Case study interviews

Case study interviews:  three words to chill the blood.  Many companies now use these instead of or, worse, alongside, conventional interviews.  Why?  To identify those who can think on their feet, be logical, analytical and objective, deal with problems and produce solutions.  Oh, and demonstrate a hint of commercial awareness into the bargain.

There are several variations on the theme:

- pre interview preparation, before drafting a report for discussion with the recruiter(s)

- group interviews where teams consider a case of which they have no prior knowledge

- the “purest” form of case study interview: you are presented with a  written overview and expected to verbally untangle this on the spot.

No pressure there then.

To add spice, vital information may be with-held or changed and lobbed into the mix later.  Sneaky or what?

Prepare by looking at company websites: consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain and BCG have online information including sample case studies.  In addition

http://www.mbacase.com/t-resources-free-practice.aspx

http://www.caseinterview.com/

http://www.consultancylinks.com/case_study_interviews.html

www.vault.com

contain examples of case interviews, while publishers WetFeet have dedicated no less than three “Ace Your Case” books to this topic.

Top Tips

Expect to be challenged – however good your ideas are they will be mercilessly and minutely interrogated

Make no assumptions. In a reversal of accepted interview technique, YOU are supposed to ask the questions.

Use a step-by-step approach: in finest GCSE Maths tradition, points are awarded for working it out, even if the best solution proves elusive

Deliver a definitive answer.  This where other (non QM, of course) candidates fail, being used to producing assignments that evaluate all the facts without a clear-cut conclusion.  Raise your game, raise your score.

Gill Sharp
Careers Consultant QM Careers

Get your copy of the Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook 2012

Some people refer to this book as THE resource for those looking to become a solicitor or barrister.

Why?

Well  not only does it have a list of training contract and pupillage opportunities, but is also has the latest detailed information including

• how to become a lawyer
• legal career timetable
• application and interview technique for law
• alternatives to law
• finding work experience
• useful sources of information
• interesting law related blogs

Pick up your copy from QM Careers today.

Applying for Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes

Research the Firm. Research yourself

The first of this year’s Careers in Law events took place yesterday with ‘Applying for Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes’. Over 60 students attended asking questions on this key topic. Our expert answers were provided by Graduate Recruitment representatives from DLA Piper, Reed Smith and Trowers & Hamlins.

Each panel member assured they read (and re-read) every single application themselves.  One firm cited receiving 1004 applications for 30 training contracts.  Whilst this is a lot of reading for recruiters, it provides you with the chance to shine.  So besides having the right grades for your firms of choice, how do you make sure your application is polished, and goes on the recruiter’s YES pile?

Research.  All 3 firms agreed they know candidates will be applying to more than one firm. Nevertheless, they all highlighted that research needs to be undertaken into each firm in order for you to make an informed impression about why you really want to work there (for a vacation scheme or a training contract).  Avoid quoting from the Chambers guide – the firms submit their profiles themselves, so they don’t want this information regurgitated back to them.

As the Trowers representative said, simply googling a firm brings about a wealth of information – so go beyond their recruitment website and learn something about the firm that you can talk about in your form. Researching their skills requirements, and understanding how these will be used in a Firm will really help you to work out what you need to tell them about yourself….

Knowing yourself.  Whatever the question, firms want to know about you in your answers. Some candidates have been President of Societies and undertaken huge fund-raising activities. Others have a different set of experiences from part time work in retail, to work experience in a Chambers, to volunteering. Whatever you have on your CV, make sure you really sell it to the recruiter. Think about what you have achieved. When have you overcome problems and challenges?

If you’re applying for vacation schemes, and have no, or little legal work experience, try to attend as many Law careers events as possible so you get an insight into the profession and you can answer the “why solicitor” question with realistic insights.

Other interesting questions elicited responses from the panel such as “Firms love to hear about Year Abroad experiences” and advice about whether candidates should self-fund the LPC on graduation (panel members agreed this was an individual’s decision, although pointed out the cost consideration, and that your choice of electives is key, for e.g. if you chose a lot of family and immigration law for your LPC, and then apply to commercial firms, it doesn’t quite fit what they need for a training contract).

Finally, if you’ve ever wondered how long to spend on an application form, one of the panel members said “as long as it takes” and another recommended 8 hours, which should include a first draft, a second draft and a proof read by someone (or a Careers Consultant – call 0207 882 8533 to book an appointment!)…but remember: do the research first.

