Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Lastseasonwonder]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Happy New Year!

I have a couple of questions about the Freshfields' VS app.

1) "Please tell us about any awards, scholarships or prizes you have been given in no more than 100 words.". This question is compulsory and I am slightly confused by it. I wrote about my self (POR and achievements) in the why me section of the personal statement, so what should I include here? I have some academic awards from school but no scholarships or anything crazy like that - should I be worried and what is this section for?

2) I have included open days and commercial law programmes as one in the work experience section. Are they ok to include?

Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Happy New Year!

I have a couple of questions about the Freshfields' VS app.

1) "Please tell us about any awards, scholarships or prizes you have been given in no more than 100 words.". This question is compulsory and I am slightly confused by it. I wrote about my self (POR and achievements) in the why me section of the personal statement, so what should I include here? I have some academic awards from school but no scholarships or anything crazy like that - should I be worried and what is this section for?

2) I have included open days and commercial law programmes as one in the work experience section. Are they ok to include?

Thank you

1) you include the prizes you were awarded at school

2) yes - plenty of people do that.

 

[ZaraB]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

I was wondering about the following question for Osborne Clarke:

What are the most important aspects of a career for you? What makes you feel motivated and fulfilled?

Is this one question in your opinion or are you expected to discuss different factors for both? For me, one of the most important aspects, which also makes me feel motivated and fulfilled is the firm's culture, which I was planning to talk about in my answer drawing on the experiences I have had with the firm. Do you think this is the correct approach?

Thanks very much!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker and @Jaysen,

Happy new year to both of you.

I was wondering about the following question for Osborne Clarke:

What are the most important aspects of a career for you? What makes you feel motivated and fulfilled?

Is this one question in your opinion or are you expected to discuss different factors for both? For me, one of the most important aspects, which also makes me feel motivated and fulfilled is the firm's culture, which I was planning to talk about in my answer drawing on the experiences I have had with the firm. Do you think this is the correct approach?

This is two separate questions but with some cross over. The culture alone won’t be sufficient for example - the question could be then why don’t you work in another type of role in the firm if it’s only the culture that motivates you. It also sounds like you are trying to say “why the firm” more than answering the question with your current approach.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, How important is a written application in later stages of the application process?

If my written application gets me through to a video interview, will grad rec only considering at my video interview performance to assess whether I continue on to the next stage? Or will my written application also be considered?

Am I correct in assuming that at AC you pretty much have a clean slate?

Your application is still fair game in the recruitment process. It’s not unknown for the person who is reviewing your video interview to have your application form in front of them too while they review what you are saying.

 

[jam1999]

For the Penningtons vac scheme application, there is a requirement to do a cover letter and the question states: 'please use this opportunity to tell us about yourself and your reasons for applying to Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP (including the relevant location)' but then the next question in the app is 'Why are you interested in a career in law?'

Typically my cover letter structure is 'why law', 'why the firm', 'why me', but here the next question is essentially 'why law' and I don't want to be repetitive. Would it be more valuable to structure my cover letter as simply 'why the firm' and 'why do I have the skills to work at the firm' and save the 'why law' aspect for the next Q? the cover letter word count is only 500 words so cant be super long

@Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

For the Penningtons vac scheme application, there is a requirement to do a cover letter and the question states: 'please use this opportunity to tell us about yourself and your reasons for applying to Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP (including the relevant location)' but then the next question in the app is 'Why are you interested in a career in law?'

Typically my cover letter structure is 'why law', 'why the firm', 'why me', but here the next question is essentially 'why law' and I don't want to be repetitive. Would it be more valuable to structure my cover letter as simply 'why the firm' and 'why do I have the skills to work at the firm' and save the 'why law' aspect for the next Q? the cover letter word count is only 500 words so cant be super long

@Jessica Booker

The latter approach would be better given the whole application form’s structure

 

[JM813]

Hi Jessica,

I'm looking at applying to a firm which requires answers to their questions as well as an attachment of a cover letter.

The question boxes ask for the following (200-250 words each):

• Details of extra-curricular activities/positions of responsibility
• What is your greatest success
• A commercial-awareness question asking for a recent story that impacts the firm
• Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer
• Why the firm

On top of that it asks for a cover letter (500 words). I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on what type of things should go into the cover letter? Usually my cover letters will go into why law/why the firm/my skills and so I'm not sure what to cover given the breadth of the questions that already have to be separately answered!

Appreciate any help, thank you!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I'm looking at applying to a firm which requires answers to their questions as well as an attachment of a cover letter.

The question boxes ask for the following (200-250 words each):

• Details of extra-curricular activities/positions of responsibility
• What is your greatest success
• A commercial-awareness question asking for a recent story that impacts the firm
• Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer
• Why the firm

On top of that it asks for a cover letter (500 words). I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on what type of things should go into the cover letter? Usually my cover letters will go into why law/why the firm/my skills and so I'm not sure what to cover given the breadth of the questions that already have to be answered!

Appreciate any help, thank you!

I’d focus on why the opportunity and your skills (as this may not be covered fully in the other questions).

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

1) you include the prizes you were awarded at school

2) yes - plenty of people do that.

@Jessica Booker

Is it ok to bullet point?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

Is it ok to bullet point?

I don’t think it formats very well if you do.

