2024

Please provide your personal statement in the space below. Please outline why have you chosen to become a commercial solicitor and what relevant skills and experience you possess that you feel make you a suitable candidate. (400 words)

My decision to pursue a career as a commercial solicitor comes from a rich tapestry of experiences and a deep-rooted aspiration to work in a dynamic and impactful field. The world of commercial law interests me due to its inherent alignment with my core values of diligence, innovation, and integrity. I am drawn to the multifaceted nature of commercial law, where each case presents a unique puzzle demanding problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. The prospect of working in an environment that encourages continuous learning and demands intellectual rigour is incredibly exciting to me. Besides, the collaborative nature of this domain resonates deeply with my fondness for teamwork, cultivated through my diverse involvements in creative projects, advocacy initiatives, and professional internships.

Moreover, I believe I possess the skills required in this profession. I have actively engaged in the meticulous review of an extensive array of documents. Through my involvement with AMICUS and the internship at the Polish General Consulate in Montreal, I've gained hands-on experience analysing multifaceted documents – ranging from intricate court files to passport applications. This exposure has honed my attention to detail and analytical skills to an exceptional level. Notably, my ability to draft document summaries and chronologies is something I am actively working on during my placement with AMICUS, providing me with a deep understanding of handling legal documents. My French undergraduate degree empowered me with critical analysis skills that extend beyond linguistic scrutiny. This skill set allows me to delve into legal texts with a keen eye for nuances, enabling precise evaluation and verification of statements. I am proficient in navigating through extensive literature and synthesising complex information swiftly and effectively. Coordinating client-related tasks at the consulate in Montreal wasn't merely about administrative duties; it also entailed orchestrating events, managing client interactions, and overseeing multifaceted projects. This hands-on experience in project management within a diplomatic context equipped me with the organisational finesse and multitasking ability vital for handling complex commercial cases.

Teamwork has also been a hallmark of my endeavours. Volunteering for the French department’s magazine at KCL and contributing creatively showcased my dedication to collective efforts. Similarly, my engagement with AMICUS and Amnesty International underscores my passion for advocating against the death penalty while fostering meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. My curiosity about different cultures and my interest in language learning exemplify an open-minded and friendly approach to fostering connections with people from all backgrounds.

 Why have you chosen to apply to Bristows? What attracted you to our firm? (250 words)

Although I have been closely following Bristows for a while now, it wasn’t until I attended LawCareersNet Live 2023 that I truly became fascinated with the firm, which stood out to me for its approachability and forward-thinking ethos. Partner Vik Khurana's insights on AI in law during the conference panel deeply resonated with my commitment to integrating technology into legal practice. Bristows' encouragement for employees to embrace AI, along with the plans for innovations such as BristowsGPT, showcased the firm's progressive and tech-focused approach, cementing my interest in being part of such a pioneering firm. 

Participating in the IP workshop conducted by Amy Cullen and Jonathan Ross further fuelled my determination to join Bristows. The firm’s focus on IP at the conference aligned perfectly with my interest in the field, notably in trademarks and copyrights. The immersive patent infringement case simulation underscored Bristows' pre-eminent reputation in IP law. Moreover, speaking with current trainee Camille Beckmann reinforced to me the firm's welcoming culture and dedication to fostering a cohesive team environment.

I am also drawn to Bristows’ commitment to pro bono activities, integral to my values. The firm's collaboration with The Royal Theatrical Trust resonates with my passion for the dramatic arts. Additionally, the firm’s advising for Amnesty International struck a chord as I have formerly volunteered for the organisation. These initiatives reinforce my admiration for Bristows' holistic approach to community engagement and ethical practice, solidifying my interest in contributing to the firm’s endeavours while pursuing a career in commercial law.

Other than law, what is something you are passionate about? (200 words)

From my early years, a profound passion for film and theatre ignited a deep interest in pursuing acting professionally. While my focus has since shifted to law, my enthusiasm for film studies and acting persists, rooted in my undergraduate degree and attendance at various acting workshops. Notably, a two-week summer acting course at LAMDA introduced me to the therapeutic power of artistic expression through acting.

