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Breaking into law can be tough, especially when you're just starting out. With so many talented candidates competing for attention, standing out among the sea of applicants can feel like an impossible task. It's crucial to make sure your application not only gets noticed but also leaves a lasting impression. In such a competitive field, you need to show what makes you unique, skilled and ready to tackle the challenges of the legal world.

But don’t worry – it's not all about having perfect grades or a prestigious background. There are plenty of ways you can enhance your application and increase your chances of landing that dream opportunity.

Research is key

Before you hit send on your application, take a moment to do some homework. It might seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many skip this step! Research the firm or chamber thoroughly – start with their values. What matters most to them? Diversity, work/life balance or something else? Knowing this helps you tailor your application and show you're on the same page. Next, dig into what they’re looking for. Are they more focused on academic credentials or practical experience? Have they been in the news recently? Mentioning a recent win or high-profile case could set your application apart! 

Here’s a fun tip: check what areas of law they specialise in. If you're passionate about family law, maybe avoid firms that focus on commercial law (unless you love a challenge!). If international law is your thing, make sure they have international offices or offer secondments.The more you know, the better you can position yourself as the ideal candidate. Do the research – it'll make all the difference

Aligning with employers: demonstrating traits that matter

Discovering a firm’s values and the traits they prioritise in applicants is key to crafting a standout application. By researching what qualities the firm values most, you can tailor your application to demonstrate that you possess those traits. For example, if leadership is something they emphasise, highlight roles where you’ve taken charge, whether in previous jobs, projects or student organisations. Similarly, if they value a commitment to pro bono work, showcase your volunteer experience and how it reflects your passion for giving back.

Ultimately, the goal is to align your past experiences with the qualities the firm is looking for, showing them that not only do you share their values, but you’ve actively demonstrated them throughout your career. It’s all about making your application as relevant as possible by reflecting the skills and attributes that matter most to them.

Master the STAR method

The STAR method is a simple but powerful way to answer interview questions and showcase your skills:

• S – situation: set the scene by describing the context.
• T – task: explain the challenge or task you faced.
• A – action: highlight the steps you took to tackle to task.
• R – result: wrap it up by sharing the positive outcomes of your efforts.

Let’s break it down with an example:

• Situation: as a university mentor, I was tasked with supporting a group of first-year students who were struggling to adjust to university life – both academically and socially.

• Task: my goal was to help them navigate their coursework, manage their time effectively and make their transition into university life a little easier by providing academic guidance and emotional support.

• Action: to help, I organised weekly study sessions to break down difficult course concepts and shared effective study strategies. I also created a group chat to keep communication flowing and offered tips on balancing academics and social life.

• Result: the students showed significant improvement in their grades and felt much more confident about their academic abilities. Plus, they felt more connected to the university community, with several mentioning how much more integrated they felt in both their academic and social circles.

By using the STAR method, you can clearly show how your actions led to real, positive results – something every employer loves to hear!

Proofread and personalise

Before you hit send, make sure your spelling and punctuation are on point. Lawyers, in particular, are expected to have an eagle eye for detail. Why? Because when it comes to drafting contracts, even a tiny mistake can have disastrous consequences for clients. A quick proofread can save you from a major slip-up

It might seem like a good strategy to blast out applications to as many firms as possible, especially since law is so competitive. But here’s the thing: if you’re copying and pasting sections of your application for different firms, they’ll notice. And you definitely don’t want to have another firm’s name on your application – it makes it painfully obvious that you just copy and pasted without tailoring your response. Firms are looking for candidates who genuinely understand their culture and values, not someone who’s sent out a generic, one-size-fits-all application. Personalising your responses shows you’ve done the research and are genuinely interested in what that firm has to offer. No firm wants to feel like they’re just another checkbox on your list!

I hope these tips help you step up your application game and make a real impact! Remember, attention to detail and personalisation can make all the difference in landing that dream role. Best of luck – go crush those applications!