Hill Dickinson trainee recruitment application

1. Make sure we’re the right firm for you

Before you apply for a training contract, you should consider a firm’s:

• size;
• clients;
• practice areas;
• culture;
• training;
• responsibility;
• retention rates; and
• office locations.

2. Make your first impression a good one – be careful when completing your application form

• Take your time on all questions. Rushing often leads to silly mistakes.
• Answer the questions in full. Ensure you include all vital information to give us a rounded picture.
• Stick to the word limit – keep your answers concise.
• Make sure to spell check your form. Print it out and ask someone to proofread it, too. Fresh eyes often spot things you haven’t noticed – typos, grammatical errors and missing information.

3. Be prepared for your assessment day

The day will consist of an interview, written exercise, group exercise and presentation.

• Assessment days are often long, demanding and tiring. Make sure you feel your best: Have a good night’s sleep the night before and a good breakfast before you arrive.
• Think about the skills you need to become a successful lawyer. Try to think of some relevant examples of how you have applied these skills. For example, do you have any examples of good negotiation?
• Do your research about the firm. Make sure you know the types of work we do and what we’re about as much as you can. Don’t be caught short on the day.
• Prepare some questions about the firm for the interview part of your assessment. This will help with the future decisions you may have to make.
• Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions – just make sure what you’re saying is constructive and proactive.

If you need more guidance, check out our useful links list.