Jessica Booker
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Graduate Recruitment
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- Aug 1, 2019
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Business case studies aren’t really about the preparation for them as such, it’s much more about getting used to thinking about the analytical skills needed to consider the information you have been presented with.From previous feedback, I have been told I do not score high enough during Business Case Studies.
And to be honest, I don’t find that surprising.
But how exactly are we meant to get experience in these business case studies? It’s not something a law degree teaches and it isn’t really something being a paralegal teaches either.
I have tried practice ones online. But every time I do a real case study, each firm it is individual to the firm and always feels just that little bit different. It sometimes feels like it is something I can’t prepare for and therefore can’t get better at. Urgh.
I would recommend reading commercial stories regularly - not every day, but at least every other week. And reading is probably a poor description of what is needed - you need to analyse the stories and draw out key points from reading it. For instance, read an article and then write summaries like:
Why did this happen (and why did it happen in this way)?
Who was impacted?
What are the benefits (and who benefits)?
What are the risks (and who/what is most at risk)?
Whilst reviewing these stories, always make sure you read around the topic. If you come across a term you don’t understand, take time to read up on that term. It you have understood the story well, then maybe see if you can find another article on the same story but written from a different perspective. And then consider why people may have different views on it.
On top of this, getting used to some basic terms in areas like M&A, Private Equity, Real Estate, Finance etc (depending on the practice areas of the firms you are interested in) will also be helpful, just getting more used to the terminology will make you more confident and comfortable discussing these type of topics.