2025

Please tell us about an achievement you are particularly proud of, where you had to overcome obstacles. What did you do to ensure success? (Please choose an example from your academic, extra-curricular or work-place experiences.) (250 words) 

One of my proudest achievements was winning a fight at the 2023 British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Boxing Championships, reaching the semi-final. Despite boxing since I was 13, I often struggled with technique, which cost me points in matches. In 2022, I lost a closely contested fight in front of 1300 spectators leaving me questioning whether boxing was for me. 

My goal then became to improve my skills and compete in the BUCS Championships. However, I had to overcome not only technical flaws but also the mental challenge of overcoming past defeat and self-doubt. I also had the added difficulty of committing to 2-hour training sessions 6 days a week, whilst also keeping up with my university coursework. 

I approached my training with renewed focus, prioritising progress in my skills rather than a focus on winning. To improve, I made notes after each sparring session and watched professional matches to refine my technique, particularly targeting strikes to the body to weaken my opponent. The most important factor in my success was consistency. By training 6 days a week for 3 months and consistently tracking my progress, I identified patterns of errors in my technique which I fixed. 

During the BUCS Championships, I defeated my opponent, using the body-strike techniques I had focused on during training. I am proud of this achievement because it required overcoming both mental and physical obstacles. It taught me to have less of an outcomes-based mindset and focus on my journey rather than the destination. 

Please describe a situation when you worked successfully in a team. What specifically was it that made you a great team player? (250 words) 

In summer 2021, while working as a bartender at a busy pub, a group of rowdy customers became violent after being asked to leave. One patron tackled the manager, and others began threatening staff and patrons. Meanwhile, the pub was packed with over 200 customers, placing additional strain on the team. 

With the managers occupied handling the violent situation, it became essential for the rest of the team to keep the service running, maintain calm, and manage the influx of drink and food orders. 

I immediately focused on working closely with my shift leader, maintaining constant communication with the team. Once I was briefed on the situation, I gathered my two other colleagues who were also working behind the bar to delegate tasks. Orders had been streaming in, so I suggested that we immediately focus on the oldest orders first, and work backwards. I ensured that we coordinated effectively, checking in with each other as the chaotic situation unfolded. My specific contribution was to immediately begin rallying my colleagues to ensure we were all staying on track to overcome the challenge we were faced with.

By pulling together as a team, we were able to keep the service running smoothly despite the disturbance. Once the police arrived and removed the violent patrons, we reassured customers and caught up on the backlog of orders. The teamwork and quick, calm responses helped return the pub to normality. 

This experience highlighted my ability to stay composed in high-pressure situations, listen and collaborate with colleagues. 

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector (250 words)

In March, I attended an insight day at [law firm] to learn more about the legal sector and the firm's work. I gained insights from discussions led by the Senior Partner and Global Managing Partner about strategic goals related to US private capital clients. I also attended discussions on law pathways and improving interview technique. This experience was one of the most important events motivating me to become a commercial lawyer as I was introduced to the internationalism and scale of commercial law.

In September, I attended a virtual event hosted by Hogan Lovells, focused on understanding debt capital markets. I participated in a panel discussion where Hogan Lovells lawyers explained the terminology and day-to-day tasks involved in debt capital markets. I also engaged in virtual networking with trainees and the firm's graduate recruitment team. This motivated me to apply to the firm, as I learnt about Hogan Lovells’ unique approach to training through speaking to trainees. For example, I was excited to learn that Hogan Lovells offers a holistic training experience by requiring trainees to complete seats in corporate, litigation, and finance, ensuring they become well rounded lawyers. 

I have also attended the following firm specific events through legal cheek: 

• The ESG real estate transition – with Taylor Wessing’
• 'Private equity explored – with Weil'
• ‘What does a world of difference look like? With Slaughter and May’
• Outpacing change – with Ashurst’
• ‘AI, risk and regulation – with Clyde & Co'
• Why non-law students make great lawyers – Legal Cheek

Please tell us about a commercial news story you have recently been following. How might it impact Hogan Lovells' clients? (250 words)  

A commercial news story I have been following recently is the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the UK, primarily led by Rolls-Royce. The UK is aiming to expand its nuclear capacity due to the increasing threat of climate change and the necessity of developing energy independence following the war in Ukraine. SMRs are exciting because their modular nature allows components to be built off-site, potentially speeding up construction and reducing costs compared to larger nuclear projects. SMRs are also claimed to have lower power plant staffing costs, as their operation is simple. Recently, the UK Government has selected four companies to advance to the next stage of negotiations to build the first SMRs in the UK, with Rolls-Royce leading in the regulatory approval process. Rolls-Royce is well placed to deliver SMRs due to company’s substantial investment and experience.  

