Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I was wondering where can one find the challenges faced by a specific firm? I know there are general challenges such as ABS, 'more-for-less' challenge, etc.

However, I'm worried that such challenges may not be very firm-specific and can appear quite cliche in an application. I've tried gleaning articles on the firm, but there isn't much content on firm-specific challenges either.

ABS is a bit old school - people were saying that would be a challenge in 2008 and yet 12 years later plenty of firms are still thriving despite it (some less so).

Unfortunately I wouldn’t know of dedicated resources. If they do one, check the firm’s full annual report (marketing version rather than detail on companies house).

I'd think carefully about the firm’s client base. Are they more public sector focused/are they more Investment Bank focused? I'd also think about geographical reach - will that present more challenges? How diverse is their practice areas/are they more focused on certain departments - does that leave them open to risks?

I don't know much about commercial awareness but I would have thought firms with focuses on airlines/airports, oil industry and real estate are probably struggling on some of the big ticket work more so than those who specialise in other sectors.

 

[Jessica Booker]

When calculating my degree average, should I include my first year results in the calculation even though they did not count towards my degree? Or would my degree average just be the average of years 2 and 3? I achieved 2.1+ in all years but was wondering if my average could be based on the final two years as I did better in them.

Thanks!

Whatever is the current weighing for your degree based on what you have completed so far. You’ll be providing all module grades anyway so they will see your results from all years.

 

[Lawgrad98]

Whatever is the current weighing for your degree based on what you have completed so far. You’ll be providing all module grades anyway so they will see your results from all years.

Thanks for the response, Jessica. I achieved an average of 65+ in my degree. Would you recommend including my % average on my CV when applying to firms that require a CV as part of their application?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for the response, Jessica. I achieved an average of 65+ in my degree. Would you recommend including my % average on my CV when applying to firms that require a CV as part of their application?

I would recommend you include all your module results on a CV for a law firm if you are not providing this detail elsewhere.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello @Jessica Booker , hope you are doing well!
Can you tell me what the recruiters want to hear when they ask "Tell me something about yourself"
Thank you.

 

[jam1999]

Any tips on how to tackle this question - 'In no more than 200 words, please provide an example of a time where you have needed support or assistance.'

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker , hope you are doing well!
Can you tell me what the recruiters want to hear when they ask "Tell me something about yourself"
Thank you.

Nothing in particular - it’s typically just an introductory question to settle you in to an interview and to see how you communicate

 

[Jessica Booker]

Any tips on how to tackle this question - 'In no more than 200 words, please provide an example of a time where you have needed support or assistance.'

It’s not a trick question.

As a trainee you are going to have to ask for a lot of help and support so they are just asking for you to provide evidence of when you have done this.

Think about a time when asking for and getting support has provided you with a better outcome.

 

[Legalgrad95]

Hi @Jessica Booker I hope you are well! What structure would you recommend to answer: How do you think you would benefit from attending this open day?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker I hope you are well! What structure would you recommend to answer: How do you think you would benefit from attending this open day?

No prescribed structure for this. It really comes down to what you hope to gain from the Open Day itself. For different people that will be very different things.

 

[nicki1234]

Hi, I have a paralegal jo completely unrelated to commercial law (court of protection), I was hoping you could give some guidance as to how I can mention this when answering 'why commercial law'?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I have a paralegal jo completely unrelated to commercial law (court of protection), I was hoping you could give some guidance as to how I can mention this when answering 'why commercial law'?

I’d focus on the transferable skills utilised or similar responsibilities/processes you do now that you might do as a trainee.

You can the focus on the differences in subject matter and why your preference is in a commercial setting.

 

[LegalNim]

Hi @Jessica Booker,
In an application, I'd like to refer to people at the firm who aren't lawyers (like paralegals, secretaries, grad rec etc) under one term but can't find quite the right phrase. I feel like "support staff" and "administrative staff" might be a bit dismissive and "non-legal staff" doesn't really cover paralegals. What term would you recommend for this?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker,
In an application, I'd like to refer to people at the firm who aren't lawyers (like paralegals, secretaries, grad rec etc) under one term but can't find quite the right phrase. I feel like "support staff" and "administrative staff" might be a bit dismissive and "non-legal staff" doesn't really cover paralegals. What term would you recommend for this?

Generally they are called Business Services or Business Support (depending on the firm). You might want to check the firm's website to see if there is any clarity there on how they define them.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

@Jessica Booker Hello, hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask you one thing- I am pretty clear in my head that I will apply to Links' only, wanted to ask you how I should treat threads like "260+ Interview Questions" - which is basically a compendium of every question asked at every firm's interview stage.

I have decided to follow all threads regarding Links- VS and TC, so can I skip the generic ones?

Thank You.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hello, hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask you one thing- I am pretty clear in my head that I will apply to Links' only, wanted to ask you how I should treat threads like "260+ Interview Questions" - which is basically a compendium of every question asked at every firm's interview stage.

I have decided to follow all threads regarding Links- VS and TC, so can I skip the generic ones?

Thank You.

Yes - I would focus on Linklaters specific advice. It would be a waste of efforts to prepare for every type of question if you are only applying to one firm.

 

[LegalNim]

Hi @Jessica Booker
I'm trying to write an application answer for what skills I would bring to the role (trainee). I understand that every firm's advice is that the answer must be specific to them - but how to I do that for this question when the jobs a trainee would do and the skills I have are similar regardless of the firm I'm applying to? I've looked up the skills they're looking for but feel like it looks poor to just regurgitate that exactly, it won't seem at all genuine. How do you think this question can be related back to that specific firm?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker
I'm trying to write an application answer for what skills I would bring to the role (trainee). I understand that every firm's advice is that the answer must be specific to them - but how to I do that for this question when the jobs a trainee would do and the skills I have are similar regardless of the firm I'm applying to? I've looked up the skills they're looking for but feel like it looks poor to just regurgitate that exactly, it won't seem at all genuine. How do you think this question can be related back to that specific firm?

The firm may look for more specific skills in their trainees - look at the language on how they describe their training contract and the any trainee profiles/ case studies.

Just make sure you put things in your own language and back things up with your evidence.

Feel free to bring your own strengths to this though. This is about you - and so if you feel there are things outside of the usual skills set for the profession or for the firm that you think you can bring and that is relevant, talk about it.

Remember not everyone has the same skill set/strengths, so this is about you putting your individual mark on the answer

 

[Lawgrad98]

When reapplying to a firm is it important to use the same account that you initially applied with?

Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

When reapplying to a firm is it important to use the same account that you initially applied with?

Thanks!

Really you should. Plenty don’t though - that’s why some firms ask whether you have applied before though, and why many applicant tracking systems also have an ability to flag you as a duplicate applicant through other key data (eg name, address, when you studied etc).