Welcome to our blog. We're on a mission to change the legal industry for the better. Follow our blog for industry insights, career tips, human stories, and everything in-between. Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter too!

The Flex Legal Blog

All Flex Legal Blog Posts

index

Welcome to our blog. We're on a mission to make the legal industry more human and agile. Follow our blog for Flex Legal stories, industry news and views, and career tips. Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter too!

Flex Legal Blog

Sign up for our monthly legal industry newsletter

If you would like to be kept up to date with the latest legal and paralegal insights please join our newsletter.

Service Areas

Flexible options to meet your needs

Our partners

Articles from our blog

Facing a job interview for your first law position is a scary thing – especially when you’re still a student. Alongside your usual student worries about covering the rent, getting the best grades you can, and (let’s be honest) figuring out where in town does the best deals on pints, now you’ve got a serious interview to contend with.  
  
Whether it’s for an internship, a paralegal role, a training position, or anything else, landing an interview can be both exciting and scary in equal measure. You’re trying to present the very best version of yourself and will be up against other equally impressive people trying to do the same. Your interviewer will be looking for any sign that you’re either fit or not fit for the role. Fortunately, we’re here to tell you everything you need to stand out from the crowd.

 

Here’s our essential tips on navigating your job interview.

 

### **Research the organisation**

This one goes without saying. Everyone who has ever attended a serious interview has Googled the organisation they’re interviewing for. Your interview will be the same – so make yourself stand out from the rest of the interviewees by looking up info that isn’t the first search result on Google. Try reading up on big cases they’ve been involved in, researching key people within the organisation on LinkedIn, or look up their competitors based on geographical area. If it’s a small of local firm, who is their demographic? What can you learn about them?

### **Practice your answers**

There’s no way you can know every interview question you’re going to be asked in advance. However, you can polish your answers for the obvious questions you’re always going to be asked. Whether it’s about your education, qualifications, or ambitions, make sure you have prepared some interesting and impressive answers. Remember, the interviewers have already read your CV. They already know your qualifications and work history. What they don’t know is that you’d be a great person to work with. Use your pre-prepared answers to get this across to them.

## 

### **Refer to the job description**

Here’s a little secret nobody usually mentions: job interviewers already have an “ideal person” in mind before they start interviewing. Even if you can’t meet every requirement in the job description, you want to demonstrate that you fit the bill for that “ideal person”. The best way to do this is to find the key points in the job description, and tailor your answers to hit those key points at least once.

### **Check your social media**

Most law firms will do a background check on you at some stage of the recruitment process. The first thing they’ll try to find is your social media. If the first thing they see is pictures of you having a *rather jolly* time at a party, or making inflammatory public remarks on Twitter about Love Island contestants, it’s not going to do you any favours. The best thing you can do, honestly, is to change your privacy settings to make sure nothing is publicly visible. Failing that, at least have a good tidy up and get rid of anything that could backfire on you.

## 

### **Re-read your CV**

This might sound a bit obvious, but make sure your pre-prepared answers match what’s on your CV. Even small contradictions or discrepancies can be looked down on by interviewers. You can save yourself that embarrassment by having a thorough read through your CV and making sure you know it inside and out.

### **Buy a suit**

There’s a special and little known trick for deciding what to wear to a job interview. You should aim to dress “one step above” the expected dress code for the role you’re interviewing for. For legal roles, this does mean you’ll absolutely have to wear a suit. It’s the first and foremost sign to the interviewer that you’re taking the interview seriously. First impressions are everything, so consider charming your parents into lending you some new suit money, or alternatively have a look around for one in your size on [Depop](https://www.depop.com/) or [eBay](https://www.ebay.co.uk/).

### **Arrive early**

Again, first impressions are everything. Right from the get-go, you want to show the interviewers that you’re serious and enthusiastic about the role. Showing up early an easy first way to make yourself look eager. If you’re interviewing in person, aim to arrive 10 minutes before the interview was due to start. If you’re interviewing online, make sure the interviewers know you’re ready to go at least 5 minutes before the interview is scheduled to start.

### **Be professional**

Even if you’re feeling nervous, it’s time to put on a borderline Oscar-worthy performance. You’re not interviewing as a student, you’re interviewing as a professional they should hire. Enter the interview with a warm and enthusiastic smile. If they offer hands, shake them firmly and confidently. If they don’t, crack a joke about not shaking hands during Covid. Sit up straight, speak clearly, and try to avoid nervous mannerisms if you can. [Body language says a lot in job interviews](https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/body-language-interview-dos-and-donts/), so do your best to control yours.

