Penningtons Manches LLP Training Contract Application Model Answers

1. Please record your non-academic interests and activities during the last three years, highlighting any positions of responsibility held

(Please complete in a maximum of 180 words

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. I am currently the president of the society and have the responsibility of managing ten executives. Throughout my second and third year at university I have actively represented Bank of America to graduates. I am a very active executive of the [language] Speaking Society where I am actively organising cultural events such as the International Woman’s Day, [language] Army Day, [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. 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.

3. Describe the qualities that you think Manches is looking for in a solicitor and explain how much you match those requirements

(Please complete in a maximum of 180 words)

I feel that Manches is looking for entrepreneurial individuals with good leadership skills, outstanding communication skills and flexibility.

I am a very entrepreneurial individual with excellent leadership skills. I am the founding member and president of ‘[University] [Sport] Society’ and am currently managing seven executive members and overseeing the overall operation of the society.

In my capacity as a student-staff liaison committee member I have developed my communication skills at both a student and a more senior level. This skill would allow me to successfully communicate with clients and solicitors on two different but nonetheless professional levels.

Last summer, I worked for [law firm] where I had to communicate to a range of [language] speaking clients. My ability to switch between [language], [language] and English languages highlights my flexibility which could prove to be invaluable when dealing with a diverse range of both national and international calibre clients as well as being an excellent team player within the firm.

4. Please describe an achievement of importance which you consider demonstrates your initiative (Please complete in a maximum of 180 words)

This year I have successfully set up a ‘[University] [Sport] Club’, which was unsuccessfully attempted for over fifty years. The main reason for there not being a [Sport] club at the university is because the sports committee had health and safety concerns regarding the nature of the sport. However, having [done the sport] at both national and international level, my experience teaches me otherwise. After much consideration the sports committee allowed [university] University to form an affiliation with the ‘[university name] [Sport] Club’. From then on I had to attend multiple meetings with the ‘[university name] [Sport] Club’ to decide how to best merge the two clubs together, which admittedly was very time consuming and stressful because ‘[University] [Sport] Club’ was not officially recognised. Lack of recognition prevented us from receiving sponsorship. I established a ‘[Sport] Appreciation Society’ to promote [Sport] at [university] University and act as a proxy for the affiliate club. This official society gained the ‘[University] [Sport] Club’ recognition which means that we can start marketing the club and receiving support from various organisations.

5. Please outline any areas you wish to discuss at interview (NB it is not mandatory to complete this section)

Having an interest in commercial law I would especially like to work for Manches because I am attracted by the wide spectrum of commercial practices ranging from international wealth protection to retail business. This range of commercial practice areas will allow me to develop my knowledge of law at a faster pace and thus choose early in my career the area in which I would like to specialise in. This variety of work will enable me to achieve a right balance between personal interaction with a client and teamwork.

real estate, retail business, commercial technology and international wealth protection reflecting the firm's established client base.

5. What attracts you to a career with Manches? (Please complete in a maximum of 100 words) (Please complete in a maximum of 100 words)

Dear [recruiter’s name],

I am attracted by the relatively 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. This environment will unquestionably foster my professional and personal growth in my capacity as a lawyer.

Having worked for a number of private clients at leading legal firms, [law firm] and [law firm], I can attest to the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. I have also proved to be an excellent team player with an entrepreneurial perspective when working on complex legal matters. This was successfully demonstrated in me opening an on-campus [Sport] club which has not been done for over sixty years. My ambition and perseverance to achieve excellence and precision in all tasks I undertake coupled with my fluency in [language], English and [language] would make me a valuable asset when working on national and cross-border transactions.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to attend an interview for which I am available at your convenience.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]