Weekly Newsletter #5

Here’s what to expect this week…

Let’s get into it 👇

📍 Work experience and insight days

💼 Trainee Roles

📍 Paralegal/Entry Level Roles

My response:

I think this is a great question and a particularly important one in the age of AI. Law firms are increasingly looking for genuinely tailored applications, not just candidates who can list a firm's practice areas.

First, it can be as simple as paying attention to the language a firm uses about itself. For example, does it describe itself as a "global" law firm, an "international" law firm, a "regional" firm, or a "purpose-led" business? It sounds simple, but I've spoken to graduate recruitment and early careers teams who say they notice when applicants use the firm's own terminology accurately. It also doesn’t hurt to talk about the firm’s specific values while clearly linking them to your experiences.

However, the best applications go much further than that. Rather than focusing only on what a firm does, try to understand how it does it.

Ask yourself:

✨ Who are the firm's clients? Are they FTSE 100 companies, owner-managed businesses, public sector bodies, charities, insurers, or high-net-worth individuals?

✨ What type of work would a trainee actually be exposed to? A regional firm acting for local businesses can offer a very different experience from a city firm advising multinational corporations.

✨ How is the firm growing? Have they opened new offices, merged with another firm, expanded internationally, or invested in particular practice areas?

✨ What is truly distinctive about their culture? Read trainee interviews, attend events and speak to current employees if possible to understand how work is delegated, how teams collaborate, and what responsibility juniors receive. If you do speak to a particular individual, get their name. There’s nothing wrong with name dropping it in your application, especially if you can link it to why you’re applying!

One of the most effective ways to demonstrate research is to connect something specific about the firm to your own interests and experiences. For example, instead of saying, "I am interested in your real estate practice", explain why the firm's work for housing associations, renewable energy developers or local authorities particularly appeals to you and how that links to your background, experience or career goals.

Remember that the aim isn't to prove that you've memorised facts from the website. It's to show that you've thought carefully about why this firm is the right fit for you and why you would be the right fit for the firm. That's what turns a generic application into a convincing one.

Something a little different for our “long read” this week…

The organisation that regulates solicitors in England and Wales, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (or “SRA”), is considering changes to how solicitors maintain their professional standards throughout their careers.

One of its proposals would require qualified solicitors to take part in regular discussions about ethical issues they may face in practice. These discussions could cover topics such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, honesty and making difficult professional decisions.

I suspect, at least in part, this relates to the role of lawyers in the Post Office Scandal. FYI - I’d recommend reading up on this a little before attending any interviews!

While these proposed changes are predominantly aimed at qualified solicitors, the SRA also made an interesting point about aspiring solicitors.

The regulator said there could be benefits to law students, paralegals and trainee solicitors taking part in similar ethics discussions before they qualify. It believes this could help future solicitors feel more confident when dealing with real-life situations where there isn't always a clear right or wrong answer.

However, it is asking for views on whether more could be done to help future solicitors develop these skills before qualification.

Why might this matter to you?

If you're aiming for a legal career, it's easy to focus on building legal knowledge, gaining work experience and securing opportunities. But this consultation is a reminder that being a good lawyer is about more than knowing the law.

Lawyers are trusted with sensitive information, important decisions and significant responsibilities. Employers increasingly look for candidates who can demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues.

You don't need to be an expert in legal ethics yet, but it's worth starting to think about questions such as:

👉 What would you do if a client asked you to do something dishonest?

👉 How should lawyers deal with confidential information and personal data?

👉 What happens when professional duties conflict with personal beliefs?

I think it’s increasingly likely these kinds of topic will come up at interview.

The SRA's consultation suggests that ethical decision-making is becoming an even bigger priority within the profession. For aspiring lawyers, it’s a useful reminder that developing strong professional judgment is just as important as developing legal knowledge.

You can read more on the SRA website.

I spotted an interesting LinkedIn post this week from outside of the legal sector.

It was about a young person who had knocked on the door of a local plumbing company and asked if they had any apprenticeship opportunities. The owner couldn't offer him a role, but they ended up filming some content together and sharing it on social media. A few days later, the young person landed an apprenticeship with a local bathroom fitter.

As we know, the legal profession is incredibly competitive and there are plenty of talented people applying for the same opportunities. That's why it can be valuable to look beyond the vacancies (even some of the more niche ones I share in this newsletter).

The practical takeaway isn't necessarily to start knocking on the doors of law firms. It's to put yourself in situations where opportunities and conversations can happen.

As Lewis, the business owner in the LinkedIn post, put it: "Sometimes the best opportunities come from putting yourself out there in ways nobody else is."

Whether it's attending an event, reaching out to someone new on LinkedIn or simply starting a conversation, you never quite know where it might lead.

That’s all for now. See you next week!

P.s. This is my fifth newsletter and there’s now over 400 of you subscribed! Do send across any feedback and good news stories to [email protected]. I’d love to know if you end up attending a Legal Walk, secure work experience from one of the opportunities shared in the newsletter, or find a particular career story inspirational.

^{The careers advice shared in this newsletter is intended as general guidance and should not be treated as formal legal or recruitment advice. I do my best to keep all opportunities and deadlines accurate and up-to-date at the time of writing, but always double-check the employer’s website before applying.}