[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by Med2Ky)
Hello,

Just wanted your to seek your opinion as a recruiter on the following Traininc Contract application matter.

I currently have a lot of US non-legal work experience on my CV (every summer), as well as a US LL.M, and intend to sit the New York Bar exam this coming summer. I have no intention to practice in the US, but these opportunities came to me and were of course too good to turn down.

How would you suggest demonstrating my commitment to practicing English law/practicing in the UK, and do you think that as a recruiter it would look suspicuous that my CV and experience if very US-centric?

Hi there,

Unfortunately there is not a straight-forward answer to your question. I think you will just need to spend a little more time explaining why you chose this route and focus on your motivations to start your career in London.

I do not think it will look suspicious but if your academia and CV is very US centric you have to tackle this head on by having clear evidence or rationale to why you want your career to start in the UK.

Kind Regards

Jess

[etsj]

Hey Jess,

Just wondering if FF allows us to find out who is interviewing us for the TC interview by e-mail.

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by etsj)
Hey Jess,

Just wondering if FF allows us to find out who is interviewing us for the TC interview by e-mail.

Hi there,

We do not tell people who will be interviewing them as the interview process should be all about the candidate. Also it can change last minute and therefore we would not want to provide the wrong information.

Kind Regards

Jess

[etsj]

Thanks for getting back to me. One other quick question, I've heard that Freshfields also conduct interviews in other languages the candidate has listed as proficient. Just wondering if this is true. Thanks once again!!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by etsj)
Thanks for getting back to me. One other quick question, I've heard that Freshfields also conduct interviews in other languages the candidate has listed as proficient. Just wondering if this is true. Thanks once again!!

Hi there,

It is somewhat true. At the moment, this is the true with those candidates who declare they are fluent in Mandarin on their application form.

Kind Regards

Jess

[bramz19]

Hi Jess,

I was just wondering what constitutes work experience which would impress on a CV in Freshfield's view (i.e. whether attending a law firm's selective open day, insight days and the like would impress).

Thanks!

[slowdowngandhi]

Hi Jess,

Should the Personal Statement for a TC application cover the "Why law/commercial law/Freshfields" questions, or is it more a "ECs/positions of responsibility/work experience" statement, with the first set of questions I've mentioned saved for the interview stage if we make it that far?

If it should include why I want to be a commercial lawyer at Freshfields specifically, how would you recommend that (as a non-law workshop participant) I avoid duplicating part of the covering letter I wrote for that in my answer?

Thanks!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by bramz19)
Hi Jess,

I was just wondering what constitutes work experience which would impress on a CV in Freshfield's view (i.e. whether attending a law firm's selective open day, insight days and the like would impress).

Thanks!

Hi there,

It is not necessarily the work, more how you describe it.

Any work experience will look good, whether it is in an office environment or elsewhere. Often people do not mention part-time or volunteer work as they think it is "irrelevant", but often these type of jobs can develop your soft skills (and in many cases more so than work-shadowing a solicitor for a couple of days). Don't assume your work experience is "irrelevant" but instead critically evaluate it and think "is it relevant to me? (e.g. did I enjoy it, did it develop my skills etc)". Then make a judgement call on whether to include it and how much detail to go into about it based on that analysis.

Any legal work experience could demonstrate your motivation for the career and that you have looked for the opportunities to learn more about it. Insight/Open days are also great in this respect, just don't go into great detail about what they were (we know all that), more what you got out of them.

I hope that is of help.

Regards

Jess

[uktrainees@freshfields]

I am not sure if this will work, but if so (hopefully) a PDF copy of our application advice leaflet should be attached to this reply...

.... If not, I will see if I can attach in another way!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by slowdowngandhi)
Hi Jess,

Should the Personal Statement for a TC application cover the "Why law/commercial law/Freshfields" questions, or is it more a "ECs/positions of responsibility/work experience" statement, with the first set of questions I've mentioned saved for the interview stage if we make it that far?

If it should include why I want to be a commercial lawyer at Freshfields specifically, how would you recommend that (as a non-law workshop participant) I avoid duplicating part of the covering letter I wrote for that in my answer?

Thanks!

Hi there,

The training contract application personal statement says: "Please write about yourself in no more than 850 words. You may wish to mention any positions of responsibility held at school or subsequently, any regular employment or other work experience, any sporting or other achievements and any particular interests and personal qualities which are relevant. Please also state briefly why you are making this application."

You therefore need to include everything you have mentioned. Your non-law workshop application will not be reviewed or considered as part of the process when reviewing a training contract application, so if you feel it is still suitable to reproduce aspects of it, then that is fine. However, my assumption is that you would have a lot more to talk about from attending the workshop and therefore it is likely there will be certain aspects you want to change.

Hint or Tip: some people take the "briefly" part of the question a little too seriously, make sure your rationale for the career and Freshfields are evident from your experiences and/or description of your career motivation

Regards

Jess

[bramz19]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)
I am not sure if this will work, but if so (hopefully) a PDF copy of our application advice leaflet should be attached to this reply...

.... If not, I will see if I can attach in another way!

