Huge congratulations to Zoe for securing a training contract with Clifford Chance! In a recent catch up, Zoe told us about her application to Clifford Chance, her experience at our Future Lawyers Event and then offered some tips for future applicants.
Why did you apply to Clifford Chance?
I actually did some work experience with them at 16 and totally loved it. We weren't resigned to a coffee-making role but Clifford Chance actually gave us our own projects to work on. I was so surprised at how much they encouraged us to work autonomously. Since then Clifford Chance have been the firm for me.
What are your next steps?
So, I start the LPC (legal practice course) in June 2019. Once I’ve finished that my actual training contract will begin in February 2020. I still have another year at university left though so my immediate focus is on my education until next summer.
What was the application process like?
I had to do an online Watson-Glaser test which I found really hard. I passed but I had failed other ones before so was nervous for it. I guess it shows that you shouldn’t stop because you can get better at them! After this I was invited for an assessment centre. On arriving I was really nervous but I actually clicked really well with my first interviewer and that helped relax me quite a lot. It felt like we were having more of a conversation than that I was being grilled which was really refreshing. After this we were given a case study and interviewed on it after. In the case study we were given 8 different texts ranging from emails to news articles. We had to quickly read them and pick out the key details. We then got asked questions about the order we read the emails, what information we had picked out and what decisions we would make.
You attended our Future Lawyers Event; how did you find it?
I actually loved the future lawyers event. I found it so helpful being able to get to know a lot of the different firms at the event. I met the interview teams for quite a few of the firms too which is really important because it means when you turn up to the interview they already know you and will remember you! I actually met the Clifford Chance team at this event too which meant I knew a couple of the interviewers when I went to the assessment centre.
What would your three top tips for other applicants be?
- Don’t try and put on an act at the interview just to be memorable. They’re trained interviewers and will see right through you.
- Be clear with the interviewers and your answers. You shouldn’t try to fluff anything but just make it extra easy for the interviewer to understand what point you’re trying to convey. Ask questions if you need!
- Do lots of practice tests online if you can!
What was your hardest interview question?
Some of the technical ones specific to law were really difficult. In particular, a question about what type of legal documents I was familiar with and would use in a specific case study troubled me the most.
