Work Experience Section

[-legal-]

Hi, I am currently in the process of refining my work experience section and wanted to get some insight on the length/content of it.


"I had the opportunity to shadow a team of lawyers, primarily focusing on medical negligence cases. This experience provided a comprehensive view of legal practice, from case preparation to courtroom proceedings. My role was to observe daily tasks, including contract drafting and case preparation, and to attend court sessions to gain insight into how lawyers approach hearings and trials. I immersed myself in each task, closely observing the precision required in drafting documents and the meticulous preparation needed for cases. What I found most engaging was attending court, where I could see the dynamic nature of legal argumentation. I was struck by how lawyers adapted their tone, body language, and choice of words to suit different audiences, from judges to opposing counsel. The balance of assertiveness, respect, and strategic adjustment in their delivery inspired me, and I appreciated the skill required to present complex information with clarity and impact.

This experience reinforced my enthusiasm for the legal profession, particularly in roles that require both analytical skills and effective communication. I gained a deeper appreciation for attention to detail and strategic adaptability. My supervisor recognised my keen interest and dedication, giving me additional opportunities to observe client meetings."

Most of my work experience details are very similar to this, structure and length-wise.

I would appreciate any piece of advice or any reccomendations.

 

[yasmars]

My personal opinion is you should keep your work experience section factual. It should clearly outline what you did, any achievements that you gained, and it can also highlight some skills.

I don’t really think it’s necessary to outline how it links to your desire of becoming a lawyer. You should save that for the written application section, where you often have the word count to substantiate your desire for a legal career.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey @-legal- ,

Thanks for sharing. It looks really good. I have a few additional comments below;

• Some parts could be shortened to convey the same points in fewer words. This will ensure you hit the nail on the head and explain less of how you felt doing the tasks, and more of what you specifically did and/or any results obtained. How you feel is better included in the ‘why law’ answer.
• I usually use a combination of prose and bullet points to write the work experience section. I’ve included a specific example below using the well-written statement you provided above.

Example:

- Shadowed a team of lawyers, primarily focusing on medical negligence cases.
- Gained a comprehensive view of legal practice, from case preparation to courtroom proceedings.
- Observed daily tasks, including contract drafting and case preparation.
- Attended court sessions, gaining an insight into how lawyers approach hearings and trials. How do lawyers approach hearings and trials? Being specific here on what you observed will be great
- Closely observed the processes involved in drafting documents and the early preparation needed for cases. Are there any specific softwares used to draft these documents?Any legislation/research tools like LexisNexis? Name them.


The following points you included will be more suited to an answer on why commercial law:

NOTE: I especially liked how you included supervisor feedback as it showcases great proactivity and a commitment to continuous learning.

What I found most engaging was attending court, where I could see the dynamic nature of legal argumentation. I was struck by how lawyers adapted their tone, body language, and choice of words to suit different audiences, from judges to opposing counsel. The balance of assertiveness, respect, and strategic adjustment in their delivery inspired me, and I appreciated the skill required to present complex information with clarity and impact.

This experience reinforced my enthusiasm for the legal profession, particularly in roles that require both analytical skills and effective communication. I gained a deeper appreciation for attention to detail and strategic adaptability. My supervisor recognised my keen interest and dedication, giving me additional opportunities to observe client meetings.

I also recommend decreasing the use of words such as ‘struck’ as these may come across as too flowery. In answering why commercial law using the points above, you could also focus on why attending court appealed to you specifically. Did it spark an interest in litigation/arbitration? Are you applying to a firm that has a strong presence in contentious work? Including this in the why law section will enable you to build on it more fluidly in the ‘why X firm’ section.

 

[Lawlife5]

Hi @Amma Usman, for your work experience sections did you explicitly state skills or tie it into the role of a trainee and how your role will help in that? I have seen some firms mention doing this? thanks

 

[-legal-]

Hey @-legal- ,

Thanks for sharing. It looks really good. I have a few additional comments below;

• Some parts could be shortened to convey the same points in fewer words. This will ensure you hit the nail on the head and explain less of how you felt doing the tasks, and more of what you specifically did and/or any results obtained. How you feel is better included in the ‘why law’ answer.
• I usually use a combination of prose and bullet points to write the work experience section. I’ve included a specific example below using the well-written statement you provided above.

