Why do you want to become a solicitor?

I have chosen to become a solicitor because I am attracted by sophisticated and challenging work that will provide me with legal as well as commercial exposure and thus make for a varied and intellectually stimulating environment.

I will have to work closely with clients to understand the environment in which they operate and the challenges and opportunities they face. This will present me with extensive involvement in different sectors and unique problems, which will make my work interesting and varied. In turn, I will work closely with other lawyers to discuss and develop ideas into effective solutions which will give me an insight to different approaches and perspectives. A profession as a lawyer will provide me with responsibility over my workload and since I will deal with several matters at once which will enable me to develop my approach and fully apply my skill-set which will make every day empowering. Given the fast pace of the globalisation of commerce, I find the prospect of cross-border work appealing because this will provide me with increasingly complex and unique problems. I will be presented with an opportunity to work in international teams which will bestow me an insight into how different jurisdictions and markets operate and impact on the clients’ objectives. This will lead to challenging work and expose me to different perspectives and develop my understanding of how cross-border matters function and my contribution fits within the bigger picture.

What attracts you to Goodman Derrick LLP?

I am attracted to Goodman Derrick LLP’s high calibre client base consisting of many household names because this will lead to complex and challenging work and will enable me to operate at the forefront of legal and commercial developments facing the firm’s clients on a daily basis. I find Goodman Derrick LLP’s specialist approach to sectors in which it operates appealing because I will gain knowledge of not just the law, but of the industries in which Goodman Derrick LLP’s clients operate. This approach will give me a rare insight into how the law relates to clients' businesses. The relatively small size of the firm and its collegiate culture will enable me to operate in closely knit teams which will allow me to make a substantial contribution and learn from experienced lawyers. I find Goodman Derrick LLP’s international focus very appealing because it will present me with interesting cross-border work and develop my understanding of how different international elements come together in a case. I am very attracted to the unique structure of Goodman Derrick LLP’s training contract because it will not assign me exclusively to any one partner but instead will allow me to work with the entire department which will enable me to experience the breadth of the department’s work and think creatively about clients’ problems.

What do you think you have to offer Goodman Derrick LLP?

I can offer an international outlook and commercial acumen which will enable me to understand individual client requirements and the environment in which they operate. I have strong problem solving and analytical skills which will allow me to discuss and develop ideas into tailored solutions for clients. I can offer good teamwork and communication skills which will allow me to work in diverse teams of professionals and contribute my ideas and perspectives in a logical and coherent manner. I am very enthusiastic, entrepreneurial and focused which will allow me to use my initiative to add value to my work and think about clients’ problems creatively which will help to produce innovative solutions for clients. I possess good client-facing skills through which I will be able to deliver a good client service and work with the client to understand their business, objectives and legal requirements. I possess leadership and organisational skills which will allow me to prioritise competing deadlines and manage my time and resources effectively. I am versatile and have a propensity for innovative thinking to solve complex problems.

Please give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility and any other noteworthy achievements that will support your application.

In [year], I established an events management business with an innovative business model that focuses on providing budget party packages in the retail market and helping restaurants and cafes to restructure their operations to increase their competitiveness and profitability. I am assisting the director in running the business. I am closely involved with my local community and help people with their legal and administrative matters on a pro bono basis. At university, I pioneered the University of [university] Amateur [sport] Club for the first time in fifty years and was the president of the society. I was the sports executive at the [university] [language] Speaking Society and organised sporting events such as five-a-side football tournaments and [sport] sessions. At school, I regularly represented my borough and England in national amateur [sport] competitions. In [year], I won a gold medal for England in the [English sports tournament name] Amateur [sport] Tournament.

Please list your interests, hobbies and activities.

I have a strong passion for [sport] and run regular [sport] classes at my local gym. I like to travel and enjoy camping, jogging, motoring, football, eating out and swimming. I take a keen interest in the current affairs and enjoy reading literature books. I also collect military memorabilia. I have a strong interest in the emerging markets and I am currently working on a project to help to introduce innovative payment systems into [country] and CIS.

At university, I pioneered the University of [university] Amateur [sport] Club for the first time in fifty years and was the president of the society. I am closely involved with my local community and help people with their legal and administrative matters on a pro bono basis. I enjoy travelling and keep up to date with current affairs and commercial and legal news. I am currently running an events management business. I am assisting the director in making important strategic decisions in order to grow the business and managing branches of the business in [area] and [area]. I am working with a company specialising in innovative payment systems in the UK (prepaid cards and e-wallets) and liaising with businesses in emerging markets to devise bespoke financial models that will meet their commercial objectives. I was the sports executive at the [university] [language] Speaking Society and organised sporting events such as five-a-side football tournaments and [sport] sessions. At school, I regularly represented my borough and England in national amateur [sport] competitions. In [year], I won a gold medal for England in the [English sports tournament name] Amateur [sport] Tournament.