This may impact Hogan Lovells clients like EDF and the National Grid. For example, EDF is currently developing its own ‘Nuward’ small modular reactor design. As SMRs are a nascent technology, Rolls Royce’s success in the UK will provide a proof of concept for these reactors, potentially increasing global demand for SMRs produced by EDF. Furthermore, as SMRs become more common, National Grid will need to handle new connections, regulatory requirements, and ensure grid stability with the inclusion of decentralised nuclear power. These examples represent opportunities for Hogan Lovells, who will be well positioned to assist clients with project finance, regulatory compliance and international expansion related to SMRs. 

2024

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments? (250 words)

During the pandemic, I began work as a sales associate for a sustainable food business. Having impressed with my leadership and interpersonal skills, the senior management team granted me the opportunity to run the sales effort at a trade fair alone at the age of just 18. I was very proud of this and was incredibly eager to meet their expectations. Just an hour before the clients were expected, I was informed that due to a supply chain issue, the anticipated stock would not arrive. This was very startling, especially as there was no senior colleague to ask for advice. I was required to take the initiative and act promptly to salvage the situation. Ultimately, I decided to pitch the product to the prospective clients and I secured an exceptional number of online orders. It was a test of my self-confidence and resilience, but I could feel myself growing more assured as I made more sales.

At this point, I was juggling my sales work on the weekends and evenings with my weekly job as a teaching assistant in a prep school. However, despite the gruelling nature of my weekends, this one being a notable example, I did not let this impact my performance as a teacher whatsoever. The feeling of accomplishment which I gained from the whole situation, amplified by the gratitude I received from many other members of the sales team, proved that delivering on a promise to your highest capability is a very rewarding feeling. 

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit. (250 words)

My position as the Student Lead of my departmental Gender Equality Initiative required an innovative mindset to ensure the continuing trend of success towards the group’s goals. Over the 22/23 year, our main project was to prepare an application for the Silver Award of the Athena Swan Charter, a framework aiming to ameliorate Gender Equality in higher education. In order to understand the challenges facing the student and staff environment, it was important to modernise our approach; for the first time, we were able to successfully circulate an online survey and display cogent results. I enjoyed the challenge of creating and implementing new community ideas whilst working within a guideline.

Also, my position as Vice President of the Non-Law into Law Society has called upon my entrepreneurial spirit to ensure a successful and profitable 23/24 year. As part of my role, there is a real emphasis on working alongside the treasurer to regulate the financial side of the society: we are in constant dialogue with the Student Union to ensure that we receive adequate funding. In many ways, the balance of keeping the society members engaged and compromising with the SU mirrors the challenges of the business world. There is also a strong requirement for innovation as part of my role. My idea to publish and edit a Commercial Awareness Newsletter is just one of the ideas that was included in my manifesto when I was voted into the role.

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector. (250 words)

Alongside the experiences I have gathered, there are a number of events which have particularly reinforced my motivations for a career in law and commercial law specifically. 

The Legal Cheek Vacation Scheme exposed me to a breadth of legal sectors and firms alike; the enthusiasm and transparency of the speakers conveyed a genuine insight into the nuances of life as a lawyer. On top of this, the case studies, set by the University of Law, were helpful in putting theoretical discussion into practice. The networking opportunities allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and contextualise my own legal career journey with others.

In terms of Hogan Lovells specifically, the event ‘How law firms help businesses grow sustainably’ provided me with particular insight into the firm’s ethos. The opportunity to hear from some of the firm’s specialist ESG lawyers on these contemporary challenges particularly piqued my interest, alongside an introduction of the firm’s Fintech mentoring programme.

I also attended the ‘Demystifying the Application Process’ which was an in-person event with Hogan Lovells representatives. This was a truly insightful talk and clarified many details about the training contract and the culture of the firm. The international eminence of the firm, and hence the ability to experience a secondment, particularly caught my attention. Also, the breadth of opportunity and genuine responsibility that comes with training at a full-service firm such as Hogan Lovells became clear to me. The ability to talk to legal professionals face-to-face was also a welcome change to virtual events.

2023

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments?

I volunteer as a student advisor at the [redacted]. I provide clients with advice on criminal law related matters. My deadline to send the advice letter to the client was 14 days, and the client had to send me all the documents within 7 days. My client had sent me some documents, and I drafted my advice letter based on them. On the 12th day, she sent other documentation. This new information would change the scope of my advice. However, I was not required to base my advice on it as the documents were sent after the deadline.