### **Be confident**

You know that you want this job. It’s time to show your interviewers just how much want it. If you’ve been invited to attend an interview, your interviewers already think you are a potential candidate for the job. All you have to do is be confident in your own abilities, and come across as the sort of person they would want to work with. Just be careful not to come across as over-bearing or arrogant. It’s a hard line to walk sometimes, but you can and will do it.

### **Be skillful**

Legal professionals need a huge range of “soft” skills that cannot be taught in university. There is a genuine knack to being able to talk to people in a professional but friendly way, and if you can evidence this in the way you answer questions you will stand out. Try thinking about fictional lawyers you know and how they hold themselves. Chances are that they are dynamic and confident communicators, with good analytical skills and a keen attention to detail. These are all characteristics you can prove in the way you answer questions.

### **Ask questions**

Every interview ever conducted has finished with the interviewer flipping the script. When they ask you if you have any questions for them, you should have some ready. As long as you’re not asking banal questions you could easily look up online, this is your chance to turn things around and get them to sell the organisation back to you. You could always try asking the interviewers about the company culture, or ask them more about their roles, or ask how specific [recent changes in the law](https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/legal-updates) might affect the organisation. Asking the right questions can transform a good interview into a great one.

### **Offer a copy of your CV**

If your interviewers don’t already have a physical copy of your CV to hand, offer them a one! Taking the time to print out a copy for their reference can demonstrate how prepared and professional you are. It’s a small gesture that goes a surprisingly long way!

### **Be courteous**

The way you leave an interview is just as important as the way you enter it. Its only human to want to exit your interview by saying “peace out, suckers” and dropping a mic. Unfortunately, job interviews are not an acceptable place to do this. Even if things could have gone better, thank the interviewers for their time, encourage them to contact you if they have any further questions, and leave the best impression you can.  
 

### **Relax** 

Now that the interview is over, take it easy! You’ve done everything you can, so it’s time to put your feet up. Job interviews are incredibly exhausting, so get some food, or grab a drink, or do whatever it is you do to unwind. It’s natural to worry afterwards and think about everything you could have said differently, but try your best to put these things out of your mind. Even by attending a nerve-wracking interview you’ve done something huge and should be proud!

**Additional Resources**:

 

* [10 essential tips to ace assessment centres](/blog/10-essential-tips-to-ace-assessment-centres) - what if your interview isn’t an interview, and it’s an assessment centre? Read our handy guide here!
* [5 tips for Law Firm Interview Success](/blog/5-tips-for-interview-success) - worried about an interview at a law firm? Look no further than these 5 excellent tips that will help you have a successful interview.

Top Interview Tips

Top Interview Tips Blog Banner

Top Interview Tips for Law Students

## How to find legal work, when you don’t have any experience

One of the questions we often receive from via our social media is: “*How do I find a paralegal role without any legal work experience?*” The simple answer is: it’s tricky. However, it’s not impossible.

Plenty of people have done it before, and so can you. In this blog post we’ve tried to break down some tried and tested tips you can reasonable take to build your experience and really make your applications stand out.

## Why you should consider roles in all areas of law

Let’s get something big out of the way: the very start of your legal career is the hardest stage by far. Once you have experience from one paralegal role under your belt, it’s much easier to progress from there and fine more. So even if you have an interest in media litigation, or shipping law, or contract negotiation, and thats all you can see yourself doing - be open to other entry level roles. They can help you gain that valuable first bit of experience, help you build some fundamental, and give you exposure to the wider industry.

There’s plenty of roles you can pursue in law that you don’t require you to be a fully qualified lawyer. Many roles are accessible with just a law degree or comparable qualification, such as:

* Paralegal
* Legal Assistant
* Legal Secretary
* Legal Researcher
* Legal Analyst

If you can secure one of these roles, and stay there long enough to gain good experience, you’re set. From there, you can start directing your career towards the area of law you really want to work in. The honest truth is that all experience is important, and can add value to any application if you convey it directly. So don’t be too picky to begin with - just get your foot in the door.

