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        "html_text": "<div class=\"fr-view\"><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>Why have we included a selection of successful applications and cover letters in this course?&nbsp;</strong></span></span></span></p><ul><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Firstly, we know many aspiring lawyers simply want to gauge what <em>may&nbsp;</em>work well in certain circumstances, and will probably try to do so regardless of the risks mentioned above. With this in mind, we didn&#39;t want anyone to have to pay to subscribe to multiple platforms in order to access these insights. However, please use these examples simply as high level points of reference, and take them with a pinch of salt.</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Secondly, we thought examples of successful applications could add more value if accompanied by commentary on why certain aspects work well, and what could potentially still be improved. So Jake Schogger has attached his thoughts throughout each of the examples, highlighted in blue.</span></span></span></li></ul><hr><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Potential risks, drawbacks and issues inherent in reading example successful applications</strong></span></p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">Reading and copying previously successful cover letters and application answers, rather than carrying out your own research and articulating your own personal reflections, can be counterproductive.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Don&rsquo;t be misled into thinking that there&rsquo;s some kind of one-size-fits-all approach that can work for anyone. Unfortunately there isn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">If you are thinking of taking this approach, please do consider the following:</span></span></span></p><ul><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">First and foremost, reading a &ldquo;model&rdquo; application answer or cover letter in isolation doesn&rsquo;t give you the full picture of the author&rsquo;s circumstances, and there&rsquo;s often no opportunity for you to access the relevant background (as &ldquo;model&rdquo; answers tend to be anonymised).&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">There are so many other aspects that firms take into account &ndash; many of which might not be reflected in a cover letter or application answer &ndash; for example an applicant&rsquo;s academic performance, work experience, positions of responsibility and extra-curricular activities.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">If you have consistently achieved top grades from a leading university and already have ample legal work experience under your belt, you might get away with a lower standard of cover letter than someone who hasn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">In other words, graduate recruiters might prioritise substance over style.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Conversely, if you haven&rsquo;t achieved solid grades and haven&rsquo;t accumulated much work experience, you might need to compensate for this with a much stronger written application.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">On a similar note, if someone had impressed the firm during previous interactions &ndash; for example whilst campus ambassador or at an open day &ndash; they may have been &ldquo;fast-tracked&rdquo; through the application stage, or the firm might have overlooked weaknesses in their cover letter.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">This means their application might not reflect the standard that the firm expects more generally, even if it secured them an interview. In other words, they may have been offered an interview <em>despite</em> &ndash; rather than because of &ndash; the quality of their cover letter.</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">In addition, firms&rsquo; requirements might change over time (even if their application questions don&rsquo;t), as might the number of people who apply (meaning certain recruitment cycles might be more competitive than others). An application could therefore be successful in one recruitment cycle, but not in the next.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Moreover, some applicants might be tempted to plagiarise sentences (or whole sections) from model answers, which could lead to automatic rejections if firms use plagiarism checkers.&nbsp;</span></span></span></li><li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Finally, &ldquo;model&quot; answers don&rsquo;t really give you the tools you need to write your own answers. Getting distracted or being influenced by other people&rsquo;s answers might end up stifling your attempts to be unique, convincing and personal, rather than helping you to develop your own application writing style and technique.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">Taking into account every aspect of your education, skills and experience, firms may well expect more (or not require as much!) in order for you to reach their benchmark and secure an interview.</span></span></span></li></ul></div>",
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