Training Contract Application Process
Writing a really great application takes time, so when deciding where to apply, it`s important to realistically assess your chances in each company and choose a shortlist that gives you the best chance of success. If a company has a minimum AAB requirement at Level A and a 2:1, but an applicant has BBB and a 2:1, it is likely that the application will be automatically rejected at the first observation. Being able to write a good cover letter for a training contract is a skill that requires practice. If possible, download or print the form and work on a draft. Be sure to check the spelling (both with the eye and with a spell checker), and then paste it back into the online app. If the form indicates the number of lines/words you can use per question, you stay within those limits. If the company prints the forms, anything written beyond the limit cannot be read. When it comes to the application form itself, there are a few things to consider. Each shape will be different, and this reflects what companies are looking for. You can`t get away with copying and pasting the same answers into every application form you fill out! Some companies use an application form in the style of a « personal statement » – they need a longer response explaining why you are suitable for that business. Others have several questions that you need to answer.
Be sure to reflect on the culture, ethics and professional capacity of this law firm and try to convey in your application how your values align with those of the firm. Probably the biggest annoyance among recruiters is the indication of the wrong company on the application, which is « I`d like to work at Slaughter and May because… » » on a form for Irwin Mitchell. Stupid, we know, but frighteningly common, especially when multiple applications are made. And the use of mailmerge cover letters and online copy-paste apps triggered the problem. Keep in mind that every company you apply to wants to see proof that you have chosen that company as the place where you want to pursue your career, so make your application specific. An insider in graduate recruitment at an American company in London said: « If we don`t see why you applied to us through all the other London offices of US companies, we can`t pursue your application. » There is a consensus among career counsellors that companies do not fully understand the time constraints that students face and how difficult it is to integrate application forms into a busy schedule. It`s understandable that more than a little copy and paste takes place. « The interviews were a friendly conversation for about an hour on campus, the end of the story. Now, companies want students to drop out for a day or more in their offices during the semester period. But they also want people with a 2(1)! » comments David Ainscough, Deputy Director of Careers at the University of Cambridge. « We try to get companies to interview at university or during the holidays. Students who are under pressure to sacrifice academic work should consult with their tutor, who will write their references, can often exert influence on companies and wants to help their students manage their time in a meaningful way.
« Origin, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, religious beliefs and age are not relevant to our application process. After starting in 2015, our training program is well established and in 2024 our tenth apprentice admission will join the company. Our admissions have increased and our training programme is getting stronger, with regular display opportunities available for our Hong Kong office and clients, and the design and development of a structured and personalised set of departmental training for apprentices at the beginning of each seat rotation and throughout their stay to complement their apprenticeship in the workplace. Whether in the cover letter or in a separate section of the application, you may be asked to provide a statement explaining why you think is appropriate for the position by reference to your skills and experience. As you move to the next level, this can be assessed in more detail in a competency-based interview or a strengths-based interview. This page will walk you through the different steps to complete an apprenticeship contract application, from entering the form itself to writing a fantastic cover letter for the training contract. This year we will mainly recruit in our holiday programs for the 2024 training contract. All places available after the holiday programmes are occupied by direct candidates for the training contract.
This direct training contract will be opened in August 2022, only to the extent that there are still vacancies after our winter and summer holidays. All updates will be available on our website and on social media. We recommend apps as early as possible in our app windows. Training contracts are offered on an ongoing basis and therefore we cannot guarantee the availability of places during these interviews. For any other requests, interviews or general questions, please visit the App FAQ page. If you have a question that has not been answered, please contact the intern recruitment team by email or on 020 7090 4454. (Enquiries only – we do not accept requests by e-mail). Our intern admissions are low, so you can play an important role in the teams from the start and rely on you to deliver. Throughout the application process, show us that you are able to work well as a team and work towards a common goal. 5. Be yourself How can I stand out throughout the application process? The summer holiday programme is aimed at students who wish to apply for a training contract with the company.
Write down the skills and qualities highlighted, both in the application information for potential interns and in everything you learn about the company`s broader culture. Next, choose an example from your previous experience to show that you have a certain skill. Consider structuring your example in STAR format: Open applications September 1, 2021 Application deadline March 20, 2022 Assessments take place: w/c April 4 and April 11 Selection process: online application form, Watson Glaser test and video interview with a member of the graduate recruitment team. Finally, it`s important to think about your long-term career prospects, not just the short-term benefits of the job. Therefore, it is about identifying employers with world-class training programs and the best opportunities for advancement. Hard to believe, but many candidates still stumble upon the first and most obvious hurdle: spelling and grammar on application forms. You may be on your way to a premiere at a top-tier university and become captain of the rugby team, but if you can`t spell the word « link » on your application form, you`ll be thrown straight in the trash. Some companies offer you a phone interview, others invite you to an assessment day, and others take you to an in-person interview.
some companies might even do all three. Before you go to your interview, it`s important to be prepared. This is your second impression of the company (according to your application form) and you need to solidify that positive first impression – after all, that`s what an interview brought you! Your CV is an essential part of your training contract application. It should include a list of your academic achievements, relevant legal experience, and interests. It should be concise and not take more than two pages. Do not copy or paste from one application to another and make sure you have reviewed your application before submitting it. Small spelling and grammar mistakes can let go of an otherwise strong application. 4. Be a team player If you are completing or have completed your Ll.B. from a university outside England and Wales, we may ask you to complete certain modules from the PGDL to BPP and you will be considered a non-law student for the purposes of our application process. This is probably necessary if you have not taken modules in these seven key areas of law: contract law, tort, criminal law, constitutional and administrative law, property law, equity and trusts, and European Union law. If you are not a law student, you can apply for an apprenticeship contract in the fall of your final year or as a graduate student.
If you are completing or have completed the Law Conversion Course (Graduate Diploma in Law – PGDL), you are considered a non-law student. When can I expect the outcome of my application? Each request for a training contract must be treated as an individual project, with each individual project to be seriously supervised and taken into account. With this in mind, we recommend that you identify between five and ten target employers and focus your efforts on the quality of your applications. You can say a lot about a company from the questions it asks about the application of the training contract. Identifying the qualities the company is looking for in a candidate will help you answer questions about how the company expects you to do so. The application questions for the training contract always contain a variant of « Why are you fit to work in our law firm? » To effectively answer this question, you need to research the company`s business areas, culture, and values. This allows you to make comparisons between what you are looking for and the law firm you are applying to. It`s a tedious process to apply for training contracts – but with reasonable preparation, a dose of common sense and a touch of luck (not to mention decent academic results!), it doesn`t have to be such an uphill battle.
There are many small things you can do to make your life easier. Demonstrate strong written communication skills throughout your application form. As a lawyer, you need to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely and show us that you are already developing these skills in your application form. .