At the same time as the [redacted] campus ambassador for [redacted], I was also organising a commercial negotiation competition. The competition had 64 participants, and I drafted the briefs for the competition. I had to send the competition briefs for the finals to the firm on the same day as my advice letter was due. 

I redrafted my advice letter based on the new information, as it was beneficial for my client. I went to the legal advice centre in the morning and drafted my letter until they closed. I finished my university work in the evenings and stayed up late in the night to complete the briefs for the finals. I managed to keep both my deadlines. In 2 days, I redrafted a 14-page advice letter and finished 3 competition briefs totalling 4,000 words. 

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit.

Last summer, I volunteered at [redacted], an NGO that aims to solve problems for local communities in the rural parts of Karnataka, India. In the past 3 years, operational costs for small coffee farmers had increased by around 30%. I worked with a small team to help small coffee farmers in the region reduce their operating costs. I surveyed over 100 coffee farmers to identify the cause of increased costs. I learnt that the farmers over-irrigated the coffee plants, which led to excessive water usage and increased irrigation costs. 

My entrepreneurial spirit drove me to tackle this challenge, and I developed an innovative, commercially viable solution. I installed an Arduino-programmed sensor, priced at £10. The sensor calculated the aridity of the soil with respect to the irrigation needs of a coffee plant. I then attached the sensor to the valve of the irrigation systems in the coffee farms. The sensor would shut down the water flow when the crops were irrigated. During implementation, some farmers opposed using the sensors. They had concerns about relying on technology to assess the water requirements of the coffee plants. I spoke to the farmers in their local language and informed them of similar technological advancements in coffee cultivation in Brazil. This reassured them, and I went ahead with the implementation of the sensors. My solution helped save around 2500 litres of water per acre, which translated into £750, a 25% cheaper irrigation cost per acre. 

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector.

I attended open days at Shearman & Sterling, Dentons, Linklaters, Davis Polk, and Kingsley Napley. As a first-year law student, I could not differentiate between firms, but networking and meeting with different types of firms demonstrated that each has a unique commercial focus, strategy and working environment. By comparing the various firms, I learnt that I am more suited for full-service, global law firms. This is because of opportunities to explore varied practice areas while getting exposure to international work.

I learnt about how law firms work as businesses and ways in which the legal sector is changing, and how these changes could affect my legal career. Discussions around the increased usage of artificial intelligence, the accelerated growth and evolving trends in certain industries after Covid-19, and the fast-evolving response to ESG interested me the most.

The presentations and networking sessions also provided deeper insights into various practice areas. I was captivated by banking and finance, corporate M&A and capital markets. I also had the opportunity to compare how dispute resolution and litigation worked in practice from my experience in negotiation and mooting competitions. The open days helped me cement my inclinations towards a career in commercial law.

2023

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments?

Despite my limited public speaking experience, I decided to challenge myself at university by auditioning for a [redacted top tier university] Union Debate on the future of American hegemony. After doing some initial research, I presented the outline of my argument in front of three committee members. Two days before the debate, I was notified that I was selected as the sole undergraduate speaker, and was given twelve hours to accept the offer.

Wanting to challenge myself, I agreed to speak for the proposition, arguing for the decline of American geopolitical dominance. Given the tight-deadline and high standard of debates at the [redacted top tier university] Union, I re-arranged my other extra-curricular commitments, such as college football training to prioritise my preparation. I also notified my supervisor of this debate, and negotiated a deadline extension for a non-urgent essay, effectively communicating when I could complete the original work.

I used a range of resources to ensure that I could speak at the level expected of me. I watched online recordings from previous debates to gain an initial understanding of the event structure, compensating for my previous lack of debating experiences. I also contacted a more experienced friend, and gained personal insights into the benefits of prioritising thematic analysis over technical data.

Through my organisation, resourcefulness, and determination, working up to eight hours a day, I helped our side win the debate in front of an audience of 150. I later caught up on my previous work, and successfully delivered all original commitments.

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit.

I demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurial spirit when I led a team of two to the [tech competition] Finals, designing and marketing a self-watering plant pot.

Wanting to combine my coding insights from Computer Science lessons with the commercial challenge of spotting a market-opportunity, I discussed the rise of environmentally-friendly technology with a friend. After researching the competition criteria, which required creating both an Innovation Log and prototype, I initially helped brainstorm an automatic irrigation system for use in developing countries. I devised a strategy to split up the coding and design element of the project, whilst working collaboratively on writing up the Innovation Log. However, further research revealed both the existence of well-established firms such as Hozelock, and the difficulties in building proto-types on such a large scale.