## Why you should approach smaller legal firms

Many law graduates come out of university thinking that they’ll be able to walk into an entry-level role at a City law firm. Unfortunately, this is seldom the case.

Competition is incredibly fierce for City law firms, even for the most entry-level roles. If you don’t have existing experience, you’ll probably have to build some up somewhere else first. Consider reaching out to smaller boutique / high-street firms where you may have a greater chance of securing work.

Start by finding some small firms in your local area, and identifying some decision makers on LinkedIn or their website. Then, contact them via email or message them on LinkedIn, asking if you can virtually assist with any basic tasks for an afternoon/few days. It will give you credible experience to put down on your applications and shows your initiative.  
  
If you don’t have any success, you can always widen the net and try again with different firms.

## Why you should try out Pro Bono work

Make no mistake, getting legal experience is hard. However, legal experience doesn't have to be paid. Pro Bono work is not only a fantastic way to  help those who otherwise couldn’t get legal support, it’s also a great option for anyone looking to build up their legal work experience.

In fact, many legal professionals get their start by volunteering for pro bono centres like the [Citizens Advice Bureau](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/), or through university Pro Bono Societies. These offer some really high quality direct client-facing experience, and often allow you to manage your own caseloads.

Getting just a few months of pro-bono experience can really make your future applications stand out. Obviously, the work is unpaid so isn’t for everyone. But those with the option to devote time to pro bono work should absolutely consider it.

Furthermore, pro bono work [can even be used as SQE Qualifying Work Experience](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zkt4kC7KfQ), meaning it can also contribute to your legal qualification under the SQE.

Here’s some other pro bono organisations worth looking at:

* [National Pro Bono Centre](http://www.nationalprobonocentre.org.uk/)
* [LawWorks Pro Bono](https://www.lawworks.org.uk/)
* [Free Representation Unit](https://www.thefru.org.uk/)
* [Prisoners Advice Service](http://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/)
* [Support through Court](https://www.supportthroughcourt.org/)
* [Child Law Advice](https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/about-us/what-we-do/child-law-advice-service/)

## Virtual internships

Virtual internships are another great way to increase your commercial awareness, and develop an early understanding of the kind of tasks you might be expected to complete on a vacation scheme or as a trainee solicitor.

We highly recommend checking out [Forage](https://www.theforage.com/course-catalog/Law), which is a completely free and accessible platform showing a range of virtual programmes in partnership with leading firms.

Places can be tricky to secure, but they’re still well worth a look!

## Develop a narrative of interest

Let’s say you’re applying to work in a specific role that you have little to no experience in. A key way to stand out from other applicants is to build a consistent narrative in your application that demonstrates your interest. 

Remember, just because you don’t have experience in a certain area of law doesn’t mean you can’t show your interest in it. Think about the modules you studied at University. Were there any you particularly enjoyed? Were there any you did particularly well in? What area of law did you your dissertation focus on? Did you do any coursework or exams that scored highly in a specific area? If you can think of anything that might apply to your application, make sure you include it.

But don’t stop there - keep your answers to the above in mind and start to think about ways you can further bolster that interest. Can you volunteer to write for a law blog / magazine in that area? Can you attend a virtual talk or insight day at a firm with a specialism in that area? Could you find someone who works in that area who would be willing to have you shadow them for a day?

Doing all of this shows that you are interested in the area, and will give you an edge in the application process. Ultimately, you’re trying to convince the person reading your application just how much you want the role. Even if you don’t have any explicitly relevant experience, it can indicate that you’ll turn up eager to learn and enthusiastic about the position. 

## Convey your experiences in a convincing way

I'm sure you've heard of the STAR technique, and that’s for good reason: it works. 

When answering a question / recounting an experience, it's easy to get carried away and end up adding unnecessary information. When you’re reading back through the application and editing it, remember to keep it concise by using the STAR technique. Outline the **Situation** and **Task** briefly, focusing on the **Action** you took and the **Result** you achieved. This is a great way to demonstrate competencies from both legal and non-legal experiences, particularly if you lack the former. Here’s an example:

* **S** - I worked as a waiter at *Restaurant X* alongside my university studies.
* **T** - I was given responsibility to lead a training session for new staff members.
* **A** - I brainstormed a training plan based on internal processes and my own experiences in the job. I organised and delivered the training session, ensuring each trainee met the required criteria throughout. I then scheduled individual follow-ups with the new staff members to ensure any additional questions were answered.
* **R** - *Restaurant X'*s TripAdvisor rating increased by 10%, with several of the staff members I trained being quoted as "outstanding" and "very impressive" in the reviews. I was also asked to deliver further training sessions by my manager due to excellent feedback on my performance.

