Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Casual]

Hi @Jessica Booker !

I am contemplating whether to include one month of working as a blackjack dealer at a casino in the work experience section.

I already have 4 entries there, all of which are office jobs in the corporate environment, so this one would go under the "other relevant experience" section.

I learned a lot of transferrable skills, such as communication and customer service, attention to detail and resilience (I was working night shifts). However, I am not sure whether this job makes me look like an interesting candidate with a unique experience or a questionable candidate with equally questionable career choices (I would like to think of myself as the former but I can see how some people may judge anything related to gambling).

Would you recommend including this casino job on the application form?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker !

I am contemplating whether to include one month of working as a blackjack dealer at a casino in the work experience section.

I already have 4 entries there, all of which are office jobs in the corporate environment, so this one would go under the "other relevant experience" section.

I learned a lot of transferrable skills, such as communication and customer service, attention to detail and resilience (I was working night shifts). However, I am not sure whether this job makes me look like an interesting candidate with a unique experience or a questionable candidate with equally questionable career choices (I would like to think of myself as the former but I can see how some people may judge anything related to gambling).

Would you recommend including this casino job on the application form?

Yes, definitely recommend including it. It’s far more interesting and I don’t think anyone will think it is questionable.

 

[lawpersongirl123]

Hi! I have 2 questions
1) I have an interview with Jones Day soon. I have done one boutique law work experience and other consulting/banking experience. The truth is, that during my week at the law firm I pretty much did nothing. I observed some client meetings and did admin work, and proofread one leasehold contract- but no research task or anything of real value. I'm certain that the firm will ask me to speak more about my legal work experience. But I don't really know what to say. Could you advise me on this?

2) If an interviewer asked me about a commercial news story, should I speak about the legal implications within my answer? Or wait till they ask for a follow-up?

Thank you!

 

[applyingfortc]

Hello! Is it advised to study company law during a law degree? I did not choose this and I am worried that this will make me look like I am not interested to be a commercial lawyer?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello! Is it advised to study company law during a law degree? I did not choose this and I am worried that this will make me look like I am not interested to be a commercial lawyer?

You don't have to choose company law (or any other optional modules) - most law firms are recruiting non-law students who have never studied any law, let alone a specific subject/module.

However, if you are lacking evidence of pursuing a commercial legal career, studying modules like company law could help you evidence your preferences/choices and at least show you are trying to learn more about topics related to commercial law. However, you could show your willingness to do this through many other means - it doesn't have to be from your academic alone.

 

[applyingfortc]

You don't have to choose company law (or any other optional modules) - most law firms are recruiting non-law students who have never studied any law, let alone a specific subject/module.

However, if you are lacking evidence of pursuing a commercial legal career, studying modules like company law could help you evidence your preferences/choices and at least show you are trying to learn more about topics related to commercial law. However, you could show your willingness to do this through many other means - it doesn't have to be from your academic alone.

Thank you Jessica

I have had some evidence of pursuing commercial legal career (e.g. internships and open days). Just that it's not really reflected academically as I chose quite a number of human rights, criminal justice and family law modules - so that's my worry!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica

I have had some evidence of pursuing commercial legal career (e.g. internships and open days). Just that it's not really reflected academically as I chose quite a number of human rights, criminal justice and family law modules - so that's my worry!

When it comes to interviews, be prepared to be asked about this. It's not that its an issue, they will just want to hear your logic for choosing non-commercial modules if you wanted to pursue a commercial career (plenty of people do this though).

A lot of firms like people who actually have diverse interests, so sometimes being able to show this through academia can be a good thing, and especially when you can show evidence of your interest in commercial law elsewhere.

 

[Crystal86]

Hi @Jessica Booker, out of curiosity if someone interviewed with a firm before and was rejected, are they more likely to receive an offer if they receive an interview invite with the same firm the following year?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, out of curiosity if someone interviewed with a firm before and was rejected, are they more likely to receive an offer if they receive an interview invite with the same firm the following year?

Unfortunately I don’t think there is any correlation between being re-invited to interview a second time and securing an offer. To me this suggests the firm saw a lot of positives in both your applications, and also something in the first interview to consider you again, but that you’d still need to perform to the necessary standards that were not quite seen in the interview the first time around.

 

[Casual]

Hello @Jessica Booker

My question is about Open Day applications:

When making a point about wanting to learn X about a firm, do we need to justify why we want to know X and tie that point to our own experience/motivations, like we do in the vacation scheme apps?
Or will it suffice to mention what we already know + evidence, and then just say how the Open Day will help to learn more about that?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker

My question is about Open Day applications:

When making a point about wanting to learn X about a firm, do we need to justify why we want to know X and tie that point to our own experience/motivations, like we do in the vacation scheme apps?
Or will it suffice to mention what we already know + evidence, and then just say how the Open Day will help to learn more about that?

I prefer the first approach, but some applications often take both approaches you have suggested.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello, @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. My question is about the referees that a TC aspirant nominates so that the firm could speak to them (please correct me if I am wrong here but IMO I think this is the exact purpose that the referees serve). My question is, how many referees does a firm typically ask for, and do they have to be from our university, school or workplace?

I know this requirement is going to differ for all firms but generally, how many referees does an applicant require and what organisation should the referees belong to? I just graduated from university so I really feel like I should try my best to stay in touch with my teachers.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello, @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. My question is about the referees that a TC aspirant nominates so that the firm could speak to them (please correct me if I am wrong here but IMO I think this is the exact purpose that the referees serve). My question is, how many referees does a firm typically ask for, and do they have to be from our university, school or workplace?

I know this requirement is going to differ for all firms but generally, how many referees does an applicant require and what organisation should the referees belong to? I just graduated from university so I really feel like I should try my best to stay in touch with my teachers.

Thanks in advance.

