Boodle Hatfield Training Contract Application Model Answer

As a result of your interests/leisure activities, what transferable skills have you developed?

Being an active member of the [language] Speaking Society at the [University] I have developed outstanding teamwork skills. Throughout the year I was involved in the organisation of numerous events including the [language] [national day], [language] Christmas, barbeques and winter parties. These activities required me to liaise with other executives before a decision was reached. I therefore had to switch between English and [language] when communicating to executives and when consulting members. This has effectively improved my confidence and articulacy.

Throughout my second year at university I was a representative for the [bank name]. During my post I have successfully gained the skill of being able to inspire and motivate the team. As part of my job role I had to represent the [bank name] to graduate students. At the beginning the team was very lethargic and lacked motivation for the job. I demonstrated to the team that representing a company is a task that entails a lot of responsibility and is a personal and exciting experience. Moreover, by introducing role plays, presentations and other interactive marketing strategies I have managed to show to the team that representing a company can be a very good opportunity to network and meet new people.

Whilst at university I have participated in a number of mooting and debating competitions. I found that this has helped to further develop my negotiation skills.

For the last decade I have been a very dedicated to amateur [Sport] and have participated in over fifty amateur [Sport] fights and won a gold medal for England. I found that amateur [Sport] has significantly enhanced my discipline which had a positive impact on my organisational and time-management skills. Doing [Sport] has helped me to organise and systematise my life. [Sport] allows me to prioritise different tasks and has so far proved to be instrumental to my academic excellence. I have further improved my management and leadership skills by pioneering an amateur [Sport] club at the [University]. I am currently the president and in charge of ten executives of an organisation of about hundred people.

Please give details of what you regard as particular achievements in your life.

I am particularly proud of my ‘[award name]’ award for attaining the highest grades at GCSE and A-Level at my institutions of study. I feel this illustrates my high academic calibre and also my determination to succeed.

I am exceptionally proud of my amateur [Sport] career during which I have won over sixty trophies, best [sportsman] awards, and a gold medal for England. I strongly feel that amateur [Sport] has shaped my personality very positively. This is reflected in my academic as well as my sporting and social life.

This year I have successfully started-up the [University] Amateur [Sport] Club for the first time in sixty years. I have managed to persuade the management to open up a new [Sport] club right on the campus. I feel this reflects my passion and perseverance in whatever I enjoy doing.

How and why did you decide on a career within the legal profession?

I am interested in becoming a solicitor at a commercial law firm because it will allow me to assume the role of a project manager and will vest me with early responsibility. Having worked at [law firm], I found my interest in corporate and commercial law and realised that it would suit my energetic and convivial personality. Given that commercial law is both transactional and ongoing suggests that I will have to build a rapport with the client and apply strong communication skills coupled with high technical ability when forming a clear picture of the client’s needs and objectives and then explaining what may well be a complex area of law when advising on the best solution. This may require me to liaise with a number of legal departments thus making each day unique, enjoyable and fulfilling work experience.

I have developed my interest in law throughout my academic career at [university]. In my second year I have completed a legal practice course where I was working in a group on a mock-trial case involving a breach of contract. This course has allowed me to incorporate my knowledge of law in a simulated solicitor’s environment. I genuinely enjoyed the team work and problem-solving elements of the course. I extended and further developed this interest by participating in mooting competitions at the university. Applying law to a particular scenario stimulates my intellectual curiosity and arouses a sense of passion in me when it comes to communicating the legal argument to the judge.

Why have you applied to Boodle Hatfield?

I am attracted by the small intake of trainees which I feel will offer me bespoke training that is individually tailored to my interests, experience and aptitude. Small teams also suggest that I will have increased responsibility and operate as a lawyer from day one in an informal and collegial working environment. More importantly, I will receive the excitement and challenge of working on high value, complex transactions and disputes, in the size of office where everyone knows who you are. For me this will mean getting involved in real work from the start whereby I will be able to add something to the cases I work on. This environment will unquestionably foster my professional and personal growth in my capacity as a lawyer.

What distinguishes Boodle Hatfield from other firms and makes my personal favourite firm to work for is the fact that it exposes its trainees to clients from day one. Having lived in [country], [country], USA and now UK, I have developed an interest in different cultures and can freely interchange between three languages. Whilst working for [law firm] I was exposed to [language] clients and assisted a South African client on a property transaction whilst working for [company name]. I found client contact to be a very personal and exciting part of being a solicitor. I would therefore be very delighted to interact with clients from an early stage of my career to offer a first-hand service.