Uni of Law National Fair

[Nimaj]

Hi everyone,

In September, I will be going to the Uni of Law National Fair. This will be my first in person careers event and I have a few questions I was hoping to clarify with anyone who attended the event in previous years.

1. How much time can you realistically expect to get to ask your questions? I understand that it will be a busy event, and I wander if you get a turn to speak to a representative directly or is there going to be a group of students around each booth and everyone takes their turn asking a question?

2. Do you get a chance to ask follow up questions and have a longer chat?

3. Is it a good idea to contact the grad recruitment and/or the Uni of Law to ask who specifically will be representing a firm at the fair? Especially in case of partners/associates, I would like to know in advance so I could prepare questions about the practice area/team they work in.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @Nimaj

These are great questions, and I’m sure this will be really helpful for others attending the fair for the first time too! Having attended and helped organise some of these, I wanted to give you some initial thoughts. I'll take your questions in order.

1. It really depends on the firm and when you approach their table. Some stands will be swamped, especially at peak times, while others might be quieter. You’ll likely get a chance to a few questions directly, but just be mindful that it can be difficult to have more extended conversations if a firm's table is quite busy. To make the most of your time, I’d avoid asking things that are easily found online or already discussed on the forum. Instead, try to prepare questions that are best answered by a trainee, grad rec, or a lawyer. For example, things about team culture, quality of training, or how the firm is positioning itself in certain sectors.
2. You may well get the chance to ask follow-ups, especially if a firm's table isn’t too crowded. However, just be mindful that if a table is busy, you should try to ensure that you're leaving enough time for others to have a chance to engage with the firm too. If you do want to follow up more deeply, it can be worth asking for a contact (e.g. an email) to continue the conversation afterward. This is a great opportunity, for instance, to connect with trainees or grad rec on LinkedIn or in other ways.
3. There’s no harm in reaching out to grad rec beforehand, especially if you’re hoping to tailor your questions to a particular associate or partner. That said, I don't think this is truly necessary to prepare and/or to leave a good impression. You can still prepare by researching the firm’s key practice areas and recent developments. Then on the day, you can focus your questions on things like what types of work trainees get exposure to in specific teams, what kind of client and partner contact is typical, how the firm is investing in niche or emerging areas, and so on.

Hope that helps and good luck at the fair!

 

[Nimaj]

Thanks Ram That was very helpful!