Interview Helpsheet

Why law?

 I think I chose to study law for two main reasons:

1. Firstly, I wanted to study a subject where I could apply my knowledge practically. I find law satisfying
because you work out problems, provide solutions and have a clear result at the end.

2. Secondly, law is a highly respected degree. Therefore, I knew that I would develop skills not only useful
to a legal career, but to any profession.

Why Commercial law?

1. Work experience:

 Firstly, I believe that my experience of commercial law, drawn through various work placements and
vacation schemes have enabled me to make an informed decision to pursue a career in commercial law.

 I have completed placements at [insert legal experience]. All of these experiences have given me a
valuable insight into expertise and practice at leading law firms.

2. Interest in business:

 Secondly, I have always been interested in business and commerce. Therefore, I believe that a career in
commercial law provides the opportunity of providing businesses with commercial solutions to help
further their business objectives. A chance to use ‘the law as a tool’.

What do you like about business?

o The competition that goes with commerce and the continuous drive required to achieve a
competitive advantage in the marketplace.
o The fact that the environment is constantly changing and that the most successful clients are
the ones who anticipate that change and adapt their business accordingly.

3. Interaction with the global economy:

 Finally, one of my motivations for pursuing a career as a corporate solicitor is borne out of my desire to
be at the forefront of developments in the corporate world.

 Moreover, I am also fascinated by the fact the commercial law is responsive to the economic climate and
involves adaption on the firm’s part to provide the services that its clients require. One such
development has been the rise of restructuring and recovery groups within law firms, as well as an
inevitable increase in insolvency work.
Why Birmingham?

 Initially, I gravitated towards the City. I undertook several work placements and vacation schemes in
London. However, I soon realised that working environment and lifestyle of City firms was not for me.

 This led me to factor in the kind of lifestyle I wanted when searching for a TC – particularly somewhere
where I would be happy to live. Ultimately, I have come to the conclusion that Birmingham can offer me
the perfect balance: challenging work for top-quality clients without working in London.

 I am particularly attracted to Birmingham because it is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and bustling modern

 I have always lived within the Midlands, and I wish to continue working within this region when I start my
career. Ultimately, all of the above factors make Birmingham a logical and natural choice for me to start
my career and future life.

Challenges faced by the legal industry:

 As a result of the global economic crisis, many clients are undergoing radical changes in their businesses.
Therefore, in order to respond to the needs of their clients, it is imperative for law firms to understand
and adapt to these changes. At present, I feel that there are four key factors law firms should consider.

1. Firstly, law firms are not only cutting costs and staff, but are also rethinking their business models and
the way in which legal services are delivered in order to react to the recession. Thus, some legal
consultants argue that the legal sector will look fundamentally different:

o For example, a consensus is emerging among legal professionals that there will be change in terms of
leverage structures – i.e. the number of junior lawyers per partner. Basically, this structure is coming
under pressure because clients are increasingly unwilling to pay for platoons of junior lawyers.
o Firms are also going to have to innovate in terms of how they bill their clients. Therefore, there is
likely to be a shift away from the traditional ‘hourly rate’ of lawyers.
o Firms are likely to become more aggressive in implement new ideas. For example, more law firms may
choose to make significant cost savings by outsourcing work to low-cost jurisdictions.

2. However, I personally believe that, despite the recent economic downturn, the need for law firms to be
international will continue to grow – ultimately this is to enable them to respond effectively to the
needs of their clients and adapt to the increasingly global nature of business.

o Thus, firms will head to emerging markets such as China, India, Middle East and Central Eastern
Europe to look for opportunities. For example, in Europe, Eastern Countries like Russia, the Czech
Republic, Hungary and Poland have remained more active during the credit crunch.

3. Thirdly, law firms will look to diversify in terms of their practice areas. Ultimately, in these difficult
economic times, it seems likely that the slowdowns in corporate activity will be mitigated somewhat by
an increase in litigation work. Moreover, many believe that regulatory lawyers will be busy in the near
future, as investigations into past conduct multiply and work on the future regulatory framework
commences. Developing such counter-cyclical practices will enable firms to mitigate the effects of future
recessions.

4. Finally, all of these factors lead to questions about consolidation in the industry. Perhaps consolidation
on a global scale is more likely – i.e. the merger with Lovells. I also think that there is likely to be
considerable consolidation in relation to mid-tier firms.
What areas of law are you interested in practising in?

 Well, based on my work experience and undergraduate studies, I have developed an interest in several
practice areas:

1. Corporate law:

 My main long-term interest is in practising corporate law. What do corporate lawyers do? Essentially,
corporate lawyers provide legal advice to companies on significant transactions that affect their
businesses.

