Application season can be tough, so here are five things I wish somebody had told me before I started my first one!

Shortlist

Pick around four law firms to apply to during each application season. As the fewer firms you apply to in each season, the more able you are to dedicate your time to each individual application. This will help you to identify why you want to apply to that firm and to demonstrate why you’re the best pick for the firm. Make the most of career fairs, law firm presentations, insight days and Linkedin. Be sure to prepare a list of things that you’d like to know about each firm, such as their practice areas, day-to-day work, staff perks and even the opportunity for client and overseas secondments. The best way to find out more about a firm is to speak to people who work there. You can even include quotes from partners, associates, and other staff at the firm to enhance your application.

Apply early

Late applications often come with endless errors that we tend not to pick up on until after the application has been submitted. For me, writing applications felt like a drafting exercise. If you give yourself more time to draft and revise your application, you will be able to spot common errors and avoid the common pitfalls that stops your application from making it past the early stage. Also, be sure to check out whether the law firms you’re applying to recruit on a rolling basis.

Prepare your response

Tailor your responses to the firms that you’re applying to. Nothing is worse than reading the same generic responses that are not tailored to you or the firm. The application is likely to be the first time that the firm has heard about you and your achievements. So now is the time to impress and highlight your best attributes. I prepared answers to common questions beforehand and amended my responses to sit each individual firm, to demonstrate why I’d be good fit for them. The best way to do this is to meet the firms ahead of pressing submit, develop your commercial awareness, and build interests that are of genuine interest to you.

Commercial awareness

All too often, we’re told to ensure we are commercially aware. But what does this mean? At the start of university, one of the best pieces of advice we were given was to read the news. This can include setting up news alerts, tuning in to live news channels, or getting a news subscription to outlets such as The Economist or The Financial Times. By picking news that you’ve read, you can demonstrate why it’s of interest to you and then link this more widely to the firm. For example, if you have work experience in a tech start-up and the firm that you’re applying to specialises in technology law, you could pick out a news story that centres around technology. This demonstrates knowledge of a firms specialisation, while highlighting your own interest and wider commercial awareness.

Check out LawCareers.Net’s Commercial awareness hub for more handy resources.

Finally, don’t be afraid of rejection

In previous blog posts, I’ve spoken about how important it is to remember that rejection not the end of your legal journey. Be honest with yourself and use the steps above to maximise your chances of gaining a place on a vacation scheme or securing a training contract.

Application season is exactly that – a time where to prepare to apply, perfect, and submit!

For all things applications check out LCN's application hub.