This is only a rough example, but try to think about how you could appropriate it for your own experience.

**Additional Resources:**

* [How to kick start your legal career](/blog/how-to-kick-start-your-legal-career)
* [How to use LinkedIn to boost your legal career](/blog/how-to-use-linked-in-to-boost-your-legal-career)
* [How to network remotely](/blog/how-to-network-remotely)
* [Pro Bono: what is it?](/blog/pro-bono-what-does-it-mean-why-should-we-do-it-how-do-we-go-about-it)
* [How to network like a pro](/blog/how-to-network-like-a-pro)
* [How to build a personal development plan](https://click.pstmrk.it/2s/flex.legal%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-build-a-personal-development-plan-pt-1/gjVEYCEN/ufMu/2rT70GvdkP)

blog banner how to final legal work experience

How to find legal work experience

<p>We were delighted to welcome Sarah Hunt, Neil Campbell and Emma O’Connor as guest speakers at our latest Virtual Lunch in collaboration with LexisNexis and Crafty Counsel. Sarah is Head of People Development at Osborne Clarke, Neil is Managing Legal Counsel at RBS, and Emma is the Talent Development Manager at Dentons. The topic for the call centred around the key skills that junior lawyers need to succeed, with the speakers drawing on their own experiences to offer excellent insights to attendees.</p><h2><strong>Authenticity</strong></h2><p>As noted by Sarah, many interviewees try to adapt their answers to fit what they believe the panel wants to hear. Although it is good to relate your experiences to the firm, it is important to remain true to your motivations. There is such a thing as the ‘right’ firm for you, you just need to find it. When discussing things that genuinely interest you, your passion comes across and this paints you in a good light. Your experiences and motivations are individual to you, so use this opportunity to stand out and be yourself!</p><h2><strong>Resilience</strong></h2><p>Given the demanding nature of the legal industry, resilience is key. The ability to quickly adapt to setbacks and elements outside of your control is important to being a successful lawyer. It is also important for managers and team leaders to build a culture that is accepting of mistakes, and encourages active learning from them. In doing so, both development and a transparent culture are encouraged. Understanding why something happened and how to move past it is valuable, and demonstrates a strong sense of self-awareness in junior lawyers.</p><h2><strong>Emotional Intelligence</strong></h2><p>Being able to take responsibility and acknowledge failure is critical in improving yourself as a lawyer. Self-awareness allows you to be analytical of your own performance in situations and recognise where your ‘blind spots’ are. Similarly, it is vital to adapt to the client and empathise with them to gain a true understanding of their needs. As Emma mentioned, the greatest difference between businesses that are currently excelling and those that are struggling, is empathy. Actively listening and acknowledging other viewpoints allows for a feeling of mutual understanding, which encourages progress. The most important thing is to be conscious of the situation and respond accordingly.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Client-centricity</strong></h2><p>Gaining a deeper understanding of the client and their business, and placing them at the centre of the advice you give, is key to delivering the best possible service. Proactively asking questions allows you, as an advisor, to anticipate their future needs. This skill is also key in building your knowledge of the client’s expectations and values. Even basic questions to build a personal rapport with the client are important, as they may be overlooked by senior management also involved in the deal. Always be curious about the client and your role in the matter!</p><h2><strong>Building Relationships</strong></h2><p>For Neil, this is a fundamental skill that should be thought about more. To ensure the best service, lawyers must understand their client’s needs. For this, a good relationship must be built. Clients should be viewed as collaborators and partners in the matter, to allow for effective communication. Always put yourself in the client’s shoes and ask yourself: ‘How would I want this advice to be communicated? What would I value?’. This will help to better your understanding of the client and to develop a long-standing relationship.</p><h2><strong>Cognitive Flexibility</strong></h2><p>This means our ability to think differently and challenge our internal decision making process. There is no ‘correct’ answer when it comes to which values or ideas should be prioritised at work, as each workplace is culturally different. However, the ability to challenge your own assumptions and biases allows you to place your client’s interests at the forefront of your decision-making process. This is key to delivering excellent service.</p><p>Thank you again to Sarah, Neil and Emma for offering some fantastic advice and insights!</p>

