Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Jessica,

What are your views on people referencing money as one of their reasons for choosing a career in commercial law at interview? Do people ever do this?

Its exceptionally rare for someone to mention it, it's even rarer for it to come across well.

Doing it for the money really isn't thinking about it enough. No one wants to work with someone who hates their job but is only doing it so they can buy fancy things or retire early. People who do it for the money also have a tendency of not sticking it out.

To be frank, there are better paid jobs out there, so saying you are doing it for the money is probably not very well thought out.

 

[Numerius Negidius]

Hi Jessica, do firms ever look at the work done on InsideSherpa?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Jessica, do firms ever look at the work done on InsideSherpa?

Possibly - but I doubt they have the time to. Might do when it gets to interview/offer stage I guess, but even then it’s not really going to be a clear insight - anyone could have done it.

 

[j2134]

Its exceptionally rare for someone to mention it, it's even rarer for it to come across well.

Doing it for the money really isn't thinking about it enough. No one wants to work with someone who hates their job but is only doing it so they can buy fancy things or retire early. People who do it for the money also have a tendency of not sticking it out.

To be frank, there are better paid jobs out there, so saying you are doing it for the money is probably not very well thought out.

Thought as much!

 

[RB]

Hi @Jessica Booker!

I have a query about how I should answer one of Stephenson Harwood's application questions:

"Tell us about responsibilities you have taken on outside of work and/or study. (250 words)

• Outline your personal achievements
• What motivated you to achieve this?
• How have you worked effectively with others?"

I am a career changer and currently work full-time in financial services. As a result I haven't had much time to take on much responsibility outside of work, even join societies within my firm because of how busy I usually am! I do have hobbies outside of work but I haven't joined any teams or have taken up responsibilities for them. Would it be acceptable to talk about responsibilities I had during university or during school? This dates back to 2015 - 2018 so I'm not sure if they would still be relevant!

Thank you in advance!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker!

I have a query about how I should answer one of Stephenson Harwood's application questions:

"Tell us about responsibilities you have taken on outside of work and/or study. (250 words)

• Outline your personal achievements
• What motivated you to achieve this?
• How have you worked effectively with others?"

I am a career changer and currently work full-time in financial services. As a result I haven't had much time to take on much responsibility outside of work, even join societies within my firm because of how busy I usually am! I do have hobbies outside of work but I haven't joined any teams or have taken up responsibilities for them. Would it be acceptable to talk about responsibilities I had during university or during school? This dates back to 2015 - 2018 so I'm not sure if they would still be relevant!

Thank you in advance!

Yes - you can still talk about what you did at uni. I would also include what hobbies you do now too. Although they may not be responsibilities I think it maybe important to try and show the things you do outside of work (albeit briefly)

 

[Ellisha]

Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have had a look and couldn't find any thread/question about this. For Clifford Chance, it there any point in submitting your CV and cover letter for the training contract, seeing as they quite explicitly say they don't look it for any grad applications?
and secondly, is there any way to weave 'why Clifford Chance' into any part of the application? the only q is the 600word one on extra curricular activities, unless I'm missing something!

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have had a look and couldn't find any thread/question about this. For Clifford Chance, it there any point in submitting your CV and cover letter for the training contract, seeing as they quite explicitly say they don't look it for any grad applications?
and secondly, is there any way to weave 'why Clifford Chance' into any part of the application? the only q is the 600word one on extra curricular activities, unless I'm missing something!

Nope they won't look at it so no point doing it.
All they look at is your WE, grades, and the 600 word question - and yes it is solely about extra-curricular and other achievements.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have had a look and couldn't find any thread/question about this. For Clifford Chance, it there any point in submitting your CV and cover letter for the training contract, seeing as they quite explicitly say they don't look it for any grad applications?
and secondly, is there any way to weave 'why Clifford Chance' into any part of the application? the only q is the 600word one on extra curricular activities, unless I'm missing something!

the firm might not care about “why us” and so there is little point trying to weave it in to a question if they aren’t asking for it.

 

[Ellisha]

Nope they won't look at it so no point doing it.
All they look at is your WE, grades, and the 600 word question - and yes it is solely about extra-curricular and other achievements.

Thanks so much for the quick reply. Just one more question - how do they draw the line between work experience and extra curricular activities? for instance, would being an editor for my university's law review be listed as a work experience or should i talk about that in the 600 word answer?

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. Just one more question - how do they draw the line between work experience and extra curricular activities? for instance, would being an editor for my university's law review be listed as a work experience or should i talk about that in the 600 word answer?

Jessica will know better than I do, but I would probably say that's extra-curricular rather than formal/informal work experience

 

[SA123]

Hi @Jessica Booker. When answering a competency question on an application, can I use a vacation scheme at a different firm as my example? Thank you.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker. When answering a competency question on an application, can I use a vacation scheme at a different firm as my example? Thank you.

Of course!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. Just one more question - how do they draw the line between work experience and extra curricular activities? for instance, would being an editor for my university's law review be listed as a work experience or should i talk about that in the 600 word answer?

That would be an extra curricular - there are some grey areas such as volunteering/law clinic work etc, but to me a law review role would definitely be extra curricular

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hi everyone. Could anyone please tell me where I can find recorded webinars that TCLA conducted. Due to my exams I had to miss all those!
Thank You.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi everyone. Could anyone please tell me where I can find recorded webinars that TCLA conducted. Due to my exams I had to miss all those!
Thank You.

I think they are only available to gold members as far as I am aware.

@Jaysen - could you confirm?

 

[Jaysen]

I think they are only available to gold members as far as I am aware.

@Jaysen - could you confirm?

Hi everyone. Could anyone please tell me where I can find recorded webinars that TCLA conducted. Due to my exams I had to miss all those!
Thank You.

Hey these are available to any premium member (bronze, silver or gold): https://classes.thecorporatelawacademy.com/p/tcla-webinar-series.

 

[em311]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am unsure whether the STAR structure is meant to be used for the following application question: "Please outline which diversity & inclusion Baker groups you would support, and detail any initiatives you may have previously been involved in. (300 words max)*" ?

Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I am unsure whether the STAR structure is meant to be used for the following application question: "Please outline which diversity & inclusion Baker groups you would support, and detail any initiatives you may have previously been involved in. (300 words max)*" ?

Thank you!

No STAR wouldn’t really be appropriate in this instance

 

[em311]

No STAR wouldn’t really be appropriate in this instance

thank you!!