We recently caught up with Ajibola about how they secured a summer internship with Norton Rose Fulbright, how they built their commercial awareness before the interview and how Bright Network helped them secure the internship.
What stood out to you about Norton Rose Fulbright?
The culture at Norton Rose Fulbright really stood out to me. I heard from so many people that they have an open-door policy, and people who work there genuinely feel like they enjoy working for the firm, and this is an aspect of work that I have always prioritised for any firm that I applied to.
Norton Rose Fulbright’s approach to the legal practice also stood out to me, as law is such a traditional field, I was looking at the approach firms took to the use of technology, their focus on diversity and inclusion, and their environmental impact. Norton Rose Fulbright are leaders in all these aspects, which really appealed to me.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
I downloaded the BBC news app and set my notifications on for all the business updates, although it sounds ridiculous, it helped me stay on top of all current affairs. Then when I read articles, I would further my brainstorming on the impact that these things have on the legal sector.
I listened to podcasts such as ‘Wake up to money’ and wrote down all the aspects of these podcasts that really stood out to me. I also listened to podcasts which slightly incorporated debates to hear opinions other than my own.
I spoke a lot to my friends who were also looking for opportunities in the legal sector and discussed things that they may have heard or opinions they had that I may not have thought about.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
Research the company as much as you can, companies want to know that you did your research and have a unique reason for wanting to work with them. If you research the company properly, you know whether you align with their values and vice versa, this also allows you to know whether it is somewhere you see yourself working in future.
Be yourself. It is easy to try and act how you think they want you to act, however, most companies want to know that you have your own personality, so be yourself and answer questions genuinely.
Stay calm. It is easy to be overwhelmed or disheartened when you don’t get opportunities, but just remember that there will be many opportunities, just stay calm and be structured in your applications.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
I used Bright Network mainly to keep track of my applications, and I heard about this opportunity through Bright Network. Without the career calendar on Bright Network, I would really struggle to keep track of my applications and it made it so easy to see all the opportunities I have available to me.
What’s been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
“If you were on the board of directors and had to open a firm in any country of your choice, what would you consider in making your decision”
I broke down the question by thinking about different aspects of opening a company such as employees, economic factors, social factors, how accessible it would be and whether it would benefit clients. I then considered the legal aspects, whether it is easy to practice as a lawyer in these countries, whether the laws are accommodating.
I just ensured that I spoke through my thought processes always.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Remain calm in every situation and try not to be overwhelmed
- Research the company and find unique things you like about the company
- Be yourself
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
