Abbreviating firm names

[AJ]

Any views/advice on this? I know some are more traditional than others. But would help a lot with word count on application questions.

E.g just an example Herbert Smith Freehills=HSF or WFW for Watson Farley William

Bit confusing as even firms refer to themselves differently is various materials.

 

[Nicole]

Any views/advice on this? I know some are more traditional than others. But would help a lot with word count on application questions.

E.g just an example Herbert Smith Freehills=HSF or WFW for Watson Farley William

Bit confusing as even firms refer to themselves differently is various materials.

Great question!

Personally, I would abbreviate longer names e.g. "Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer" to just "Freshfields" or "Norton Rose Fulbright to just "Norton Rose" but I never did initials. That was just for me though, I'm not too sure whether law firms would have a problem with it - as you said, it can save a lot of space. Especially firms like BCLP!

 

[Lawgirlxo]

So for me, the first time I mention the firm, I write out the full name with the abbreviation in a bracket: i.e Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF). After this, I then use only the abbreviated name throughout the application.

I just believe you have to be consistent with whichever one you want to use, I'm sure firms understand that their long names take up word count.

Even then, I personally wouldn't abbreviate firms like CC, L&W (Latham) etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Lawgirlxo]

Great question!

Personally, I would abbreviate longer names e.g. "Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer" to just "Freshfields" or "Norton Rose Fulbright to just "Norton Rose" but I never did initials. That was just for me though, I'm not too sure whether law firms would have a problem with it - as you said, it can save a lot of space. Especially firms like BCLP!

I went to an open day at NRF, and the grad lady said they didn't like it when people called them 'Norton Rose' - I'm not too sure how serious they take this though!

 

[Jaysen]

So for me, the first time I mention the firm, I write out the full name with the abbreviation in a bracket: i.e Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF). After this, I then use only the abbreviated name throughout the application.

I just believe you have to be consistent with whichever one you want to use, I'm sure firms understand that their long names take up word count.

Even then, I personally wouldn't abbreviate firms like CC, L&W (Latham) etc.

Hope this helps!

This is good advice. I would first check if the firm or legal news sites commonly use an abbreviation. If yes, make it clear as @Lawgirlxo said-- brackets or quotation markets or both.

And if the firm has said they don't like abbreviations, definitely avoid it! I think in Norton Rose's case, by abbreviating the firm, you are ignoring a key part of the firm name (the merged firm).

 

[AJ]

I’ve noticed each firm refers to themselves differently on the application. Bclp say bclp in the application questions. Hebert Smith Freehills do not say hsf.
Just a bit confusing!!

 

[kaveesha]

I know Shearman & Sterling don't mind S&S if it's consistent throughout the app

 

[Nicole]

I went to an open day at NRF, and the grad lady said they didn't like it when people called them 'Norton Rose' - I'm not too sure how serious they take this though!

Probably why I got rejected!