Akhtar, education director, Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group
How to standout on your application form 10.45 – 11.30 Ellie Williamson, graduate recruitment assistant, Fieldfisher Sarah Donoghue, graduate recruitment and development manager, Fieldfisher
Picking the right firm: Finding the right fit 11.30 – 12.15 Joe Gregory, director, Think Legal Recruitment Paul Warburton, director, Think Legal Recruitment
12.15 - 12.30 Refreshment break and networking opportunity
Effective networking: Get out of your comfort zone
Adam Hattersley, executive committee member, Junior Lawyers Division 12.30 – 13.15 Charlotte Parkinson, chair, Junior Lawyers Division Leona Ho, solicitor, Taylors solicitors
13.15 – 14.00 Buffet lunch and networking opportunity
Assessment centres: Tips and hints to success 14.00 – 14.30 James Wilson, emerging talent business partner, Eversheds Sutherland
Acing the interview: The use of self confidence 14.30 – 15.00 Jaye Haynes, talent acquisition partner, Slater and Gordon
15.00 – 15.15 Refreshment break and networking opportunity
My journey to a training contract: Ask a current trainee
Room 1: William Howe, trainee, Irwin Mitchell Lewis Holden, trainee, Eversheds Sutherland
Adam Hattersley, associate solicitor, Fieldfisher 15.15 – 16.00
Room 2: Daniel Adejumo, trainee, TLT solicitors Mollie Ferguson, Solicitor, Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP Jodi Ford, trainee, Hall Brown solicitors
Closing remarks 16.00 – 16.15 Charlotte Parkinson, chair, Junior Lawyers Division
16.15 – 17.30 Networking reception
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Delegate list Correct as of 04.02.2020
First name Surname Job title Organisation
Dana Abhari LPC Student University of Law Oluwafunmilade University of Central Adeniyi LPC Student Atinuke Lancashire Rana Afkar N/A N/A
Wajiha Ahmed LPC Student BPP Law School Freshfields Bruckhaus Toberu Akoni Paralegal Deringer Zainab Anwar LPC Student BPP University
Silan Apaydin Assistant Clyde and Co
Charlotte Archdeacon LLM Student BPP
Shamayla Arif Trainee Solicitor Horwich Farrelly University of Central Zoha Arshad LPC Student Lancashire Annie Bannister Inception Caseworker Jefferies Solicitors
Suzannah Belk Student BPP
Hope Olivia Bell Student ULaw Nottingham Trent Parmeet Birk Student University Sandra Boateng Student BPP University Business and Enterprise Kerri Booth Northumbria University Coordinator Local Authority Asylum Amelia Burgess Wigan Council Support Liaison Officer Kayla Carter Paralegal DLA Piper LLP
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Delegate list Correct as of 04.02.2020
First name Surname Job title Organisation
Lily Chen Conveyancing Assistant Shoosmiths
Aida Chibok Paralegal Clyde & Co LLP
Amy Contreras Property Inspector Haart
Ailsa Costello Careers Manager University of Law
Emily Driver Paralegal Broudie Jackson Canter
Loredana Duca Student University of Manchester Agha Mir Mustafa Durrani Student University of Law Khan Sebastian Ferguson Student University of Law
Josie Fieulleteau Aviation Policy Advisor Department for Transport
Philip Foster Project Manager Tata Consultancy Services
Wiktoria Frej Operations Coordinator BARBRI International
Hannah Gee Paralegal BW Legal
Alvina Grasun Paralegal Ward Hadaway
Kelsey Hanton Trainee Paralegal Jackson Lees
Fatima Haruna Sanusi Student University of Law
Kayleigh Hoe-Pike Student University of Law
Leah Hussain Student University of Law
Victoria Ibezim LPC LLM Student University of Law
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Delegate list Correct as of 04.02.2020
First name Surname Job title Organisation
Waqas Ikram Student Coventry University
Faaiza Iqbal Student N/A
Megan Jackson Admin and Clerical NHS
Nazanin Jooyandeh Trainee Conveyancer Shoosmiths LLP
Luize Kangethe Paralegal NTT United Kingdom Ltd
Amina Karmoun Student University of Law
Natasha Kedi NHS 111 - Call Handler NHS
Victoria Kirby Student University of Law
Emma Klieve Costs Draftsperson Clyde & Co LLP
Arthur Lee Student University of Law
Zara Mahmood LPC Student BPP
Sophie Mahood Student University of Law
Danielle Markow Student University of Manchester
Robyn McCarton Paralegal Clyde & Co Claims LLP
Ashton Miles-Murphy Student BPP Manchester
Molly Monaghan Student University of Law
Yenlik Muratova Student University of Law
Beth Needham GDL Student City University London
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Delegate list Correct as of 04.02.2020
First name Surname Job title Organisation