Example:

- Shadowed a team of lawyers, primarily focusing on medical negligence cases.
- Gained a comprehensive view of legal practice, from case preparation to courtroom proceedings.
- Observed daily tasks, including contract drafting and case preparation.
- Attended court sessions, gaining an insight into how lawyers approach hearings and trials. How do lawyers approach hearings and trials? Being specific here on what you observed will be great
- Closely observed the processes involved in drafting documents and the early preparation needed for cases. Are there any specific softwares used to draft these documents?Any legislation/research tools like LexisNexis? Name them.


The following points you included will be more suited to an answer on why commercial law:

NOTE: I especially liked how you included supervisor feedback as it showcases great proactivity and a commitment to continuous learning.

What I found most engaging was attending court, where I could see the dynamic nature of legal argumentation. I was struck by how lawyers adapted their tone, body language, and choice of words to suit different audiences, from judges to opposing counsel. The balance of assertiveness, respect, and strategic adjustment in their delivery inspired me, and I appreciated the skill required to present complex information with clarity and impact.

This experience reinforced my enthusiasm for the legal profession, particularly in roles that require both analytical skills and effective communication. I gained a deeper appreciation for attention to detail and strategic adaptability. My supervisor recognised my keen interest and dedication, giving me additional opportunities to observe client meetings.

I also recommend decreasing the use of words such as ‘struck’ as these may come across as too flowery. In answering why commercial law using the points above, you could also focus on why attending court appealed to you specifically. Did it spark an interest in litigation/arbitration? Are you applying to a firm that has a strong presence in contentious work? Including this in the why law section will enable you to build on it more fluidly in the ‘why X firm’ section.

Thank you for your feedback! In my current work experience I have only included what I did and I got an AC and an interview but I thought that it might be too short as it is around 60-80 words for each experience so that's why I wrote this threat to potentially improve it.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey @-legal- , no worries at all. The length is not particularly important so far as the tasks you completed and your main competencies are highlighted. The more detailed parts will be better placed in the motivational sections. Hope this helps and feel free to pop in any more questions

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Amma Usman, for your work experience sections did you explicitly state skills or tie it into the role of a trainee and how your role will help in that? I have seen some firms mention doing this? thanks

Hey @Lawlife5 , yep absolutely! I recommend including the skills after describing the tasks you completed. For example, in the following sentence or another bullet point solely covering skills acquired from the placement. @-legal- , I also recommend augmenting this into your responses as well. In my general approach, work experience sections shouldn’t be too wordy as the motivational questions will help you build on your experiences further.

 

[Ricimer25]

Hi @Amma Usman ! I am in the process of finalising my application for Clifford Chance's TC. I was hoping you could give me some pointers on whether the following would be an effective way answering the work experience section.

A bit of context - the guidance on the application form states that "When explaining the details of your work, we recommend you not only explain the role and responsibilities, but achievements of importance that are unique to you."
I also emailed the early talent recruitment team, and they clarified that they recommend "weaving in the skills you gained and why they are relevant to commercial law, and in particular, being a great Trainee at Clifford Chance specifically, throughout your answer."

Here is one of the answers I put:
[Experience - entry-level consultant at a boutique firm, non-UK based]

"My regular tasks included analysing data provided by clients, researching the market and industry the client operated in, and using the above to craft informed recommendations for the client. Finally, I would synthesis all the above into presentations to communicate our findings to the client. As I gained more experience, I took on greater responsibility and worked more independently, eventually leading small work groups.

In my major achievements in this role, I demonstrate skills that would make me an effective lawyer at Clifford Chance. I maintained a client focus; in my analysis of a private clinic’s operations, I identified the main obstacle that was preventing the client from achieving their business objectives: a lack of administrative staff meant that doctors had to keep track of patient appointments themselves. Due to their workload, doctors often forgot to send reminders to patients, meaning that the patients would miss appointments. I recommended that each department have a staff member charged with managing patient appointments, as departments with such a staff member had 20% fewer missed appointments. I also demonstrated a commercial mindset by identifying existing strengths within the client’s business that could be utilised more effectively. The private clinic had several experienced doctors who offered their patients bespoke treatment plans. By devising a standard pricing structure, and ensuring that these treatments were advertised to all the clinic’s customers, I helped increase the clinic’s revenue by $150,000 per year. These skills are particularly valuable to Clifford Chance because the firm prides itself on a client-led approach."

