Application SOS!

Today is the day you could save your future. You need help, and fast!

31 January is Deadline Day for a massive number of firms' vac schemes and you probably can't now apply to as many as you had originally hoped. You simply don't have the time to complete all of the online application forms to a sufficiently high standard. But think on this: if you pick just one suitable firm and craft a spot-on application, your chances of getting an offer are higher than if you dash off five to 10 average applications. Average doesn't cut it these days. Average is destined to sit in a folder called 'Average' or 'None of the Above'. Average is a waste of the time you spent on the form.

I'll tell you who else goes into 'None of the Above' folders - good applicants with sloppy punctuation, careless spelling or grammar, and the odd use of inappropriately chosen words. The people who don't correct lower case to upper case where appropriate - 'i was selected to…' Frankly, just as disappointing are the ones who have studied 'spanich' or 'a levels'. Some people leave their name entirely free of capital letters. These people might well have received an offer had they taken the time and care to check through their online form properly. Online forms typically have no inbuilt spellchecker and this is deliberate.

Whatever you write has to be accurate and articulate. I have noted the use of the word 'apart' in applications. What the candidates wanted to say was that they had been 'a part' of something. All they did was prove they had an inadequate grasp of written English. For a lawyer, submitting an application with such a mistake is a kamikaze act.

Recruiters might be a little more forgiving with words like 'practice/practise' - the first is a noun and the second a verb (at least in British English). It's the same with 'licence/license' and a few others. If in doubt, look things up.

There should be sound reasoning behind your choice of firms. For some students geography dictates (eg, wanting to work in the Southwest or the Northeast); for others, the fact that they speak fluent Japanese or Russian means it makes sense to apply to firms with offices or business interests in those countries. For someone with an interest or experience in, say, the energy sector or medical negligence, it's easy to see why firms operating in those fields are smart choices. Think carefully about what makes you a great match for the firms you apply to. This will then make it easier to explain your reasoning for choosing a particular firm.

You are likely to be asked why you want to be a lawyer. Give an interesting and honest answer. Saying that you have wanted to be a lawyer since childhood isn't as sensible a response as you might imagine. Wanting to help people isn't exactly convincing if you're applying to a large corporate practice. Think about what lawyers do and express  the opinion that you would enjoy and be good at those functions. Lawyers are advisers and negotiators. They explain legal issues and processes to lay clients. They explore legal concepts and interpret them in the light of the scenarios in which clients find themselves. They draft carefully considered opinions, and some of them advocate on behalf of their clients. Commercial lawyers are business advisers, and therefore they must have an interest in the commercial world. Can you communicate sufficient interest in the areas with which your chosen firm is involved?

If you are applying to an international firm, have you illustrated the way in which you too have an international mindset and interests? If you are applying to a community-based firm, have you demonstrated to recruiters that you are disposed towards this type of work and clientele?

Pick your firms using sound reasoning. Prioritise the forms you most want to complete. Check to see if there are firms that accept applications by way of CV, and so long as there is obvious logic for choosing these firms and you know your CV is in good shape, then apply to them too. Remember, though: such firms will expect the covering letter to convince them of your suitability for their organisation.

Yes, the hours are ticking away, but all is not lost. You may well pull something remarkable out of the hat today, provided that you take great care with what you submit.