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<blockquote data-quote="Jaysen" data-source="post: 4669" data-attributes="member: 1"><p>Hi Zahra - to add to what the others have said already -</p><p></p><p><strong>1. How did you decide on which firms to apply to?</strong></p><p>When I began the process, law firms appeared very much alike. It was only after I spent more time applying/interviewing/vacation scheming that I had a better idea of how law firms were different and what kind of firm I wanted to work at. About halfway through the process I decided I wanted a US firm, partly because I wanted a smaller trainee intake. I also liked what I perceived to be a more entrepreneurial culture/training style.</p><p></p><p><strong>2. What factors in particular would you advise I should consider when choosing a firm?</strong></p><p></p><p>Some ideas:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How big do you want your firm to be (both in terms of trainee intake and office size)?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do you want to go on international secondment? How extensive do you want these to be?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How international do you want the work to be? Would you like emerging market work?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Are there any particular practice areas you are interested in?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What kind of training style are you looking for - formal/structured or informal? Do you even want seats? Do you want to work in an open plan layout or offices?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do you want a full service firm or a more boutique firm? Or something in between?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What kind of hours do you want? Do you want to be leaving at 5:30pm on the dot? Does the idea of working late nights and possibly weekends bother you?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do you want a firm that's big on pro bono?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How formal do you want the culture to be?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What kind of salary are you looking for? How about at NQ level?</li> </ul><p><strong>3. I understand that with TC applications it's better to focus on a few rather than many (with the Bar, the more applications the better). Please correct me if I'm wrong.If so, how many applications are advisable? </strong></p><p></p><p>As many good applications as you can write. You want to be writing applications of a high quality but you also want to maximise your chances of applying to many firms.</p><p></p><p><strong>4. How do you stay commercially aware?</strong></p><p></p><p>I'd recommend the following threads:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-resources-collated-list-of-pros-and-cons.593/" target="_blank">https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-resources-collated-list-of-pros-and-cons.593/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-recommended-reading-start-here.697/" target="_blank">https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-recommended-reading-start-here.697/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-update-november-2018.798/" target="_blank">https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-update-november-2018.798/</a> (keep an eye on this one)</p><p></p><p>Let me know if anything isn't covered by those threads.</p><p></p><p><strong>5. Would you happen to know of anyone who has done the BPTC and then switched routes? If so, did they have to do the LPC?</strong></p><p></p><p>I'm afraid I don't know about this.</p><p></p><p><strong>6. Given my background – do you feel I would have a hard time justifying to law firms why I switched routes? If so, would you have any advice on how I should approach the TC?</strong></p><p></p><p>I don't think so, no. You will certainly need to come up with a clear explanation and be prepared to answer follow up questions on the subject but that's to be expected. My advice is to be honest (the stuff you told me before is fine).</p><p></p><p><strong>7. Would you happen to know whether firms do video interviews for TC or whether attending AC's is compulsory – I’ve just started a new job and I can’t personally afford to fly back for interviews.</strong></p><p></p><p>I imagine you will need to but expenses will be covered by many firms.</p><p></p><p><strong>8. When adding in the sections for work experience, how many would you recommend?</strong></p><p></p><p>As many as you have.</p><p></p><p><strong>9. Any other general advice you may have and how I can build myself up so I can land a TC.</strong></p><p></p><p>Bearing in mind grades/experiences are usually fixed at this point I would suggest you learn about how to write good applications as these make a substantial difference. I don't know how good your commercial awareness is already but I'd suggest following the business news and developing a basic understanding of business and finance. I can expand on this if needed.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jaysen, post: 4669, member: 1"] Hi Zahra - to add to what the others have said already - [B]1. How did you decide on which firms to apply to?[/B] When I began the process, law firms appeared very much alike. It was only after I spent more time applying/interviewing/vacation scheming that I had a better idea of how law firms were different and what kind of firm I wanted to work at. About halfway through the process I decided I wanted a US firm, partly because I wanted a smaller trainee intake. I also liked what I perceived to be a more entrepreneurial culture/training style. [B]2. What factors in particular would you advise I should consider when choosing a firm?[/B] Some ideas: [LIST] [*]How big do you want your firm to be (both in terms of trainee intake and office size)? [*]Do you want to go on international secondment? How extensive do you want these to be? [*]How international do you want the work to be? Would you like emerging market work? [*]Are there any particular practice areas you are interested in? [*]What kind of training style are you looking for - formal/structured or informal? Do you even want seats? Do you want to work in an open plan layout or offices? [*]Do you want a full service firm or a more boutique firm? Or something in between? [*]What kind of hours do you want? Do you want to be leaving at 5:30pm on the dot? Does the idea of working late nights and possibly weekends bother you? [*]Do you want a firm that's big on pro bono? [*]How formal do you want the culture to be? [*]What kind of salary are you looking for? How about at NQ level? [/LIST] [B]3. I understand that with TC applications it's better to focus on a few rather than many (with the Bar, the more applications the better). Please correct me if I'm wrong.If so, how many applications are advisable? [/B] As many good applications as you can write. You want to be writing applications of a high quality but you also want to maximise your chances of applying to many firms. [B]4. How do you stay commercially aware?[/B] I'd recommend the following threads: [URL]https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-resources-collated-list-of-pros-and-cons.593/[/URL] [URL]https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-recommended-reading-start-here.697/[/URL] [URL]https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/commercial-awareness-update-november-2018.798/[/URL] (keep an eye on this one) Let me know if anything isn't covered by those threads. [B]5. Would you happen to know of anyone who has done the BPTC and then switched routes? If so, did they have to do the LPC?[/B] I'm afraid I don't know about this. [B]6. Given my background – do you feel I would have a hard time justifying to law firms why I switched routes? If so, would you have any advice on how I should approach the TC?[/B] I don't think so, no. You will certainly need to come up with a clear explanation and be prepared to answer follow up questions on the subject but that's to be expected. My advice is to be honest (the stuff you told me before is fine). [B]7. Would you happen to know whether firms do video interviews for TC or whether attending AC's is compulsory – I’ve just started a new job and I can’t personally afford to fly back for interviews.[/B] I imagine you will need to but expenses will be covered by many firms. [B]8. When adding in the sections for work experience, how many would you recommend?[/B] As many as you have. [B]9. Any other general advice you may have and how I can build myself up so I can land a TC.[/B] Bearing in mind grades/experiences are usually fixed at this point I would suggest you learn about how to write good applications as these make a substantial difference. I don't know how good your commercial awareness is already but I'd suggest following the business news and developing a basic understanding of business and finance. I can expand on this if needed. [/QUOTE]
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