Holman Fenwick Willan Training Contract Application Example Answers

Please give details of any positions of responsibility held at school.*

In 2003 I founded the languages ‘lunchtime’ club where students got an opportunity to improve their linguistic skills and learn additional languages. I was in charge of the [language] and [language] teaching course where I supervised five executive members, organised excursions to [language] and [language] events in United Kingdom, provided students with interactive activities and homework and helped them to prepare for GCSE exams. I was a very active member of the debating society and have represented my school in the national debate competition. To help the local community I organised and participated in ‘give a hand, help a neighbour’ campaign whereby the local community was encouraged to help the elderly and deprived through altruistic behaviour. I was the member of the local amateur [Sport] club whereby I competed in amateur bouts almost every fortnight.

Please give details of any positions of responsibility held at university.*

Since [year] I have been a very zealous member of the ‘[society]’ society. In January [year], I have successfully started an on-campus [Sport] club which was unsuccessfully attempted for the past sixty years. I am currently the president of the society and have the responsibility of managing ten executives. Throughout my second and third years at university I have actively represented [bank name] to graduates. I am a very committed executive of the [language] Speaking Society and I regularly organise cultural events such as the [celebration], [language] [national celebration], [language] Winter Party just to name a few. I am the Student-Staff Liaison Committee member for the third year law students and actively exercise my commitment to the legal profession by maintaining a social dialogue between the students and staff of the law school.

Please give details of any positions of responsibility held elsewhere

Please give details of your main extra-curricular activities and leisure interests

I greatly enjoy amateur [Sport] and have been [Sport] for over a decade. I find that [Sport] increases my discipline and motivation levels. Over the years I have won over sixty trophies and medals, including a gold medal for England in the Four Nations Tournament. I am a member of the [university] [sport] club and have been selected to play in the [sport] National Championships last summer. Playing [sport] allows me to appreciate pastoral settings and reflect on various things. I am also a member of the [university] [club] where I get an opportunity to do some target shooting as a way of improving my precision and concentration levels. I greatly enjoy motor sports and last summer, along with some friends, I have rebuilt and modified a rally car ‘Subaru Impreza Turbo GT’. During my holidays I like to travel, explore new places and learn new cultures by meeting people. Recently, I have travelled to Turkey and especially enjoyed the picturesque scenery and the rich culture.

Please list any other qualifications/skills/academic distinctions/prizes (in the case of skills please specify level of proficiency)

I have won a ‘[award name] Award’ for attaining the highest grades at GCSE and A-Level at my local institutions of study.

Please explain why you have decided on a career as a solicitor (suggested max. 250 words)

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. As follows, I am actively involved in mooting competitions at the university as I genuinely enjoy debating and disputing a legal position of a client. 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.

Please explain what aspects of a career as a commercial solicitor appeal to you and why (suggested max. 250 words)

I would especially like to work in a global environment because it could provide me with a comparison of multiple jurisdictions. In my second year, I studied Advanced Competition module and found a comparison of EU and US jurisdiction regarding ‘refusal to supply’ of utmost interest. Having read the Aspen (US) and Oscar Bronner (EU) judgments I developed an interest in forming an international perspective when analysing an area of law.

As a commercial solicitor I would get an opportunity to work on cross-border deals that would require me to liaise with a number of legal departments. Similarly, commercial law would present me with an opportunity to develop sector-specific expertise given that each assignment will be different from one another. More importantly, this expertise would be acquired on novel assignments that would vest me with early responsibility and present me with pleasant challenges that would allow my learning trajectory to grow at a steeper curve and increase my satisfaction and motivation at work. Subsequently, this expertise would allow me to deliver a timely solution to a client’s problem in the future when working on a similar assignment, thus maximising efficiency and conferring a competitive advantage on the client as well as the law firm.

The ability to see how technical legal information is converted into a pragmatic solution would expose me with an opportunity to view the entire legal process that would significantly increase my motivation and understanding of commercial law.

Please explain why you are seeking a training contract or vacation placement with Holman Fenwick Willan (suggested max. 250 words)

I am attracted by the small number of trainee intake which I feel will give me a hands-on experience and allow me to perform more substantive legal tasks than Holman Fenwick Willan’s counterparts thus making the work personally and professionally rewarding.
I am attracted to Holman Fenwick Willan because, unlike its competitors, it has a reputation for sectoral expertise. For me this would mean that I would learn how to advise clients knowledgeably about strategy as well as on individual deals and disputes. The fact that a combination of this sectoral and commercial knowledge has an influence which is illustrated when Holman Fenwick Willan is called upon to be advisors to governments, business institutions and regulatory authorities in developing new legal tools and procedures. These aspects will enhance my training prospects by giving me an overview of various sectors which would then allow me to make an informed decision about the area I would like to specialise in. Ultimately, working with leading professionals in different sectors will make my experience very diverse, challenging and both personally and professionally rewarding.

Holman Fenwick Willan’s strategy of achieving global success stands very close to my ambition of becoming an international lawyer. Having lived in the United States, United Kingdom, [country] and [country] I have grown up with a deep interest in other cultures and values. This has helped me to become a very flexible individual and increased my sensitivity and empathy which helps me to identify with Holman Fenwick Willan’s global vision.

Please give your reasons why we should recruit you (suggested max. 250 words)*

I am a very flexible and entrepreneurial individual when communicating with clients or colleagues but very decisive and confident when making a decision. For instance, when opening an on-campus amateur [Sport] club (which was disallowed for sixty years) I remained very flexible and an active listener in meetings with the [university] Sports Committee to get as much information as possible. When it came to reaching a decision I put my case across very confidently and persuasively, which left the [university] Sports Committee no choice but to open the club. I have a very convivial and helping personality which would not only make me an excellent team player but would also make me an exemplary representative of the firm. More importantly, however, I enjoy undergoing challenges and achieving excellence in new areas. For instance, I picked up [sport] at university and was shortly selected to play in the [sport] nationals which therefore underscores my ability to learn and undertake new challenges. Throughout my work placements I have displayed a desire to learn and succeed in a challenging and exciting environment. My fluency in [language], [language] and English languages could prove very useful when working on international transactions, both, in delivering a solution and forming a rapport with the client.