Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
More options
Toggle width
Share this page
Share this page
Share
Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
WhatsApp
Email
Share
Link
Menu
Install the app
Install
Forums
Law Firm Events
Law Firm Deadlines
TCLA TV
Members
Leaderboards
Premium Database
Premium Chat
Commercial Awareness
Future Trainee Advice
Forums
Aspiring Lawyers - Applications & General Advice
Applications Discussion
Ask a Future Magic Circle (Allen & Overy) Trainee Anything!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Anon08" data-source="post: 68423"><p>Hey! That's a great question, and I often wondered that whilst writing my applications.</p><p></p><p>Your degree discipline, most of the time, does not really come into it. Yes, you can use it to highlight a certain interest or certain developed skills (as I did regarding my Philosophy degree and formal logic), but for the most part, your work experiences will play a more dominant role in your applications/interviews.</p><p></p><p>Regarding your actual experiences, both legal and non-legal experiences are valid, although, naturally, it depends on the context. I used my non-law experiences of working as part of a gin distillery, writing for an undergraduate Philosophy magazine, and being a student consultant as part of Enactus Warwick. Additionally, I had legal experiences, including a week of informal work experience at Allen & Overy, and being part of the Warwick Law School's Vis Moot Team 2020. Consequently, I would recommend, if you can, to garner a mix - non-legal experiences can highlight your skills and abilities, whilst legal experiences highlight your understanding of the profession, your commitment to it, and elucidate your skills in a legal setting. </p><p></p><p>Even if you cannot garner any traditional legal experiences, you have to demonstrate a commitment to the career: become part of your university's law society, do some of the insight experience programmes on Forage, and try your hand at writing some commercial/legal articles - anything to show that, short of having a legal job, you are committed to the role and have an understanding of its demands.</p><p></p><p>When it comes to marketing yourself - look, if you have unique experiences, then great. I know some candidates who have done service in the military, set up their own businesses, and so on. If you have those experiences, wonderful. However, please do not feel like you have to have them. The crucial thing is that you write and talk about your experiences properly. </p><p></p><p>By way of example, I know of a candidate who doubted whether she should discuss her role in her university's Jazz Society - nonetheless, she did write and talk about it, and used the experience to demonstrate her organisational and teamwork skills. The discussion of her experience also sparked a friendly chat with her interviewer about her favourite jazz music, which allowed her to build a rapport with her interviewer. Now, she did get the offer, and I am sure it was down to more than that - but crucially, any experience can be valuable <em>depending on how you leverage it</em>.</p><p></p><p>So, in summary: write your cover letters/applications in a tight, structured manner. Do not feel like you have to stand out by way of having whacky experiences. You will stand out if you write clearly, concisely (I am fully aware of the irony!), and discuss your experiences with sincerity (by demonstrating introspection and personal growth). If you can, get legal experiences, but they are not the be-all and end-all. Remember, if you do get legal experience, you will still need to write and discuss them as sincerely as your non-legal experiences - they aren't a silver bullet!</p><p></p><p>I hope that helps!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anon08, post: 68423"] Hey! That's a great question, and I often wondered that whilst writing my applications. Your degree discipline, most of the time, does not really come into it. Yes, you can use it to highlight a certain interest or certain developed skills (as I did regarding my Philosophy degree and formal logic), but for the most part, your work experiences will play a more dominant role in your applications/interviews. Regarding your actual experiences, both legal and non-legal experiences are valid, although, naturally, it depends on the context. I used my non-law experiences of working as part of a gin distillery, writing for an undergraduate Philosophy magazine, and being a student consultant as part of Enactus Warwick. Additionally, I had legal experiences, including a week of informal work experience at Allen & Overy, and being part of the Warwick Law School's Vis Moot Team 2020. Consequently, I would recommend, if you can, to garner a mix - non-legal experiences can highlight your skills and abilities, whilst legal experiences highlight your understanding of the profession, your commitment to it, and elucidate your skills in a legal setting. Even if you cannot garner any traditional legal experiences, you have to demonstrate a commitment to the career: become part of your university's law society, do some of the insight experience programmes on Forage, and try your hand at writing some commercial/legal articles - anything to show that, short of having a legal job, you are committed to the role and have an understanding of its demands. When it comes to marketing yourself - look, if you have unique experiences, then great. I know some candidates who have done service in the military, set up their own businesses, and so on. If you have those experiences, wonderful. However, please do not feel like you have to have them. The crucial thing is that you write and talk about your experiences properly. By way of example, I know of a candidate who doubted whether she should discuss her role in her university's Jazz Society - nonetheless, she did write and talk about it, and used the experience to demonstrate her organisational and teamwork skills. The discussion of her experience also sparked a friendly chat with her interviewer about her favourite jazz music, which allowed her to build a rapport with her interviewer. Now, she did get the offer, and I am sure it was down to more than that - but crucially, any experience can be valuable [I]depending on how you leverage it[/I]. So, in summary: write your cover letters/applications in a tight, structured manner. Do not feel like you have to stand out by way of having whacky experiences. You will stand out if you write clearly, concisely (I am fully aware of the irony!), and discuss your experiences with sincerity (by demonstrating introspection and personal growth). If you can, get legal experiences, but they are not the be-all and end-all. Remember, if you do get legal experience, you will still need to write and discuss them as sincerely as your non-legal experiences - they aren't a silver bullet! I hope that helps! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Our company is called, "The Corporate ___ Academy". What is the missing word here?
Post reply
Forums
Aspiring Lawyers - Applications & General Advice
Applications Discussion
Ask a Future Magic Circle (Allen & Overy) Trainee Anything!
Top
Bottom
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…