Moreover, nine years of music school nurtured my passion for playing instruments as well as my admiration for classical music. Hence, despite completing my musical education eight years ago, I remain committed to practising the piano and have ventured into self-teaching guitar.

During the pandemic lockdown, I acquired a newfound love for portrait painting as well as designing logos and digital drawings on my tablet. This prompted me to launch my RedBubble online store, where I’ve successfully sold designs on stickers, T-shirts, and pillowcases. Additionally, this experience sparked my keen interest in the entrepreneurial aspects of this hobby.

Beyond the arts, I enthusiastically engage in snowboarding, currently pursuing an instructor certificate. I aspire to share the unique thrill and joy of this sport with friends while advocating its merits over skiing.

Please give details of your extra-curricular activities and interests including any positions of responsibility. (250 words)

In my final undergraduate year, I seized an opportunity to apply for a rigorous three-month software engineering boot camp while simultaneously preparing for January exams at university. Eager to explore a field which holds extreme relevance in today’s world, I embraced the challenge. After being selected from a pool of thousands of applicants and granted sponsorship for the boot camp, I realised that embarking on this journey would carry a responsibility of equal significance to my university studies. 

Hence, excelling in both university assessments and the boot camp required me to implement a structured approach. I meticulously devised daily schedules, strictly allocating time for each discipline to prevent distractions and maintain productivity. Mornings were usually dedicated to essay writing. In turn, the afternoons, which were entirely reserved for detailed coding tasks, demanded heightened attention, specifically in terms of quality and detail, which I tend to find more achievable later in the day. 

The boot camp's tight deadlines often required late-night work to produce effective code pieces. To tackle this, I often broke complex coding projects into manageable sections, which led me to create highly specific to-do lists for each day. Additionally, I initiated regular calls within my boot camp group, fostering mutual support and motivation to keep everyone on track.

This elaborate approach led to success. Despite the initial complexity, I excelled in both domains, achieving notable results in my exams and completing the boot camp on time, resulting in the attainment of a co-certificate from Imperial College London.

2023

Please provide your personal statement in the space below. Please outline why have you chosen to become a commercial solicitor and what relevant skills and experience you possess that you feel make you a suitable candidate. Max 400 words

My interest in commercial law was sparked through my work at the intersection of law and politics. Advising multinational firms on the impact of policy developments, I enjoyed the complexity of legal issues. To explore my interest in the law, I took on a part-time law degree and reached out to over twenty lawyers. This affirmed that a career in commercial law corresponds with my desire for fast-paced, challenging work. Crucially, I see the opportunity to leverage my experience in [multiple countries I lived in]. My healthcare, technology, and energy policy expertise also transfers well to commercial law in that I have the ability to understand and advise on technical matters.

I decided to resign and move from [city I lived in] to London to gain legal experience, attend open days, and pursue the PGDL. Throughout November, I worked as a paralegal. I reviewed documents for M&A transactions such as Heads of Agreement, and created client questionnaires for trade mark searches and registrations. Sitting in on client calls allowed me to practise key skills such as minute-taking. I now have a more concrete understanding of the work of a commercial solicitor, and am excited to learn more. My attendance at six open days and workshops helped me identify which firms are right for me. While my decision to leave behind my career was a risk, I am certain that I am on the right path.

My passion for learning makes me stand out. I have pursued extra-curricular courses such as Intellectual Property Law, Public Policy Economics, and Bioethics. My enjoyment of learning is critical to success as a commercial solicitor. Most importantly, my skill of picking up new information quickly will serve me well as a solicitor.

As a result of my international experiences, I have learnt to adapt my communication style to various situations and ways of working, which is key for cross-border deals. However, beyond that, I am also able to connect with both colleagues and clients on a deeper level as I have learnt to truly listen.

Achieving fluency in [Language 1], [Language 2], and [Language 3] demonstrates that I embrace greater challenges. To achieve this, I have often pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. The result of my efforts is that I have developed the resilience to overcome failure and to try until I succeed. It is this agile mindset that will allow me to excel as a commercial solicitor.

