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A short guide on how to perform well in written exercises

Partner-led case study interviews represent the final and most crucial stage of law firm applications, where partners assess not just your legal knowledge but your potential as a future leader. This comprehensive guide breaks down what partners look for, from analytical ability to commercial awareness, and provides actionable strategies to help you prepare effectively and perform with confidence. Learn how to manage your preparation time, handle the pressure of partner interaction, and demonstrate the qualities that will set you apart. Essential reading for any candidate facing this challenging interview format.

Applying for a training contract is an incredibly stressful process. Even for those who secure training contracts in their first cycle, the journey will be filled with uncertainty, stress and worry - as you jump through seemingly endless interviews, tests and processes. In this article, we talk about the tried-and-tested coping tactics that worked for us.

Struggling to decide which law firms to apply for? Law firm applications demand hours of research and carefully-crafted application answers. It's critical for you to narrow down your preferred law firms and spend your time wisely. Our detailed guide breaks down the precise factors you need to consider when deciding which law firms to focus on this season.

We rank the Magic Circle firms by revenue per employee, tenure and employee satisfaction to identify how the five firms compare from an efficiency perspective.

'Legal tech' is perhaps the most popular phrase of the 2020s (for law firms, at least!). We always hear about how legal technology 'promotes efficiency' and 'devises cost-effective solutions' for clients. Rarely does anyone explain what these points mean. In this article, we cut through the buzzwords and tell you everything you need to know.

Looking to smash your upcoming Partner Interview? If so, then this is the blog post for you. In this article, we'll equip you with everything you need to ace this final stage of the assessment process. You'll get a picture of everything the partners might throw at you - ranging from the typical "Why this law firm?" questions to the tougher ones that drill down on your application strategy and skills to date. Our expert advice will help you create the best possible impression at this final stage of the training contract process.

Do you want to ace your upcoming interview with Graduate Recruitment? If so, this blog article is a must-read for you. In this article, we'll cover everything that Graduate Recruitment might throw at you - ranging from the typical "Why commercial law?" questions through to the scenario-based questions that drill down on your key skills. You'll benefit from our expert advice to make sure that you succeed in this essential part of the assessment process.

Too much to do? We've been there. Academic work, law firm applications and a social life is hard to juggle. In this article, we explain how the very best students structure their time to secure a first class degree, win a top training contract and take part in extra-curricular activities.

Studying law at university does not mean that you have to become a lawyer. In this article, we outline some of the common paths taken by law students who decide not to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister following graduation. Non-law jobs that yur law degree will equip you well for include teaching and academia, the Civil Service, recruitment and HR, journalism and copywriting, and politics and NGOs.

Crafting an effective legal cover letter is an essential skill for aspiring lawyers targeting prestigious law firms like Ashurst and Slaughter and May. Whether you're aiming for a coveted training contract or a valuable vacation scheme, your cover letter can be a decisive factor in your application. But where do you start, and what should you include? Our article demystifies the process and offers practical advice to set you on the right path.

Unravel the mystery of the 'Silver Circle' law firms with our comprehensive guide. Located in London's financial heart, these five firms are distinct from the Magic Circle and from each other. Dive in to uncover the key differences between each Silver Circle firm, their shared characteristics and actionable insights on tailoring your applications.

Unlock the secret to acing the PGDL with our latest blog 'How to Get a Distinction in the PGDL (Law Conversion Course).' Understand why aiming for a distinction matters, how the PGDL differs from an undergraduate degree, and explore our proven strategies for success. From effective note-making to mastering MCQs under time pressure, our tips aim to equip you with the skills needed to excel in this challenging law conversion course. Elevate your academic performance and secure your future in the legal profession with a distinction in PGDL.

Dive into our blog 'Should You Paralegal to Secure a Training Contract?' to explore the advantages of paralegalling over other post-university paths. Understand how it provides hands-on, practical experience that can enhance your competence and showcase your commitment to a legal career. Learn how paralegalling can give you a competitive edge in training contract applications, aid in networking, and potentially offer an internal route to becoming a trainee. Make informed decisions about your next steps in the legal field with our comprehensive insights

Turn the daunting process of pre-recorded video interviews into a seamless, impactful experience with our blog 'How to Prepare for a Law Firm Pre-Recorded Video Interview.' We explore the purpose of such assessments and offer comprehensive tips to ace them. Learn how to create a professional interview environment, effectively manage pace and interruptions, prepare answers in advance, and more. Discover the importance of a pre-interview ritual and how it can enhance your performance, ensuring you leave a lasting impression with your prospective employers.