Whilst looking up one of the sponsors of the competition, Maplin, I quickly realised the popularity of educational “gadgets” geared towards a younger audience. Wanting to make use of our existing work, such as programming different sensors, I helped modify our product into an electronic toy for children to grow their own plants: a gap in the market. I re-drafted a new time frame, and my team was able to create a fully functioning prototype and marketing design for our product. After presenting to industry experts at the Royal Society, our team was ranked top three out of 200 teams in the “Consumer Innovation” category. This experience developed both my understanding of how businesses operate, and ability to deliver creative solutions.

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector

During a virtual Hogan Lovells evening reception held by the [redacted top tier university] Law Society, I spoke to Trainee Ryun Pang. We discussed the firm’s wide ranging practice areas, and international presence, maintaining 51 offices in nearly 30 offices. I also enjoyed exploring the firm’s unique opportunities for training, such as through its BaSE Programme. I discovered the opportunities for trainees to help to advise social enterprises, providing a unique level of client-exposure unavailable at other law firms.

During a week’s work experience at Pinsent Masons in 2019, I researched GDPR laws and used this information to suggest practical business advice for a tech client looking to expand its online platform. Helping a partner proofread documents relating to a live construction dispute also drew me to the collaborative environment of commercial law, which allowed me to quickly learn from senior lawyers.

During a first-year scheme at Freshfields, I helped present a due-diligence checklist on a merger between two fictitious footwear companies. I enjoyed developing my understanding of how firms operate, and seeing the scope of issues which arise from M&A transactions, such as the contractual obligations of target businesses. At a Simmons and Simmons first-year scheme, I helped review the Civil Procedures Rules to determine whether witness statements needed filing in absence of specific directions. I enjoyed exploring both the commercial nature of corporate work, such as the differences between asset and share acquisitions, as well the in-depth legal knowledge needed during disputes.

Please detail below any further information that you would like us to consider when reviewing your application.

I enjoy the intellectual rigour of problem solving and understanding complicated concepts. For instance, I was “highly commended” in the [redacted top tier university] Peter Cane Legal Reasoning Prize out of over 50 entries. I also ranked within the top 5% of my cohort at [redacted top tier university] out of 175 students.

As Legal Advisor for [NGO], I compiled the tax section of a legal report for a client. I compared Transfer Pricing laws across African jurisdictions, and suggested solutions for a healthcare business looking towards overseas expansion. This developed the analytical skills I would need for tasks like legal research and drafting documents like board meetings. I also developed my commercial understanding of the risks businesses face when entering contracts. Given Hogan Lovells’s sector strategy which sees its lawyers act as both legal and business advisors, this would allow me to better understand client needs when undertaking trainee tasks like due diligence.

As Brand Ambassador for [redacted multi-site global law firm], I was tasked with creating original content to promote the firm’s events, with a termly target of 200 clicks. Realising the limited reach of my text-based posts, which had only attracted 20 clicks in a week, I taught myself to use digital software platforms like Canva to create graphic-based resources. I later reached my termly target within three weeks. I thus have the resilience needed to overcome day-to-day challenges as a trainee, as well as the innovative mindset which Hogan Lovells embraces, such as through its use of technology in creating LIBOR toolkits.

2023

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments? (250 words).

I had to raise my game to keep a promise after I was given significant responsibility when working in the finance department at Pimberly Software Ltd. I enjoy high levels of responsibility and I’m always determined to meet people’s high expectations of me. Therefore, I was committed to helping the company in achieving its objective of expanding overseas. The initial challenge I overcame was having to quickly learn about finance and the in-and-out workings of the software company. Subsequently, I was exposed to complex and challenging cross-border work which I immensely enjoyed. One task involved preparing legal and financial information, as well as various spreadsheets, for viewing by investors to raise £6 million for expansion into the US market. This work required great organisation skills, and I did this by creating daily and weekly to-do lists outlining all my tasks. This demonstrates I’m good at planning forward when working with a variety of pressing work demands which will propel my future career in law. My tasks also included reviewing customer contracts and noting important terms and deviations from standard contracts. This required meticulous attention to detail, and I made sure to always double-check my work ensuring accuracy. I was therefore able to raise to the challenge and meet any promises and expectations. My work experience means I’m able to better understand the legal and commercial ramifications of clients’ problems, useful for my future legal career. My proudest professional achievement was generating work that helped the company expand abroad.

