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Aspiring Solicitors - Commercial Awareness Competition 2019/2020.
- Thread starter Lumree
- Start date
I reached the semifinals last year so I thought I'd share my bit of advice in terms of preparation:
1. Make sure you are well aware of the companies at FTSE 1000 - who are they, in what industries, what are their business models, any big moves?
2. Read the FT Opinion stuff if you have access to it.
3. Finimize is absolutely wonderful - I took notes of the key commercial events the week before my quarterfinals and used lots of examples in the interview.
4. Make sure you are familiar with basic commercial terms - derivatives, bonds, equity etc.
5. Read a bit on the role of business development in law firms to establish a sound two-dimensional understanding: 1. The business climate of the law firm's clients and 2. The way in which law firms attract clients in the first place and how they operate as businesses.
6. Listen to Wake-Up to money and follow up on things you find interesting there.
Best of luck to you all!
1. Make sure you are well aware of the companies at FTSE 1000 - who are they, in what industries, what are their business models, any big moves?
2. Read the FT Opinion stuff if you have access to it.
3. Finimize is absolutely wonderful - I took notes of the key commercial events the week before my quarterfinals and used lots of examples in the interview.
4. Make sure you are familiar with basic commercial terms - derivatives, bonds, equity etc.
5. Read a bit on the role of business development in law firms to establish a sound two-dimensional understanding: 1. The business climate of the law firm's clients and 2. The way in which law firms attract clients in the first place and how they operate as businesses.
6. Listen to Wake-Up to money and follow up on things you find interesting there.
Best of luck to you all!
Last edited:
Hi, I am also taking part in the competition this year. Could I also join the group?
Hi Laurence,
Not at all - if you just drop me a private message with your contact details I can add you to the chat.
Callum
I did it last year but that was face to face in person but I would imagine the format is the same ..albeit on a voice call. So they basically go round the table asking question one by one until the 20 mins are over - they normally ask small questions like what does seperate personality mean - what’s LLP - Some times they may ask a longer one but the answer won’t be more th an 1-2 sentences
if you still need anything or advice - drop me a pm and we can discuss there ! Hope that helps all the best
Hi everyone, I am not entering the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition this year, but I was top 25 finalist last year. Great Idea for reading FT articles daily, definitely got into the habit of this for months helped make understanding business and political issues more clearly.
For general advice on learning terms, I would highly recommend The Finimize glossary for extensive list of financial terms. Additionally, The Christopher Stoakes Commercial Awareness book is a great read to gain a detailed overview of key financial markets and terms.
My best advice for the competition overall is get a group of friends participating together, to work on building commercial awareness - I worked with 3 other students to write notes, news summaries and discussed topics together. This made going into presentations during the Semi/Grand Final more easier process because we encouraged each other to learn from one another.
Feel free to ask any further questions, happy to help! Good luck everyone!
Hi
Can I get pointers specifically for the quarter-final round?
Hi everyone, I am not entering the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition this year, but I was top 25 finalist last year. Great Idea for reading FT articles daily, definitely got into the habit of this for months helped make understanding business and political issues more clearly.
For general advice on learning terms, I would highly recommend The Finimize glossary for extensive list of financial terms. Additionally, The Christopher Stoakes Commercial Awareness book is a great read to gain a detailed overview of key financial markets and terms.
My best advice for the competition overall is get a group of friends participating together, to work on building commercial awareness - I worked with 3 other students to write notes, news summaries and discussed topics together. This made going into presentations during the Semi/Grand Final more easier process because we encouraged each other to learn from one another.
Feel free to ask any further questions, happy to help! Good luck everyone!
I am participating in the competition this year and your advice is SUPER helpful! The email circulated among participants does not really specify what to prepare for, they only talk in general topic areas, like financial instrument, commercial concepts, etc. The Finimize glossary is exactly what I was looking for and would have never found it if it wasn't for this thread! It explains all concepts in much detail and still very succinctly. I purchased the Stoakes book yesterday and it has already enhanced my understanding massively.
