Ellen Forsyth | Irwin Mitchell

I knew these were qualities I wanted to develop as a lawyer and felt confident that these would be supported at the firm.

This has very much been the case since I started my Training Contract. I have worked alongside brilliant lawyers on leading cases, who have all placed huge emphasis on providing excellent client care. What continues to stand out is how passionate everyone is about the work we do, and I have felt very welcomed and well-supported since joining. 

I believe the best way to make your application to stand out is by genuinely taking the time to learn about the firm. I reached out to people currently working at the firm and spoke to them about their experiences – it is a great way to get a feel for the culture whilst also building your network. Attending virtual webinars and open days also helped me to decide if the firm was the right fit and were a great way of showing my genuine interests and motivations for applying to the firm.

I also didn’t have a huge amount of legal work experience – I didn’t know anyone in the legal industry which made things initially challenging. However, I focused on really drawing out the transferable skills I had developed from participating in university societies and part-time jobs and focused on how these would support me through the Training Contract.

I found the assessment centre interview the most challenging. In fact, my Wi-Fi cut out just as I was about to join the call! It is easy to feel nervous at this stage, as it is one step closer towards securing a training contract and the first time you also meet other candidates. From experience, keeping calm and try not to over analyse your performance against others. You have all earned your place and it is your first opportunity to really show your personality and what you can do, even when unexpected technical issues try and catch you out!

Bright Network was an invaluable resource throughout university for me – both in exploring a career in law and then navigating the application process. I had a CV review in my first-year through Bright Network. Whilst it all felt very new to me, it was a great starting point in understanding what employers look for and how I could build my experiences and skills whilst at university.

I also attended the Commercial Law Internship during lockdown which provided great insight into the sector - particularly when legal work experience was difficult to come by. It actually helped me to narrow down the firms I wanted to apply to and confirmed my interest in personal legal services. I was also an active member of my university’s Women and Law Society and Bright Network provided lots of excellent committee training and sponsorship opportunities which then became strong talking points in my applications.

One piece of feedback that stuck with me - both in written applications and interviews – was to avoid writing what you think firms want to hear. You will answer questions best when you are passionate and confident about the topic. If you include things on your CV because you think they will appeal to the firm, rather than what you are genuinely engaged with, it can be difficult to expand on this later. Stay true to what you know. Whilst it can be easy to try and curate the perfect application, keep a tone that feels authentic to you – I found that some of my best discussions were on more unexpected parts of my CV.

• Keep calm. It sounds simple, but it is often the hardest thing to do. If you feel thrown by an unexpected question, often taking a breath and a moment to think can make all the difference. The pause always feels long than it actually is!
• Practice as much as possible. I would often record myself answering practice questions and whilst it was difficult to rewatch, it was really helpful in refining my answers and noticing other things like body language. It is also a great way in getting more comfortable speaking for longer periods.
• Structure your answers. If you are given time to think, try and jot down three key bullet points. A clear structure can often help to communicate your points to the interviewers more effectively.

• Build your network – this can often feel daunting but I think the importance of this is often understated. Small steps like connecting with people on LinkedIn and talking to people at events can really add up and make a difference. I started with no connections and now have a strong network that supported me throughout my applications and continue to support me in my career now.
• Remember what you bring to the table – it is a two-way process and equally important to find a firm that is a good fit for you too.
• Finally and most importantly, be yourself.