making a good impression with your application form anup vithlani graduate recruitment &...
TRANSCRIPT
Making a good impression with your application form
Anup VithlaniGraduate Recruitment & Development Manager
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
January 2013
Who are Trowers & Hamlins?
■ City, national and international full-service law firm■ Unique mixture of practice areas■ Ranked in top 50■ 2011 / 2012 financial year - turnover £80.8m; p.i. 3%■ Commercially savvy, friendly, professional, successful■ Growing – national practices / new office in Malaysia
What are we looking for?
■ Organic growth■ Usually recruit around 20 trainees each year■ Excellent academics are an essential■ Enthusiastic, good-humoured team players■ Responsible, innovative and analytical■ Excellent communication skills ■ Law and non-law undergraduates / postgraduates
How will my training be structured?
■ Cover GDL / LPC fees and provide maintenance grant■ LPC in London (Kaplan) / Outside of London (flexible)■ 2 year training contract – four six-month seats■ Learning by experience – hands-on / training■ Strong network of support■ Competitive salary / excellent benefits package
What seats can I experience?■ Banking and Finance■ Commercial Property■ Corporate■ Dispute Resolution and Litigation■ Employment■ Exeter and Manchester■ Housing Projects■ International (UK / Middle East)■ Projects and Construction■ Public Sector■ Tax, Trusts and Pensions
2012 statistics
■ SVS 2012 – 475 apps; 23 participated■ 4.8% of applicants selected on to our SVS■ Autumn TC AC 2012 – 868 apps; 11 selected■ 1.3% of applicants chosen onto our AC■ Making a good impression is therefore vital!
Our application process
■ Online application “live” as of 9 October 2012■ Do not accept any other form of application■ https://www.apply4law.com/trowers/■ Deadlines:
■ Winter Open Day – 1 December 2012■ SVS 2013 – 1 March 2013■ Autumn TC AC 2013 – 1 August 2013
■ Decent application – 8 hours to complete!
The fundamental elements
■ Personal details – put mobile number!■ Secondary / undergrad / postgrad education■ Any serious mitigating circumstances?■ Languages – written and spoken■ Work experience – legal / non-legal / voluntary
Our questions
■ Describe yourself in 3 words – why?■ Greatest achievement in life so far – why?■ Why a commercial solicitor / Trowers & Hamlins■ 3 skills to be a successful commercial solicitor■ Positions of responsibility / extra-curricular
What I am looking for in answers
■ Think outside the box■ Living in a world of “googlisation”■ Succinct, eloquent, well-structured■ Commercial awareness■ Getting to know the person – the “human touch”■ Character traits – do not want “academic geeks”■ Future potential / commitment to the firm
Beware….
■ Cutting and pasting■ Attention to detail■ Wasted opportunities■ “What do you mean?”
Final thoughts….
■ Take a great deal of pride in my role■ Success of organic growth depends on strong graduates■ Take a look at our graduate recruitment brochure■ Feel free to contact me with any further questions
■ Tel: 0207 423 8312■ E-mail: [email protected]
■ Any questions?