Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Jessica Booker]

Hello Jessica,
I have a quick question for you, how would I answer this quick "Why do you want to be a trainee solicitor in a transactional focused firm?"
Thank you

this isn’t a trick question. Focus on the responsibilities you’d have, why you’d like the processes you’d undertake, the subject matters you’d deal with, and why the longer term career route is one for you.

 

[Ehab]

Hi Jaysen

I am in the process of filling out training contract applications and was wondering how to include work experience in a training contract application. Do I list down my roles and responsibilities or just a brief overview of the skills I have gained during my work experience?

Thanks
Ehab Elsayed

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jaysen

I am in the process of filling out training contract applications and was wondering how to include work experience in a training contract application. Do I list down my roles and responsibilities or just a brief overview of the skills I have gained during my work experience?

Thanks
Ehab Elsayed

focus on the roles and responsibilities. You can reference skills developed as well too, but it’s often the case that these are obvious so don’t need to be explicitly mentioned

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica

Currently completing my application for a Vac Scheme at Clifford Chance.

The only question asked that requests a lengthy reply is
You have told us about your academic achievements and work experience and now, in no more than 600 words, we are keen to hear more about you.
This should include your extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility and an achievement of importance which you are most proud of.

The achievement of importance I have talked about was an award I received in college for achieving the highest marks in law. As well as this, I spoke about my ability to speak publicly in lectures due to my current employment with Thomson Reuters.
While I am focussing on the general skills I possess, I have nonetheless attributed them in some detail from my employment.

Would you say that this is not answering the question properly and I should disregard anything work/academic related all together?

Thanks
Kieran

You aren’t really answering the question. This is about non academic and non work experience related experiences

 

[Jessica Booker]

I see, so even pro bono experience should be excluded?

grey area. If it’s included in your work experience section don’t repeat it. If it’s not, then you could include it.

 

[Jb1512]

Hi Jessica I have a bit of an odd question and situation.

I applied and successfully got a winter vacation scheme but the process for a VS and TC is the same. I’ve already worked at the firm for 6 months as a paralegal (have now left). I’m having some issues getting two weeks off at my current firm where I’m a paralegal. I can get the time off but it will cause a bit of hassle. How bad would it be to ask to be considered for a direct Tc instead? Given that I already have a VS offer and have spent time at the firm? Thanks

 

[Ehab]

focus on the roles and responsibilities. You can reference skills developed as well too, but it’s often the case that these are obvious so don’t need to be explicitly mentioned

I have listed an example to reflect my experience as a qualified lawyer from another jurisdiction. please let me know what do think.
Thank you.

· Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad spectrum of commercial agreements relating to service levels, supply, distribution, insurance, IT, Construction and Islamic finance transactions.

· Managing and mitigating legal risks through designing and implementing policies and procedures.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica I have a bit of an odd question and situation.

I applied and successfully got a winter vacation scheme but the process for a VS and TC is the same. I’ve already worked at the firm for 6 months as a paralegal (have now left). I’m having some issues getting two weeks off at my current firm where I’m a paralegal. I can get the time off but it will cause a bit of hassle. How bad would it be to ask to be considered for a direct Tc instead? Given that I already have a VS offer and have spent time at the firm? Thanks

it won’t be as easy as just transferring your offer over from a VS to TC.

You can ask for your application to be transferred, but I would expect you may have to go through some form on final assessment process, as although the process is the same, the expectations and standards of what you are recruiting will be different for someone coming in for a VS than a TC.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I have listed an example to reflect my experience as a qualified lawyer from another jurisdiction. please let me know what do think.
Thank you.

· Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad spectrum of commercial agreements relating to service levels, supply, distribution, insurance, IT, Construction and Islamic finance transactions.

· Managing and mitigating legal risks through designing and implementing policies and procedures.

Both entries are fairly broad, but fine as they are

 

[KatieCCM]

You aren’t really answering the question. This is about non academic and non work experience related experiences

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am also in the process of doing the CC application and just saw your response above. For my achievement of "most importance", I have used an example relating to my current job (of over 2 years) where I worked on a very intense transaction that I regarded as extremely challenging (I currently work at a city law firm) - would this example be better suited to the work experience section of the form instead? Would you recommend using a more personal example such as voluntary work/training and participating in a running event etc? Thank you!

 

[Jb1512]

it won’t be as easy as just transferring your offer over from a VS to TC.

You can ask for your application to be transferred, but I would expect you may have to go through some form on final assessment process, as although the process is the same, the expectations and standards of what you are recruiting will be different for someone coming in for a VS than a TC.

Thanks for the response. Do you think it would reflect badly on me to ask?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am also in the process of doing the CC application and just saw your response above. For my achievement of "most importance", I have used an example relating to my current job (of over 2 years) where I worked on a very intense transaction that I regarded as extremely challenging (I currently work at a city law firm) - would this example be better suited to the work experience section of the form instead? Would you recommend using a more personal example such as voluntary work/training and participating in a running event etc? Thank you!

that is fine as it’s answering that part of the question, as long as it is your achievement of most importance, and not just an answer you think they want to hear.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for the response. Do you think it would reflect badly on me to ask?

No. It’s a completely legitimate reason to not go ahead for a role.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Hi @Jessica Booker, this question was asked in another thread but you may not have seen it so I figured I'd also ask in here as probably a lot of people have wondered this too.

What would you recommend doing if you noticed a (small) typo after submitting an app? How would you view it if a candidate added a supplementary note to an app with the correction? Or, would it be better to just not say anything and hope they don't notice it? I, and many others I'm sure, would be curious to know the perspective of a graduate recruiter.

Thanks!

 

[KatieCCM]

that is fine as it’s answering that part of the question, as long as it is your achievement of most importance, and not just an answer you think they want to hear.

Understood. Thanks Jessica!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, this question was asked in another thread but you may not have seen it so I figured I'd also ask in here as probably a lot of people have wondered this too.

What would you recommend doing if you noticed a (small) typo after submitting an app? How would you view it if a candidate added a supplementary note to an app with the correction? Or, would it be better to just not say anything and hope they don't notice it? I, and many others I'm sure, would be curious to know the perspective of a graduate recruiter.

Thanks!

Take it onboard not to repeat the same error in other applications. Don’t contact the recruiter about it - you’ve submitted the application and that is that.

You are just causing more work for other people if you are hoping someone will update it/correct it for you. Just leave it.

feel free to tag me in posts if you need a response to similar questions.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Understood. Thanks Jessica!

My only concern about it is that it is an example where many other people worked on the matter and you may have played a relatively small part in it. You’ll have to focus on why it was your biggest achievement a what you specifically did.

 

[KatieCCM]

My only concern about it is that it is an example where many other people worked on the matter and you may have played a relatively small part in it. You’ll have to focus on why it was your biggest achievement a what you specifically did.

The deal time in my department was actually very small so I did take on a lead role - I didn't make this as clear in my first draft so will incorporate this part now, thanks very much for this advice!

 

[tractor12]

Hey so wanted to ask, are grades still a significant factor to consider after the initial application stage? I.e. in the AC?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey so wanted to ask, are grades still a significant factor to consider after the initial application stage? I.e. in the AC?

Not really, no. Would only be if you grades dropped significantly after your application that it would cause concern