Bristows LLP Training Contract Personal Statement Example

Please provide your personal statement in the space below. Please outline why have you chosen to become a solicitor and what relevant skills and experience you possess that you feel make you a suitable candidate.

At university, I enjoyed applying and manipulating law to hypothetical scenarios during my modules and mooting competitions because it stimulated my intellectual curiosity since every situation was never the same and required a different approach. I have decided to become a solicitor whilst working at several law firms. I have especially enjoyed working in teams on an international platform because it enabled me to actively participate in complex and high-profile cases. At [Law Firm Name], I realised that I wanted to become a solicitor after attending a board of directors EGM in Amsterdam. I enjoyed thinking on my feet and working as part of a diverse team to solve problems in a quick-paced environment. At [Law Firm Name], I collaborated with the London and [city] offices in the preparation of witness statements. I was very fascinated by the multi-jurisdictional elements of the case as it allowed me to take multiple angles to the problem by working alongside solicitors from different jurisdictions. This produced more interesting work, greater variety and a wider group of experts to learn from which made my work environment stimulating and rewarding.

I possess initiative, drive and commitment which makes me suited for a training contract with Bristows where I will have to transgress boundaries when solving complex problems. For the first time in fifty years, I have established the ‘[University] Amateur [Sport] Club’ in [year] and was the president of the society. I have been involved in amateur [Sport] for a decade and have won over sixty trophies and a gold medal for England. As a dedicated member of the [environmental society], I helped to introduce and develop social responsibility initiatives at University. I had successfully organised and developed a scheme whereby all unused desktops at the library were turned off during the vacation breaks to help reduce the University’s carbon footprint.

I am a suitable candidate for a training contract with Bristows because at [law firm] I demonstrated good interpersonal skills whilst working on an international litigation matter. I was required to liaise with attorneys from the London and [city] offices during the preparation of witness statements for the trial. I constantly communicated with the attorneys to ensure that all changes incorporated into witness statements were uniform and consistent. I proved to be a good communicator when explaining problem areas and discussing all possible solutions.

Also at [law firm], I demonstrated analytical ability, discerning judgment and organisational skills whilst proofreading and amending an Offering Memorandum for a luxury goods company. Whilst at the printers, I demonstrated meticulous attention to detail and good judgment when incorporating real-time changes into the prospectus during the final discussions between the parties. I successfully logged all pages that were handed in for processing and prioritised my workload to meet tight deadlines.

I should be offered a training contract because I possess outstanding analytical skills and commercial acumen. At [Law Firm Name], I assisted on a shareholder dispute in a joint venture vehicle. I attended a Board of Directors EGM of a joint venture in Amsterdam and successfully managed the meeting and demonstrated initiative. I applied a sharp analytical mind to explain complex issues in a simple language and made sense of a very complicated situation. I demonstrated lateral thinking and always aligned myself with client’s commercial objectives. At the end of the meeting, the solicitors were more informed of the client’s problem which allowed them to act more swiftly. By assuming large amounts of responsibility and operating in a quick-paced environment with tight deadlines, I have developed my ability to respond to imminent problems confidently and effectively which makes me suited to Bristow’s entrepreneurial style and its refreshing lack of hierarchy.

Having worked for a number of leading legal firms, I can attest to the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. This, coupled with my fluency in languages would make me a valuable asset when working on cross-border transactions or with international clients.