Law Training Contract Application Example from a Current Trainee

Please outline below any additional information about yourself which you consider relevant to your application.

(250 words max)

Since [year] I have been a very zealous member of the ‘[society]’ society. In the past I have been in projects aimed to save electricity and helping the local wildlife, such as switching off unused computers in the library during vacation breaks.

On a sportier note, I have won a gold medal for England in the Four Nations amateur [Sport] tournament. I am also a member of the [university] [sport] club and have been selected to play in the [sport] National Championships last summer. Outside my studies I greatly enjoy motoring and last year along with a group of friends I had undertaken a project of modifying two professional rally cars.

What has influenced your choice of career, why are you interested in this firm and its work and what do you think you could contribute to Forsters?

Whilst working for [law firm] I have discovered that becoming a solicitor will allow me to assume the role of a project manager and will vest me with early responsibility. 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 am attracted by the small number of trainee intake which I feel will offer me bespoke training that is individually tailored to my interests, experience and aptitude. 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.

Having lived in [country], [country], USA and UK, I can freely interchange between [language], English and [language] languages, which would therefore allow me to provide first-class client service when dealing with international clients.

Please outline any taken or planned oversea travel including any work undertaken or planned abroad.

(250 words max)

n/a

Please outline any positions of responsibility you have held.

(250 words max)

In January [year], I have successfully started an on-campus [Sport] club which has been unsuccessfully attempted for over fifty years. I am currently the president of the society and have the responsibility of managing ten executives and coordinating the overall strategy and direction of the club in its teething period. Throughout my second and third year at university I have actively represented [bank name] to graduates. I had to communicate to graduates interested in a career in investment banking, give presentations, organise on-campus marketing events, coordinate and manage people involved in marketing campaigns. I am a very active executive of the [language] Speaking Society where I am actively organising 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 maintain a social dialogue between the students and staff of the law school.

Describe an event or project that was successful because of your efforts. Highlight your contribution, detail how you resolved any problems encountered and how you ensured it was completed successfully.

(250 words max)

This year I have managed to start up an on-campus amateur [Sport] club at the [University]. Before starting the [Sport] club I have discovered that for the past 50 years applications for an on-campus [Sport] club have been turned down for health and safety reasons. Most of my colleagues have put emphasis on opening a specifically [Sport]-orientated club. However, having taken into account the health and safety issues I have decided to shift the activities of the club from contact [Sport] to non-contact [Sport]-style fitness training. Having spoken to the board of the sports centre and the students union, it was agreed that this club should be allowed given the benefit it would confer on students and the community. As follows, I then proposed an affiliation with [city] [Sport] club for people who would be interested in representing [university] University in amateur [Sport] competitions. The [University] agreed and even proposed to arrange transport and sponsor the club. I feel that my success stemmed from my ability to compromise and helpfully inform other colleagues as to why we should adopt a different approach to opening a [Sport] club. More importantly, my excellent communication skills helped to successfully clarify the situation to senior managers of the sports centre by removing any entrenched prejudices they may have had towards the sport as well as to gain support amongst students, which I feel was instrumental for the vote going through in our favour.