Hi there!
In an answer to the question about describing an experience with an unexpected obstacle, I suggest focusing on professional examples that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and resilience.
I’ve included a few key points to consider:
1. Select a Relevant Experience: Choose a professional scenario, such as managing a society, reviewing contracts, or working on a project where you encountered an unforeseen challenge. This could include things like dealing with a sudden change in project scope, unexpected regulatory requirements, or conflicts within a team.
2. Use a Structured Approach: When crafting your response, consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to organize your thoughts. This will help you clearly articulate the situation, your role, the actions you took to overcome the obstacle, and the outcomes.
3. Focus on Impact: Highlight the positive outcomes of your actions, such as how you were able to maintain team morale, meet deadlines despite challenges, or improve processes based on what you learned from the experience.
4. Tailor Your Examples: It's also important to adapt your examples to the specific context of each application. While the general structure can remain the same, you might want to emphasize different aspects of the experience based on what each firm values, such as teamwork, adaptability, or leadership (etc).
For instance, if you faced an unexpected legal issue while reviewing contracts that could have delayed a project, you could discuss how you quickly identified the problem, consulted with stakeholders, and proposed a solution that allowed the project to proceed on time.
As for the second part of your question, I view an unexpected obstacle and challenge as synonymous with one another. An unexpected obstacle would be a challenge in itself, so you could consider approaching both questions in a similar way.
Hey @KBanana
These are really great questions. I’ve included some tips below and some examples. Feel free to adapt your responses in the actual application form with your genuine interests and experiences!
1. What would be challenging for you as a trainee, and how would you overcome that?
One challenge trainees typically face is adapting to the firm’s internal technologies and databases, including document management platforms, internal project management software, and communication tools. To navigate this, it’s crucial to show initiative and proactivity. Law firms want to see that you’re taking responsibility for your learning, so it's not enough to say, “I would ask my supervisor.” Instead, emphasise how you’d go the extra mile by spending additional time to familiarise yourself with these tools. You could mention setting aside time outside of your daily tasks to practise using the software until you’re proficient. For example, you could review available online tutorials or training materials to master these tools more efficiently. The goal is to show that you’re dedicated to becoming well-versed with these platforms and are actively working towards being able to use them independently over time, which would demonstrate your ability to handle workloads efficiently and your commitment to adding value to the team.
2. What are some of the main challenges you faced?
For this question, you could discuss a professional challenge you encountered, either in a prior role or as part of your transition from university to a professional environment. While the question doesn’t directly ask how you overcame the challenge, it’s wise to address this as it shows resilience and growth. Think of a time when you encountered a steep learning curve—perhaps when adapting to a fast-paced role or meeting high expectations for accuracy under tight deadlines. Describe how you proactively addressed the situation by, for example, seeking feedback from supervisors, refining your time management techniques, or setting structured goals to track your progress. Demonstrating this shows that you don’t shy away from challenges and are adaptable in overcoming them.
3. Who would be your dream client?
For this question, your “dream client” doesn’t need to be an existing client of the firm, though some firms do appreciate the “reverse approach” of mentioning one of their clients as a dream client. Generally, you can choose a client in an industry or sector you’re genuinely interested in. Start by explaining why that sector appeals to you before discussing specifics about the client’s operations. For example, if you’re interested in renewable energy, you could mention a company focused on developing sustainable technologies. Discuss how the growth and innovation in renewable energy align with your interests in environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. Giving an example of the challenges a client in that sector might face, such as navigating regulations or expanding into international markets, can further demonstrate your understanding of the industry.
4. If you had a million dollars, what would you invest in right now?
For this question, you might start by saying, “First of all, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn’t invest all of it!” Highlighting the importance of diversification can make your answer more strategic. Mention that you would avoid putting all your eggs in one basket and would likely invest only a portion in a high-growth area like energy. Energy is an ever-relevant sector because of the global demand for natural resources, which is likely to remain consistently high. For example, energy scarcity and high demand have led many industries—including law firms—to see value in sectors like energy, with some firms even relocating to regions like the Middle East due to its energy production capabilities. You could allocate another portion to healthcare and retail, both of which have been highly attractive to private equity investors recently. Here, you can reference how you could enter as an institutional investor or high-net-worth individual to take advantage of the long-term growth these sectors offer. And after an 8-10 year period, you could plan to exit your investment for an optimal return, showcasing both your interest in growth and your understanding of strategic long-term investments.
Hope this helps!