Vicki Tipton
Careers Consultant
www.facebook.com/qmlawcareers

Employer Visit: Allen & Overy

I recently spent the morning over at Allen & Overy.

Here are the key points I picked up during the event:

-          The Firm feel that the term ‘Magic Circle’ is outdated when looking at classifying Law Firms. Instead we should be talking about the ‘Global Elite’ which includes Firms which have a more global footprint (A&O mentioned they have 39 Offices at the time of writing this), so including Firms like Skaaden and Baker & McKenzie alongside Freshfields, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter & May.

-          60% of A&O staff are now outside the UK/London and increasingly these offices will be recruiting trainees.

-          50% of their intake are non-law – the Firm are very keen to attract more scientists in future (traditional non-law subjects have tended to be History, English etc).

-          A&O are now seeking to attract a 50/50 male/female balance – at present the ratio is creeping up to 60/40 in favour of women.

-          The Firm have now taken on all the deferred students from the last few years, so there will be no more rollover.

-          There are 90 Training Contract places available and on average they receive 2500 applicants.

-          60 Vacation Scheme places are available, and they receive 2800 applicants.

-          Vacation Schemes are still seen as the main way of establishing a channel of strong Trainees.

-          The Firm do not recruit LLM students for the London Office, but do recruit for them Globally. If these students want to work in the UK they need to apply for a training contract, or qualify as a UK solicitor and then apply laterally. They must have a desire to work in their home jurisdiction as they will be going back to their home country (or where they qualified).

Judith Baines has blogged about this event for LSE as well http://lselawcareers.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/visit-to-allen-and-overy/#more-1454

James Weaver

Employer Liaison & Events

The City Course Application Deadline 24th June

Application deadline for The City Course (12 – 16 September) is less than two weeks away so now is the time to apply for what is a great opportunity to truly understand the financial world from the inside.

Course organiser Kate Murray is interviewed here about why it is such a great course:

You’ll visit a range of City institutions and get the opportunity to meet and network with recent graduates working within the firms, representatives from the graduate recruitment teams and sometimes more senior employees.

The programme covers investment banking, management consultancy, accountancy, commercial law, risk management, and more.

Organisations taking part include:

• Accenture
• Bank ofEngland
• Citi
• Financial Services Authority
• HSBC
• InstituteofChartered AccountantsinEnglandandWales
• Lloyds ofLondon
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Slaughter and May

This course is by application only and limited spaces are available.

Please send your CV and Covering Letter along with an equal opportunities form (click here to download a copy) to cs@careers.lon.ac.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 24 June 2011. Please use “City Course Application” as the subject.

Find out more and register via http://bit.ly/qmulcitycourse 

Dates for Aspiring Barristers

If you’re interested in a legal career path and would like to experience a “Day in the Life” of a Barrister, then the College of Law’s event on Wednesday 16 March, 2 – 5pm at their Bloomsbury centre may be of interest to you.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about a career as a Barrister, and about the Bar Professional Training Course.  To find out  more, and to register, e-mail celine.nadal@lawcol.co.uk.  They’re also organising mock trials throughout March and early April.  This is another opportunity to learn about the skills needed at the bar – you’ll be acting as a juror or an observer, during these sessions. E-mail bloomsburyevents@lawcol.co.uk to book a place and find out more.

Final year law students who intend on becoming Barristers would have been awaiting the opening of the Pupillage Portal on Tuesday 1 March.  During March, Chambers will be uploading vacancies, and applications can be submitted from Wednesday 30 March.  For more information check out the timetable.

On Saturday 5 March, Targetjobs is holding the annual National Pupillage Fair which gives you the opportunity to meet over 60 chambers and talk directly to barristers. In addition you’ll have the chance to meet with BPTC course providers. Pre-registration at www.targetjobspupillagefair.co.uk

More information on becoming a barrister can be found at LawCareers.net.

Law Careers November Update

Interested in a career in law? Although this year’s QM Law Fair has already taken place, there are still excellent opportunities to meet with Law Firms both on and off campus.

Our on campus law sessions continue in November and include Interview Skills, Commercial Awareness and a Recruiter in Residence afternoon all led by top employers.  These are excellent opportunities to find out more about the recruitment process directly from firms themselves, as well as pick up tips and advice on interviews and applications. Discover too how you can make the most of your transferable skills, which a former QM Law student highlights the importance of in another one of our blog posts.

