Shearman & Sterling

[S87]

Apologies if these questions were already posted

I am applying to Shearman and I wanted to receive some tips on how to approach the 2 main questions:

As one of only a handful of elite, international law firms, how do you think Shearman & Sterling LLP maintains its competitive advantage? 250 words

Please use this space to explain your interest in pursuing a legal career at a city law firm, and your interest in Shearman & Sterling LLP. 250 words

For the first one, do you think I should compare the firm to its competitors and just mention what makes the firm successful?

For what concerns the second questions, is it basically asking me to write only about shearman or city law firm and shearman?

Thank you very much for your help

 

[Jaysen]

You will probably find this thread helpful: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/shearman-sterling.62/. We also did an insight on Shearman back then: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/shearman-sterling.62/.

To answer your questions - 1. That's definitely one way to approach it. The best answers to this question I've seen are specific, clear and backed up with evidence. 2. The latter. Write about why you want a legal career at a city law firm and your interest in Shearman & Sterling.

 

[Alice G]

Hey guys,

I was going to submit a winter app for Shearman but didn't in the end and when I came back to review my app I am glad I didn't send it back then.

I was approaching the first question like 'why Shearman is different to MC and UK origin firms, i.e. US and UK law capability and then how Shearman is different to US firms in London who the former also applies to. I was then going to have a third point about international strategy and how that links to law firm profitability and costs.

With the second question how many words of the 250 do you think we should discuss the why a legal career at a city firm? Also, is it a matter of why law and why the city or just why law in the city? Apologies if that distinction is unclear.

As for the third, I am not so worried about this but have tried to just structure it well

How does this sound do you reckon?

 

[Hazal]

Hey guys,

I was going to submit a winter app for Shearman but didn't in the end and when I came back to review my app I am glad I didn't send it back then.

I was approaching the first question like 'why Shearman is different to MC and UK origin firms, i.e. US and UK law capability and then how Shearman is different to US firms in London who the former also applies to. I was then going to have a third point about international strategy and how that links to law firm profitability and costs.

With the second question how many words of the 250 do you think we should discuss the why a legal career at a city firm? Also, is it a matter of why law and why the city or just why law in the city? Apologies if that distinction is unclear.

As for the third, I am not so worried about this but have tried to just structure it well

How does this sound do you reckon?

Hi Alice,

For the first question, I think there are many approaches and all are OK as long as you have answered the question and refer back to it as many times as possible. It's not a case of saying what makes Shearman different, it's why that difference gives them an advantage, so don't lose sight of that.

2nd question) Use around half, no need to be strict and use exactly half. Also your last point about why law in the city is the right one. City law is so different to high-street law or government law but also different to big law firms in regional areas as well.

3rd question) Do not worry. This one, grad rec have literally said they want to see who you are and if there's more to you than your work experience and grades. Write what you can and then go back and edit and make it read well.

 

[Alice G]

Hi Alice,

For the first question, I think there are many approaches and all are OK as long as you have answered the question and refer back to it as many times as possible. It's not a case of saying what makes Shearman different, it's why that difference gives them an advantage, so don't lose sight of that.

2nd question) Use around half, no need to be strict and use exactly half. Also your last point about why law in the city is the right one. City law is so different to high-street law or government law but also different to big law firms in regional areas as well.

3rd question) Do not worry. This one, grad rec have literally said they want to see who you are and if there's more to you than your work experience and grades. Write what you can and then go back and edit and make it read well.

Hi Hazal,

Thank you so much for your response

I appreciate you highlighting the need to refer to the competitive advantage specifically - I will keep that in mind with every sentence i write

I think I might aim for 100 words because I would like a bit of extra space to discuss the 'why Shearman' i think but thank you again for your guidance with this, i was really unsure. It was a similar thing with HSF and I weighted one part slightly less than the other there as well.

I am sure i remember you detailed notes from a shearman open day, is that correct? I wondered if you might be able to remind me where this was posted if this is the case?

 

[Dolores]

Hi Hazal,

Thank you so much for your response

I appreciate you highlighting the need to refer to the competitive advantage specifically - I will keep that in mind with every sentence i write

I think I might aim for 100 words because I would like a bit of extra space to discuss the 'why Shearman' i think but thank you again for your guidance with this, i was really unsure. It was a similar thing with HSF and I weighted one part slightly less than the other there as well.

I am sure i remember you detailed notes from a shearman open day, is that correct? I wondered if you might be able to remind me where this was posted if this is the case?

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/shearman-sterling-open-day-notes.729/

 

[Alice G]

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/shearman-sterling-open-day-notes.729/

Ahh thank you very much indeed! Thank you Hazal for posting this in the first place as well, it is really kind of you and I am sure it has helped so many people on here already!