Case study

Keith Mitchelhill — Early talent recruitment advisor

Employer
Womble Bond Dickinson

If you're looking to apply for a trainee solicitor role at a law firm, get answers to many of your pressing questions with this helpful advice from Keith Mitchelhill, early talent recruitment advisor for Womble Bond Dickinson (WMD).

What really makes a candidate stand out?

An application form or video interview will often be the your first point of contact with a law firm, so it is important to make yourself stand out.

One of the main mistakes we see is that when applicants discuss their work experience, they will quite often just recite their roles and responsibilities from the job description.

The problem is that this doesn't actually tell us anything about who you are and your input into that role.

We know what a paralegal or a retail worker does on a day-to-day basis. We want to see not just what you have done, but how you have done this. What were your successes? What mistakes have you been able to learn from? What are you most proud of?

This will allow us to build a picture of who you are and how you work, helping to bring your application to life. It is not about the opportunities you have had, it is about what you have made from them. This highlights the value you bring to the job role/experience.

What criteria do you mark candidates against through the application process?

We use a scoring matrix throughout the recruitment process with which we measure four behaviours. We believe that these encompass the skills and attributes our colleagues need to have in order to be successful in our business:

  • collaboration
  • client focus
  • creating value
  • adaptability.

It's also important to be self aware. We don't expect you to be the finished article - this is what your training contract is for. We need to know that you are just as invested in reaching your potential and that you would make the most of the opportunities the training contract offers.

What kind of extra-curricular activities really impress you?

There is no stand out activity that we are looking for. Having interests outside of law and academia can make some great talking points and help you to become 'well rounded'. We like to work with interesting people and so do our clients, so being able to talk about these interests can create personal and cohesive relationships. But also, and as importantly, if you've had caring responsibilities, for example, then please tell us about the valuable transferable skills you would bring to the table as a trainee at WBD, such as organisational skills, patience, and emotional intelligence, to name a few.

Some of the stand out applications through the years have included activities such as turtle conservation, a gymnast assistant and a dog walker. They stand out because they focused on the skills that allowed them to be successful and related this to the role of a trainee.

What are the main reasons you reject a training contract or vacation scheme candidate?

A lack of effort. Our team reviews every application we receive and it is obvious when an applicant has rushed their application. Take your time to research and put together an application that represents you.

Most importantly, make reference to the law firm you are applying for. We still see applications that are clearly aimed towards another law firm or refer to us by the wrong name. Don't just list your job titles - tell us what actions you have taken to create success.

What makes the difference between a good application and an excellent one?

Personality. This can be demonstrated by giving examples of successes in your work, extra-curricular activities or life experiences. Tell us what you have learnt and how you have overcome any challenges you might have faced. This allows us to build a picture of you in the workplace. Don't be afraid to be yourself, as we genuinely want to get to know you. It's not necessarily about the opportunities you have had, it's about what you have been able to do with those opportunities and experiences.

How can candidates get across their commercial awareness through the application process?

By demonstrating you are not just performing a function in your job role, that you understand the goals your team and employer are working towards.

Show you have an understanding of us as a business and how the client relationship works. There's more than just delivering legal advice as we want to help our clients achieve their long-term goals. If you are asked a question based around commercial awareness then try to avoid headline news. Find a subject you are passionate about but that also lines up with the firm you are applying for.

How do you assess vacation scheme students?

We want to see enthusiastic and engaged participation throughout. Your mentor will spend time with you to understand the right level of work you should be given so don't shy away if you are worried that others have more legal experience than you.

We look at feedback from your mentor, the team you have been assigned to, your final interview and feedback from across the business. How you treat the support staff is just as important. Take the opportunity to learn about the firm and the culture by being proactive. The more you put into the week, the more you will get out of it and have the opportunity to demonstrate your potential.

How can people make up for the fact they haven't done any work experience at a law firm?

We don't expect all applicants to have legal work experience. There are lots of transferable skills that can be gained from any experience. Retail workers will utilise great communication skills, fast food workers need great time management skills.

There is always something to be gained from an experience, so by being self-aware, you can highlight the great skill sets you have used to allow you to be successful in whatever role you have been in.

How can somebody make the right impression at a law fair?

Avoid questions that can be found easily on our website or by a quick Google search - when do applications open? How many offices do you have? If someone asks an interesting question then it can demonstrate you have researched well and have a genuine interest in joining us. Understand the sectors the firm works within as talking about an area they don't specialise in highlights a lack of research.

What skills and competencies do you look for candidates to demonstrate on assessment days?

Through the process, we look for the four key behaviours listed above.

Our assessment days comprise of a commercial task and a couple of short interviews that give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate a variety of skills and behaviours. So, there is an opportunity for everyone to show their strengths.

What kind of questions should candidates ask at interview? What shouldn’t they ask?

This can be increasingly difficult as there is so much information online. If you came to the interview with questions that have been answered through the conversations you have had, it is absolutely fine to say so. Consider the research you have done, what you have found interesting that you would like the interviewer's own personal opinion on. Is there any work we have done that you are particularly interested in and would like to know more about?

Don't ask questions that can be answered with a quick Google search or will likely be on the website, as this may be considered a lack of research and interest.

Law firms tell us that they try hard to encourage STEM students to apply for training contracts. The link between law and science may not be obvious, but why do scientists make good lawyers?

All non-law students (not just STEM) can make great lawyers. They bring something different to the table. We work with a diverse range of clients and therefore need a diverse team to succeed. STEM students have a broad range of valuable skills that are beneficial in a legal environment, including critical thinking, problem solving, technical literacy and best of all curiosity.

Law provides opportunities to work with emerging technology companies, pharmaceutical companies, intellectual property, chemical manufacturing and healthcare, to name but a few of our sectors. If you are passionate about technology, then a client would love to work with someone that can not only deliver sound legal advice, but also has a genuine interest and passion in their sector or product.

How can non-law students show commitment to a career in law when they haven't been exposed to university law societies, law clinics and mooting events?

There are lots of ways to demonstrate an interest in law. Try and immerse yourself in the legal world by attending legal events. Follow high profile work and try to predict what will happen in three, six or 12 months' time. Were you correct? What did you get wrong? What variables were you not aware of that have had a major impact on the outcome. Internships and open days are open for non-law students, so get involved and ask questions.

Volunteering with the Citizens Advice Bureau is a great way to speak with a variety of people (similar to our client base) and develop your listening skills to help signpost them to a resource they may need.

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