Muhammad Nesar Student University of Law
Wing Yan Ng Student University of Law
Sally Ngbeken Commercial Paralegal Co-op
Renee Noah Student Ulaw Professional Support Mollie O'Connor Clyde & Co Paralegal Oladoke Oladiran LPC Graduate University of Law
Krishna Parmar Postgraduate Student University of Law
Aadam Patel Student Student
Sophie Proctor Credit Analyst Lex Autolease
Saher Qarini Student University of Law
Nida Rasool Department Manager Next University of Central Nida Rasool LPC student Lancashire Solveiga Ribokaite Paralegal Clyde & Co
Leigh Robinson Paralegal Parkdean Resorts
Jade Scott Postgraduate University of Sheffield
Khudeeja Shah Paralegal Clyde & Co
Huasheng Shang LPC full time University of Law Legal Solutions Freshfields Bruckhaus Harry Silverman Specialist Deringer LLP
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Delegate list Correct as of 04.02.2020
First name Surname Job title Organisation
Hannah Simeen LPC Student University of Sheffield Client Services Celine Sjauw Mewburn Ellis LLP Administrator Sophie Smith LLM student University of Law
Abi Sofoluwe Student University of Law Senior Immigration Renee Southern Broudie Jackson Canter Caseworker Eversheds Sutherland Lucy Storrow Paralegal (International) LLP Olivia Sweeney-Jones Paralegal Hill Dickinson LLP
Maja Szelest Trainee Fee Earner Optimal Solicitors
Theodoulos Theodoulou Student University of Law
Emily Tye Paralegal Eversheds Sutherland
Elyza Valoria Student University of Law
Kirsty Weyman Commercial Paralegal Co-op Group Legal
Rofaida White Litigation Executive Horwich Farrelley
Nicholas Wickham Student LPC Student
Natalie Williams Paralegal Knights PLC
Uduakabasi Williams LPC Student University of Law
Hollie Wright Paralegal Shoosmiths
Lucie Zhang LLM LPC Student BPP University
Junior Lawyers Division Forum: Helping you to secure a training contract
Speaker biographies In alphabetical order Daniel Adejumo, trainee, TLT solicitors Dan is a second year trainee at TLT LLP. He studied LLB Law at the University of Nottingham before doing his LPC at the University of Law (Manchester). Dan is passionate about supporting those who are looking to enter into the profession, particularly individuals from underrepresented backgrounds – to this end, Dan is an Education Director with the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group and a committee member of the Black Solicitors Network (North).
Nelema Akhtar, education director, Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group Nelema Akhtar is currently a Trainee Solicitor at Clarke Willmott LLP and is working towards qualifying as a Corporate Solicitor in March 2021. She is also an Education Director on the committee of the 2019/20 Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group.
Sarah Donoghue, graduate recruitment and development manager, Fieldfisher In her role as Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager, Sarah is responsible for the attraction, selection and development of the Solicitor Apprentices and Trainees at Fieldfisher.
Mollie Ferguson, Solicitor, Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP Mollie Ferguson is a 1.5 year PQE contentious probate solicitor at Thomson Snell & Passmore in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. She has been on the Executive Committee of the National Junior Lawyers Division since November 2018. Mollie is honorary secretary for Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge District Law Society, and on the committee for Kent Law Society. She has also recently been appointed onto the Law Society's Women Lawyers Division, where she represents female junior lawyers.
Jodi Ford, trainee, Hall Brown solicitors Jodi Ford is a first seat trainee at Hall Brown Family Law. She is currently studying LPC at University of Law. Jodi also sits on foster panels for local authorities and IFAs.
Robert Foster, managing director, Aurelius Legal Recruitment Robert Foster started out as a trainee solicitor at a Top 20 UK law firm before embarking on a career in legal recruitment. Initially, Robert joined a legal recruitment specialist focusing purely on solicitor-level recruitment across the North West legal market before joining a leading Private Equity-backed Professional services Recruitment Group where he launched & led their legal recruitment offering. Robert then exited the Group to pursue his long-term ambition of running an independently- owned recruitment consultancy; Aurelius legal.
