Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[A.C]

Hi Jessica, thank you so much for all the help you've offered! This is such a great community.

What's your advice on including InsideSherpa Virtual Internships on applications? InsideSherpa specify that their internships can't be listed as work experience, so unless a firm has an extracurricular section, should I leave them out? Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, thank you so much for all the help you've offered! This is such a great community.

What's your advice on including InsideSherpa Virtual Internships on applications? InsideSherpa specify that their internships can't be listed as work experience, so unless a firm has an extracurricular section, should I leave them out? Thanks

You can reference them in a range of areas - extra curriculars, extra information sections or even a brief reference in a motivational answer or cover letter.

I wouldn't leave them out unless there was no clear opportunity to include them.

 

[nicole88]

Hi Jessica,

I am doing the HSF app and there is this question "Explain why you’re interested in pursuing a career at Herbert Smith Freehills", do you think I should only talk about why HSF or should I also include a part about "why law?" - Mainly because I have not studied law and there is nowhere else I can talk about my motivation to pursue a career in law.
And just in general, I have seen a couple of applications for different firms where there is not question asking "why law", should I try to include it somewhere even if it is not asked, or should I just stick to answering the question I am actually asked?

Thanks

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

Hi Jessica,

I am doing the HSF app and there is this question "Explain why you’re interested in pursuing a career at Herbert Smith Freehills", do you think I should only talk about why HSF or should I also include a part about "why law?" - Mainly because I have not studied law and there is nowhere else I can talk about my motivation to pursue a career in law.
And just in general, I have seen a couple of applications for different firms where there is not question asking "why law", should I try to include it somewhere even if it is not asked, or should I just stick to answering the question I am actually asked?

Thanks

I would stick to the questions being asked - I didn't use my 'Why Law' answer.
When talking to Grad Rec of a different Firm, they said they mark down applicants who don't answer the question set - so would be careful in this regard

 

[Dwight]

Hello,

What needs to be included in the covering letter for Travers Smith? Is it the usual why (commercial) law, why travers smith, why me?

Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello,

What needs to be included in the covering letter for Travers Smith? Is it the usual why (commercial) law, why travers smith, why me?

Thanks

I would assume so. Unfortunately I don’t know specifics of each firm’s application form in terms of instructions/questions asked as a whole.

 

[Jaysen]

Hello,

What needs to be included in the covering letter for Travers Smith? Is it the usual why (commercial) law, why travers smith, why me?

Thanks

Yep!

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please answer a question that I have? I wanted to ask you, ideally, how long should an answer be in an interview to key questions like " Why commercial law" or "why this firm" etc. Even after making the answer super concise I still feel like it can come across as a bit too long for the interviewer. For example, I have a lot of pointers for the question "why x firm" and I feel that all of those are important but if I try to frame an answer around these points, it ends up becoming really long. Should I be worried about the interviewer stopping me in between?

Thank You.

 

[Jerome]

Hi,

In one of my applications, I am being asked "Please provide details of your positions of responsibility"
is it asking for positions in jobs or when I did sports at uni or society positions?

 

[mm26]

Hi Jessica, I hope you're well! I wanted to ask whether it is worth applying to a firm's vac scheme if I've been rejected for their open day? Will my chances be diminished because of the open day?

 

[j2134]

Hi Jessica,

If a firm makes candidates re-take the WG test during an AC, is it likely that the benchmark or the way they use the result will be different in any way? What is the logic behind making people re-do the test?

Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please answer a question that I have? I wanted to ask you, ideally, how long should an answer be in an interview to key questions like " Why commercial law" or "why this firm" etc. Even after making the answer super concise I still feel like it can come across as a bit too long for the interviewer. For example, I have a lot of pointers for the question "why x firm" and I feel that all of those are important but if I try to frame an answer around these points, it ends up becoming really long. Should I be worried about the interviewer stopping me in between?

Thank You.

probably no more than 90-120 seconds. Usually 8-10 questions will be asked in an interview and so talking for much longer than this means you won’t get through the whole interview.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi,

In one of my applications, I am being asked "Please provide details of your positions of responsibility"
is it asking for positions in jobs or when I did sports at uni or society positions?

It generally means extra curriculars, but it can include positions of responsibility outside of your job but still within your workplace (for instance if you are on an employee committee/network group, or have raised money for your employer’s charity initiatives)

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

probably no more than 90-120 seconds. Usually 8-10 questions will be asked in an interview and so talking for much longer than this means you won’t get through the whole interview.

The Grad Rec interview for Links runs for about 45 mins if the website is anything to go by. So should the duration of each answer change ?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, I hope you're well! I wanted to ask whether it is worth applying to a firm's vac scheme if I've been rejected for their open day? Will my chances be diminished because of the open day?

application processes for both opportunities will be different. I would personally reapply and not worry about it. I don’t think your chances are diminished by an earlier application to an open day.

 

[Jessica Booker]

The Grad Rec interview for Links runs for about 45 mins if the website is anything to go by. So should the duration of each answer change ?

no. Length of interview is just about the number of questions an interviewer would ask.

 

[FC]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I complete a test on the day of the deadline? Or does it need to be the day before?

Thank you !

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I complete a test on the day of the deadline? Or does it need to be the day before?

Thank you !

Day of the deadline. Deadlines always include the day itself.

 

[FC]

Day of the deadline. Deadlines always include the day itself.

Thank you Jessica !

 

[QXW]

Hello Jessica!

From a law firm's perspective, how does a student applicant compare to an applicant who already has a few years of work experience?

I am currently an international student studying in the UK, and am considering taking on a role in the legal department of a company in my home country (my role should focus on international transactions so hopefully that helps link my experience to UK firms). I was wondering if it would be more difficult for me to be accepted if I am working in a foreign country, versus if I apply now as a student who is physically in the UK?

Would visa sponsorship factor into the firm's consideration?

Thank you so much for your help!