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- Applications and Interviews
Welcome to the Applications & Interviews section…
This is the applications and interviews section, explore the links to find out what firms expect and to see what you are can do to make sure you are as prepared as possible.
There is also the careers advice section on AllAboutCareers, with CV tips, Interview tips, how to write a covering letter and how to deal with job applications.
- Applications and Interviews
Assessment days can be a scary experience, but they doesn’t have to be
Here comes another hurdle...
- Applications and Interviews
Paper applications are still used by many firms
Although most applications for city firms are now all online, many smaller law firms still opt for the traditional paper application. With the recession forcing even the largest of legal employers to scale back, the covering letter might well be on a come back as graduates seek opportunities elsewhere. Before we continue, here is also a section on AllAboutCareers that talks about How to write a covering letter.
- Applications and Interviews
The final face-to-face hurdle…
The final stage of the application process...
- Applications and Interviews
Online applications play host to the biggest cull of candidates
Online applications; we all have to go through them!
- Applications and Interviews
Sum up your life on paper!
The CV: Tell me all about yourself...
- Applications and Interviews
Get through this and you are almost there…
Having survived the first hurdle of having your application shortlisted, you will come to another crucial milestone – the interview.
- Applications and Interviews
Advice from personal experience…
My perspective on interviews is that they are very much akin to a first date. People in general get way too nervous about them, sweat too much and end up giving a completely false impression of what they are actually like.
- Applications and Interviews
Or is better to think inside the box?
“I have always been committed to a career in law. This dedication, as my parents avidly say, started around the time of my first words, aged 18 months, when sitting quietly in my pram, I muttered the words “res ipsa loquitur” [the thing speaks for itself].”
- Applications and Interviews
It doesn’t have to be as bad as you think
All that stands between you and that coveted Pupillage or Training Contract are a few hours of high intensity questioning, immense stress and a platter of sandwiches with coffee for lunch.
- Applications and Interviews
Top ten tips from the inside
Law firms are increasingly using assessment centres to recruit for both training contracts and vacation schemes. Follow the tips below to ensure you showcase your strengths during the day.
- Applications and Interviews
Work experience can be the vital ingredient needed impress after uni
Virtually every employer will ask for ‘relevant work experience’ as part of their job requirements. That leaves the issue, how do I convince somebody to take me on for a week or two with so many others looking to do the same thing?
- Applications and Interviews
Covering letters are a chance to grap the employer’s attention
Covering letters are more widely used than you think...
- Applications and Interviews
When they say they want exceptional candidates what does that mean?
We can read all the advice in the world but we thought what better way to show you how to write a CV than providing you with a sample that has actually worked.
The owner of this lovely CV is a trainee at a Magic Circle Firm and although the personal details have been changed everything else remains the same. If you want to work for one of the best firms they will expect a lot read on to see what types of things they will expect.
PLEASE NOTE!This is an example CV, not a perfect template. Its purpose is to demonstrate what experience might be attractive to potential employers
- Applications and Interviews
by Ekaterina Zelanova, experienced OLPAS & Pupillage Portal guru
Pupillage application forms take a lot of time and effort. Very few chambers ask for a CV with a covering letter. A great deal of pupillage providers are part of the Pupillage Portal – yet another version of the centralised application system released this year (previously known as ‘OLPAS’ and ‘PACH’), which, as always, attracted a lot of criticism from everyone.
- Applications and Interviews
James Lancaster, trainee solicitor at Walker Morris, takes a look at online applications
Each year a typical corporate/commercial law firm will receive umpteen thousand applications for the handful or so of jobs that they have on offer. The process is, in short, a vigorous whittling down exercise. Hopefully, this article will help you to be 'whittled down' and not ... err ... 'whittled off'.
- Applications and Interviews
Worried what to include?
Sometimes the best way to learn is from observation. This is a CV that successfully got Ryan a training contract at a growing regional firm using this exact CV, so if you want to see what types of thing they will expect take a look.
PLEASE NOTE!This is an example CV, not a perfect template. Its purpose is to demonstrate what experience might be attractive to potential employers
- Applications and Interviews
Prior preparation prevents poor performance
What you can do to improve your chances of success
Find out as much as you can before the day, read what the company has sent you and use the internet to find out about previous assessment days and the experiences people have had in the past. Bear in mind that what may happen at your assessment centre could be different from others that have happened in the past.
Make sure you have done your research in to the employer, ideally spoken to people who work for the employer or have been to a previous assessment day. Assessment days usually involve a variety of different activities which can include an interview, group exercise, psychometric assessment, individual exercise and presentations.
Reflect on your previous experience and think why you want to work for the employer. Have a positive attitude and try and look forward to the assessment day, it is a useful experience for you and can be rewarding too.
- Applications and Interviews
Your CV is an important sales document, the aim of which is to get you an interview, so it’s essential that it is as professional-looking and relevant as possible. Although there is no ‘correct’ way of writing a CV, there are a number of conventions that make it easier to read and which will help guide the reader through your information.
Bearing this in mind, there are some clear points to avoid, and things to include, in any CV.
- Applications and Interviews
This Law CV template has been provided by the Careers Centre at Coventry University.
- Applications and Interviews
Interview question examples…
It’s impossible to predict exactly what you will be asked at an interview, but with some preparation you can gain a reasonable idea of the types of questions you will face, and think about how you might respond. As well as questions about your education and work background, and your reasons for wanting to apply for that particular job, you may also encounter the following types of questions:
- Applications and Interviews
Make sure they pick you…
Recruiters should have no doubt about your career in law.
Entry into the law sector is highly competitive. When law recruiters read your personal statement they need to be certain your skills and experiences are relevant to your future career.
- Applications and Interviews
Top five tips for interview success
The best way to feel confident and counteract nerves before an interview is to prepare thoroughly. If you go into the interview knowing that you have a good understanding of the company, the job and of what you can offer, this will help you to give clear and well-informed answers.
- Applications and Interviews
Most law firms now require applicants to go to an assessment day
Assessment centre activities vary, are often timed and can include a combination of activities designed to test candidates’ specific competencies such as written and oral communication skills, procedural and legal knowledge (and whether they have the wherewithal to apply this in practical situations); their ability to think on their feet, and advocacy skills.
- Applications and Interviews
Follow this handy advice…
So you've got through to the interview stage. You can be confident that on paper you are a potential appointee. Now for round two! – the interview. Whichever your field of the legal profession, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to analyse complex information and communicate with people at all levels - lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
- Applications and Interviews
and over complicating things
Many applicants feel like they have to impress a recruiter with the wording they use in their applications.
- Applications and Interviews
Make it easy for them…
The very people you want to impress with your training contract applications are likely to be busy people.
£53m: the cost of Murdoch’s own phone-hacking inquiry so
Maîtrise en Droit (Master 1)...
Law Assessment Days
- Assessment days can be a scary experience, but they doesn't have to be
- Here comes another hurdle...
- Read more
Law Covering Letters
- Covering letters are a chance to grap the employer's attention
- Covering letters are more widely used than you think...
- Read more
Law Applications
- Online applications play host to the biggest cull of candidates
- Online applications; we all have to go through them!
- Read more
Jack's Blog - Law Fairs......
