Joshua studied Law at Portsmouth University. Having attended our virtual vacation scheme over the summer Joshua is due to commence his training contract in September 2021. Here Joshua speaks about his virtual vacation scheme experience.
What attracted you to BCLP and their vacation scheme?
Having attended the Open Day, BCLP really stood out from other firms as I believed that BCLP had its values at its core, unlike other firms that I had prior experience at. The firm genuinely considers its trainees as its future partners and wants to provide them with the best, wide-ranging experiences possible. The shear amount of training and development that BCLP provide make it a great firm to train at, and that doesn’t stop once you qualify. I also found everyone extremely welcoming and friendly which was important to me as I hope to spend my career at the firm and would like to get on well and socialise with my colleagues. The quality of the firm’s clients is outstanding meaning that there are great client secondment opportunities as a trainee.
Do you have any tips for the application process?
I would always suggest that you get to know the firm as much as you can before applying. Going beyond the firm website is imperative as everybody has access to that information and that alone will not make you stand out. By attending the firm’s Open Day, I was able to ask about where the firm sees itself going and what strategy it was deploying. For example, I had read that BCLP was expanding in France, but I wasn’t sure why. This was one of the questions I asked at the open day which ultimately fed into my application. Attending events also has the practical benefit that graduate recruitment will get to know you and hopefully remember your name when they review your application.
What was the toughest part of the application process, and what was the most enjoyable?
The toughest part of the application process was applying for the Vacation Scheme. It can be very hard to get your personality and drive through in words, let alone such a small amount of words. I believe the art to it is to be concise and talk about the most relevant things possible. Avoid generic subjects or talking about the biggest deal the firm has done, as most people will probably have put them in their application too.
How did you find the virtual vacation scheme experience rather than being in the office?
I was extremely surprised how well run the virtual vacation scheme was given that Graduate Recruitment had such little time to organise it. I was able to meet so many people in the firm, ranging from trainees to the London office Managing Partner. Virtual coffee meetings were a great way to have one on one sessions with the firm’s lawyers and ask specific questions dependent on seniority and area of expertise. We were even able to have virtual social events which were a great way to bond with fellow students, who I am still in contact with. The people that I spoke to were very helpful, supportive and willing to spare time for a Zoom session or phone call. I was surprised by how much time everyone gave Vacation Scheme students which really showed me that the firm will provide amazing support and opportunities to me as a trainee. I have no doubt future virtual schemes will be even better.