<div>
	<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/122426351513" class="sqs-block-button-element--medium sqs-block-button-element" >Sign up to our next virtual lunch here!</a>
</div>

Key Skills Junior Lawyers Need To Succeed

We are delighted to announce that our very own [Jamie Roberts](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieroberts98/) has secured a training contract in Osborne Clarke’s London Office, commencing September 2022! Jamie is an Associate in our Bookings Team, and was previously our [Paralegal of the Month](https://youtu.be/lUimmBDxn6Q) for December 2019 having completed several placements through F-LEX before joining the HQ team. Jamie is a prime example of hard work and a commitment to the legal industry paying off, and we wanted to share his journey to a training contract!

## **Could you tell me a bit about your background and education?**

So I originally grew up in the UK but I moved to Abu Dhabi when I was six, living there until I was 18. I went to a British school and did GCSEs and A Levels. In year 12 I think I really underestimated how hard A Levels were and so didn’t get the best results that year. This meant in year 13 I had to work super hard in order to bump my grades up to ABB. I think this experience really instilled in me a determination to smash my academics at university. I moved back to the UK in 2016 where I went to the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2019 with a first class honours law degree.

## **Were you always set on a legal career during/after your degree?**

During my degree I always toyed with the idea of exploring different career paths but I only ever looked briefly. I think as the application process for law is so intense and competitive that after my first application cycle (and receiving 5/5 rejections) I became fully invested and I didn’t really have the time to think about other careers. After each rejection I became so determined to succeed in a career in law. I have always said that the application cycle is a learning process and each cycle I learnt something new that helped improve my applications for the next.

## **What attracted you to Flex Legal? Would you recommend Flex Legal to others seeking paralegal positions?**

Essentially, when I graduated from university last summer I didn’t really know what to do with myself! On my CV I only really had a week's work experience in a law firm and so didn’t have the experience required for permanent paralegal roles. I had read about F-LEX online and heard really positive things. I liked the idea of being able to do a number of different placements with a wide variety of firms and in-house legal teams. It was also really clear from my onboarding interview that F-LEX really listened to what I was looking for. The ease of managing my profile and preferences through the online portal and also being able to accept or reject opportunities was great.

I would definitely recommend F-LEX to anyone who is looking to build up their legal work experience. We also regularly team up with law firms and other companies to provide events and training opportunities.

## **You completed F-LEX placements at Freshfields, Pannone Corporate and GQ Littler in 2019. Could you tell me a bit about these experiences and how they helped you?**

All of my placements through F-LEX have been very different but all extremely positive! My first one at Freshfields was by far my favourite experience and I thoroughly enjoyed my six weeks there. The first matter I worked on was for one of the firm’s European offices and I worked with the antitrust, competition and trade team. I then worked with the London tax team on a document review project for one of the firm’s major clients. I met so many great people during my time there and was really made to feel part of the team.

My second placement at Pannone was only for two weeks and I worked on a data subject access request (DSAR). This was really different to Freshfields and it was interesting to be able to compare a magic circle firm with a boutique firm.

My final placement at GQ was actually only for one day and my task was finalising a DSAR. GQ is a boutique employment law firm and it was great having lunch with some of the associates there. All of them had trained at City law firms and it was really interesting talking with them and learning about why they left the firms that they had trained at.

Each of my placements really helped me understand the world of law, how law firms operate and the vast amount of opportunity available to me. It was great to meet so many different people and learn about their journeys into law and their respective career paths.

## **Since January 2020, you have worked as a F-LEX Associate, as part of the Commercial Development Scheme. Could you tell me about this and how this experience has helped you?**

The CDS has been absolutely key to my success and securing a training contract. During my eight months here I have learnt so much from the team and my skills have developed significantly. Every day, I am involved in a range of different tasks from drafting commercial contracts, to interviewing new paralegals, attending client meetings and working with the sales & marketing team. The best part is that I get to meet a lot of people and I get great client contact. From this, I have been able to understand what clients look for in a candidate and the associated costs and risk when taking on a contractor.

Everybody at F-LEX has been so supportive! The management team have been great mentors to me and the rest of the F-LEX Associates are my little support network. We are a very close-knit team and all get on really well. We are all looking for TCs, so it has been nice to go through the process together and help each other along the way.

