Emma is a Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate from Durham University. She secured a Training Contract at Jones Day in London, through Bright Network. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“I didn’t always plan on becoming a lawyer. My initial interest was in politics, due to my involvement in Youth Parliament at school, which led me to studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at university.
It was during several work experiences across different legal practice areas that I became drawn to commercial law. Coming from a politics and economics background, I was intrigued by how commercial solicitors navigate a constantly evolving market, political and legal landscape.
I’ve always enjoyed building relationships and working as part of a team, so the client-facing, team-driven environment of a solicitor's role felt like a natural fit.”
What motivated you to apply for your role?
"Jones Day stood out to me due to its non-rotational training contract, where trainees are encouraged to seek out work in the areas that interest them. I’ve always enjoyed juggling different responsibilities, whether it’s university, volunteering, or other interests, so the idea of having more responsibility from the start really appealed to me.
Growing up on a council estate in North Kensington made me pay attention to housing safety issues, especially after the introduction of the Building Safety Act. I’ve been particularly interested in how the law is evolving to make it harder for companies to avoid responsibility for building defects.
That interest led me to the real estate sector, and I was drawn to Jones Day’s market-leading presence in this space. It’s one of the few firms in the City with transactional and contentious real estate strengths, advising multinational sponsors and landlords.
I was also really interested in the firm’s Global Disputes Practice, especially its work in the Middle East. As a Lebanese woman, it was exciting to see how much exposure London trainees get to asset-tracing matters involving clients from the region.”
What was the application process like?
“Jones Day’s application process involved a written application, followed by a Zoom interview. I then attended an assessment centre and a two-week vacation scheme. During the assessment centre, I completed a case study interview with a partner and took part in a group debate on a non-legal topic.
The most challenging part of the process was the vacation scheme. As it’s non-rotational, aside from mandatory tasks, you’re expected to independently seek out work and build relationships across the firm. Initially, I was concerned about overcommitting and missing deadlines.
To manage this, I made a point of asking colleagues how long tasks typically take, which helped me prioritise and plan my time effectively. I focused on producing high-quality work, rather than taking on too much.”
How did Bright Network help you secure your role?
“I attended a Bright Network event where I talked to Jones Day trainees and graduate recruiters.
These conversations gave me invaluable insights into the practice area strengths of the firm and how the non-rotational contract actually works. I referred to these conversations in my written applications and interviews.”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
"I'm most proud of staying resilient through multiple rejections and securing my dream role!
After three years of applying for training contracts and getting rejected, my confidence took a big hit, and I almost gave up on law as a career.
By actively working on the feedback I received from these experiences, I secured two training contract offers from US law firms.”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“Being able to demonstrate commercial awareness is key. This doesn’t just include knowledge of current affairs, but how these events shape Jones Day's work and competitive strategy. To build your commercial awareness, I’d recommend The Corporate Law Academy.
To further your understanding of how law firms respond to commercial trends and compete with each other, I also present a legal podcast called The Firm Rundown (available on Spotify), which has interviews with partners, associates and trainees from different law firms.
It’s key to show an understanding of the basic legal components of an acquisition, as well as how Jones Day’s practices work together on a deal to service a client, if you want to impress during the case-study interview.”
What have you learnt from going through the process?
“I’ve learnt that mindset is key! One thing that I heard at a legal talk that really changed my perspective is that ‘you don’t need to be perfect - you just need to give them no reason to reject you.’
In other words, you don’t need to be overqualified for the role - it's about showing the graduate recruiter that you fulfil the criteria. Looking at the application process in this way means you can prepare to target what skills you need to work on. This makes getting through the application process seem more of an achievable outcome, rather than an impossibility.
Ask for feedback from assessment centres, interviews and events and take actionable steps to improve on your weaker areas. Having a resilient mindset will pay off in the end!”
Find industrial placements, graduate jobs and more at Bright Network.
