We recently caught up with Imaadh about securing a first year scheme with Latham & Watkins, what stood out about Latham & Watkins and challenging parts of the application process.
What stood out to you about Latham & Watkins?
Their dominant market position. Latham & Watkins have some of the biggest clients in the country, they do the most work in the country, so their revenue is massive. Despite this, they have a small trainee intake. The work they do changes the industries that they work in, and this makes them different to other firms and exciting to me.
This will be my first time setting foot in a law firm so my aims are figuring out how people communicate with each other in a work environment. I also want to know how they work internationally, how they communicate within their own offices and deal with things like time differences. I also want to see if the way people work has shifted since the pandemic and the crises going on at the moment.
How did you make your application stand out?
I also used the firm’s values and culture and made sure I aligned with it. That’s how you know which firm to apply for. After that, it’s about making sure I demonstrated these attributes. Latham & Watkins like people who can build rapport with others and who can lead others as well. I’ve shown these leadership skills in my work before university, and I made sure to utilise my non-legal work experience and include it in my application.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
It was the last stage which was the assessment day. It consisted of an interview with two associates and a written task. I had genuinely no idea what to expect. With the application form, I could read it first, with the video interviews, they had to be general questions, but when you’re dealing with lawyers who don’t have anything to do with graduate recruitment, they could ask you anything to make the interview conversational. I had no clue what to expect so the only way to deal with it was through preparation and making sure you’re confident on everything you’ve said about yourself so there aren’t any inconsistencies.
Another way to prepare is reading up on the news and making sure you’re ready to discuss any topics that come up. I listened to some podcasts to get ready for this. Some great ones are Training Talk by the Corporate Law Academy and Watson’s Daily. They give you an idea of what’s going on in the world, so you can research more on the topics and have a conversation about them.
What’s your top tip for tackling touch interview questions?
Ask them questions about their work! This is one way to take control of the interview. There is always the option to sit back and wait for them to ask you questions, but instead I showed enthusiasm and passion for the work they’re doing by asking questions.
When we started the last interview, the partner said she was working in energy and gas. I proceeded to ask questions about how the industry has changed recently. I think showing a genuine interest and understanding of the work they’re doing is one of the reasons why my interview was successful.
Another tip is the classic sip of water. You can have a moment to compose yourself and by doing that you don’t feel awkward. I like to answer questions in stages and make a structure in my head. I address a general issue at the end so I don’t end up talking in circles.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
The deadline tracker was the most useful part of the website! It was brilliant for keeping track of all my applications, particularly around all my university deadlines. I had three different exams coming up and the Latham & Watkins deadline. Having the tool meant I could plan my time and prioritise the Latham & Watkins application over other ones I had considered doing.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
Only apply to a finite number of firms. Many people fall into the trap of applying for everything. Know the area of work you’re interested in and apply to the relevant firms.
Get a broad understanding of the commercial world. Securing experience in banking or consulting or understanding what the roles involve means you have a wider picture of the industry.
Take the initiative to reach out to people from LinkedIn. Have a conversation with as many people as you can including future trainees, trainees and associates. They all gave me tips that were invaluable for my interview.
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.