## **You were recently offered a training contract at Osborne Clarke, commencing in September 2022. Could you tell me why you decided this was the firm for you?**

I actually first met OC at a Legal Cheek event in October 2019. I had heard about them before but didn’t really know too much about the firm. The event included a panel discussion which included Ray Berg, OC’s Managing Partner, and after the discussion he came and had networking drinks with us. I also approached graduate recruitment and asked if there were any spots left for the presentation evening the week after. After both events I had gotten a fantastic insight into OC and everything ticked the boxes for me. The work and type of clients, OC’s approach to innovation and technology, the relatively small trainee intake, the sector focus. It just seemed like the perfect firm on paper. The vacation scheme was also a fantastic experience. Although it was delivered virtually, the graduate recruitment team did a brilliant job to organise a really informative and fun week. My supervisor and trainee buddy were amazing and put me in touch with some really cool lawyers at the firm and I had some good chats with a wide range of people.

It is really cliche and every firm says they have the best culture, but there is something really unique about OC’s culture and people. The people are what make the firm tick. I always used to doubt when people said ‘this is the firm for me’ as a lot of firms seemed to be the same to me, but I genuinely believe in that now. I could not see myself at another firm!

## **How does it feel now that all of your hard work has paid off?**

Honestly, it is a huge relief! I was absolutely dreading the possibility of going into another application cycle and going through the process again. It’s also really exciting and I feel super proud of myself that four years of hard work has paid off and I can now relax for a couple of years.

## **What tips would you offer to those currently applying for training contracts?**

**Tip 1… Go to firm events!**

Open days, presentation evenings, Legal Cheek events, etc. are all great ways to engage with firms. I only applied to firms that I had met before. This made it so much easier to write applications and I felt this made them come across a lot more genuine. Attending the events at OC provided me with so much useful information for both my application and interview. At one of the events, a partner talked about OC’s international expansion strategy. In my interview, the same partner asked me about international expansion and I was able to use what he said at the event and deliver a strong answer. I have always thought there can be lots of luck coming in to play during interviews, but sometimes you can make your own luck!

**Tip 2… Don’t underestimate the importance of non-legal work experience!**

I feel like a lot of people downplay their non-legal work experience and think that it is essential to have legal work experience in order to secure a vacation scheme or training contract. This is definitely not the case! My experience working as a F-LEX Associate has provided me with many more transferable skills than my paralegal experience did! As the market is incredibly tough at the moment, if an opportunity comes up and it is non-legal, go for it! As long as you are able to answer ‘why law?’ for applications and interviews you will be fine.

**Tip 3… Be confident!**

I felt that my first ever assessment centre went relatively well and my feedback indicated this but the reason I was unsuccessful is because I came across as nervous. This was so frustrating as I was only nervous because I really wanted a vacation scheme with that firm. Once you get to the interview and assessment centre stage, the firm thinks you are a capable candidate but you just need to impress that little bit more. From then on I told myself that I shouldn’t be nervous and that I have to just be confident and adopt the ‘fake it til you make it’ mindset. It was quite a hard mentality to adopt but it definitely helped me in my subsequent interviews and it meant I was able to communicate my thoughts much clearer and let my personality shine through.

## **What do you plan on doing between now and the commencement of your training contract in 2022?**

I plan to stay at F-LEX until at least early 2021 and then see from there. If the world is somewhat back to normal by then I may go travelling or even go back to Abu Dhabi and spend some time with my parents. I will then start the LPC at BPP in September 2021. If I have some time I may fill those gaps with more F-LEX placements!

*Post written by Jamie Roberts and edited by Harry Mellor*

Apply

How Flex Legal Helped Jamie Secure a Training Contract

We are delighted to crown [Sam Sykes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABh2Te0BGBtUUOTOx8M-ID-15nf21MA6kv0) as our Paralegal of the Month for August! This is a fantastic achievement and recognises the great work Sam has been doing over the last year. Although the pandemic is continuing to impact our usual filming process, we are so pleased to be able to share fantastic the work our paralegals are doing again.

Catching up with Sam, he had this to say about Flex Legal:

"I was worried it would be difficult to find interesting work coming out of the GDL, but I have really enjoyed my placements and learned a lot. I would definitely recommend Flex legal to anyone seeking paralegal work."

