APPLICATION MASTER CLASS
Step 3: create flawless and meaningful applications
broadcasting/media)? It may simply be the case that you follow news stories in this field because you enjoy reading about them. relationships within law firms, for example through meeting people at events? • Which presentations or other firm-led events did I attend? The following sentence comes across as a perfectly credible reason for choosing a firm: “I first encountered the firm at XXX and this session subsequently sparked an interest in emerging markets...” • Have I written any papers or good blogs on a particular subject? • Do I speak a useful language or have experience living in a different part of the world? Russian, Arabic and Mandarin speakers are particularly sought after by firms that want to grow their business in regions where these languages are spoken. Portuguese and German are also useful for the same reason, but don’t overestimate the pulling power of your language ability. It is an added bonus – everything else about your application must be perfect. exams? If you have straight 2.1s then consider applying to the most prestigious firms, especially if you have some high 2.1s (or, better still, firsts). If you have a 2.2 in the odd paper, you will need to convince recruiters that it was a blip in an otherwise impressive record of academic achievement (including A levels). For commercial firms, the most important papers to score well in are contract and tort. Fluff these and you need a very good explanation, such as the untimely death of a close family member or your own serious illness. “I nearly got a 2.1” impresses no one at a time when many firms are looking for “I nearly got a first”. Any academic shortfall must be an • Did I do well in my first-year • Have I developed any
By achieving a high standard in your written applications, you are already improving your odds dramatically. Submitting anything slightly sub- standard equates to immediate rejection, a waste of your time and a blow to your confidence. A flawless application proves that you are capable of producing flawless work as a lawyer. You must perfect the ability to write well and proofread accurately. You should rope in a friend, family member or careers adviser to check your application and offer criticism. • Do not apply in the last few days before a deadline. This is when a high proportion of forms hit firms’ systems and most of these are lower in quality. Stand out by applying well ahead of the deadline. Don’t expect anyone to allow you to apply late. • Adhere to word limits and use them as a guide to how much a recruiter expects you to write. • Read the question and make bullet points listing what it is asking. Check with someone you trust that they agree with your interpretation of the question. Identify which of your achievements evidence the themes you are incorporating into your answer. paper, all of which will have been repeated in hundreds of other applications. • Recruiters want to understand how you tick as an individual, so make your answers authentic and allow them to tell the real story of you. • Wordiness = woodenness. Let your answers flow by introducing a concept (beginning), developing it (middle) and underscoring its relevance (end). Persuasion should be your goal, not using the words that you think firms want to read. • Every claim should be demonstrable; otherwise they are just meaningless words on
A flawless application proves that you are capable of producing flawless work as a lawyer
exception to an otherwise sterling record, and you probably also need something else that hooks in a recruiter. Remember: just because you went to a low-achieving school doesn’t mean that you will be ruled out on the basis of your A-level grades. Someone with unremarkable A levels who goes on to give an impressive performance at university will be of real interest to recruiters. Believe it or not, many firms will be keeping a special eye open for this type of candidate.
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