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit. (250 words)

There are two key examples that demonstrate I possess an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. Firstly, I already had a successful modelling career which demonstrates my capacity for independent work. It was essential to consistently seek out new opportunities, and be adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges. From this, I noticed an opportunity to sell the clothes I was receiving from jobs and fittings on Depop. This was an innovative way to utilise what I already had to generate a secondary income. This was also a more sustainable and profitable option to give the clothes a second life. This demonstrates I have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and I’m able to think of clever initiatives outside the box. In order to make this venture profitable it was essential to have strong organisation skills and accountability to customers. This initiative involved regularly updating Depop with new clothes, and having accurate descriptions and clear pictures of the product. It was also important to understand the market in order to set suitable pricing, showcasing I have strong commercial awareness. Moreover, it was essential to communicate effectively with customers and quickly respond to any enquiries. I also come up with innovative ways to promote my Depop on social media sites. Also, offering discounts and free shipping were suitable to attract more customers. My professionalism in conducting the business meant that I always received five-star reviews from buyers. As a result, I was able to generate a further income of over £1,500 last year.

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector. (250 words)

I’ve attended open days and insight sessions at Clyde & Co, Linklaters and Foot Anstey. I attended open days because I was committed to increasing my understanding of a career as a Solicitor. I gained an insight into the legal profession and associated work. I understand how large high-profile firms operate and the work ethic required in a fast-paced and demanding work environment. I participated in legal skills-oriented workshops which included commercial awareness and negotiation techniques. These open days have shaped my career motivation to become a commercial solicitor, because of the unique opportunity to effect practical solutions for corporate clients. Attending open days assured me that I want to work in a global law firm that deals with complex cross-border transactions. I enjoy the idea of working on massive deals, and this type of challenging work drives me to do better every day. Therefore, I would like to work in a firm with a strong international outlook and I’m prepared to take lots of responsibility from the outset. I want to work in a firm that has great strength in corporate, finance and litigation work with a better culture than the Magic Circle but with similar quality of work and training. Moreover, I attended numerous legal fairs because I wanted to get to know firms and chose one with a genuinely friendly and welcoming culture like Hogan Lovells. I also used my initiative to further my understanding of the profession by attending numerous commercial awareness events with Legal Cheek.

Please detail below any further information that you would like us to consider when reviewing your application. (Optional) (250 words).

I would like to use this space as an opportunity to give you four reasons why I’m interested in a career at Hogan Lovells.

Firstly, I respect the firm’s core values like progressive and welcoming culture, including an open-door policy in most departments. In my interactions with people from the firm, everyone was approachable and helpful, I could tell that it made for a good culture at the firm. Hogan Lovells encourages trainees to take on more responsibility and I respond well to challenges.

Secondly, Hogan Lovells’ is a firm that emphasises their trainees having a future-facing mindset, which I personally resonate with. Hogan Lovells is very innovative in terms of marketing and technology. Therefore, I can look forward to a better training experience that is more in touch with the demands of clients and the profession.

Thirdly, Hogan Lovells’ practice areas align with my interests, the firm is known for excellent commercial and corporate litigation work. I really enjoyed my previous work experience related to these areas. Moreover, the firm takes on high-profile clients and a lot of the work undertaken is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex. During my work experience in finance, I was exposed to complex cross-border work which I immensely enjoyed.

Lastly, Hogan Lovells commitment to charitable connections and opportunities is something I personally resonate with. Having previously volunteered at Solar Power Aid I had the opportunity to make a genuine difference. Therefore, I really appreciate that Hogan Lovells has unlimited billable pro bono hours.

2023

Please tell us about a personal achievement outside of your academic career and how this has impacted on you personally?

Max 250 words

When representing my school at a Rural Empowerment and Development Camp in Thailand, I won a Business Plan Creation Competition with a team consisting of students from various ASEAN countries.

Some of my teammates were not fluent in English, as they did not speak English as a first language, and so were not able to join team discussions and keep up with ideas.

I felt that they deserved to have a say in whatever was being discussed and so I would speak to them personally in between meetings and slow the pace at which I spoke so they would understand me. I then came up with the idea to use Google Translate to communicate during team meetings. This way I could update them about the discussions during the meeting itself and ask them for suggestions or ideas.

The use of Google Translate increased their involvement in our team discussions. This was definitely a benefit as our winning idea for the competition had actually been based of a suggestion by one of our team members who were less fluent in English. Had I not ensured they were actively involved in the team, we may not have brainstormed the idea which won the competition.

This experience allowed me to experience the benefits of diversity in teams and how it leads to the formulation of interesting solutions. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to voice their opinions and be involved in team discussions.

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector

Max 250 words

I have attended four open days by firms. In my first year, I attended the virtual Shearman & Sterling LLP open day from which I gained an understanding of US firms that operate in the UK as well as general information about the firm itself such as their practice areas and their strategy.

My second open day was a virtual one conducted by Clyde & Co LLP, during which I learnt about insurance litigation, the pro bono activities of the firm and the application process for Clyde & Co LLP.

