Making the law fair count in applications

Your law fair experience:

“I was pleasantly surprised!”

• You gritted your teeth, dived into the trenches and approached a firm you hadn’t read about in advance and were impressed by the people you spoke to.
• Action: do some homework and find out if an application would be worthwhile.

“They wrote down my name”

• If you felt the interaction went well, do what you can to ensure your application flags the conversation at the law fair.
• Action: include your experience in your application form but avoid dreaded name-dropping for the sake of it!

“I got a business card!”

• Action: if you haven’t already done so, follow this up as soon as possible!
  • You will have been given a card for a reason and that isn’t for a thicker looking wallet – they’re waiting for you to get in touch.
  • Politely ask if they’d be willing to meet for a coffee. Where this is impractical, arrange a phone call to discuss areas you didn’t cover at the fair.

“I spoke to lots of firms but did I make an impression? I only had time for a quick conversation so is it worth including in an application form?”

• Remember: law fairs are not networking events so short conversations are fine – firms will have appreciated your efficiency!
• Action: if you feel the conversation supplements your reasons for applying include it in your application.

“I spent most of my time talking to a couple of firms and didn’t have time to see any others”

• It’s great that you had a long chat with a firm but avoid putting all your eggs in one or two baskets!
• Action: do some more homework on the firms you didn’t speak to.

“I asked specific and got generic”

• Note: law fairs are tough for law firms too – they do almost all of the talking for 3-4 hours – so forgive them for the occasional generic answer!
• Action: think about whether you could have asked your question differently or whether you need to be more specific in future.
  • If the information was available online, you’re not giving firms the opportunity to give insightful answers.

“I had a bad experience”

• A firm that had initially interested you dropped the ball by being rude/hostile.
• Option 1: persevere – a handful of representatives are not the complete picture!
• Option 2: re-assess, are they really the sort of people you want to be working with?
  • Only you can decide between 1 and 2!

“I felt overwhelmed and hated every second”

• Fear not – life in law is not #lawfairwarfare writ large!
  • Law firms are highly attractive employers and naturally attract swathes of applicants so the heat of battle can get very intense!
• Action: Prepare fully for the next one –see tips on maximising your time at the law fair 

If you didn’t go to the law fair – DON’T PANIC! Firm-specific events often provide more information so focus on those you’ve attended and take every opportunity to go to any remaining events.

Practical next steps:

• Download the application forms of each firm you intend to apply to and get a feel for the demands of each one.

• Find out which firms have early deadlines and which make rolling offers i.e. before the deadline for applications – prioritise accordingly!

• Incorporate what you learned at the law fair in application forms – if you followed my advice in the Success at the Law Fair Checklist you’ll have copious notes and detail to draw upon!

• Include conversations from the fair you felt were meaningful in application forms – no matter what level of seniority i.e. a chat with a trainee could be worth including.
  • Include their name and what you took from the conversation – these should link strongly to why you want to work for that firm.

• Capitalise on the hints and tips you picked up at the fair e.g. if a firm has an active social media presence – monitor posts and learn as much as you can; if an employer has taken an interest in a particular aspect of your experience, ensure you include this!

• Heed advice: if a firm has academic requirements that you haven’t quite met, ensure an application is worth submitting. Often firms will still consider your application – ensure that you provide any relevant context for your grades where possible e.g. in a cover letter.
  • Complete every other section of the application to the highest standard.

• If you’re in your final year, check that you are eligible to apply for the summer vacation scheme. Some firms have winter schemes to cater for final year students – check whether it is still possible to apply for these.
  • If not, assess other options as increasingly vacation scheme places are awarded to final year students as well as graduates – contrary to popular belief, gaining a place in your penultimate year is not an absolute necessity!

• Do some further reading: deepen your knowledge and understanding of what you learned at the fair.

• “Sick stash” as a reason for applying should probably be left out of application forms.

Once you’ve submitted your application

•  **Read acknowledgment e-mails carefully – many firms require you to take a verbal reasoning test before considering your application within a deadline and instructions will be included – do not miss these!

• Continue to monitor developments in the industry and any news stories about the firms you have applied to.

Remember

A positive meeting at the law fair could be the beginning of an exciting career – this has been the case for many successful solicitors!

No matter how good an impression you made at the law fair, applications are a tough process – ensure you pull out all the stops to maximise your chances of getting a vacation scheme/TC!

For further insights and advice on writing effective applications, connect with Harri Davies on LinkedIn or follow him @HarriLlDavies on Twitter.