Making a good impression with your application form Anup Vithlani Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager Trowers & Hamlins LLP January 2013

Who are Trowers & Hamlins? ■ City, national and international full-service law firm ■ Unique mixture of practice areas ■ Ranked in top 50 ■ 2011 / 2012 financial year - turnover £80.8m; p.i. 3% ■ Commercially savvy, friendly, professional, successful ■ Growing – national practices / new office in Malaysia

What are we looking for? ■ Organic growth ■ Usually recruit around 20 trainees each year ■ Excellent academics are an essential ■ Enthusiastic, good-humoured team players ■ Responsible, innovative and analytical ■ Excellent communication skills ■ Law and non-law undergraduates / postgraduates

How will my training be structured? ■ Cover GDL / LPC fees and provide maintenance grant ■ LPC in London (Kaplan) / Outside of London (flexible) ■ 2 year training contract – four six-month seats ■ Learning by experience – hands-on / training ■ Strong network of support ■ Competitive salary / excellent benefits package

What seats can I experience? ■ Banking and Finance ■ Commercial Property ■ Corporate ■ Dispute Resolution and Litigation ■ Employment ■ Exeter and Manchester ■ Housing Projects ■ International (UK / Middle East) ■ Projects and Construction ■ Public Sector ■ Tax, Trusts and Pensions

2012 statistics ■ SVS 2012 – 475 apps; 23 participated ■ 4.8% of applicants selected on to our SVS ■ Autumn TC AC 2012 – 868 apps; 11 selected ■ 1.3% of applicants chosen onto our AC ■ Making a good impression is therefore vital!

Our application process ■ Online application “live” as of 9 October 2012 ■ Do not accept any other form of application ■ ■ Deadlines: ■Winter Open Day – 1 December 2012 ■SVS 2013 – 1 March 2013 ■Autumn TC AC 2013 – 1 August 2013 ■ Decent application – 8 hours to complete!

The fundamental elements ■ Personal details – put mobile number! ■ Secondary / undergrad / postgrad education ■ Any serious mitigating circumstances? ■ Languages – written and spoken ■ Work experience – legal / non-legal / voluntary

Our questions ■ Describe yourself in 3 words – why? ■ Greatest achievement in life so far – why? ■ Why a commercial solicitor / Trowers & Hamlins ■ 3 skills to be a successful commercial solicitor ■ Positions of responsibility / extra-curricular

What I am looking for in answers ■ Think outside the box ■ Living in a world of “googlisation” ■ Succinct, eloquent, well-structured ■ Commercial awareness ■ Getting to know the person – the “human touch” ■ Character traits – do not want “academic geeks” ■ Future potential / commitment to the firm

Beware…. ■ Cutting and pasting ■ Attention to detail ■ Wasted opportunities ■ “What do you mean?”

Final thoughts…. ■ Take a great deal of pride in my role ■ Success of organic growth depends on strong graduates ■ Take a look at our graduate recruitment brochure ■ Feel free to contact me with any further questions ■Tel: ■ ■ Any questions?