Why have you chosen to apply to Bristows? What attracted you to our firm? Max 250 words

Bristows aligns with my academic and professional interests such as Intellectual Property (IP), technology, and life sciences. As a public policy analyst, I worked with pharmaceutical and biotech firms on issues such as innovative medicines and treatments. I explored these interests through my Postgraduate Certificate in Law, taking courses on media, IT, and medical law. Further, I pursued a 10-week course in US IP Law, which left me desiring more knowledge about IP in the UK. As a result, I applied for the Bristows IP Workshop.

I enjoyed the IP Litigation exercise the most. IP litigation touches on what I enjoy the most: learning and problem-solving. I am drawn to the opportunity to learn about technical matters while engaging with experts; and to apply that knowledge to solve clients’ issues. While I had thought that I was more interested in transactional work, I am now interested in contentious IP work. I plan to do the IP Litigation virtual internship on Forage to better understand the area.

Speaking to the trainees and associates at the Workshop, I could see myself thriving at Bristows. I aspire to work for a firm where people have genuine passion for their work. The Workshop confirmed Bristows’ reputation as a firm that provides responsibility in a supportive environment. Lastly, I find the unique mix of three and six-month trainee seats particularly appealing. The opportunity to explore a wide range of sectors will allow me to make a well-informed decision about my specialisation.

Other than law, what is something you are passionate about? Max 200 words

I am passionate about exercise and dance. I have come to discover this passion in my 20s, after I spent many years believing myself to be “not athletic”. However, my coincidental attendance at a pole sport class opened up a whole new world to me. While it was a challenge, I persisted, and have been building up a repertoire of athletic tricks over the past three years. I have since come to love movement, taking classes in yoga, pilates, salsa, bachata, and ballet.

The bruises from pole sport, the blisters from hours of salsa, the shouts of “Wrong! Try again!” - there were many times when I considered giving up. But when I am hanging upside down wondering which way is up, or dizzy from being spun around again and again, or grinning from ear to ear when I receive an elusive compliment from my ballet teacher, I know the effort is worth it. I thus set myself the goal of doing a “pole profile”, a photoshoot which showcases your most challenging tricks. In the summer of 2022, I finally achieved this goal, and it is one of my proudest achievements to date. 

Please give details of your extra-curricular activities and interests including any positions of responsibility. Max 250 words

I am proud of my work translating the stories of North Korean defectors. I remember how strange I felt when I first met [name], a defector my age. It made me think of my mother, who at the age of only fourteen was forced to flee war with four younger siblings in tow. She had to learn a new language from scratch, to adapt to a new culture, and to forge her own path in a society that was doing everything to stop her. Seeing someone of my own generation risk death to find a better life only to face discrimination, I cannot believe that we still live in such a world. Seeing my mother succeed in providing a better future for her children, and how hard [name] works despite losing years of his life to a dictatorship, I am inspired not only to keep raising awareness of the struggles faced by North Korean defectors, but to live my life with the same passion. 

The day someone approached me at a conference to ask me if I was the author of [blog name] was the moment I was proudest of my [country] politics blog. I had long noticed the lack of quality English-language content on [country] politics, and decided to fill the niche myself. The blog represented the progress I had made in the two years I spent in [country]: I started from scratch to write a regular analysis that even taught my friends about their own country.

2023

Please provide your personal statement in the space below. Please outline why you have chosen to become a commercial solicitor and what relevant skills and experience you possess that you feel make you a suitable candidate. (550 words) 

Dear Graduate Recruitment Team, 

I want to become a commercial solicitor as I am driven by wanting to understand and help clients to achieve their aims. I found this to be the case as an in-house paralegal at [redacted large UK property landlord], where I managed and advised on all of the contracts that went through the EMI, business technology, finance and operations teams. I was able to be at the centre of transactions, balancing commercial and legal risks for the teams I was overseeing when negotiating contracts. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to utilise my problem-solving skills in analysing and assessing the risk for the business as well as building a daily rapport with the teams. As such, I was nominated for the [redacted] Customer Services Award, which consolidated my interest in advising clients on the legal aspects of transactions and the client facing nature of the work. Furthermore, my time at [redacted small UK law firm] highlighted the critical role commercial law played in one’s business, which drew me to becoming a solicitor further. As a corporate paralegal, I worked with entrepreneurs and small businesses on various corporate matters regarding their ventures, such as drafting asset purchase agreements. I saw how commercial law facilitated and executed the goal and the vision of businesses. Playing such a fundamental role to businesses in this way and exploring this role further at a firm like Bristows would be a fulfilling experience. 