Joe Gregory, director, Think Legal Recruitment Joe is a founding Director of Think Legal Recruitment and has been recruiting legal professionals since 2007. He’s worked for some of the leading names within the industry and developed a reputation for delivering results with an honest, personable and knowledgeable approach. His focus is on working with lawyers and law firms in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West.
Adam Hattersley, executive committee member, Junior Lawyers Division Adam graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2010 before going on to achieve a distinction in his LPC at the College of Law, Manchester. Adam previously was a paralegal in Manchester at DWF LLP and BLM before starting his training contract with McHale & Co Solicitors in August 2014. During his training contract, Adam spent time in the commercial and property litigation departments. Adam qualified as a solicitor in September 2016 and is a real estate finance solicitor at Fieldfisher's Manchester office. Adam currently sits on the JLD's national executive committee. Previously Adam was an active member of the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group holding the roles of the social secretary and small firm secretary and currently also sits as a general secretary for the Manchester Young Solicitors Group.
Jaye Haynes, talent acquisition partner, Slater and Gordon Jaye Haynes is part of the Talent Acquisition team at Slater and Gordon Layers. She takes pride in ensuring that placements are a strong match for all parties. Jaye is interested in finding candidates the right career rather than simply a job!
Lewis Holden, trainee, Eversheds Sutherland Lewis is a first-seat trainee at Eversheds Sutherland currently sitting in the firm’s Employment team. During his time in the seat, he has worked across a variety of contentious and non-contentious employment matters for a wide range of clients, including international corporate support projects and a grievance investigation concerning senior staff at a household name.
Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland, Lewis studied History and Politics at the University of Warwick with a year abroad in the United States. He then went on to complete both the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at BPP University Manchester.
William Howe, trainee, Irwin Mitchell William Howe is a second year Trainee Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP currently in the Court of Protection department. He has previously undertaken seats in Medical Negligence and Military Injuries.
Having originally studied Economics at undergraduate level, William embarked on the GDL at the University of Law in 2015. It was during this time William realised he was interested in personal legal services and in particular private client practice.
William plans to qualify into Court of Protection work as he enjoys both the close client contact with vulnerable individuals and working in a multidisciplinary practice area. He has a particular interest in statutory wills.
Charlotte Parkinson, chair, Junior Lawyers Division Charlotte is the current Chair of the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) and this is her fifth year serving on the JLD executive committee. Charlotte's key focus areas for her year as Chair are the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (including discussions with the SRA and the Legal Services Board to ensure that junior lawyer concerns in relation to SQE are addressed), the cuts to legal aid and in particular the lack of junior lawyers training and qualifying into criminal defence legal aid, and protection of junior lawyers including wellbeing in the workplace.
Outside of the JLD, Charlotte is also an associate at Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds, specialising in commercial litigation. Before qualifying, Charlotte graduated from the University of Huddersfield's masters in law and practice
course and then worked for three years as a paralegal before training at a regional firm. Charlotte moved to Addleshaw Goddard on qualification.
Callum Reed, executive committee member, Junior Lawyers Division Callum studied law at the University of Exeter, completing the course in 2018. He is now studying the LPC LLM part-time at Cardiff University, alongside working at Geldards LLP as a knowledge management assistant.
Outside of work, Callum is an advocate for improving access to the profession. He is a brand ambassador for The Corporate Law Academy (a platform that helps students on their training contract journey) whilst also being an active member of Aspiring Solicitors.
Callum was recently appointed as the student representative for 2019- 2020. He is looking forward to working with the team as he continues to ensure the profession is accessible to everyone – irrespective of their background.
Callum can be contacted via LinkedIn.
Paul Warburton, director, Think Legal Recruitment Paul is a founding Director of Think Legal Recruitment. Paul is a former solicitor of 9 years practice and 6 years in legal recruitment with an extensive network throughout Manchester and the North West.
Ellie Williamson, graduate recruitment assistant, Fieldfisher Ellie joined Fieldfisher in 2018 and moved into the graduate recruitment team in March 2019. Coming from a tiny town in rural Shropshire, moving to Manchester was a shock to the system! She provides support for Fieldfisher’s early careers programmes across their UK offices in London, Manchester and Birmingham and has a keen interest in diversity and attraction. Outside of work, you can find Ellie looking for her next favourite place to eat out.
