Whilst the information here refers to training contracts which apply to those training to become solicitors, some of it may equally apply to pupils training to become barristers.

Get the timing right

It is crucial to apply for the training contract within the time required by each organisation you are applying to.  

The deadline for training contract applications by the large law firms is usually 31 July or 31 August, two years before the commencement of the training contract. You therefore need to ensure that by your first year as a Law undergraduate or second year as a non-Law undergraduate, you have done a vacation placement and started identifying the kind of organisation you want to work for. By your second year (Law undergraduate) or final year (non-Law undergraduate) you have made your training application to the larger firms who will support you financially during your studies, should your application be successful.

For smaller organisations, research the deadlines meticulously, making the application within the required period. 

Identify your skills, preferences and areas of career interest
Ask yourself:

• What do you enjoy/dislike?
• What are you good at?
• What have you done before and what did you enjoy about it?
• Do you enjoy teamwork or working on your own?
• Do you want to embark upon further study?
• How important is work/life balance to you?
• Do you want early responsibility?
• Are you prepared to travel/be flexible?
• Do you want to work for an organisation that other people have heard of?
• What sort of environment do you feel most comfortable in?
• What size of organisation do you want to work for?
• How much training and development support do you want from your employer?
• Do you want a structured development programme?

Remember to be honest with yourself! Parents and friends often have a big impact on decisions, but this is not their future. Make sure you ask yourself WHY? Why do you want this job?

Obtain information on career paths and organisations

The more research you do, the more sound your career choice will be and the better prepared you will be to complete your applications form.

Sources of information include:

• Internet (employers and graduate recruitment specialists)
• Careers service
• Company literature
• Meeting employers
• Career directories
• Graduate publications
• Work experience/shadowing/open days

 What will the employer expect you to know the answer to?

• Overview of the career choice – structure of scheme/training.
• What skills you feel are needed – why do you feel that you have these skills/the potential to develop these skills?
• The nature of the work you might undertake – what do you expect to be doing on a day to day basis?
• Awareness of further study (if applicable) and what impact that will have on you.
• Research you have undertaken to arrive at your decision.
• Specific points that you like about the particular organisation and why.

Application Forms

So you’ve discovered the area and profession you want to work in, read up about it and thought about the skills and qualities needed for the job – you may now be faced with an application form. How do you communicate all these points in the spaces provided? Whilst the guidance below deals specifically with application forms, most of the contents will apply equally to CVs but see our CV Hints and Tips further.

Look for the specified criteria – This is particularly true for academic requirements. If you do not meet them think about whether you are wasting your time in applying. Most employers will stick very rigidly to the criteria set, unless the candidate has specific mitigating circumstances.

Identify what the employer is looking for and develop your own examples – Before even looking at the application form in any great detail, it is worth having a serious think about the skills that the employer is looking for and the ways in which you demonstrate those skills. You can do this by getting a blank sheet of paper, noting each competency (skill) on it and add your examples.

Use examples from academia, work and extracurricular activities – You should aim for a mix of academic, extracurricular and work experience examples. Your focus should be on recent examples, not those you experienced 10 years ago – you will have changed a lot in that time. Not only will this focus your application, it will also provide a basis for your interview preparation.

Follow the instructions – If the application form asks for a particular format, use it! Make sure that you have completely read all the basic instructions.

Answer the question – This may sound very obvious but a number of candidates seem to completely miss the point of a question. It may help to break down the question into sections so as to ensure you cover all elements. This should also provide some structure to your answer.

Tailor your answers to the job and organisation –  Questions can often be very similar on different companies’ application forms and it is tempting to cut and paste answers from one form to another. There are two dangers to this. The first danger is that you do not answer the actual question askedand the second danger is that you run the risk of actually talking about a competitor, rather than the firm to which you applying.

Online or on paper? – Increasingly employers are now giving candidates the option of applying online or on a paper form. It does not matter which method you use, the applications should be treated in exactly the same way. Obviously with a paper application there are additional complications, such as ensuring that your handwriting is neat and that the employers can read it easily. There is nothing worse than feeling like you need a magnifying glass to read a form!

Check your form for spelling mistakes (or typos) – This seems like a very obvious point, but it is amazing how many spelling mistakes we see. Do bear in mind that a typo is no different from a spelling mistake – a client would not expect to see a document sent to them littered with typos and attention to detail is a key attribute of any lawyer!

Keep it simple and specific – Whilst you want your application to stand out, use your achievements to do this, not by quoting a poet or philosopher. Also, by specific, we mean that you should use specific examples from your background for each area not just a list of your skills.

Be concise – Do not write “see attached” in every box and then attach six additional pages. Being able to write in a concise manner is a desirable skill. However, if there is a specific aspect of your application that does require additional explanation, then add a covering letter with your application.

Keep a copy of your form – If you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview you need a good knowledge of the examples on your form as you may be questioned about it. Also make a note of any reference number, when and to whom you sent your application, just in case you have to follow it up later (this is especially important if you are sending a form via the internet).

Never lie – Again, this one sounds obvious, but this happens and the lie is then discovered when asked to produce the relevant documents/certificates. Do sell yourself, but not at the expense of honesty.

And finally...
Remember that the purpose of the application form is to highlight to the employer your breadth of skill and suitability for the position you are applying for. Make sure that you make the most of every part of the form, the narrative sections are equally as important as your academics. Most firms are looking for well-rounded individuals. 

Commercial Awareness – Hints and Tips:

If you are applying to the large and medium sized law firms and commercial institutions, commercial awareness is a key skill that any future legal employer will expect you to demonstrate during the application process. These organisations will consider it an essential competency (skill) in any of their future trainees and will assess this throughout the entire recruitment process, both on the application form, in your case study and during your interview.

What is commercial awareness?

Commercial awareness is the ability to view situations from a commercial or business perspective. It requires the candidate to take a step back and look at a situation from different angles, asking themselves "who are the key stakeholders in this situation?", "what would they be concerned about?", "what questions would they ask?" Stakeholders include customers/clients, employees, directors/owners of companies, shareholders/ investors and professional advisers (e.g. lawyers, accountants). See our Interview Hints and Tips as to how you can demonstrate and improve your commercial awareness and how employers test your commercial awareness. Commercial awareness does not test your knowledge of the Law. 

Further Sources of Information:

• The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook
• The Lawyer - Guide to a Career in Law
• The Student's Guide to Becoming a Lawyer (Chambers and Partners)
• www.LawCareers.net