One of the qualities that a commercial lawyer would possess is the ability work well as a team. Teamwork is essential as you are required to not only work within your team but also across practice areas and jurisdictions. I believe I am well suited as a candidate because I understand the importance of teamwork, having worked as a group on numerous occasions as a part of the choir, orchestra and string ensemble for seven years. At [redacted university], I was part of the Live Music Society, where I was selected to be a part of show called Rhapsody in a six-part harmony number. After weekly rehearsals for two months, we successfully performed to a sold-out 450 seat [redacted] Theatre. Through music, I have learnt the importance of commitment, open communication in providing honest feedback and teamwork in producing an excellent performance for the audience to enjoy.

I am also adaptable and open minded, which I believe is important if you are dealing with a range of situations with a diverse cohort of colleagues and clients. Having lived in Seoul, Doha and now England, interned in Geneva, and studied in China, I believe I have been exposed to different people and cultures. This was especially useful when working at [redacted law firm], where as a contracts paralegal, I have had to regularly liaise with the Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE and Australia offices to draft and execute contracts for international consultants and clients. I have enjoyed regularly collaborating with the Asia Pacific, UAE and Australia offices, in which I was able to learn the cultural and commercial nuances between different jurisdictions and work effectively as a team between different time zones. This enabled me to prepare contracts worth up to approximately £3 million in a week.

Thank you for considering my application. 

Yours faithfully, 

Why have you chosen to apply to Bristows? What attracted you to our firm? (250 words)

I was initially attracted to Bristows due to my interest in intellectual property (IP). Having written my legal research at BPP Law School on IP, my interest in this area grew as I experienced it first hand at [redacted] Law’s IP practice, where it was my role was to see if anyone had infringed any of our client’s trademarks and drafted letters to those who have had infringed it. Bristows has a Band 1 ranking in IP with prestigious clientele such as Google, the Guardian and the Financial Times, in which I am certain I would be working alongside leading industry experts in this field on complex cases. With a compulsory seat in patent litigation, I would look forward to the opportunity of experiencing a wide variety of IP work spanning life sciences and technology, and getting a deep understanding of this area.

I am also attracted to the client secondment opportunity Bristows provides, as over two-thirds of Bristows’ trainees went on a client secondment this year. Having this 3-month opportunity to second at a company like Bristows’ client Google for example would be insightful, as this would enable me to understand the commercial and legal needs of the company to a greater extent. Furthermore, Bristows small trainee intake appeals to me as this would encourage early responsibility and exposure to Bristow’s work and clients. This would ultimately help me to become a more well-rounded lawyer by allowing me to form relationship with clients and polish my skills faster.

Describe a difficult or challenging situation you have been faced with, the steps you took to respond to it and the outcome of your actions. (200 words) 

A challenging situation was during a volunteering shift at [redacted charity], a charity that provides a confidential listening support for students. A shift normally entailed three volunteers answering calls and messages throughout the night from 6pm to 8am. However, I was the only volunteer to make this particular shift. On this shift, I received a call where the caller discussed ways of potentially threatening their life that night. This was challenging, as I did not have any support system around me to debrief with in such serious scenarios, as well as receiving a backlog of other messages I could not tend to throughout the long call. Firstly, I prioritised the call as this was an emergency. I utilised the communication skills I had accumulated throughout my training and previous shifts and asked relevant questions to explore their emotions in depth. As such, I successfully navigated the call for them to not take any action that night. After the call, I immediately tended to the messages. I summarised the content for the next volunteer to continue on the conversation, ensuring a seamless transition. A week later, I received feedback from the caller thanking me for saving their life, which was truly rewarding. 

Please give details of your extra-curricular activities and interests including any positions of responsibility. (250 words) 

One of my favourite pastimes is music. Having obtained Grade 8 and Grade 6 ABRSM certificates for the piano and violin respectively, I continue to play and sing for leisure and occasionally perform at events such as the Kingston and Korean festivals.

