As direct training contract applications open and the very last stretch of the 2020/2021 application cycle approaches, OSCOLA spoke with two of our members, Arista Lai and Tian Ma, to get their top tips on how to make successful vacation scheme and training contract applications! In total, both of them have received 13 vacation scheme offers from international firms and they have both received multiple training contract offers. Having distilled their combined experience, here are their top tips in our quick-fire interview!
What is commercial awareness to you and how did you develop it?
Being able to think from the perspectives of law firms’ clients e.g. corporates, banks, investors, etc
Being generally aware and curious about commercial matters
Reading financial news from reputable sources e.g. Financial Times, The Economist
Developing business and financial acumen
Financial technicals - have a basic understanding of financial accounting (3 financial statements – balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement), business concepts (profit/loss, financial multiples/valuations) and how law firm’s clients’ might apply these concepts
Reading widely until you find out what you’re interested in, then reading specifically around these topics to develop a depth of understanding with respect to that subject
Having an awareness of the demands and scope of a commercial lawyer’s job
Understanding lawyers’ roles in catering to clients’ corporate needs by applying legal concepts
Knowing the phases of the deal process, how drafting and contract terms can help protect clients’ corporate interests e.g. commercial covenants, representations, indemnities, warranties, condition precedents
Did you have an overarching application strategy?
Start early (most firms open applications around September) and decide what type(s) of firms to apply to
There are vague categories that would largely have similar expectations of potential trainees, e.g. Magic Circle, large global (Baker McKenzie, White & Case), elite American White Shoe (Davis Polk, Shearman & Sterling)
Spot overlaps in application questions to streamline the process e.g. why do you want to be a City solicitor?
Decide how many firms you want to apply to, and when to apply to them, as well as for which opportunity
Calendarise applications efficiently to maximise chances of conversion and minimise overlapping time frames – some firms have Winter schemes, some have Spring, some only have Summer
Take note of which firms have rolling applications – do these first, otherwise, spots may be filled up before you have the chance to apply
How did you choose the firms you applied to?
Look at practice area/client specialisations and apply to the firms that suit your interests e.g. Vinson & Elkins does oil and gas, Milbank does finance, Kirkland & Ellis does private equity
Training style/intake size
Magic Circle and American firms tend to have very different training styles – the Magic Circle take more trainees and have more structured and formal training; US firms are more lean and expect trainees to learn on the job with less guidance
Going to Open Days or firm presentations
Vibe check
Meeting members of the firm
Collecting information that might not be available on the website
How best can someone research firms they are interested in applying to?
Websites with resources and rankings
Legal Cheek
Chambers UK/Student
Legal500
TCLA (For interview tips too)
Firm websites
LinkedIn – follow the firm’s page and/or key partners at the firm
Google – use the “” function
Asking friends or seniors who have trained or done vacation schemes at the firms
How did you write about your work experience?
Show, don’t tell
Emphasise your responsibilities/role
Explain what initiatives you took and how you went about tackling your work
Evidence what you did – quantify key
Link it back to what you might have to do as a trainee at the firm
Consider transferable skills that your experiences have helped develop
How did you make your written applications stand out?
Think one step ahead – ask yourself what firms are looking for from, or testing using, each question
Commercial awareness questions
Research your topic well and in-depth
Tailor your chosen topic to the firm’s practice area/industry specialisations
Choose a topic that is recent and prominent, not too niche, but definitely not too broad e.g. not “Brexit”, rather “the impact of Brexit on the derivatives trade in London”
Tailor all answers to the firm
Make sure that even if you don’t mention the firm’s name, someone reading your answer can tell which firm you are applying to
Avoid copying and pasting answers to questions other than personal ones
Competency questions
Don’t assert that you have a certain skill, rather describe a situation where you demonstrated such a skill
Be descriptive and thorough
How did you prepare for online tests?
Watson Glaser
Practise a lot in advance
Oxford Careers Service have a free JobTestPrep subscription for students
Some firms also have practice tests on their websites or after you start the application
Read up on what exactly each segment is looking for e.g. deduction requires some knowledge of logic
Situational judgment tests
Check graduate recruitment or firm websites for the key traits they want from their trainees
Keep these in mind when answering questions, use common sense
Be aware of the tradeoffs you are being asked to choose between
Do you have any tips for video interviews?
Prepare extensively for predictable questions e.g. why this firm, why commercial law
Use the given preparation time before starting to answer and after being given the question to brainstorm – you can even jot down keywords
Watch the timer very closely when speaking so you don’t get cut off mid-sentence, but try not to leave spare time as this may look like you don’t have more to say
Practise with a timer – usually, you are given 90-150 seconds per answer
Have good structure
Lay out major points before elaborating
Use STAR method for competency questions
Signpost clearly
Present yourself in the best light possible
Take it seriously as though it is a sit-down in-person interview
Dress formally
Be enthusiastic and engaging
How did you prepare for assessment centres and interviews?
Know the format
Check websites and forums for information on how past assessment centres at the firm were carried out
Usually, there might be an HR interview (personality, competencies, motivations); partner interview (case study, work experience, interest in the firm); timed written assessment; group interview
Prepare bullet point answers to obvious questions
Research the firm, especially its recent deals
Brush up on current events and commercial awareness e.g. reading thought leadership articles
Interviews
Keep a formal tone while also showing your personality, don’t be afraid to make a few witty comments
Be truthful and detailed
Show off without showing off – be confident and prove to interviewers that you would be an asset to their firm
Don’t be afraid to acknowledge weaknesses or failures, but show what you learned from them and how you overcame them
What was your approach to written assessments?
Leave time at the end to check word choice, language, organisation, spelling, grammar, punctuation
Ensure that formatting is appropriate for the prompt or the medium of communication
Pay attention to detail in the information packet – the more specific you can be, the better
What was the most difficult question you have been asked in an interview? How did you respond?
Questions about biggest mistakes made and biggest regrets
Important to consciously reflect on weaknesses as well as strengths and have a strong sense of self-awareness, showing a desire to improve
Do you have any other advice or tips for aspiring solicitors?
Tian Ma: Spend more time learning deal mechanisms and financial accounting.
Arista Lai: Know that everything is cumulative – your experience, your effort, all the applications you have written in the past and events you have attended etc. will make a difference in the end, so make sure to exploit the full extent of your opportunities. If you fail, seek constructive feedback and be resilient enough to bounce back better. You have to believe in yourself before you can convince a firm to believe in you and invest in you!
We hope you took away some useful tips from them and wish you the best of luck for your applications!
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