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Ricimer25 ,

Thank you for sharing your draft—it’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into it, and I think you’re on the right track. I have some suggestions to make it even stronger and align it more closely with CC’s values.

Grammar and Writing Style

Firstly, I noticed the frequent use of colons and dashes. While they can add clarity, overusing them can disrupt the flow of your writing. To make your points more compelling, try varying sentence structures and using transitional phrases.

Instead of:

My regular tasks included analysing data provided by clients, researching the market and industry the client operated in, and using the above to craft informed recommendations for the client.

You could say:

In this role, I regularly analysed client data and conducted market research, which enabled me to deliver informed and actionable recommendations tailored to their industry and needs.

This approach is smoother and avoids overloading the reader with too many clauses.

Structure and Content

The structure of your answer is good, but I think it could be even more engaging if you intertwine your responsibilities, achievements, and the skills gained more naturally. This would align closely with the guidance from grad recruitment to “weave in” how your experience relates to Clifford Chance.

For instance, instead of describing your tasks first and adding achievements later, try framing each responsibility as a skill you developed that makes you a strong candidate.

For example:

In my role as an entry-level consultant, I honed my analytical and problem-solving skills by identifying obstacles hindering a private clinic’s business objectives. I discovered that a lack of administrative staff was preventing doctors from managing patient appointments effectively, leading to missed appointments. By recommending a targeted solution—allocating dedicated administrative staff to manage appointments—I demonstrated both a client-focused approach and the ability to think commercially. This recommendation addressed the clinic’s immediate challenges and also aligns with Clifford Chance’s commitment to delivering impactful, client-led solutions.

This approach integrates tasks, skills, and achievements into a single narrative, making the connection to Clifford Chance’s values more seamless.

Showcasing Skills and Relevance

Your example about increasing the clinic’s revenue by $150,000 is excellent—it shows tangible results and demonstrates a commercial mindset. However, you could expand on how the skills you used (e.g., identifying revenue opportunities, devising actionable strategies) are directly relevant to the work of a Clifford Chance trainee.

For example:

The ability to identify commercial opportunities, such as increasing the clinic’s revenue by $150,000 through a standardised pricing structure, mirrors the analytical and strategic thinking required in Clifford Chance’s corporate transactions team. This experience reinforced my ability to navigate complex business challenges, ensuring that client outcomes are both innovative and value-driven. These are qualities I would bring to the firm as a trainee.

Connecting to Clifford Chance

At the end of your answer, instead of a general statement like “These skills are particularly valuable to Clifford Chance because the firm prides itself on a client-led approach,” consider being more specific. Highlight how Clifford Chance’s values resonate with your experience.

For example:

This experience reflects the skills I would bring to Clifford Chance, a firm known for its focus on delivering tailored solutions to its clients. By combining analytical rigour with a commercial mindset, I am confident in my ability to meet the high standards expected of a trainee and contribute meaningfully to the firm’s innovative and client-centric approach.

Final Thoughts

Overall, you’ve got a great foundation. The answer is really good and the achievements are excellent. By refining the structure, weaving in skills more subtly, and explicitly linking your achievements to Clifford Chance’s values, you can make your answer much more memorable.

I hope this feedback helps! Let me know if you have any more questions

 

[Sad_Old_Grad]

Hi there, @Amma Usman, I am also currently working on my Clifford Chance application and have really struggled with the work experience section. I don't suppose you would mind providing me with some advice/feedback on the following couple of examples I have included? Thank you!

Role (junior legal assistant, non-UK organisation].

I liaised with foreign publications, museums, and archives to ensure the legal use of their materials in [organisation's] online resources. Drafting contractual agreements related to international copyright law provided me with first-hand experience in ensuring compliance with legal standards while navigating uncertain international legal issues across multiple languages. I was responsible for maximising the volume of material obtained at the most cost-effective rates, while ensuring all acquisitions were legally sound. This often involved extensive communication, as I needed to identify the rightful copyright holders, which was not always straightforward. In some cases, the relevant rights were held by private individuals rather than the associated museum or publication, necessitating careful investigation, followed by negotiations to ensure that our compensation and usage agreements aligned with the copyright holder’s expectations.