 What type of work? The corporate departments of large firms like Firm X will be involved in all manner
of transactions, including:

o M&A (where one company acquires another, or where two companies merge together to form a
bigger company);
o IPOs (when a private company becomes a publicly listed company and its shares are listed on the
stock exchange, so members of the public can buy them);
o Joint ventures (where two or more parties joint together to form a business partnership);
o Rights issues.
o Private equity.

 The sort of work a trainee would carry out in corporate department?

o Negotiate and draft agreements;

2. Employment law:

 Furthermore, I have also developed a strong interested in employment law issues. What do
employment lawyers do? They provide advice to both employers and employees about legal rights and
obligations that arise at work.

 The work will range from lifestyle concerns (parental rights, career breaks), to restructuring companies,
including redundancy. Employment will also cover areas such as workplace discrimination and
employment litigation. In large firms, the employment department will be concerned with providing
ancillary support on employment aspect of large corporate deals.

3. Competition law:

 I also have a personal interest in competition law. What do competition lawyers do? Competition rules
aims to prevent companies active within the EU from unfairly competing with each other. This benefits
consumers by helping to keep prices low.

Whata legal
Explain type principal
of work indoa clear
they and
do?concise
Competitions
manner:lawyers will generally advise on different types of
regulatory work. This will include, for example, any competition issues that may arise during a merger,
 cartel
One ofoffences,
the firstand anti-trust
concepts welitigation.
studied in company law was the Salomon principal. This illustrates the
concept of separate legal personality.
 Why is it interesting? EU Competition law is becoming increasingly harmonised with domestic law.
Basically,inwhat
 Increase Salomon
private established is that, on incorporation, a company becomes a separate legal
enforcement.
entity distinct and separate from its shareholders.

 Therefore, this means that a company must be treated like any other independent person with rights
Describe a time where you have worked together in a team in order to achieve a set goal?

 Well, one of the activities I’m involved in outside university is my role as a youth leader at my local
church. Most of the time, my main responsibility is to assist the Sunday school teacher in organising and
running Sunday school activities each week.

 However, myself and some of the other youth leaders often work together in order organise social
events and trips for the Sunday school children. For example, recently we have arranged:
o Bowling;
o Alton Towers.
o Snibston Discovery Park;

 We also play together in the church band. So we often listen to music together and decide which songs
to learn.

Describe a time where you have had to solve a problem?

 During my work experience at [ ], I was requested by one of the senior partners to carry out some
legal research into the Companies Act. Here, I was required to identify the procedure whereby a private
company can buy-back some of its shares from existing shareholders.

 Being a first-year undergraduate, having no prior knowledge of the Companies Act at this stage in my
degree, this was the first time in which I had to rely solely on my own research skills to answer a legal
problem.

 Whilst undertaking my degree, I have become familiar legal databases such as Westlaw and Lexis, as
well as resources such as PLC. Therefore, I was able to utilise my knowledge and understanding of such
programmes to research into this issue, assimilating large amounts of information in order to locate the
relevant section of the Act.
Describe a recent commercial issue which has interested you?
 Eventually, when I found the appropriate information, I was able break down the key stages in the buy-
1. back
KRAFT’S TAKEOVER
procedure into OF CADBURY’S:
bite-size chunks for the partner. Ultimately, I produced a clear and concise memo
containing the key stages in the buy-back procedure. As a direct result, this helped the senior partner
 meet a deadline
Obviously, one offorthe
his client.
big stories in the current business world has been Kraft’s hostile takeover of
Cadbury’s.

 Basically, after a six month battle, Cadbury’s board of directors advised its shareholders to accept an
offer of 840 pence a share - valuing the company at £11.5bn.
What qualities do you think a successful solicitor requires?

1. Strong communication skills – a solicitor must be able to speak confident and credibly to a client by
providing advice in a clear and coherent manner.

2. Effective team players – lawyers must be able to work collaboratively and effectively in a team in order
to achieve set goals.

3. Commercially aware – The role of modern solicitor has changed from being a sound technician of the
Why Firm X?

1. Firstly, I believe that Firm X can offer me the “best of both worlds”.

o On the one hand, Firm X is a full-service law full, so you get exposure to a diverse range of sectors
and departments;
o On the other, having a relatively small trainee intake means that Firm X can provide me with a
quality training programme involving high quality work and a chance to feel like a valued member of
the team.

2. Secondly, I believe that your Birmingham office will provide me access to top-quality legal work for
premium clients on an international scale.

3. Thirdly, I understand that Firm X offers the opportunity to work in various client secondments. I
believe that this would be a perfect way to really understand the challenges clients face and to learn
what clients’ expert from their lawyers.

4. Finally, I am generally attracted to the working culture and ethos of firm – i.e. friendly, professional
and based on meritocracy / openness.

Questions to ask the interviewer:

1. How does PM distinguish itself from its competitors? I.e. [ ].

General information about Firm X:

 [Key clients]

 [Turnover]
Firm X’s recent deals

 [Research 3 interesting/noteworthy deals Firm X’s has recently advised on]