 

[Mohammadz]

It is difficult to give examples as they ultimately need to come from you. Think about any time you have either had to change your approach or attitude towards something to ensure success. It may be that you tried something and it didn't work and so you had to think of a better way of doing it. It could be that you did something that was outside of your comfort zone and therefore you had to adapt by learning something new or by feeling uncomfortable with going outside of your comfort zone. The "innovative" part is only a follow up question, and although it would be good to try and hit it in the same answer, the key to this is showing how you had to change (whether your approach, your thinking, your opinion, your skillset, your attitude) to ensure success

Thank you Jassica for getting back to me, this how I answered this question:

I demonstrated the true meaning of being flexible and adaptive when I experienced
living in Miami and the UK. When I first landed in the UK to pursue a legal education,
I was surprised how the culture and language is different to where I come from. So, I
had to keep an openminded approach to things and embed within a new society. I
had to fraternize and settle with people with different backgrounds and I realised that
this is the best thing I have done.
Within this experience I realised that I admire mixing up and exchanging
conversations with people. This resulted in me understanding things from different
perspectives and having a farsighted approach to things.
By the end of this journey, I thankfully achieved an Upper Second-Class Honours
degree in Law. I also partnered up with an academic recruiting agency and built
connections with people from China, South Korea, India, United States, Trinidad and
the UK.
As a person I believe that experiencing new things and challenging myself to reach
my full potential of capabilities is the main reason of my enjoyment in life.

Hope this is a good way of answering the question - if so, I am more than happy for other students to refer to it.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jassica for getting back to me, this how I answered this question:

I demonstrated the true meaning of being flexible and adaptive when I experienced
living in Miami and the UK. When I first landed in the UK to pursue a legal education,
I was surprised how the culture and language is different to where I come from. So, I
had to keep an openminded approach to things and embed within a new society. I
had to fraternize and settle with people with different backgrounds and I realised that
this is the best thing I have done.
Within this experience I realised that I admire mixing up and exchanging
conversations with people. This resulted in me understanding things from different
perspectives and having a farsighted approach to things.
By the end of this journey, I thankfully achieved an Upper Second-Class Honours
degree in Law. I also partnered up with an academic recruiting agency and built
connections with people from China, South Korea, India, United States, Trinidad and
the UK.
As a person I believe that experiencing new things and challenging myself to reach
my full potential of capabilities is the main reason of my enjoyment in life.

Hope this is a good way of answering the question - if so, I am more than happy for other students to refer to it.

I’d personally suggest more an approach to something more specific than a complete overview of your studies more generally. It will be more unique (your example is something many students could claim) and doesn’t show your willingness to adapt, just shows you were in a new environment (your answer doesn’t really explain how you adapted).

 

[Mohammadz]

I’d personally suggest more an approach to something more specific than a complete overview of your studies more generally. It will be more unique (your example is something many students could claim) and doesn’t show your willingness to adapt, just shows you were in a new environment (your answer doesn’t really explain how you adapted).

Thank you for the feedback - I will work on it.

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker When writing the formalities of a cover letter (I need to send an actual document, not just type it into a box in the application programme), is it enough to do it like this:

My name and surname
My address (line 1)
My address (line 2)

Name of the person I'm writing to, their title
The firm's name
The firm's address (line 1)
The firm's address (line 2)

Do I need to include my phone and/or email anywhere, since I'm also sending a CV which has both of those?

Is it better to send the CV and/or cover letter in pdf or word format?

Thanks!

 

[Numerius Negidius]

Hi Jessica,

I am applying to a law firm for which the questions are:

1. Please explain your interest in pursuing a legal career at an international law firm and your specific interest in (firm).
2. Please detail a recent news article that has interested you and highlight how this might have an impact on (firm)'s business.
3. Please outline your personal achievements, interests and positions of responsibility. How do you think they may be relevant to the pursuit of a career in law.
4. Please include any other information that you consider to be relevant to your application.

All 4 questions are marked with a 'required' asterisk and do not have a word count. Is it acceptable to put N/A in Q4 if I don't have extenuating circumstances? Or should I write something?

Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker When writing the formalities of a cover letter (I need to send an actual document, not just type it into a box in the application programme), is it enough to do it like this:

My name and surname
My address (line 1)
My address (line 2)

Name of the person I'm writing to, their title
The firm's name
The firm's address (line 1)
The firm's address (line 2)

Do I need to include my phone and/or email anywhere, since I'm also sending a CV which has both of those?

Is it better to send the CV and/or cover letter in pdf or word format?

Thanks!

you’ll need full addresses - postcodes and city location etc. No need for email or telephone numbers in the cover letter. Many cover letters don’t have the person’s title either

PDF or word is fine generally. Just double check instructions as some firms may ask for it in a particular format

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I am applying to a law firm for which the questions are:

1. Please explain your interest in pursuing a legal career at an international law firm and your specific interest in (firm).
2. Please detail a recent news article that has interested you and highlight how this might have an impact on (firm)'s business.
3. Please outline your personal achievements, interests and positions of responsibility. How do you think they may be relevant to the pursuit of a career in law.
4. Please include any other information that you consider to be relevant to your application.

All 4 questions are marked with a 'required' asterisk and do not have a word count. Is it acceptable to put N/A in Q4 if I don't have extenuating circumstances? Or should I write something?

Thanks

Q4 isn’t just about extenuating circumstances, there are a range of things that could be put into that section. But if you don’t have anything to include, then yes N/A would be appropriate.

 

[Paaris]

Hi guys, if a firm is well known for a particular specialism but they also do other areas well (as in Chambers UK will have positive reviews on this but it isn't the one thing the firm is best known for) which align to your experience better, is it okay to highlight that in your application? So if there is an area that is well suited to your experience and CV, if you mention that as part of your answer to why the firm, would that work? X

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, if a firm is well known for a particular specialism but they also do other areas well (as in Chambers UK will have positive reviews on this but it isn't the one thing the firm is best known for) which align to your experience better, is it okay to highlight that in your application? So if there is an area that is well suited to your experience and CV, if you mention that as part of your answer to why the firm, would that work? X

Of course - it just needs some balance and you need to be confident they take trainees into that team on seat rotations.