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Aspiring Lawyers - Applications & General Advice
Applications Discussion
I Got My TC After 5 Years. Ask Me Anything!
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<blockquote data-quote="SLKEJRWOI97" data-source="post: 101207" data-attributes="member: 4782"><p>Hi everyone!</p><p></p><p>I'm really fortunate and pleased to say that I secured and accepted a training contract with a Magic Circle law firm. I thought I'd create this thread to give inspiration/courage to those who are still going through the process and to help where I can.</p><p></p><p><strong>Note: </strong>I don't check my forum messages often so please post here rather than DMing me (unless it's personal).</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Background</u></strong></p><p></p><p>As per the name, I've been applying for 5 years. But, I <strong>properly </strong>started applying two years ago.</p><p></p><p>So what does "properly applying" mean? It means: </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">not copying and pasting my applications (thereby creating a generic application)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">checking for SPAG before I send, properly researching and networking with firms before applying</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">reading over my applications aloud to make sure my sentences flow and there are no SPAG-related issues</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">being honest with the reasons <strong>why </strong>I'm applying to a firm (i.e. reputation, diversity, work that applies to me).</li> </ul><p></p><p>Other stuff about my background:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Depression and severe anxiety - a demon that I've been fighting for around 10 years now which impacted my uni grades.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Further education - GCSEs and A-levels at a non-selective state school</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Higher education - Law undergraduate degree at a Russell Group.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Family - single parent raised + small family (only one parent, me and my siblings in the UK) + raised on social security and in a council flat (my parent can't work due to health reasons) = never had access to anyone working a white-collar job let alone a job in the City/law.</li> </ul><p></p><p><strong><u>What I learned during the application process:</u></strong></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Don't take rejection personally - as brutal as it is, law firms will reject you and won't think about you again. And I found myself getting so upset when this happened. It impacted my self-confidence and I found myself questioning if I'm "good enough". The truth is that <strong>WE'RE ALL GOOD ENOUGH.</strong><br /> <br /> How I dealt with this is by celebrating myself. I framed my mind: there is only <strong>one me and there will only ever be one me </strong>but there are hundreds of firms. I'm not saying you should be over-confident but learn that you truly are a special person and that there can only ever be one of you so anyone, any firm, anything is lucky to interact with you. <br /> <br /> Ru Paul says this very eloquently: "If you don't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love anyone else". And that's so true. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of self-affirmation, but celebrate your strengths, polish up your areas of development and learn to champion yourself <strong>because no one else will if you won't</strong>. The firm that rejected you or rejected me won't so it's <strong><u>imperative</u></strong> that someone does. And that someone is <strong><u>YOU.</u></strong><br /> <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Scrutinise your applications - look at your application and ask: if I was the graduate recruiter, with over 2,500 applications left to review, and I've just read this application, would I progress it? If yes, why? If not, why?<br /> <br /> Consider the below:<br /> <br /> a) Are you PEEing all over your application? - PEE stands for point, evidence, explain and it's a great tool for writing <strong>persuasively</strong>. Why is writing persuasively important? Well, you're asking a firm to basically invest nearly £250k into your development and training. So you need to put a good case forward.<br /> <br /> If you're saying "I'm attracted to the small intake", can you substantiate that? What evidence do you have to prove that?<br /> <br /> b) Are you writing in a structured manner? - irrespective of whether you use PEE or not, does your structure make sense? Are you writing in full prose? Consider structures like CAR/STAR or even laying out your answer (for whatever reason) clearly: i.e. a chronological story, etc.<br /> <br /> c) Have you read your application aloud? Has a friend/family member reviewed it? - this is so important. Imagine this: You've probably been working on a question for hours and you can't be bothered anymore. The rest of your questions are done and so you just want to click submit. STOP! Get yourself a drink or take a short break, try and print your app out and then review it with a fresh set of eyes. Or ask someone else to. Or at least read it out aloud. The amount of times I've done this and I've found issues is insane. So please please PLEASE review your applications before you submit.