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<blockquote data-quote="Jaysen" data-source="post: 2101" data-attributes="member: 1"><p>If I was doing everything all over again, this is what I would be doing (much of this has been written already):</p><p></p><p><strong>Commercial Awareness</strong></p><p></p><p>(a) Many law firms ask you to talk about a recent news article in their application forms or at interview. To prepare:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pick two business news stories that sound interesting to you. Forget about the impact on law firms, just pick stories you are genuinely interested in. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Read about the story from different news sites and make notes. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Try to find opinions on the article - especially articles which take the opposing viewpoint.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If it's a developing story, follow the updates. Watch how the story and the opinions change over time.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Practice summarising the story out loud. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Form an opinion on the story and, if possible, ask someone to ask you questions on the topic.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Play devil's advocate - form an opinion on the story from another point of view. See if this affects your opinion.</li> </ul><p>(b) Law firms might ask you questions about a particular topic at interview. To prepare:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Keep a list of the big topics in the news at the moment. Update the list where necessary.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At the moment, I would consider the big topics to be: Brexit, tariffs/trade war, GDPR and data privacy, Saudi Aramco's IPO, the collapse of high street chains, AI and technology, rising interest rates, Britain v Russia. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You don't need a in-depth understanding of any of these topics, but if I said to you: "Can you tell me what has been happening between Trump and China?", you should be able to share an opinion on the subject. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pick a topic each week and have a read around the subject. Make sure you know what is going on.</li> </ul><p>NB: I know (b) is the difficult one. Soon, I will be posting about the commercial awareness sessions we will be running for students who are interested. I will share further details tomorrow.</p><p></p><p><strong>Early interview/assessment centre prep</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It's crucial that you nail down your reasons for the "Why commercial law?" question. If you have one already, make sure it is the best answer you could possibly give. If applicable, think about any experiences that you can use to back up your reasons. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Practice competencies. Compile a list with <u><a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions/" target="_blank">mock interview</a> questions</u> together with a list of your extra curricular activities. Try to answer them out loud every so often.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Learn about what trainee solicitors and what lawyers do.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If you are applying to firms which are focused in a particular sector/practice area, try to understand what is involved (e.g. private equity/energy/private client etc.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Try to understand the very basics of finance and how lawyers are involved e.g. how do companies raise money? what is security?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Try to understand the very basics of M&A and how lawyers are involved e.g. what is the difference between a share purchase and an asset purchase? What is legal due diligence? (NB: This is relevant if you are applying to corporate firms.)</li> </ul><p><strong>Written exercise</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Practice writing: Do you write clearly? Are you using the appropriate formalities Can you finish on time? </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Try our <a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/commercial-knowledge/page/2/" target="_blank"><u>mock case studies</u></a>.</li> </ul><p>That's all I can think of for now, but I will update if there are more!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jaysen, post: 2101, member: 1"] If I was doing everything all over again, this is what I would be doing (much of this has been written already): [B]Commercial Awareness[/B] (a) Many law firms ask you to talk about a recent news article in their application forms or at interview. To prepare: [LIST] [*]Pick two business news stories that sound interesting to you. Forget about the impact on law firms, just pick stories you are genuinely interested in. [*]Read about the story from different news sites and make notes. [*]Try to find opinions on the article - especially articles which take the opposing viewpoint. [*]If it's a developing story, follow the updates. Watch how the story and the opinions change over time. [*]Practice summarising the story out loud. [*]Form an opinion on the story and, if possible, ask someone to ask you questions on the topic. [*]Play devil's advocate - form an opinion on the story from another point of view. See if this affects your opinion. [/LIST] (b) Law firms might ask you questions about a particular topic at interview. To prepare: [LIST] [*]Keep a list of the big topics in the news at the moment. Update the list where necessary. [*]At the moment, I would consider the big topics to be: Brexit, tariffs/trade war, GDPR and data privacy, Saudi Aramco's IPO, the collapse of high street chains, AI and technology, rising interest rates, Britain v Russia. [*]You don't need a in-depth understanding of any of these topics, but if I said to you: "Can you tell me what has been happening between Trump and China?", you should be able to share an opinion on the subject. [*]Pick a topic each week and have a read around the subject. Make sure you know what is going on. [/LIST] NB: I know (b) is the difficult one. Soon, I will be posting about the commercial awareness sessions we will be running for students who are interested. I will share further details tomorrow. [B]Early interview/assessment centre prep[/B] [LIST] [*]It's crucial that you nail down your reasons for the "Why commercial law?" question. If you have one already, make sure it is the best answer you could possibly give. If applicable, think about any experiences that you can use to back up your reasons. [*]Practice competencies. Compile a list with [U][URL='https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions/']mock interview[/URL] questions[/U] together with a list of your extra curricular activities. Try to answer them out loud every so often. [*]Learn about what trainee solicitors and what lawyers do. [*]If you are applying to firms which are focused in a particular sector/practice area, try to understand what is involved (e.g. private equity/energy/private client etc.) [*]Try to understand the very basics of finance and how lawyers are involved e.g. how do companies raise money? what is security? [*]Try to understand the very basics of M&A and how lawyers are involved e.g. what is the difference between a share purchase and an asset purchase? What is legal due diligence? (NB: This is relevant if you are applying to corporate firms.) [/LIST] [B]Written exercise[/B] [LIST] [*]Practice writing: Do you write clearly? Are you using the appropriate formalities Can you finish on time? [*]Try our [URL='https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/commercial-knowledge/page/2/'][U]mock case studies[/U][/URL]. [/LIST] That's all I can think of for now, but I will update if there are more! [/QUOTE]
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