Under the SEO Corporate Law Programme, I have attended in-person open days at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP. At the former, I developed a better understanding of transactional practice areas and an understanding of the firm generally. Beyond learning about the firm itself at the Ropes & Gray open day, I also had the opportunity to take part in a negotiation exercise with other attendees.

As an SEO Corporate Law Programme participant, I have attended networking events and presentations by firms such as Travers Smith LLP, Mayer Brown LLP and PWC. Through these events and presentations, I not only got to speak to associates regarding their work and the culture of the firms, but also developed my commercial awareness regarding the impact of current events on law firms and their clients.

Why are you interested in this programme and what do you hope to achieve from it?

Max 250 words

Having studied IT law, I have developed an interest in data protection matters. A training contract from Hogan Lovells will not only allow me to develop holistically as a lawyer by doing seats in the litigation, corporate and finance practices, but also allow me to develop my passion for data protection law in the Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice – the only group in 2021 and 2022 to receive Band 1 recognition from Chambers Global for Data Protection. Hogan Lovell’s uniquely strong presence in Europe and US is advantageous for the Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice as these regions spearhead the global data protection regulatory frameworks.

Innovative technology such as Libor Tool and Kira increases efficiency and accuracy but such technology calls for lawyers who provide more than just legal answers. HL BaSE prepares trainees for this new legal world, where business-oriented lawyers who provide creative, commercial solutions will be in demand by client. Thus, trainees at Hogan Lovells develop into entrepreneurial lawyers for the future.

Alongside the strong reputation for promoting its own lawyers to partner level, I am attracted to train as a solicitor at Hogan Lovells to grow holistically as a commercial lawyer and for the career development opportunities once I qualify.

The HL Lift Off is a stepping stone to my ambitions of practicing law at Hogan Lovells and is an opportunity to get to know the firm better. I aim to learn more about pro bono opportunities and the culture at Hogan Lovells through this programme.

2023

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments?

Max 250 words

Over the summer, I worked as a research assistant for my professor at Warwick Law School, carrying out support tasks for her project on international social security. Simultaneously, I was balancing my part-time job at a restaurant and my role in planning Warwick Law Society’s term one schedule as vice president. The nature of the project meant that deadlines could be strict, short-term, and unpredictable. My professor depended on me to complete research tasks in quick succession for her project to progress in accordance with the terms of a grant provided by the university.

I took several measures to guarantee I could exceed my professor’s expectations. Firstly, I time-blocked my weeks in advance, negotiating my availability for my restaurant job and scheduling meetings with the law society committee a few weeks beforehand, allowing me to dedicate enough time to my research role. Secondly, I organised weekly calls with my professor to ask questions, request feedback, and gauge the urgency of different tasks. Through regular dialogue, I could understand her expectations and what work to prioritise. Finally, I sought help from others. For example, if I was presented with a sudden deadline, I delegated work to other law society members who were available and eager to take on a larger workload.

These efforts meant I consistently delivered work on time at a high standard and avoided sacrificing other commitments. I was also offered a permanent research position at the end of the summer.

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit.

Max 250 words

During my gap year, I worked as a supervisor at a restaurant. In the months leading up to Christmas, when we were increasingly busy and losing experienced staff, we recruited many new young people with no prior hospitality experience. As they were being trained during weekend shifts, the quality of service dropped on our busiest days.

We had no centralised resource to track the training progress of new staff members, so I designed a training matrix that indicated, through a colour code, how competent an individual was in a section of the restaurant. As part of its implementation, I organised group training sessions on quieter weekday evenings, providing a flexible and less demanding learning environment where staff could practise serving techniques ahead of busier weekend shifts. Through adjusting the matrix, I could understand the strengths and weaknesses of the team and provide targeted training to address gaps in ability. In addition, I created an upselling competition to compensate for a drop in sales and lift staff morale during stressful shifts. Staff were rewarded with vouchers if they sold a certain number of speciality drinks - our luxury products.

The matrix and evening training enabled me to ensure all new staff were confident in each area. This resulted in shorter waiting times and fewer complaints. The competition also increased sales of speciality drinks by 50%.

My innovation in this situation concerned the personal development of staff, hence my interest in Hogan Lovells and its range of learning and development programmes.

Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector

Max 250 words

During the pandemic, I attended virtual open days at Shearman & Sterling, Linklaters, Herbert Smith Freehills, Travers Smith, and Shoosmiths. Following the re-introduction of in-person events, I was competitively selected to attend open days at Reed Smith, BCLP, Burges Salmon and Hogan Lovells. These events have broadened my understanding of differences between international, national and regional law firms and their positions in the legal market, and confirmed my interest in the dynamic transnational work, medium-sized trainee cohorts and the adaptable degree of trainee responsibility that Hogan Lovells can provide.