I received a full scholarship from the British Council to learn Mandarin at the China University of Geosciences for four months. Since then, I have continued to develop my Mandarin competency by enrolling in weekly evening classes at [redacted university] and as such, have reached a low intermediate level. 

At [redacted university], I was a part of the Model United Nations (MUN) society, where delegates would gather to debate on world issues. After having won the Commended Delegate Award out of 50 delegates at the Cambridge University Model United Nations conference for my diplomatic debating skills, I applied to chair one of the committees at the [redacted university] MUN conference. After an application and interview process, I became the head chair for the Special Political and Decolonisation committee with two other chairs. Firstly, I led the chair team by delegating the drafting of the topic guides that needed to be distributed to our committee of 30 delegates before their arrival. Once the delegates arrived, I taught the procedural rules of the debate to the delegates. I led and facilitated the debate as well as assessing the delegates’ performances. I enjoyed building a friendly environment for delegates to network with others from all around the world whilst building their debating skills. 

If you have any additional information that you consider relevant to your application, please enter it here. (300 words) 

I have volunteered for a charity called [redacted], which is a charity that listen to people who wants emotional support online. I have completed their listening and communication course and have listened to people from January to March.

Last year, I volunteered to speak at SEO London's webinar for 100 sixth formers with ethnic minority and low socioeconomic backgrounds on how to best navigate their university lives. I coordinated with the other volunteers to go through the content. This was a successful event, where I received positive feedback from the sixth formers on LinkedIn, thanking me for my insight into university life. 

In 2019, I attended a coding session with General Assembly, where I received an introduction to HTML and CSS. Furthermore, I attended a webinar on data analytics last month, as I understand that data and technology go hand in hand. I hope to further progress my knowledge and contribute in providing innovative solutions at Baker McKenzie. 

Having danced ballet for seven years, I decided to venture out to different genres of dance and so have enrolled to City Academy’s street dance lessons. I have also partaken in Bollywood and Contemporary dance. 

2021

Why have you chosen to apply to Bristows? (250 Words)

My attraction to the firm is based on:

1. Bristows’s leading IP practice. According to the Legal 500, Bristows’ ranks tier 1 in its IP practice. My interest in this practice was sparked during my internship at [redacted law firm], where I found that my creativity would be welcomed in such a practice area. 

At [redacted law firm], I worked on a deal concerning a company that had severe cash-flow issues. The company was amidst merger talks for a subsidiary that owned a specific patent and feared that the deal would fall through as a result of this. To solve this, I proposed a creative solution that combines the sale of its own non-primary subsidiary and mezzanine financing to meet its debts and fund the acquisition. My mentor found my suggestion enticing and used it.

2. Bristows’s inclusive culture and wide-spread and independent training. Bristows only takes in ten trainees per intake, thus forming a ‘tight-knit’ and inclusive culture which was noted by Chamber Student UK. Having been a member of several sporting teams, this appeals to me as I enjoy working in a group and I have developed strong communication and collaborative skills that will allow me to prosper at the firm. Additionally, the firm offers independent yet supportive training. This is ideal as having started my own company at 19, I am used to high levels of responsibility and therefore, I am already equipped with the necessary skills that would be expected of trainees.

Please provide your personal statement in the space below. Please outline why have you chosen to become a commercial solicitor and what relevant skills and experience you possess that you feel make you a suitable candidate. (550 Words)

My attraction to the commercial legal profession is a direct result of the ever-changing nature of the commercial law profession; successful lawyers must tailor their advice to their client’s individual circumstances and financial position. This will push me to develop both my legal knowledge and commercial acumen in parallel, ensuring that my work as a lawyer will remain stimulating and challenging over the long-term. I observed this dynamic in practice while working as a paralegal at Freshfields and Slater & Gordon during my university holidays and while participating in recent virtual internships at Latham & Watkins and White & Case. I am excited and motivated by the challenge of adapting to diverse business issues in order to successfully form strategies that guide clients through their complex circumstances.

The relevant skills that I possess that would make me a suitable candidate are:

1. My ability to provide accurate and meticulous drafts of legal documents. As a trainee solicitor, I would be relied upon to provide accurate advice and meticulously drafted legal documents. Mistakes cost clients time, money and reputation, so making sure that I am are thorough and have a good eye for detail is vital. Having completed multiple legal internships in [redacted country] and [redacted country], I am able to spot errors efficiently and reduce my own mistakes considerably. By using this skill, I demonstrated my attention to detail sufficiently to be entrusted with proofreading all client documents.

