Hello!
My name is Lucinda Farmbrough and I’m the HR programme manager with William Fry, working alongside both the HR and Professional Development teams in the firm. I manage 3rd level recruitment and also look after our graduate programmes – WFirst, university placements and our summer internship programme.
If you have any questions about our recruitment processes (e.g. how to apply or what makes a good application) or in relation to our programmes and what’s involved, please email me at [email protected] or call me on +353 1 639 5044, I would be delighted to help you.
This was written to give you tips from an employer perspective and produced for the Career Development Centre – NUI Galway.
Applications that are well thought out with structured answers stand out, and it is easy to identify those that have been rushed on the deadline day. Getting the basics right is hugely important, and you must ensure that your spelling, punctuation and grammar is absolutely perfect. I would recommend completing your answers in a word document first before transferring across to an online application form and printing a copy of the application form before submitting as the formatting can look different when printed versus on screen. I would also recommend that you ask a family member, college tutor or friend to read the application form in advance of submitting – they can identify small mistakes and ensure that the form is representing you in the best way possible.
Use the application form as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from the other candidates; those who have varied interests and experiences and who are well-rounded tend to succeed, so tell us about what you get up to outside of college and any achievements you are proud of. Even if you think a part time job isn’t relevant, you will have gained transferable skills, so include it in the form and be prepared to talk about it at interview.
Finally, the strongest applications display a genuine interest in the work of the firm and a passion for corporate law. Take the time to carefully research the firm’s website, social media channels and read about us in the news so that you can clearly communicate why you want to be a trainee or an intern with William Fry specifically.
There is no one right CV, however law firms do like to see varied experiences such as part-time roles (not just in law), travel and work abroad (e.g. Erasmus or J1), society or college involvement, sporting interests, charity work etc. I would advise making the most of your time at college by getting involved in as much as you can.
When attending events, being open, honest and interested comes across well – we want to get to know the real you so be authentic. I would always recommend that you attend as many campus/virtual fairs and presentations as possible to allow you to meet representatives from each firm, in particular trainees. This will help you get to know the firms and judge which you feel is the best fit for you in terms of company values and culture.
Make the most of the event and don’t be afraid to ask questions to the firm representatives – this not only shows you have a genuine interest, but also will allow you to leave the event knowing as much information as possible about the firm and their opportunities. Finally, if the event is virtual make sure you have your camera on!
To encourage a diverse workplace, we welcome candidates from all disciplines and have people from many backgrounds working in the firm. However, it is important that you can display a genuine passion for corporate and commercial law. If you do have a law background, partners will pay attention to the results in corporate subjects such as company or contract Law when reviewing your application.
Yes, but they only form one part of the picture. We would always view a candidate’s application form as a whole. We like to see candidates who have consistent academics throughout college so a 2:1 degree is recommended but not required.