Great work Sam!

Paralegal of the Month - August 2020

Starting your legal career is the hardest part of the journey, and with current conditions, this has never been more true. To help those currently starting this journey, [Mary Bonsor](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-bonsor-8a270859/), co-founder and CEO of [Flex Legal](https://flex.legal/), and [Sophie Gould](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-gould-95832316/), Flex’s Head of Learning & Development, recently based one of [our monthly Virtual Lunches](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/flex-legal-23419765769) this topic, in order to hear from the experts what works and what doesn’t when it comes to applications and assessment days.

We were very pleased to be joined by [Angela Tang](https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatanguk/), Innovation Consultant at a Magic Circle firm; [Oliver Searle](https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-searle-lawyer/), Senior In-house Counsel at Chevron Lubricants; [Amber Parslow](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-parslow-02a2b6108/), Co-Vice Chair of the London Young Lawyers Group and future trainee at Baker McKenzie; and [Harry Clark](https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryclarklaw/), Founder of the [More from Law](https://harryclarklaw.com/the-more-from-law-podcast/) podcast and future trainee at Baker McKenzie.

Depending on your current stage, it may seem like the route into law is a straightforward one: apply for vacation schemes at the start of your second year of law school, receive a training contract offer off the back of these, before heading straight into your LPC after you graduate. Although this works out for some, it is certainly not the only way into a legal career.

**For Amber, it was only after she graduated and attained some practical experience through a paralegal role that she felt it was the right time for her to excel at training contract interviews.**

“I went to university in 2014 and attended my first assessment centre in 2015. The whole process knocked my confidence - everyone there spoke well and was really confident, and I just felt like the odd one out. I graduated in 2016 and went travelling around America for two months. This helped my applications more than I realised because it allowed me to show my personality and interests in a unique way. I also worked at a legal recruitment firm for a few months which helped to develop my transferable skills like ringing clients, emailing, and organising my workload. I then got my first paralegal job through F-LEX, working in the Gherkin! This was great, but I found I had a lot of extra capacity, so I volunteered to take on the firm’s internal GDPR compliance project because I had an interest in data protection and privacy law. It was this experience that allowed me to secure a paralegal role at Baker McKenzie, which ultimately led to my training contract offer.”

**Similarly, Harry went through three rounds of vacation scheme and training contract applications before he was successful in securing his training contract at Baker McKenzie.**

“I made all sorts of application mistakes along the way and these are the reasons I’ve been trying to write about them publicly for the best part of a year now. One particular example I will give is during my initial rounds of applications, I had the terrible strategy of copying and pasting my answers onto various application forms. On one occasion I forgot to change the name of the firm, so the opening line was addressed to a different person at a completely different firm! I think I got that rejection back in about 24 hours! Of course, don’t do this, but in the bigger picture it is important to really tailor your application to the firm you are applying to. You shouldn’t be able to swap out the name of that firm with another.”

**Oliver’s experiences highlight the changes that have occurred during his time within the legal industry.**

“Diversity within the legal field is still something that we must work on and we still have a long way to go. However, in my workplace, I always feel I can bring my authentic self to work in a way that wasn’t possible in the past, so there is the capacity to change. The current situation can be unsettling in terms of security but it is important to remember that new roles are constantly being created with the increasing use of technology, so with a greater skill set, comes greater opportunity.”

**Although times are tough, Angela thinks that firms have learnt a lot from 2008.**

“The best law firms will continue with their graduate recruitment because they are completely aware of how valuable you are as an investment. I joined the legal sector after the last recession and from my perspective, law firms have learnt an awful lot. They know how to be more robust and more agile. A lot of the things firms learnt how to do more than a decade ago, they are simply doing again now, which I think is massively positive.”

**Tailor your applications:** You shouldn’t be able to swap out the name of the firm you are applying to with the name of another firm! If you can, it is unlikely that your application will impress. Consider the following: have you met the firm/its representatives? Do you know its core practice strengths? Trainee intake size? Seat rotations? Clients? Secondment opportunities? Values? Culture? It is important to understand these characteristics to determine whether the firm will complement your skillset and aspirations.