<br /> <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Do NOT give up - I've been applying for nearly 5 years in total and while I wish I got my application strategy in check sooner, I'm so grateful for my journey because, without this struggle, I wouldn't be the person I am today. <br /> <br /> Rejection is brutal but you must continue. Dory says: "Just keep swimming". And that's what you exactly should do. BUT, be sure to go back to the drawing board otherwise your applications won't develop, advance and grow.</li> </ol><p></p><p>Happy to answer any questions and good luck!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SLKEJRWOI97, post: 101207, member: 4782"] Hi everyone! I'm really fortunate and pleased to say that I secured and accepted a training contract with a Magic Circle law firm. I thought I'd create this thread to give inspiration/courage to those who are still going through the process and to help where I can. [B]Note: [/B]I don't check my forum messages often so please post here rather than DMing me (unless it's personal). [B][U]Background[/U][/B] As per the name, I've been applying for 5 years. But, I [B]properly [/B]started applying two years ago. So what does "properly applying" mean? It means: [LIST] [*]not copying and pasting my applications (thereby creating a generic application) [*]checking for SPAG before I send, properly researching and networking with firms before applying [*]reading over my applications aloud to make sure my sentences flow and there are no SPAG-related issues [*]being honest with the reasons [B]why [/B]I'm applying to a firm (i.e. reputation, diversity, work that applies to me). [/LIST] Other stuff about my background: [LIST] [*]Depression and severe anxiety - a demon that I've been fighting for around 10 years now which impacted my uni grades. [*]Further education - GCSEs and A-levels at a non-selective state school [*]Higher education - Law undergraduate degree at a Russell Group. [*]Family - single parent raised + small family (only one parent, me and my siblings in the UK) + raised on social security and in a council flat (my parent can't work due to health reasons) = never had access to anyone working a white-collar job let alone a job in the City/law. [/LIST] [B][U]What I learned during the application process:[/U][/B] [LIST=1] [*]Don't take rejection personally - as brutal as it is, law firms will reject you and won't think about you again. And I found myself getting so upset when this happened. It impacted my self-confidence and I found myself questioning if I'm "good enough". The truth is that [B]WE'RE ALL GOOD ENOUGH.[/B] How I dealt with this is by celebrating myself. I framed my mind: there is only [B]one me and there will only ever be one me [/B]but there are hundreds of firms. I'm not saying you should be over-confident but learn that you truly are a special person and that there can only ever be one of you so anyone, any firm, anything is lucky to interact with you. Ru Paul says this very eloquently: "If you don't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love anyone else". And that's so true. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of self-affirmation, but celebrate your strengths, polish up your areas of development and learn to champion yourself [B]because no one else will if you won't[/B]. The firm that rejected you or rejected me won't so it's [B][U]imperative[/U][/B] that someone does. And that someone is [B][U]YOU.[/U][/B] [*]Scrutinise your applications - look at your application and ask: if I was the graduate recruiter, with over 2,500 applications left to review, and I've just read this application, would I progress it? If yes, why? If not, why? Consider the below: a) Are you PEEing all over your application? - PEE stands for point, evidence, explain and it's a great tool for writing [B]persuasively[/B]. Why is writing persuasively important? Well, you're asking a firm to basically invest nearly £250k into your development and training. So you need to put a good case forward. If you're saying "I'm attracted to the small intake", can you substantiate that? What evidence do you have to prove that? b) Are you writing in a structured manner? - irrespective of whether you use PEE or not, does your structure make sense? Are you writing in full prose? Consider structures like CAR/STAR or even laying out your answer (for whatever reason) clearly: i.e. a chronological story, etc. c) Have you read your application aloud? Has a friend/family member reviewed it? - this is so important. Imagine this: You've probably been working on a question for hours and you can't be bothered anymore. The rest of your questions are done and so you just want to click submit. STOP! Get yourself a drink or take a short break, try and print your app out and then review it with a fresh set of eyes. Or ask someone else to. Or at least read it out aloud. The amount of times I've done this and I've found issues is insane. So please please PLEASE review your applications before you submit. [*]Do NOT give up - I've been applying for nearly 5 years in total and while I wish I got my application strategy in check sooner, I'm so grateful for my journey because, without this struggle, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Rejection is brutal but you must continue. Dory says: "Just keep swimming". And that's what you exactly should do. BUT, be sure to go back to the drawing board otherwise your applications won't develop, advance and grow. [/LIST] Happy to answer any questions and good luck! [/QUOTE]
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