Maximise opportunities and give your career an edge through effective networking. In our article on 'How to Network with Lawyers Effectively', we walk you through the process from research to follow-ups. You'll learn how to form personal connections that can accelerate your journey in the legal field. Read more to discover how to navigate these events, make meaningful connections and establish a professional presence that leaves a lasting impression.

Securing a training contract at a top commercial law firm in your first year at university can jumpstart your legal career and eliminate stress. This article guides you step-by-step on how to get a training contract as a first-year student, enabling you to ake the most of the rest of your time at university without the distraction of graduate job hunting.

"Why our law firm" is a common question on vacation scheme and training contract application forms, but it's usually answered poorly. This question is a crucial opportunity to differentiate yourself from weaker candidates and demonstrate that you understand the law firm in question and its value proposition. In this article, we explain how to answer this question effectively based on our years of experience working in law firms and reviewing hundreds of law firm application forms with this question.

Master the art of selecting the most suitable news story that will give you an edge during your law firm interviews. We will guide you on how to strategically tailor your response to not only demonstrate your commercial insight but also impress the partners. Gain an understanding of why law firms put so much weight on your perspective regarding news stories and how to construct a compelling narrative that will enhance your chances of securing a training contract

Looking to ace your law firm interview? We dive deep into one of the most overlooked questions: "Why would you make a good trainee solicitor?" Find out why firms ask this question and when it's likely to pop up. Discover the key qualities such as teamwork, resilience, and integrity they're hunting for and learn how to tailor a compelling, firm-specific answer using the PEEL structure. We guide you to identify your unique selling points by examining your experiences and competencies. Don't just prepare, be exceptional!

Unlock your potential by understanding and mastering the essential skills a successful commercial lawyer needs to excel, including communication, teamwork, research capabilities, and commercial awareness. Learn how to strategically demonstrate these skills to outshine in your applications and interviews with top law firms. Dive into why these skills are crucial, witness them in real-world scenarios, and discover practical ways to showcase your proficiency. Take the first step towards landing your dream law job today!

Explore your path to becoming a solicitor in our latest blog post, where we unravel the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) preparation journey. Weigh your options with our detailed pros and cons on whether to enroll in an expertly curated SQE Preparation Course by leading institutions like BARBRI, BPP, and the University of Law, or embark on a self-study venture for your exams. Make an informed decision that suits your ambitions and circumstances today.

Discover how to secure a law firm training contract without participating in a vacation scheme. This blog post delves into which candidates are likely to succeed in direct applications, how to decide whether to pursue this route, and valuable tips to successfully secure a coveted training contract. Click to learn the pros and cons of applying directly for a training contract and explore the opportunities first-year schemes can offer.

Discover expert tips on preparing for your graduate recruitment interview, from understanding the process to impressing your interviewer. Find out what to expect, how to answer common questions, and how to avoid pitfalls in this essential guide. Don't miss your chance to stand out from the competition and secure an assessment centre place!

If you have landed a vacation scheme, congratulations, but you must understand that it's an extended assessment process for a training contract. This article explains how to make the most out of your vacation scheme to increase your chances of getting a training contract offer. It covers the types of activities you may encounter, how to perform best in each activity, and some common myths about what you should or should not be doing on your scheme.

If you want to excel in scenario-based interviews during law firm assessment days, then our expert guide is a must-read. Discover how to succeed in different scenarios, from real-life transactions to hypothetical situations. We'll provide you with valuable insights on how to prepare and practice effectively, including tips on doing mock interviews. Draw on our expert advice to ensure you ace this crucial part of the training contract assessment process.

Winning a place at an assessment day is no easy feat, and the group exercise is often one of the toughest parts of the process. In this article, we'll cover the different types of law firm group exercises, typical assessment criteria, and expert advice on how to succeed. Additionally, we'll share tips on effectively managing difficult candidates during group exercises.

If you're considering a career in law, you may be wondering whether to become a barrister or a solicitor. With our expert guide, we'll help you make an informed decision. We'll explore the key differences between these two professions, including the qualifications you'll need to succeed, the structure of their work, and the essential factors you should consider when deciding which path to take. Don't miss out on this essential guide to kickstart your legal career - read on now!

All Magic Circle firms are prestigious. But not all are equally right for you as a future trainee solicitor. This article will explain differences and similarities for between each Magic Circle firm, enabling you to reach a better decision on which firms to prioritise in your law firm applications.