James Wilson, emerging talent business partner, Eversheds Sutherland James has worked within law firms for over 10 years. He now works within the Emerging Talent Team at Eversheds Sutherland, a top 15 global law practice. He is responsible for recruiting Trainee and Apprentice Solicitors. He manages the process from university and college relationships, through to screening, assessment centres and vacation schemes. He has also coordinated international and domestic seat rotation and the newly qualified process within the firm.
Speaker presentations (All speaker presentations, where provided and with permission, will be available to download on Monday 10 February 2020.)
How to stand out on an application form Sarah Donoghue and Ellie Williamson
The Law Society
How to stand out on an application form Sarah Donoghue and Ellie Williamson
The Law Society
Contents
01 Introductions 02 What do you think employers are looking for in application forms? 03 What information will you be asked to provide? 04 Career motivation questions 05 Do’s and Don’t’s 06 Q&A
The Law Society The Law Society
What is the purpose of an application form?
• A firm will design their application form to assess a candidates suitability for the role and for the firm.
• The form can be used to assess motivation for applying to the firm.
• It will give the recruiter a good idea if a candidate has the essential skills for the role.
• It will assess candidates written communication.
The Law Society
What do you think employers are looking for on your application form?
• Work experience – legal and non legal roles. • Understanding of the role you have applied to. • Your research on the firm. • Your motivation for a career in law. • Your commercial awareness. • Written communication skills. • Ability to work as part of a team.
The Law Society What information will you be asked for?
Despite the wide range of variation, most application forms will cover the following points:
• Your personal details. • Your employment history. • Your academic history (GCSEs, A-Levels, Undergraduate Degree, GDL, LPC). • Motivational questions. • Technical questions. • Commercial awareness questions. The Law Society
Work Experience Section
Make sure you list all of your previous work experiences in recent years and your responsibilities in the role. This could include:
• Paralegal opportunities. • Vacation Schemes or Internships. • Volunteer/un-paid work. • Part time work. • Holiday jobs. • Caregiving responsibilities.
The Law Society Extra-Curricular Activities Section
• Head Boy/Girl at school • Captain of sports team • School Prefect • Awarded a scholarship or bursary • Award for excellence or winner of sports prizes • Student Counsellor/Support Worker/mentor • Position of responsibility on a committee or student society • Student body representative • Employee/colleague representative • Writer or editor of magazine/radio/website • High achieving athlete • Voluntary work/fundraising/pro bono work • Active participant or a society or sports team • Playing a instrument • Duke of Edinburgh Award • Hobbies such as reading, running, horse riding, etc • Member of a club – book club, running club, golf club, etc
The Law Society
Career Motivation Questions
1. Why do you want to train as a Solicitor at X? 2. What is your interest in pursing a career in commercial law?
• Show off about your research, but link it back to you • Think about awards, clients, areas of law, deals, partners, etc.
The question is not why do you want to be a solicitor? The Law Society
Firm’s are looking for candidates that have demonstrated an interest in:
• An understanding of the role of a commercial lawyer. • Business and how businesses work. • Interacting with diverse range of clients. • Innovation and creativity. • Meeting client’s expectations in an innovative, practical way. • Working with people in a team environment.
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What do employers not want to see in your answer?
“From a young age I have had the ambition of becoming a solicitor in one of the country's top law firms. I am confident that Field Fisher is the right place to fulfil this ambition. Training at Freshfields and building a career in the firm opens up the possibility of becoming a leading figure in my chosen area of law. I am highly ambitious and believe that in order to be one of the best, I need to work amongst the best. With numerous solicitors considered leading figures in their field, Fieldfish would be a fantastic place to build my career. “
The Law Society
Do!
• Select the firms that resonate with your own passions and values. • Make your application unique to the firm you are applying to. • Check for spelling and grammatical mistakes. • Ensure you submit before the deadline – the earlier the better. • Sell yourself. • Use your research and your personal experiences. • Use a sensible email address that you will have access to throughout the process. • Be yourself and let your personality shine through! • Proofread, proofread and proofread! The Law Society
Don’t!