In terms of my interactions with Hogan Lovells, I attended the global regulatory open day. I enjoyed the interactiveness of the event, especially the negotiations workshop, which presented an opportunity to simulate an interesting commercial scenario with other attendees and receive feedback on a core legal skill from trainees. I also appreciated the advertisement regulation case study on HSBC’s greenwashing, which, due to the thought-provoking questions we were asked by the trainees, felt more like a conversation than a presentation, showcasing the non-hierarchal culture of Hogan Lovells that was later touched upon by trainees during networking.

In addition, when talking to a trainee from the public law team, I was intrigued by how different areas of law that align with my interests, such as public law and competition law, can overlap in the context of regulation. Having enjoyed my public law module at university, it was interesting to learn how public bodies can become involved in disputes with commercial entities.

Please detail below any further information that you would like us to consider when reviewing your application.

Optional

Max 250 words

I am committed to voluntary work in several capacities. I run the Warwick Death Penalty Project, a pro bono initiative that remotely assists US attorneys with the mitigation stage of capital cases. In this role, I have coordinated six complex research tasks over the past year with over 150 volunteers. I have also volunteered with the 93% Club Warwick and Warwick STAR, for whom I have created and distributed resources for underrepresented state school students and attended conversation clubs to help refugees learn English, respectively. I am passionate about voluntary work that genuinely impacts people’s lives, and I am eager to pursue further charitable work alongside my legal career. As Hogan Lovells trainees explained how they could balance a diverse array of pro bono commitments with their work, I am interested in learning more about this on a vacation scheme with your firm.

Aside from this, I have six years of hospitality experience between a local restaurant and Warwick University’s bar. This has entailed working in high-pressure environments, communicating professionally with suppliers and customers, and delegating tasks to staff in a management role. I was also elected Vice President of the Warwick Law Society this year, for which I have overseen 16 departments, negotiated and secured over £20,000 in corporate sponsorship, and launched a brand-new alumni network. Despite my minimal legal work experience, my other positions have provided me with the core skills necessary for a career in commercial law.

2022

We are a global firm that works together with mutual respect and collegiality.   

Describe a time when you have enjoyed collaborating with people from different cultures and backgrounds or with different personalities. What made the experience so enjoyable?

In June of 2018, I made my way to the Ardennes region of Belgium where I would spend the next three months working in a professional kitchen on a camp.

To my surprise, I was the sole native English speaker working on the camp. I was immediately immersed into a work environment with no relevant experience and required to work in a highly pressurised and fast paced kitchen. All of this was exacerbated by the fact that, as the sole English speaker, I was required to communicate in only Dutch and French, with the occasional Flemish word thrown in!

The kitchen staff included myself, Richard, the head Dutch chef, Bartek, a Polish student, and Hiliyeah, a Senegelese student. In addition to this, the restaurant staff consisted mostly of Dutch and Belgian waitresses.

Admittedly, I found the work quite daunting in the beginning. However, as the first few days passed in the kitchen, the long services and stressful kitchen environment formed a strong bond between all the staff working. In addition to this we were all lodged in a somewhat rustic accommodation, with six people per caravan!

Personally, what really made this time so memorable and quite exceptional, was the different experiences and abilities each of us were able to bring to the table, be this in a work challenge or an evening discussion around dinner.

Working, living and travelling together allowed us to forgo any cultural, language or societal barriers that may have been there in a more formal environment.

We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really raise your game in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments?

During my internship with Irish firm A&L Goodbody last Summer, I usually returned home for the weekends to my family farm in Kilkenny to help my parents.

One particular Sunday evening, when I was getting ready to travel back to Dublin in preparation for a Monday morning office start, my father received a phone call informing him of the unfortunate passing of his uncle who lived in Belfast.

Consequently, both my parents were required to travel to Northern Ireland to make arrangements for the coming days and would not be able to return until the following evening.

On a dairy farm like ours, the cows need to be milked twice a day, once early in the morning and again in the afternoon. My experience doing this on my own was, admittedly, limited. However, we knew that there was little option.

In order to make it to Dublin for 9 am, I was required to carefully plan the Monday morning milking ahead of time. This included moving the herd to a nearer grazing field on Sunday evening and ensuring that all required equipment cleaning operations were successfully carried out.

The milking began earlier than usual at 5 am when I herded in the cows. The process lasted roughly an hour-and-a-half to milk the herd of 210 cows. After this, the cows needed to be moved to fresh grass and the parlour cleaned. All of this, fortunately, went to plan and I was able to catch the early train to Dublin.

Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit.

Science, specifically physics, has always been of great interest to me. In my final year of secondary school I decided to enter the prestigious Irish BT Young Scientist of the Year competition.

This competition requires students to propose a self-directed science project, firstly, to their school, following which they then need to submit a written submission to the BT Committee. The Committee then selects 400 projects from around the country to present their ideas in Dublin over three days to both the public and a panel of judges.

Over two months I worked on my proposal entitled 'The Expansion of Space with reference to the Infancy Stages of Collapsing Nebulae and Supernovae. After having been selected by both my school and the BT Committee, I began work on the forty-two page detailed submission to present to the judges in three months time.

I found this really exciting but equally quite challenging to balance with the workload of the Leaving Certificate. I was also having difficulty with certain theoretical issues relating to my project and ultimately took the decision to bring on board two of my classmates who were both very skilled in mathematics and physics.

In addition, I successfully sought the advice of the renowned physicist Alexei Filippenko of the Berkeley Institute, who greatly aided us in breaking down certain challenges.

We subsequently presented and defended our thesis over three days to different panels of judges and were ultimately awarded the bronze medal in the Senior Physics category.

Please detail below any further information that you would like us to consider when reviewing your application in the light of the many others we receive? What makes you stand out from the crowd?

Growing up, I spent the majority of my time after school on our farm with my parents and siblings, working on a multitude of different dynamic tasks.

As a result of this, I have found that in any endeavour I undertake in relation to my legal career, be that in leading firms in Dublin, London or Paris, the common sense and pragmatic approach I bring to problems has allowed me to hit the ground running and integrate quickly into new environments and teams. I know that consequently I can bring this strong analytical approach and resourcefulness to the complex and internationally focused work undertaken by Hogan Lovells.

Volunteering with the ShoutOut organisation through college has been a highlight of my [redacted University] experience. ShoutOut provides educational talks in schools about the LGBTQ+ community and inclusivity. As someone who personally benefited greatly from the work of ShoutOut, I felt very privileged to be given the opportunity to help out in the organising and functioning of school events which really make an impact on students.

I was awarded the [redacted University] Prize 2020 for obtaining the highest grades throughout the academic year and consequently being ranked 1/17 in my class. Furthermore, I was awarded the Certificate Suprieur de Droit International et European for my results during my year studying at [redacted University]. As a result of my Irish Leaving Certificate results, I was awarded the 2017 [redacted College] Entrance Scholarship.

2022

Hogan Lovells BaSE Legal Learning Hub application

Please tell us about a personal achievement outside of your academic career and how this has impacted on you personally? (max. 250 words) 

This summer, I founded [society focused on social mobility]. This achievement has had an immense impact on me for many reasons, three of which are the founding, the community, and the personal development. 

Building up [society] from scratch has been an incredible experience. Although it forms part of a nationwide network, I had reached out to the original founder to start a [university] branch in June. During the society’s founding summer, I secured three corporate sponsorships, which help to provide resources and opportunities for our members. Moreover, [society’s] social media pages have gained significant following since their inception four months ago. Particularly, the Instagram page has had an average daily gain of two followers. 

I also make the most of working with and learning from fellow [society] committee members nationwide. Collaborating with people with similar ambitions and values is invigorating, and pushes me to go the extra mile for [society]. Thanks to this nationwide network, I benefit from and understand the importance of a supportive community and work culture. 

My time management skills have improved in the last couple of months as I juggle a legal internship and my commitments to [society]. This additional responsibility increases the need for me to effectively and efficiently organise my internship and [society] duties. Diligently planning my schedule has ensured maximum productivity, allowing me to regularly feel accomplished and motivated to achieve more. 

Why are you interested in the HL BaSE Legal Learning Hub, what do you hope to achieve from the programme? (max. 250 words) 

Participating in the programme would give me specific insight into work at Hogan Lovells (HL). Having completed the Bronze HL BaSE programme, I especially enjoyed its practical aspect; through the Gold programme, I wish to further understand HL’s practice groups and strategies for growth in a similar fashion.  

HL is one of the only firms with top-tier practices in a wide range of sectors. Moreover, the firm is unique in the extent of its capabilities in both Europe and the US. As a non-law, languages student, this international strength and scope appeals to me. I am currently undertaking an internship at a Spanish-speaking international law firm; as such, I recognise the importance of effective business communication in law, particularly in a foreign jurisdiction. This importance was reinforced when I compared my answers to the model work on the Bronze programme. Therefore, I would like to build upon skills like this during the specialised Gold programme.