What attracts you to a career in commercial law?

My interest in law stems from studying an introductory law module in the first year of my degree. I thoroughly enjoyed studying how the law evolves and the problem-solving involved in applying the law to a given case study. This prompted me to seek a volunteering opportunity with my local Citizens Advice Bureau, where I completed a weekly shift for 8 months. I learned how to build rapport with clients and how to write up case reports, which improved my attention to detail. This role reaffirmed my desire to pursue an intellectually stimulating career with high client contact. I found the advisory nature of the role particularly rewarding, as I was able to help clients navigate complex and urgent issues within a limited amount of time. Furthermore, having completed a vacation scheme, I am excited by how dynamic commercial law is as a result of constant business and geopolitical developments; I learned something new with every task I took on. I also enjoyed working in a team and the process of applying the law to the client’s specific case.

Commercial law appeals to me due to its business-focused approach. My experience working in retail during my A-level studies, as well as my internships, have led me to be more commercially minded. During the summer of 2021, I interned at PUBLIC. I observed how government contract bids are drafted; I found it particularly interesting to learn how PUBLIC tailored its services to the client's needs and how the company created value for its clients. The challenge of tailoring legal advice to clients' needs and sectors appeals to me. As factors such as technology and climate change re-shape business sectors in the next few decades, a career in commercial law will allow me to learn constantly and be at the forefront of key developments. This is important to me as someone who seeks out opportunities to improve my skills, as highlighted by the variety of work and voluntary experience I have completed.  

Our thoughts

Positives

• It talks through the applicant’s journey into law chronologically, which is easy to follow and comes across as personal and authentic.
• It explains how their interest in the career evolved over time, clearly sign-posting which experience contributed to this, and the aspects of the career that they learned about or experienced at each stage.
• It mentions what they enjoyed, not just what they experienced (people often get this wrong – remember, it’s about motivation). 

Potential points for improvement

• At times, it veers into a “why you” answer rather than a “why commercial law” answer. Skills aren’t really relevant here, unless you’re making the point that you really enjoy utilising those skills. For example, mentioning that their attention to detail had improved isn’t the same as saying they want to work in a professional where attention to detail is key. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you want to do it.
• It also potentially goes into too much detail about PUBLIC – there are perhaps 3 lines in a row that don’t link to the candidate’s motivation at all. 
• It could have also mentioned the international aspects of the work, given that the firm is international, and the focus on teamworking (which tends to distinguish commercial law from the bar).