How to answer why us?

[Keren]

So I know the struggle and it can feel overwhelming.

However, allow me to say something, I feel that you could adopt a different approach.

For example, I applied to a a firm very strong in Media and family law. I used 3 different approaches:
1) Media: I spoke about my first legal unpaid work experience where I analysed the US flexible forms of copyright and compared against the system in my country where copyright is notoriously restrictive. I mentioned what i liked and how the Legal Tier 1 ranking in media could benefit me but also what I could bring to the firm given my work experience and my studies in IP law. Plus,I also mentioned their legal lateral hire of a strong media new partner and what he is going to bring. He works with Stormzy and Jesse Glynne (sorry cannot remember how to spell her surname) so new clients..more work and more money.
2) Family law: I spoke about my activism for gay rights and how during university I also participated in a campaign for the Referendum on fertility laws and argued against the no as it discriminated against women. Then linked my activism to the firm's work on fertility and gay couples.
3) Spoke about the firm's work on diversity and their inclusive culture. As a lesbian black woman is important to work in a firm's that implements an inclusive environment where i can be myself.

It might not be perfect but this is a start!

I really appreciate this! It’s so helpful to know how people approach this question. Also, I really like the detail you’ve given in your answers !!!!!!

So did you start by speaking about your experience, then linked it to the firm, then said how you would benefit them? I think one of the biggest things I am struggling with is how to structure my answer!

Thanks so much.

 

[Keren]

Two specialisms is fine - you are likely to spend at least half (if not more) in these areas or in departments that link to them. Your earlier post made no reference to property though and that is why I thought it was a bit too focused. It is fine to talk about reputation/who you will work with, but you need to explain why that is important to you/what it will provide you with. The firm knows it has a good reputation and that you would work with X people, so you are only telling them something they already know if you only go to that level.

You have to get a balance to everything in your answer - it needs to sound like you are interested in the whole training contract (and the things around it) and not just one six month seat in DR.

Noted. I make sure I talk about three aspects of the firm that interests me in my application .

So if I say I’m interested in the DR seat because of the work firm’s done in areas such as IP and Insolvency... then went on to say why that’s important to me e.g opportunity to get involved in a range of matters such as Insolvency and IP... then used examples to back up my answers e.g business/IP studied... this might be sufficient?

Thanks!

 

[S87]

I really appreciate this! It’s so helpful to know how people approach this question. Also, I really like the detail you’ve given in your answers !!!!!!

So did you start by speaking about your experience, then linked it to the firm, then said how you would benefit them? I think one of the biggest things I am struggling with is how to structure my answer!

Thanks so much.

Yes. But you can also say that you admire the firm's tier rank 1 in x practice. Studying Civil litigation with a focus on ADR and working as a litigation paralegal at XY ...increased my interest in this area. Moreover, drafting NDAs and assisting on cross examination plans allowed me to develop the skills necessary to make a valuable contribution during my litigation seat.

Something like that but maybe @Jaysen is better on this.

 

[Jaysen]

If you're applying to the firm because of your interest in the firm's disputes practice, I wouldn't say it's too general to focus one of your paragraphs on that (especially in conjunction with your other points).

I'd only reference the firm's contentious insolvency and IP disputes practice if they were of genuine interest. I'm not sure it would read very well if you were mentioning them for the sake of it (I'd wonder what those specific areas have to do with your reasons for applying).

If you were genuinely interested in the breadth of the firm’s disputes practice though (and that’s why you were bringing in those areas as evidence), then that sounds fine to mention.

 

[Keren]

If you're applying to the firm because of your interest in the firm's disputes practice, I wouldn't say it's too general to focus one of your paragraphs on that (especially in conjunction with your other points).

I'd only reference the firm's contentious insolvency and IP disputes practice if they were of genuine interest. I'm not sure it would read very well if you were mentioning them for the sake of it (I'd wonder what those specific areas have to do with your reasons for applying).

If you were genuinely interested in the breadth of the firm’s disputes practice though (and that’s why you were bringing in those areas as evidence), then that sounds fine to mention.

Hi Jaysen

Noted.

I mentioned the DR practice, then specified its work on contentious insolvency and IP disputes within this context, as I have a genuine interest in these types of work (e.g. IP elective on the LPC and interest in business finance/structure etc etc for insolvency).

I think it might be better if I use those areas to demonstrate the depth of the firm's DR practice, rather than making it sound like I am only interested in the firm's DR practice because of those areas.

Time to re-write my application for the millionth time, woo!

Thanks

 

[Jaysen]

Hi Jaysen

Noted.

I mentioned the DR practice, then specified its work on contentious insolvency and IP disputes within this context, as I have a genuine interest in these types of work (e.g. IP elective on the LPC and interest in business finance/structure etc etc for insolvency).

I think it might be better if I use those areas to demonstrate the depth of the firm's DR practice, rather than making it sound like I am only interested in the firm's DR practice because of those areas.

Time to re-write my application for the millionth time, woo!

Thanks

I'm not sure you necessarily need to rewrite this. It's always quite hard to tell without reading the application, but it sounds like those are genuine reasons, so it should be fine to explain that's what drew you to the firm's disputes practice.