How bird and bird are you (500 words)? 1. Legal Firm Firm ‘Are you inquisitive, with an interest in the wider world?’ - Think about what the ‘wider world’ might mean in the context of working for a law firm – ie the world of business and commerce. - This question is flagging up the importance of having commercial awareness coupled with an international perspective – after all, following the firm’s expansion in recent years, two thirds of Bird & Bird’s staff are based overseas. - Could you refer to some of their international work or show awareness of the different overseas markets they operate in? If you have not done much travelling and don’t speak any foreign languages, think about other ways you can show your interest in ‘the wider world’. - For example, did you choose to study a module at university that required you to think about your subject in a global context, or which led you to learn about a different culture? ‘Are you good at building constructive relationships?’ - Find examples of how you have successfully built relationships in the past, whether it was through involvement with student societies, volunteer work, or perhaps working with children and young people. - How did the relationship-building process differ each time? Think about the actual work you’d be doing for clients. - How does the nature of the work, whether transactional, regulatory or contentious, affect your approach to building relationships with colleagues and clients? - The firm takes a ‘holistic’ view of client relationships. The dictionary definition of holistic is ‘the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole’ - what ideas does this give you about what Bird & Bird consider to be ‘constructive’ relationships? ‘Are you eager to work on high-profile projects for leading clients?’ - Think about the firm’s key divisions. - In light of this, what do Bird & Bird consider to be their ‘high-profile’ projects and who are their ‘leading’ clients? - Name check those which particularly interest you – are there any that dovetail with your background? Interest in less established practice areas which have recently seen growth – such as Aviation and Defence through to Communications and Electronics, Energy and Utilities, Food and Beverage, Financial Services, as well as IT, Life Sciences, Media and Sport. ‘Do you have an excellent academic record?’ - Industry experience - A background in science or those who have worked in intellectual property-related areas - Experience in commerce - Foreign language skills 'Are you ready to take responsibility from day one?' - What positions of accountability have you held in the past and how have they prepared you for the tasks you’ll be taking on as a graduate trainee? Ability to keep track of jobs, vital paperwork or budgeting of work that involves significant responsibility, requiring competence, organisation and attention to detail. - Do you have any extracurricular or professional activities that have required you to take on this sort of pressure? 2. Why do you think you will be successful as a commercial lawyer? (400 words) - Excellent academic record? (achieved 2:1 in legal studies) - Good at building constructive relationships and ready to take responsibility from day one (e.g. as you can see from my extra curricular activities and previous work experince…I am a confident and outgoing individual with good interpersonal skill who has had experience working in different legal and non-legal environments, with individuals from a variety of racial, religious, age, socio-economic backgrounds…) - Enthusiastic and possess commercial awareness (staying up-to date on happenings of legal world (impact of brexit on work at twobirds - Aviation and Defence through to Communications and Electronics, Energy and Utilities, Food and Beverage, Financial Services, as well as IT, Life Sciences, Media and Sport.) Also show understand of issues facing clients and their businesses and an understanding that everything the firm does is to maxmise its returns e.g. understand that customer service is key to repeat business and thus to profits. Show interest in emerging markets…current world issues effecting legal environments? - NEED: Knowledge in business and financial economic conditions effecting businesses – interest rates; inflation; strength of pound - Knowledge of varied working practices, culture and clients at different law firms – why do client needs dictate why a firm has offices in certain cities? Why do they offer certain kinds of pro bono or CSR? - Regulatory and commercial challenges: implications of LEGAL SERVICES ACT 2007 - eAlternative business structure firms means businesses that aren’t legal practices can now offer legal advice – e.g. co-operative or sainsbury’s or ABM insurance