It depends which stage you are talking about.

Pre offer it’s likely to only be two referees - one academic, one professional.

After offer and when you go through reference checking it will be all employers and all educational institutions within a certain period of time (likely to be in the last 3-7 years).

 

[Hus95]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Im currently a paralegal at a national law firm in the serious injury department. Its been a valuable experience and I have enjoyed it, having gained new skills and insight. whilst I am more inclined towards corporate law, im considering looking for a job in a different industry whilst applying for training contracts.

This is my first cycle since finishing my conversion course in 2020, mostly due a lack of confidence. im more motivated than ever and will be applying in every cycle from now on. Would leaving the sector be detrimental? i understand I can sell it as making me a more rounded candidate. would this be received well or would it be a mark against my application?

my main reasons are somewhat financial but also to explore other industries that I could then attempt to have my legal career be focussed on. As I never left home during university, I feel like its time for new surroundings as well. Im open to new paralegal roles, however they dont pay as well as other sectors and I am looking for something different, provided it doesn't hinder my applications.

Many thanks

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

It depends which stage you are talking about.

Pre offer it’s likely to only be two referees - one academic, one professional.

After offer and when you go through reference checking it will be all employers and all educational institutions within a certain period of time (likely to be in the last 3-7 years).

Thanks for the information @Jessica Booker . Just three follow-up questions, please.

1. I interned at a law firm in February 2022 and the partner that I interned with left and set up a new firm of his own. But, the firm is intact and everything else is working the way it should. Can I use this internship experience? I mean, during the reference checking process, do law firms contact individual partners as well or just the HR of the law firm?

2. I interned at a law firm in April 2022 but the firm got shut down due to some reasons. The partner that I worked with moved to another law firm with the entire team. Can I still use this internship experience in my applications? I have the certificate of internship and if need be, even the partner can confirm that I interned with her but I'm assuming that the firm that I interned with doesn't have an HR team now since the firm is no longer functioning. So, can I use this internship experience?

3. During the reference checking process, does the firm also confirm what work we did during the internship/ how good of a job we did or does the firm only check if we were there or not?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for the information @Jessica Booker . Just three follow-up questions, please.

1. I interned at a law firm in February 2022 and the partner that I interned with left and set up a new firm of his own. But, the firm is intact and everything else is working the way it should. Can I use this internship experience? I mean, during the reference checking process, do law firms contact individual partners as well or just the HR of the law firm?

2. I interned at a law firm in April 2022 but the firm got shut down due to some reasons. The partner that I worked with moved to another law firm with the entire team. Can I still use this internship experience in my applications? I have the certificate of internship and if need be, even the partner can confirm that I interned with her but I'm assuming that the firm that I interned with doesn't have an HR team now since the firm is no longer functioning. So, can I use this internship experience?

3. During the reference checking process, does the firm also confirm what work we did during the internship or does the firm only check if we were there or not?

Thanks in advance.

Hi @futuretraineesolicitor

You can use any experiences whether the company/organisation still exists or not, or whether people have moved on.

The reference process will contact the firm rather than the individual in the first instance to verify your work experience entry. If the company no longer exists, the reference people will contact you and see whether someone can still verify the experience (e.g. a colleague who has moved to another firm). In any instance where a reference cannot be obtained (whether through a firm or an individual) they will ask whether you have any proof of the experience. For instance, you may have written documentation confirming the internship; if it was a paid internship, you could show details of the salary you received.

Reference checks are highly unlikely to check the work you did during your time at a previous employer. It tends to be that they check your employment dates and job title. They could also ask whether there were any performance or conduct issues, but this tends to be the extent that references provide (mainly because often verifying the work you did is often impossible).

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi @futuretraineesolicitor

You can use any experiences whether the company/organisation still exists or not, or whether people have moved on.

The reference process will contact the firm rather than the individual in the first instance to verify your work experience entry. If the company no longer exists, the reference people will contact you and see whether someone can still verify the experience (e.g. a colleague who has moved to another firm). In any instance where a reference cannot be obtained (whether through a firm or an individual) they will ask whether you have any proof of the experience. For instance, you may have written documentation confirming the internship; if it was a paid internship, you could show details of the salary you received.

Reference checks are highly unlikely to check the work you did during your time at a previous employer. It tends to be that they check your employment dates and job title. They could also ask whether there were any performance or conduct issues, but this tends to be the extent that references provide (mainly because often verifying the work you did is often impossible).

Thank you so much for this answer.

 

[applyingfortc]

Hi, I was wondering if we are required to disclose our disability to commercial law firms? Is it fine if we choose not to disclose our disability? I would prefer not to disclose if possible.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I was wondering if we are required to disclose our disability to commercial law firms? Is it fine if we choose not to disclose our disability?

This is completely your choice - you don't have to disclose it at all.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the process to accommodate your disability in assessments though, I would strongly encourage you to disclose it at some point in the recruitment process and ahead of these assessments so that the reasonable adjustments can be applied.

If you do disclose your disability in an application, you have the right for it to be removed from any applications/documents that are shared with interviewers/assessors should you want to. You can also control what the firm/recruiters tells your interviews/assessors about your disability (if anything at all).

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello, @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Had a question regarding a work-ex entry. I interned with an Indian law firm which is insurance focussed and also shares a best-friends relationship with Kennedys. Does this UK connection make the work experience any different/convincing just because it was with a firm that shares a best-friends relationship with a UK firm? Does it show that I am interested in the UK legal market or do I have to talk about it explicitly (something along the lines of "I applied to firm X since I wanted an opportunity to work on matters that crossed into the UK jurisdiction)?

Q2 - Because 99% of my work was Insurance law related, does it disadvantage me in any manner if I use this work experience entry in applying to firms that do not do Insurance at a huge scale?

Thanks in advance.