2. My problem-solving skills. At university, I participated in a paintball league for the [redacted country] Open with a team of five. My team has had no prior competitive experience in paintball, which made this challenging. Nevertheless, as team captain, I was determined to go all the way. Despite the distinct disadvantage, I strategized around my team and used my experience from playing ‘Call of duty’. I placed my fastest teammate as a running decoy and situated my best shooters at prime locations so that we could get a clear shot when the enemy team chased our decoy. By employing creative, strategic techniques, my team came in second and additionally won the medal of ‘underdog of the year’.

3. My commercial awareness. As the founder and editor of a business law blog ([redacted]), I help other students better understand commercial issues and how they interact with the legal sector. The 2000+ weekly visitors trust me to cogently explain complicated business issues. I intend to use my writing, knowledge synthesis and commercial acumen at Milbank when drafting documents, providing advice and forging relationships with clients.

4. My ability to translate legal issues and legal jargons into layman’s concepts and terms. As, a trainee solicitor, I would be required to translate legal issues into layman’s terms as clients would most likely be unfamiliar with legal jargon. I give weekly lessons as an extension of my blog regarding M&A theory & process. To do so effectively, I learned how to use more straightforward examples to explain large terminologies such as M&A arbitrage. I have developed and mastered the essential skills of effective communication through these weekly lessons.Through my extensive legal work experiences and relevant and transferrable skills that I have built over the course of my university and non-university curriculum, I am in a good position to not only thrive at Bristows but also to value add. 

Please give details of your extra-curricular activities and interests including any positions of responsibility. (250 Words) 

As an avid football player, I founded and trained the [redacted] Football neighbourhood team. During my university summer vacation, I returned to [redacted location] to train the all-girls teams. My job as founder and trainer is actively working with people to plan training schedules and decide on practice locations before all tournaments. By collaborating and actively listening to my team, I developed a more robust skill set in team organisation. 

As the secretary of my university’s Jessup mooting team, I organised meetings and scheduled all internal deadlines. To do this effectively, I used the ‘divide and conquer’ approach and delegated the work among my teammates. I set out both individual, and team deadlines in an excel spreadsheet, and weekly meetings to track progress and establish an avenue for my team to raise individual concerns. This proved helpful when one member voiced out that he was struggling to cope. To help him, we mutually agreed to disseminate the remaining work, and through the use of the excel spreadsheet, efficiency was attained. As a result, we managed to meet all our deadlines. 

Additionally, I have consistently been volunteering for ‘7 cups’ which is a site dedicated to helping at-risk individuals who are mostly suicidal. My role is to actively listen, ask questions, and advise individuals on how to tackle these problems. I have received a few awards such as the Active Listener award, Loyal Friend award and the Open-Door award. Through this, I have learned how to listen actively and influence them positively. 

If you have any additional information that you consider relevant to your application, please enter it here. (300 Words) 

Bristows’s is relatively well-known for employing trainees with a science background. Despite being a graduate from a law background, I have a strong science knowledge background from having done well previously in secondary school. I received the highest grade in chemistry throughout my consecutive years at [redacted school]. Additionally, I have done several internships at hospitals in [redacted location] – specifically at Mt Alvernia where I shadowed doctors in the surgical, cardiological and respiratory department. Through these experiences, I improved my ability to understand scientific medical knowledge which I believe will serve your firm well.

Furthermore, I have participated in several scientific competitions such as the [redacted location] Elementz competition where I came in second out of the whole of [redacted location]. Throughout this competition, I research extensively on the properties that the element calcium can have on the human body. I wrote a report and subsequently a paper on how the element could be used in both medicine and dentistry, as well as construction. I developed strong organisational skills during this process and additionally I learned how to read scientific reports.

With these skill sets coupled with my transferrable skills noted elsewhere in this application form, I would be the perfect candidate for a training contract with your firm. I would be able to build strong client contact and understand relatively difficult scientific principles from a legal angle and contribute to the firm’s success.

Thank you for considering my application.