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Generally, I’d say there is not really much to prepare for with regards most law firms - a lot of it will be on the job. That said, having a good grasp of certain key things beforehand will help. For example, for some firms, you will be asked to choose your seat preferences beforehand. From a candidate‘s perspective, a candidate typically chooses an area they know a lot about because they think this will give them the most chances of conversion. This is not a bad approach from some angles, but it is important to be mindful of the missed opportunity from learning about another area of law, from a practical standpoint. Therefore, I would say be open minded with seat options. I’ve spoken to many lawyers who say their qualification options shocked them, so this should be the kind of mindset you carry into a VS as well.

The next thing is to practice your networking skills. There is always talks about an elevator pitch, which is good, but be prepared to sway slightly from it so as to not appear robotic during socials, for example.

Another thing is coffee chats. If there are any areas of law that interest you, it may be worth scheduling coffee chats with people in the firm to learn more about the firm’s approach to certain niches/practices, and so on.

The last thing I have to say is the most understated - be yourself. Law firms want to hire people, at the end of the day. Enjoy the process and make the most of the experience! Feed your inquisitive mind, ask questions…learn!!!