Even the best candidates find situational judgment questions hard. In this article, NCL’s team of qualified lawyers explain: (1) what a situational judgment question (SJQ) is; (2) the contexts in which SJQs arise; and (3) how to answer SJQs effectively.

This blog will help minority (BAME) candidates and disadvantaged students apply for training contracts by explaining: what a diversity access scheme is; who the main organisations that offer these schemes are; and how to make the most of the opportunities offered by these organisations. No matter your background, there is an organisation out there which can support you and ensure that you get a great chance to secure a vacation scheme and training contract!

This post crunches the data to show you: 1) How hard it is to secure a training contract; 2) How going to Oxbridge or a Russell Group University makes a difference; 3) Whether women and BAME candidates face advantages or disadvantages; and 4) How the application process for vacation schemes and training contracts is becoming more competitive.

Applying for vacation schemes and training contracts is hard. This mega-guide written by qualified lawyers will help you answer: (1) Which law firms should I apply to? (2) What should I research about each firm? (3) How do I research each firm?

Candidates increasingly undervalue themselves or try to play “the numbers game” when applying to law firms for training contracts. Learn how to stop undervaluing yourself and go for the best law firms that truly suit your interests.

There’s a lot of focus on trainee salaries among candidates. But the truth is, it’s pretty irrelevant what you earn as a trainee: the real difference between City firms emerges on qualification. So what actually matters when you’re choosing a law firm? And does it make sense to move on qualification?

We are going to share an uncomfortable truth about virtual vacation schemes: they are terrible. Students normally want to get a taste of the firm’s culture, meet trainees and associates and hear about their experiences. Law firms want to see students in person, engage and interact with them and evaluate their business/soft-skills in an office environment. And so neither students nor law firms are particularly happy about this online experience.

Students receive mixed - and often unhelpful - advice when it comes to the number of training contract / vacation scheme applications they should submit. Our view is that any rule as to a specific number of applications is wrong. It all depends on the candidate. We would generally recommend you do as many applications as you possibly can without sacrificing quality.

Many law firms do not want to incur the additional expense and administrative burden of sponsoring trainees and so miss out on the amazing international talent that exists in the UK. This guide will teach you how to maximise your training contract chances as an international student.

Most answers to “why commercial law” are weak and unconvincing. Our step-by-step guide explains why law firms ask this question, the ideal structure to use and how to make your answer specific and personal to you.

Students hear a lot about US firms in London, but they often struggle to effectively distinguish between them. Apart from looking at the difference in pay, most applicants don’t fully understand their differences and so produce unconvincing applications when singling out law firms. This complete, data-driven guide will help you distinguish between US law firms so that you can target American firms for training contracts in a more logical and consistent manner.

Let’s face it: getting rejected sucks. And it would suck even more to get turned down by a law firm once, spend 10+ hours rewriting your application next year and then get rejected again. We have set out some key points to keep in mind if you are considering re-applying to any firm that rejected your application the first time around.

Law firm assessment days are the final hurdle to clear before securing a vacation scheme and training contract. We explain what a typical law firm assessment centre involves and how to prepare effectively for the exercises that you will encounter.

We set out to create a unique database of exceptional law firm vacation scheme and training contract applications that: shows candidates what a successful application looks like; delivers expert insights based on our years of experience as lawyers and application reviewers to show: makes our help affordable to all students from any socio-economic or geographic background We hope you enjoy the below free sample of our analysis alongside a successful application to Memery Crystal.

Most firms review applications on a rolling basis. If you apply early in the cycle, you have a better chance of securing a vacation scheme or training contract. This guide lists which law firms recruit on a rolling basis and explains why it makes sense to apply early - even if your dream firm reviews all applications after deadline day.

This was a difficult blog post to write, but an important one. We decided to write this after working with a number of candidates who had mitigating circumstances but did not explain them properly in their training contract / vacation scheme applications. Instead of shying away from controversy we want to be open and transparent to maximise your chances of success.

Your exam grades will dictate whether your vacation scheme or training contract application is taken seriously. This guide sets out how to succeed in your law degree, including tips on module selection, lectures, tutorials, coursework and exams.

“Commercial Awareness” is one of those phrases that you hear all the time when you are applying for training contracts and never again once you start working as a trainee solicitor. This guide explains what commercial awareness really is and how to prove to prospective law firm employers that you are commercially aware.

The majority of law students in the UK will not get a training contract in their usual application window. This means that thousands of law students will graduate from university each year with some difficult choices ahead: should they (1) abandon law as a career, (2) self-fund the LPC or (3) paralegal?