Role (intern)

I assisted a solicitor on a number of (primarily pro-bono) competition law cases. My role involved providing support to litigants in person by understanding the clients’ needs before advising them on which arguments to present at tribunals and the best techniques to observe during a cross-examination. This was underpinned by preparatory work in the form of legal research (finding relevant case law and using it for the construction of initial arguments) and assembling bundles. The work equipped me with essential client-facing skills, a meticulous approach to legal research, an appreciation of the importance of detail in complex legal matters, insights into the practicalities of dealing with actual legal cases, the skills to assume prime responsibility for the quality and content of my work, and a more thorough understanding of competition law. The main case in which I assisted involved a claim brought by the client against a wholesale supplier under the Competition Act 1998. My responsibilities included, inter alia, researching whether the terms and conditions attached to an invoice amounted to a Selective Distribution Agreement (SDA) and whether prohibiting sales through channels such as a second website without an SDA might be viewed as a hard-core restriction. The process resulted in a favourable outcome for the client, with the Tribunal finding unanimously that the supplier’s distribution system lacked transparency and employed some quantitative criteria, applied in a discriminatory manner.

 

[Sad_Old_Grad]

Hi there, @Amma Usman, I am also currently working on my Clifford Chance application and have really struggled with the work experience section. I don't suppose you would mind providing me with some advice/feedback on the following couple of examples I have included? Thank you!

Role (junior legal assistant, non-UK organisation].

I liaised with foreign publications, museums, and archives to ensure the legal use of their materials in [organisation's] online resources. Drafting contractual agreements related to international copyright law provided me with first-hand experience in ensuring compliance with legal standards while navigating uncertain international legal issues across multiple languages. I was responsible for maximising the volume of material obtained at the most cost-effective rates, while ensuring all acquisitions were legally sound. This often involved extensive communication, as I needed to identify the rightful copyright holders, which was not always straightforward. In some cases, the relevant rights were held by private individuals rather than the associated museum or publication, necessitating careful investigation, followed by negotiations to ensure that our compensation and usage agreements aligned with the copyright holder’s expectations.

Role (intern)

I assisted a solicitor on a number of (primarily pro-bono) competition law cases. My role involved providing support to litigants in person by understanding the clients’ needs before advising them on which arguments to present at tribunals and the best techniques to observe during a cross-examination. This was underpinned by preparatory work in the form of legal research (finding relevant case law and using it for the construction of initial arguments) and assembling bundles. The work equipped me with essential client-facing skills, a meticulous approach to legal research, an appreciation of the importance of detail in complex legal matters, insights into the practicalities of dealing with actual legal cases, the skills to assume prime responsibility for the quality and content of my work, and a more thorough understanding of competition law. The main case in which I assisted involved a claim brought by the client against a wholesale supplier under the Competition Act 1998. My responsibilities included, inter alia, researching whether the terms and conditions attached to an invoice amounted to a Selective Distribution Agreement (SDA) and whether prohibiting sales through channels such as a second website without an SDA might be viewed as a hard-core restriction. The process resulted in a favourable outcome for the client, with the Tribunal finding unanimously that the supplier’s distribution system lacked transparency and employed some quantitative criteria, applied in a discriminatory manner.

Sorry to keep bothering you @Amma Usman, I am just getting a little anxious

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi there, @Amma Usman, I am also currently working on my Clifford Chance application and have really struggled with the work experience section. I don't suppose you would mind providing me with some advice/feedback on the following couple of examples I have included? Thank you!

Role (junior legal assistant, non-UK organisation].

I liaised with foreign publications, museums, and archives to ensure the legal use of their materials in [organisation's] online resources. Drafting contractual agreements related to international copyright law provided me with first-hand experience in ensuring compliance with legal standards while navigating uncertain international legal issues across multiple languages. I was responsible for maximising the volume of material obtained at the most cost-effective rates, while ensuring all acquisitions were legally sound. This often involved extensive communication, as I needed to identify the rightful copyright holders, which was not always straightforward. In some cases, the relevant rights were held by private individuals rather than the associated museum or publication, necessitating careful investigation, followed by negotiations to ensure that our compensation and usage agreements aligned with the copyright holder’s expectations.