That's really excellent Jess (if that is indeed your name), thank you!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by bramz19)
That's really excellent Jess (if that is indeed your name), thank you!

It is definitely my name I am glad you found it useful!

[slowdowngandhi]

Thanks Jess, I'd read the question carefully but wasn't sure where the focus was. You've cleared that up for me.

[stimbler]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)


Hi there,

It is somewhat true. At the moment, this is the true with those candidates who declare they are fluent in Mandarin on their application form.

Kind Regards

Jess

Hi Jess,

Thanks for your information. I'm having an interview next week and have put down on my application form that I'm fluent in German. Will I be tested for my foreign language proficiency during the interview?

Many thanks!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by stimbler)
Hi Jess,

Thanks for your information. I'm having an interview next week and have put down on my application form that I'm fluent in German. Will I be tested for my foreign language proficiency during the interview?

Many thanks!

Hi there,

At this stage we are only testing those who have declared a fluency in Mandarin, by allocating interviewers who are fluent in the language. However, if it is coincidence and one of your interviewers is also fluent in German, it is not impossible that they might ask you a question or two in German.

Regards

Jess

[uktrainees@freshfields]

Hi everyone,

Freshfields will be taking part in a live Q&A with the Guardian tomorrow.

There will be a panel of experts from various law firms who will be offering advice about becoming a solicitor. You can post your questions now via this link: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/becoming-a-solicitor

Otherwise, if you have any questions you would like to ask us directly, please feel free to post in here or alternatively send me a private message.

Kind Regards

Jess

[bramz19]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)
Hi everyone,

Freshfields will be taking part in a live Q&A with the Guardian tomorrow.

There will be a panel of experts from various law firms who will be offering advice about becoming a solicitor. You can post your questions now via this link: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/becoming-a-solicitor

Otherwise, if you have any questions you would like to ask us directly, please feel free to post in here or alternatively send me a private message.

Kind Regards

Jess

Hi Jess,

I've got a question about module choices in the second and third year of law degrees. Does the GR team look favourably or unfavourably upon certain module choices? For instance, might someone with good grades in commercial contract and business law modules be in a more advantageous position than someone who got good grades in modules like media law, medical law and an outside option like history? Will seemingly odd options not related to commercial law put a candidate at disadvantage?

Thanks!

[MalleusMaleficarum]

Hey,

I have a brief question about pre-university work experience. I'm doing my A-Levels at the moment, and I'm considering trying to get some work experience after exams, prior to going to university next year; however, I have to balance this with trying to get a job and earn some money as well. I know that experience at some stage during an undergraduate degree is more or less essential, but how important would it be to have experience at this stage? Would it impact on future applications for internships/vacation schemes etcetera?

[Konran]

I have a serious set of questions for you, to put those questions into context, it is a question relating to the diversity of applicants and how you measure them.

I went to an open day at Linklaters and during that event I spoke to a partner who was kind enough to spend some of his day with us, on that day he spoke about their commitment to diversity within the legal profession, bringing in people from different backgrounds whether social or ethnic. I assume as a top tier legal firm that Freshfields eschews the exclusivity that currently exists within the legal profession.

The problem I had was that these words don't amount to much when the recruitment process has not changed in the past decade. A recruitment process that has led to the position where those within the profession are talking about the need to be more diverse. Yet without a change to the recruitment process this situation will continue.

I say this because Linklaters pretty much stated outright that they filter applicants by a set criteria. My problem is that the criteria used to filter applicants is exactly the problem that has led to a driving need to increase diversity. Those from more diverse backgrounds generally get filtered out at the earlier stages of the recruitment process because their lives are very different to the standard which law firms, and for that matter chambers, are accustomed to.

So, eventually we get to the questions.

What does Freshfields do to ensure that their recruitment process does not perpetuate the problems of exclusivity. How does Freshfields ensure that their recruitment processes are inclusive of those from diverse backgrounds that don't conform to the standard that currently exists? What has Freshfields done to change their recruitment process, and not merely attending different Universities or asking for applicants form different backgrounds, but actively changing their recruitment filtering process to ensure that those from different backgrounds are given adequate merit for the lives they have led that do not conform to the standard?

I would be interested in your reply and I hope you can be honest with us as this is how we will change diversity within the legal profession, by asking tough questions and getting honest answers and working on a solution.

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by bramz19)
Hi Jess,

I've got a question about module choices in the second and third year of law degrees. Does the GR team look favourably or unfavourably upon certain module choices? For instance, might someone with good grades in commercial contract and business law modules be in a more advantageous position than someone who got good grades in modules like media law, medical law and an outside option like history? Will seemingly odd options not related to commercial law put a candidate at disadvantage?

Thanks!

Hi there,

It will not matter what your module choices are. We (and many other firms) recruit non law students who will not have studied any legal modules, so it seems silly for us to say you should choose commercial modules to those who do.

I strongly recommend people choose the modules they will enjoy - it is more likely they will do well in them if they do and that will look more favourable than anything.

However, I stress to people who feel that they need to develop their "commercial awareness" that choosing commercial modules might be of help, not from an academic side, but more about their understanding of the career. There are many ways of developing "commercial awareness" though!

I hope that is of help.

Regards

Jess




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