At the Careers In Law panel on Tuesday 23 November you will hear from Lawyers in different practice areas from City Law Firms Freshfields, Trower & Hamlins and the Government Legal Service.  This is open to law students in any year, as well as to non-law students who are considering applying for training contracts and vacation schemes.

For all events, to guarantee your place register at Careers WG3 Queens’ Building with a £10 deposit (which is returned to you on your arrival at the event).

Off campus,  Law Firms are running open days in November and December. Keep an eye on the websites of the firms that you’re interested in to find out when these are and how to book your place.  BLP who recently came to QM to run a skills session, have one coming up in December, check their website for more information.

Eversheds have started using webinars as a way of getting in touch with prospective candidates. On the 17th of November at 4pm, they will be hosting a webinar: “How a career in law can open doors to other professions”.
Their HR Director will be hosting the session, taking you on the journey he took through the legal and finance industries and the key skills he learnt along the way. For further information, and for details of other online events see their website.

Other useful online resources include podcasts by Lawcareers.net,  where you can listen to advice from Law Firms and trainees on securing training contracts. Lawyer2be provide useful tips on how to approach applications and handle open days.

Securing a training contract: Benjamin von Maur, QM Alumnus shares his top tips

When did you start applying for vacation schemes and training contracts?

“I came to QM as a Senior Status student. Given that the Senior Status LLB programme lasts only 2 years, I was in effect a penultimate (or second year) law student already during my first year at QM. As I was unfamiliar with the training contract recruitment procedure followed by most UK law firms, and because I was primarily focusing on my studies, I unfortunately failed to dedicate enough time and thought to my vacation scheme applications during my first year. After failing to secure a vacation scheme with a UK law firm for the summer, I decided to write as many training contract applications as physically possible – 50 in all.

Were these applications successful?

“Well, of the 50 applications I was invited to only 3 interviews. Since I had a very strong academic background as well as professional work experience in the management consulting sector, I was convinced that the low return was the result of the generic application forms I had submitted – I knew that I failed to communicate that I was truly interested in their work, their clients and their culture.

So how did you manage to secure your training contract with Eversheds?

“In my final year, I went to the QM Law Fair and various other firm presentations where I was able to find out more about the firms. I also learned about their Open Days and started attending these.  I then attended numerous Skills Sessions organised by QM Careers, where firms come onto campus to provide insights and tips on how to tackle application forms, interviews and assessment centres. All this allowed me to demonstrate in my application form that I had gone the extra mile to do my research and that I was genuinely interested in the firm’s work and culture. I only wrote 15 applications in my final year.”

How long did it take you to write your applications?

“I spent about 6 hours just to answer (including research and proofreading) the question “Why are you applying to X firm?”. But it must have been worth it, because I was invited to 4 interviews – a better return than when I had put in 3 times as many applications!”

What do you know now, that you wish you’d known when you were an undergraduate?

1. that the first vacation scheme application is as important as a training contract application
2. that I have experience which is valuable – the Skills Sessions with law firms helped me to realise how many things I had done in my life which I could talk about in application forms
3. how to market this valuable experience – again the law firms’ skills sessions helped me to understand how to sell my experiences to them in their language

For a list of Law Careers Events, check the Law Careers Notice Board, or visit our website: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk

Compete your way into an internship

Many large companies run interactive business games and challenges for students.  Each competition gives you a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in areas such as marketing, event planning, financial trading, project management, fundraising or even setting up your own business. Whether working independently or in a team you will compete against students across the UK and internationally for prizes or recruitment opportunities. Read on for details about two upcoming competitions.

Win an Internship at SRLV Accountants

Win a 1 month paid Summer internship at SRLV, a leading accountancy firm
in London who specialise in media and music accounting. Also win a taylor
made suit from Moss Bespoke to the value of £500 or vouchers. For more information please visit http://www.graddiary.com/summerinternship. The competition closes on the 1st March 2011.

Christmas 2010 Law Internship Competition
Win a paid Christmas Legal internship at London & Capital, a leading asset management firm in London with over $3bn AUM . Also win a taylor made suit form MossBespoke to the value of £500 or vouchers. to enter please visit
http://www.graddiary.com/christmasinternship. The competition closes on the 5th December 2010.

Book your place at the QM Law Fair

Time: 11.30 – 14.30 13 October 2010
Location: The Great Hall

The QM Law Fair is your opportunity to find out from around 30 of firms and training providers about how to pursue a career in Law.

To register for the QM Law Fair and pick up your copy of the event brochure please visit QM Careers in room WG3 of the Queens Building.

Click here for a full list of exhibitors