Role (intern)

I assisted a solicitor on a number of (primarily pro-bono) competition law cases. My role involved providing support to litigants in person by understanding the clients’ needs before advising them on which arguments to present at tribunals and the best techniques to observe during a cross-examination. This was underpinned by preparatory work in the form of legal research (finding relevant case law and using it for the construction of initial arguments) and assembling bundles. The work equipped me with essential client-facing skills, a meticulous approach to legal research, an appreciation of the importance of detail in complex legal matters, insights into the practicalities of dealing with actual legal cases, the skills to assume prime responsibility for the quality and content of my work, and a more thorough understanding of competition law. The main case in which I assisted involved a claim brought by the client against a wholesale supplier under the Competition Act 1998. My responsibilities included, inter alia, researching whether the terms and conditions attached to an invoice amounted to a Selective Distribution Agreement (SDA) and whether prohibiting sales through channels such as a second website without an SDA might be viewed as a hard-core restriction. The process resulted in a favourable outcome for the client, with the Tribunal finding unanimously that the supplier’s distribution system lacked transparency and employed some quantitative criteria, applied in a discriminatory manner.

Hey @Sad_Old_Grad ,

Thanks for sending this through. Also, please never feel like it’s a bother - we’re here to help! I also completely get how nerve twitching the whole process can be. I’ve provided some detailed feedback below;

Role (Junior Legal Assistant, Non-UK Organisation)

1. The reference to ensuring "the legal use of materials" is a great start, but it would be even more impactful to specify how this was achieved. For instance, did you apply particular provisions of international copyright law or specific treaties, such as the Berne Convention or any jurisdiction-specific regulations? Mentioning these can demonstrate a deeper understanding of the legal frameworks you navigated and show the complexity of your work.
2. Highlighting the multilingual aspect of your work can showcase your ability to navigate multi-jurisdictional matters. Specify the languages involved and how they added complexity to your tasks. Did you translate or interpret legal texts, or liaise with parties who communicated in different languages?
3. There’s a slight disjoint between the second and third sentences. For example, "I was (also) responsible for maximising…" would improve the connection and help clarify that the cost-effectiveness and legal soundness efforts were part of a larger strategy, tying them back to the earlier discussion on compliance.
4. While the description is strong, it could benefit from showcasing the outcomes or achievements more explicitly. For instance, how successful were you in securing cost-effective agreements? Were there instances where you resolved particularly challenging copyright issues? Numbers or examples of high-stakes situations could add significant weight.
5. The last sentence is excellent as it demonstrates an understanding of the distinction between private individuals and businesses in a commercial legal context. Consider elaborating briefly on how you adapted your communication and negotiation strategy in such cases. Did it require softer negotiation skills or additional legal investigation?

Role (Intern)

1. Replace brackets with dashes or commas for a more seamless and polished flow. For example, “primarily pro-bono” could be written with dashes or with commas for clarity.
2. The section does a great job of showcasing your skills, but it could be even more concise in listing the competencies gained. Instead of stating them as a series, consider weaving them into the narrative. For example: "The preparatory work, including meticulous legal research, constructing arguments, and assembling bundles, developed my client-facing skills and provided a practical appreciation of the importance of detail in complex legal matters." Dashes could also be used here instead.
3. The explanation of your role in the main case is detailed and insightful. However, you could further emphasise how your research contributed to the outcome. For example: "My research into the supplier's distribution system and its discriminatory practices directly supported the client’s claim, with the Tribunal unanimously finding in their favour."
4. While the use of terms like "Selective Distribution Agreement (SDA)" and "hard-core restriction" is appropriate, consider briefly explaining them for clarity if this section is aimed at non-specialist readers or recruiters unfamiliar with competition law specifics. This ensures accessibility without undermining the technical detail.
5. Although the section focuses well on your individual contributions, adding a line about collaborating with the solicitor or supporting clients could showcase teamwork skills, which are equally valued. For example: "Working closely with the solicitor, I developed an understanding of how to align legal research with practical client needs, ensuring that tribunal arguments were legally sound and also comprehensible to litigants in person."
6. The concluding sentence summarises the case outcome well, but you might strengthen it by connecting the client’s success back to your specific contribution. For instance: “The research I conducted on the supplier's selective distribution system proved pivotal to the Tribunal's unanimous decision."

My Final Thoughts: Both sections are very strong and reflect a high level of legal competence and understanding. With slight refinements, such as improving flow, adding specificity, and weaving achievements into the narrative, I believe they could become even more compelling.

Great job and best of luck with the apps…!!!