• Don’t reiterate the trainee website or marketing materials, do in depth research – clients, awards, recent wins etc. • Don’t submit in a rush – read, reread and ask someone else to read before you submit. • Don’t copy and paste from one application to another. • Don’t abbreviate or use slang.
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Any Questions?
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Picking the right firm: Finding the right fit
• Joe Gregory, director, Think Legal Recruitment • Paul Warburton, director, Think Legal Recruitment
Picking the right firm: Finding the right fit
Joe Gregory and Paul Warburton
The Law Society
The Law Society
Contents
1 Background & Introduction 2 Changing Landscape 3 What are your options? 4 The Process - start with you 5 Choosing the right firm 6 What more can you do?
The Law Society
Finding the right Firm The Law Society
Background & Introduction
Background & Introduction • Who are we? • Paul Warburton – Director – Think Legal • Joe Gregory – Director – Think Legal • Purpose of today
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Landscape
Landscape • Traditional route to qualification • Alternative routes to qualification • Changing Landscape – SQE – potential impact
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What are your options?
Types of Organisation Types of Law Firm • In House • International • Private practice – Law firms • Nationals • ABS • Regionals • Boutique/Specialists • High Street • City – US/Magic/Silver Circle The Law Society
Start with you
Self-Assessment Priorities • Assess your needs first/What are your priorities? • Areas of Law – sector interests • Start with the end in mind • Culture • What are you good at? • Training & Support • What do you enjoy? • Brand • What do you not enjoy? • Work quality • Be pragmatic/realistic • Agility/Life balance • Money • Location
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Choosing the right organisation
Research • Invest Time & Research firms • Draw up a list of firms - Targets • Research the firms website, legal 500 & Chambers • Values & Culture • Consider the firm’s process • Apply your assessed needs (above) • Vacation Schemes/Work Placements • Be organized, think widely but be specific
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What more can you do?
Invest Find out more • Commit time to the process • Law & Career fairs • Broaden your knowledge - commercial awareness • Network & Enquire • Vac Scheme/Work Placements
Assessment centres: Tips and hints to success
James Wilson
Assessment Centres: Tips & Hints to success
8 February 2020
James Wilson Emerging Talent Business Partner
Agenda
• Before the day
• On the day
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 2
What are firms looking for?
• Outstanding Problem-Solving Skills Do you have the mental agility and intellectual rigour to analyse problems and develop novel, unexpected solutions? • Proactive Mindset Are you naturally inquisitive with an openness to new ideas and the initiative to turn them into practical results? • Commitment to Excellence Do you hold yourself to the highest standards of performance even when the going is tough? Are you passionate about continuously raising and refining your own performance levels? • Strong Interpersonal and Communication Skills Can you communicate fluently, clearly and concisely? Persuade and negotiate with others in both group and individual situations? Make complex information understandable to clients? • Working with Others Do you have the confidence to collaborate, seek feedback, share ideas and build credibility through your interaction other people? • Organised with an Eye for Detail Can you manage your own workload, stay organised under pressure, pay attention to detail and be relied on to complete each task accurately and completely? • Commerciality Do you have the ability to see situations from a business or commercial perspective? Are you comfortable dealing with financial information and being accountable for achieving productivity goals? • Motivation Are you passionate about a career as a Lawyer and a career with the firm?
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 3 Before the day
4
Brush up on your research
• What do we expect?
• Know the numbers – offices, headcount, trainees
• Know the work – what do we do?
• Know the market – competitors, clients
• Know your reasons – why us?
Prepare your examples
• Go through your CV
• Pick out your best examples, and prepare them
• Where are the gaps?
• Commercial Awareness
• Practise Other things to consider
• Have you read all the information provided?
• Do you need to prepare anything beforehand?
• Do you know the format & timing of the day?
• Do you know the interviewers?
• Do you know where you are going – and how long it takes?
• Get an early night!
On the day – arrive in plenty of time!
8
General points
• Engage with everyone you meet
• Make sure you have water
• Bring any notes, a pen and highlighter
• It is a two way process
• Be yourself!
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 9 Common Types of Assessments
• Interview – Panel or 1-1
• Written Exercise – drafting, time management
• Group Exercise
• Role Play – 1-1
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 10
Interviews
• Listen to the question – and then answer it!
• Pick the best example
• Don’t lie!
• Structure your answer • S.T.A.R.
