From the University of Exeter, including tips from a graduate recruiter at Linklaters:

Anyone who is making applications to commercial law firms will benefit greatly from subscribing for the free newspaper, The Gateway Online – www.thegatewayonline.com.

This is what they say about themselves:

Distributed around campus at fifteen top UK universities, The Gateway is an independent business and careers newspaper read by the most ambitious and business focused of today’s students.

As well as providing no-nonsense advice on getting into a chosen career, The Gateway is a more accessible alternative to publications like the Financial Timesand the Economist for students keen to boost their commercial awareness.”

They have also written a law special issue which is well worth a read – get your copy here: Law Special Issue

A msut for commercial awareness and for anyone applying to and being interviewed by commercial law/City law firms.

Scope of the session: how do law firms operate as a bsuines, some of the market treds, impact of the downturn, legal services act, etc…

First q – how do law firms operate as businesses?

*mostly focusing on applications

Spelling firm name right – no mistakes

Avoid cliches

Be yourself – if not you will be found out

BM – passionate about commercial law, well rounded, understand BM

Preparing for an athletics event – can’t do all preparation at last minute – needs to be ongoing

MO – KEY – Turning achievements and activites into competencies nad skills firms are looking for – you have to be abel to describe what you have to sell, ie yourself.

Plan out your time – same as you are planning towards your exams – schedule what you need to do and do it.

You need to be 100% behind your application and be genuinely interested in the firm you are applying to – if not then it won’t some across and you will also be behind those applicants who are.

Positions of resposnibility – talk about what you actually brought to the role themselves rather than just the processes they went through

Evidence what you are talking about – address the skills and “recruitment criteria”:

– teamwroking skills

– communication skills

– are you interested in business and have commercial insight

Don’t jsut say you are interested in bsuiness in general – tell them what you are specifically interested in, what you have been reading, attending etc. So your statement has some depth to it.

Applications – people don’t knwo what to highlight – achievements to what level

Display enthusiasm and motivation to work for that firm in particular.

[MO – with every application they must take the time to review the appn against the extended checklist i will produce to cover off every piece of advice i’ve given in the longer form materials, eg text speak, action verbs, work exp drafting tips, etc]

VS descriptions too