**Why commercial law?** Having a watertight answer to this is key, both during the written application stage and at interview. When a law firm offers you a training contract, they are investing in you. And like any investment, firms expect to see a return at some point in the future. However, if a trainee decides that commercial law isn’t for them during their training contract, the firm will never see a return on their initial investment. Convincing firms (and being certain yourself) that you want to pursue a commercial legal career, and the reasons why, is crucial to getting an offer. **So how do you do this?** Write a narrative that is personal to you. What piqued your interest? An open day at a firm? A module you studied at university? Then explain how you furthered your interest and consolidated your understanding: did you gain further work experience? Attend networking events? Having a genuine story about why you want to pursue commercial law will impress a lot more than your ‘excitement to work on cutting edge global deals’.

**Utilise your strengths:** You all have a specific set of superpowers - you just need to identify what your individual superpowers are. This has been particularly apparent to Oliver, who has found that his strengths lie in approaching problems from an empathetic and creative point of view. Also, consider how these strengths can add value to a law firm: drawing on a range of legal and non-legal experiences, as well as considering different perspectives, helps to create innovative solutions and makes you stand out as a candidate.

**Ask for constructive criticism:** This isn’t always easy, however understanding what went wrong from the firm’s perspective allows you to target this area for improvement. Also, never be afraid to simply lay your cards on the table! Mary was initially rejected from the firm she trained at, however was offered a training contract for the following year after contacting HR and explaining that she would be happy to wait. This won’t work out for everyone, but having the confidence to communicate with firms is a key skill.

**Commercial/current awareness:** This must be continually developed, and cannot be swotted overnight. Having a general understanding of how current affairs and the wider business sector is impacted is key to becoming the ‘trusted adviser’ that clients seek - and certainly key to impressing a firm. Consider subscribing to daily news digests like Finimize or listening to the FT News Briefing for quick updates, or better still, read a reputable broadsheet paper on a daily basis.

**Writing style:** Even if you have all of the above down to a tee, your application can be disregarded if you don’t communicate in a clear and concise manner. The person reading your application will likely have a large pile left to read after yours. Be kind to them - convey your point in simple terms and make sure every sentence adds value to your answer.

**Have an open mind about the type of law you want to pursue:** There are lots of different legal areas. Make sure to explore different departments outside of your vacation scheme/training contract seat. You won’t know if you want to pursue a type of law until you try it!

**Actively listen instead of waiting for your turn to speak:** It is easy to miss verbal/behavioural nuances when you aren’t paying proper attention.

**Always ask yourself how you can improve:** Even when you have been successful at something, consider how you can do it better next time.

**When asking for help, provide some possible solutions (even if you’re not sure they’re correct):** This shows the person you are asking that you have given proper thought to the problem and aren’t simply turning to them to take it off your hands.

**Keep a sense of perspective:** Just because you haven’t succeeded at this moment in time doesn’t mean that you won’t eventually, and be more resilient as a result. A year or two is a drop in the ocean when looking at the bigger picture of your legal career

**And most importantly, be yourself:** Don't change who you are because that one firm doesn’t think that you’ll fit their working culture. There is an employer who will value your exact skillset, you just need to find them and let them see your authentic self.

**Adaptability** - Especially in the current climate. Having candidates who are flexible and responsive to challenges is ideal for firms..

**Emotional Intelligence** - Empathetic nature and curiosity to drive innovation.

**Creativity** - Free thinking approach to problems which allows for innovative ideas to be developed.

**Entrepreneurialism** - Always thinking about how to elevate the business.

**Commercial understanding** - An understanding of how different sectors and current affairs impact clients.

**Collaboration** - Being able to work effectively within a team is an essential skill. Similarly, having the confidence to ask senior team members for help when necessary is key to working effectively.

**Additional resources:**

* [London Young Lawyers Group](https://lylg.org.uk/)
* [HarryClarkLaw](https://harryclarklaw.com/)
* [Radius Law Vlogs](https://radiuslaw.co.uk/blog/)
* [A-Z of Legal Innovation Jargon by Crafty Counsel](https://craftycounsel.co.uk/boxset/a-z-of-legal-innovation)
* [Strive Consultants](https://www.striveconsultants.co.uk/students)
* [Lexology](https://www.lexology.com/)

Top Interview Tips for Law Students

How Flex Legal Helped Jamie Secure a Training Contract

How to find legal work experience

Paralegal of the Month - August 2020

Key Skills Junior Lawyers Need To Succeed

How to kick-start your Legal Career