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I wouldn't call myself an expert at law firm applications by any means. If anything, I'd say I'm quite the opposite! Of all my non-law friends, I'm probably the newest to the process, having only just attempted it for the first time last December. But having since sent off a few applications of my own, each accompanied by its own terror-fuelled dramatic panicky meltdown, of course, there are a couple of things I know to have been effective and some I know I'll never do again. Here's a list of ways I'm going to refine my research process this summer, in anticipation of application season kicking off again this September.

1. Pick your players

The first thing to do is to decide what kind of firms you want to apply to. Are they local high-street firms, commercial law firms, or a combination of both?

From there, the internet is your best friend. I know I'd like to apply to big commercial law firms as well as the occasional high-street firm, so I'll be making a list of the types of firms that fall under each category in my area and then going through each firm in turn. When compiling this list, the priority is not depth, but breadth. Scan each website and consider which of the firms seems most interesting to you, before incorporating them into a shorter list.

2. Background checks

Once you've got a list of firms you're pretty sure you like, the next step is to do more in-depth research, tailored to the application process. Comb through their websites, as well as other law-specific websites (I can't mention this without plugging LawCareers.Net, though if you're reading this you probably already know that!) and ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the firm's core values?
• What are their competencies and what practice areas do they specialise in (eg, entertainment, real estate)?
• What do you like about the firm?
• What stands out to you about the firm?

3. Open days 

Online research can be enough before completing an application, but I'd rather not take the risk. From what I've heard, attending open days can be one of the best ways to further your application as they ensure not only that you get in-person insight into life at the firm in question, but also provide you with the chance to make a memorable first impression. Personally, I'll be spending this summer looking up the open day dates of the firms I plan on applying to and making plans to visit.

Many firms offer open days year-round and, if you can't attend in person, there are always virtual open days. Before you go, make sure to prepare some questions based on your research of each firm, what exactly would you like to find out from a day at the firm? What about life at the firm? Ask about the real, everyday experience, the kind of thing a website won't necessarily be able to articulate, what are you curious to find out about?

Read all about open days and insight schemes in this Feature on LawCareers.Net.

4. Getting in touch

Whether you've attended an open day or not, don't be afraid to get in touch with solicitors (trainees or qualified) at the firm to find out what life is really like! It may seem awkward, but as long as you're polite, there should be nothing to fear.

If you’re thinking of reaching out to lawyers on LinkedIn, check out this handy guide to the platform.

5. And…send!

Though I don't think I'll be completing many (if any) applications this summer, there are two crucial things I know I’ll keep as my focus between now and the end of summer.

• knowing the application deadlines, perhaps the most crucial takeaway from this article. What's the point of putting all this effort into a potentially stellar application if you know it won't even be considered?; and
• beefing up my CV (for lack of better terminology), as I won't be working this summer, I'll be spending it taking part in (and applying for) as many opportunities as I can find, from poetry workshops to volunteering. This is as much of a personal venture as it is a professional one. I'd like to think that the firms I'll be applying to would appreciate an applicant who is not only knowledgeable but also well-rounded.

Then again, whether you're planning future applications or not, I suppose we all deserve a bit of fun after the dreariness of exams. It's summer, after all!