• Think about your body language
• Have some relevant questions ready
Written Exercise
• Read the instructions carefully – and all the way through
• Plan
• Take a logical approach
• Expect the unexpected
• Check your spelling and grammar
• Leave enough time to read back through
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 12 Group Exercise
• Read the instructions carefully – and all the way through
• Keep an eye on the time
• Involve everyone
• Listen to others
• Look for opportunities
• Ignore the assessors
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 13
Role Play
• Read the instructions carefully – and all the way through
• Keep an eye on the time
• Structure the discussion
• Build rapport
• Remember the aim of the exercise
• Summarise – action points
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 14
At the end
• Clarify next steps
• Clarify timelines
• Thank the assessors and/or Grad Teams
• Reflect on the positives and negatives
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 15 And finally…
Eversheds Sutherland | 07 February 2020 | 16
Keep up to date
eslegaltrainee
@eslegaltrainee
Eversheds Sutherland – Legal Trainees
Eversheds Sutherland | 7 February 2020 | 18
Acing the interview: The use of self- confidence
Jaye Haynes
The Law Society
How to ace your Training Contract Interview
Jaye Haynes Talent Acquisition Partner Slater and Gordon Lawyers
The Law Society
Contents
1. Building Rapport During your Telephone Interview 2. Training Contract Telephone Interview Top Tips 3. Training Contract Interview Questions to Prepare for 4. Commercial Awareness Training Contract Interview Questions 5. Preparing for a Competency Based Interview 6. STAR 7. SQE – Update 8. Q&A
The Law Society
Building Rapport During your Telephone Interview
Unlike face to face interviews, you will not be able to physically see your interviewer in a training contract telephone interview. This arguably creates more of a challenge in terms of building rapport. As a result, it’s important to think about alternative techniques you can use to create a positive connection between yourself and your interviewer during your training contract telephone interview.
These may include:
• Establishing whether there is any common ground between you and the interviewer which can be used in a way to positively engage with them. • Smiling! Even though your interviewer won’t be able to see you, smiling will help to relax you. This will help you to feel and come across in a more confident and responsive manner during the interview. • Keeping notes to a minimum. Do take advantage of being able to have notes available, but limit them to a page so you are not distracted by reams of paper during the interview. Such distraction is likely to interrupt conversation flow, thereby eroding the rapport. The Law Society
Training Contract Telephone Interview Top Tips
Why have you applied to this firm? –
What news story has caught your eye recently?
What other firms have you applied to?
Tell me about a time you’ve had to work as part of a team?
Tell us about a time you’ve failed?
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Training Contract Interview Questions to Prepare for
Why do you want to be a lawyer?
Why do you want to train with us over our competitors?
Where else have you applied? How are your other applications going
If you were a trainee with us, how would you get involved and make yourself stand out?
The Law Society
Commercial Awareness Training Contract Interview Questions
Tell us about a recent legal story that you’ve been keeping up to date with, and how it has progressed?
What do you know about the ways we engage our clients?
What do you see as the main challenges facing city law firms today? The Law Society
Preparing for a Competency Based Interview
Common Competency-Based Interview Questions
First and foremost, competency-based interview questions are usually open- ended with the goal of having the interviewee describe a relevant situation or experience. Questions will typically start with prompts like, ‘Tell me about a time when…’ You will be expected to elaborate on a specific scenario and ultimately relate your answers to why you’re a valuable and relevant candidate for the position.
Examples of common questions:
• Tell me how you’ve taken on leading a project. • Describe a difficult situation you’ve encountered and how you solved it. • Can you give an example of a time when you led a team? • Describe a time you’ve had to deal with conflict and how you resolved it.
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Use the STAR Technique
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SQE – Update
It’s the biggest change in the legal education in decades. The Solicitor’s Qualifying Examination (SQE) is ultimately set to change the way all solicitors qualify from 2021. Students will no longer have to pay up to £15,000 for an LPC without any guarantee of getting a training contract at the end of it or of becoming a solicitor.
The SQE will give students more flexibility in deciding which route to take. However whichever way they choose, they will all have to pass the SQE before qualifying as a solicitor. Ultimately this will open doors for students who simply thought a career in law would have never been possible, giving us the potential to tap into a hidden world of talent!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sqe-humble-beginnings-jaye-haynes/
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The 5 W
Why? – Why you?
What? – What is your situation?
Where? – Location
When? – When can you start?
WEALTH? – Salary
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Any questions? Thank you.