Do You Want To Achieve Success With Your Training Contract Applications?

We are well and truly into the peak season for training contract applications.  June and July are the two months in which most firms accept training contract applications.

Deadlines do vary however and can be subject to change so always ensure you check the deadlines on LawCareers.Net first and then phone each firm before you apply just to double check their deadline.  Whilst you’re at it you can also check the name of the person to address your application to (if applicable) as the names published on the internet and in other publications are sometimes out of date.  You do not want to give the firm an easy reason to reject you by writing to the wrong person!

My one to one mentoring service has become increasingly busy over the last week or two as exams start to finish and more and more people turn their attentions to their applications.

Given the increased competition for training contracts since the recession you need to work hard to ensure that your applications make you stand out from the crowd.  In the current climate there are at least 2 applicants for every training contract so be sure to put the hours in on your applications.

I still have the last few places available for my application mentoring service for June and July.  If you think that working on a 1-2-1 basis to get my specialist advice on improving your applications would benefit you please get in touch.

I offer an initial free 15 minute telephone consultation to discuss your circumstances, your applications and how the mentoring service can benefit you.

Book your free consultation now by submitting your details via the Training Contract Success website at www.trainingcontractsuccess.co.uk

Herbert Smith overhauls trainee solicitor selection procedure

Herbert Smith has emerged as the latest law firm to add an extra layer to its training contract selection procedure in a bid to expose weak candidates at the initial application stage.

For the full story on the Lawyer 2B website click here.

Interview with Trainee Solicitor Recruitment Partner at Clifford Chance

In a recent interview Lynn Johansen, graduate recruitment partner at Clifford Chance, talks about the qualities needed by prospective applicants to Clifford Chance (which are applicable to most City firms), the application process and the training given to young lawyers.

She touches on what sort of work trainees can expect to do after qualification, as well as discussing the hours their lawyers can be expected to work and the opportunities for working overseas.  Finally, she explains the Clifford Chance Pro Bono programme which is a major feature of the Clifford Chance ethos.

The podcast and transcript appear on the College of Law website.  Click here to listen/view.

Some Pointers on Writing a CV for Training Contract Applications

Your CV may turn out to be one of the most important pieces of work you ever produce.  That’s right, you should be looking at it as a piece of work that you take pride in rather than something that just needs to be thrown together to enable you to submit job applications.

Our latest article giving some invaluable pointers on writing a CV for training contract applications can be found here: Training Contract CV.