2023
Tell us what has attracted you to a career in the legal industry. Please address
- why you want to qualify as a solicitor
- why you believe Bates Wells is the right place for you to train. 300 words
I have always been drawn to the intellectual challenge of corporate law, and the opportunity to work on complex and interesting deals. Corporate lawyers advise on the legal implications of mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and corporate restructurings, as well as on the wide range of corporate governance issues that arise in the day-to-day running of a business. I am excited by the prospect of being at the forefront of this dynamic and ever-evolving area of law.
I am also motivated by the opportunity to work with and for a variety of clients. As someone with vast experience in customer-facing roles, working in a supportive team to assist others comes naturally to me. Solicitors are often the primary legal advisor to their clients, and I am looking forward to the challenge of meeting their needs and helping them to achieve their objectives. I believe I have the necessary skills and attributes to be able to do this, and that I have the interpersonal skills to build strong and productive client relationships.
Qualifying as a solicitor at Bates Wells is the perfect next step for me. Bates Wells is a leading law firm, with a strong reputation for corporate law. The firm has a diverse client base, including Samaritans who continue to support those most in need in society, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with companies of all sizes, from start-ups to multinationals. The Bates Wells Foundation also has a commitment to social justice and sustainability initiatives, which I believe is vitally important in the legal profession. The firm’s values and approach to corporate law are closely aligned with my own, and I am confident that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the firm on qualifying.
We are incredibly proud to be the first UK law firm to be awarded B Corp status back in 2015. Making a profit is core to all businesses but our goal is to combine this with a real social purpose. What do you predict to be the major commercial trends over the next five years which will create purpose and impact in our society? 300 words
- Sustainable Business Practices
With an increasing focus on environmental, social and governance issues, a major commercial trend will be the transition from oil and coal to renewable and sustainable energy sources. Companies are constantly looking for ways to make their businesses more sustainable, both in terms of their operations and their supply chain. This includes reducing their use of natural resources and energy, as well as making sure their processes are socially responsible. As of November 2022, 82% of FTSE 100 and 63% of Fortune 500 companies, including Big Oil ‘supermajors’, have committed to net zero emission targets by 2050. In comparison, in October 2020 only 32% of Fortune 500 had these targets. This trend will lead to further investments into this field, accelerating technological innovation in the utilisation of wind and solar power, amongst other mediums, as solutions to the climate emergency. Ultimately, a major sector is on the brink of transforming and bringing about real, positive social benefits.
- Digital Transformation
As the digital world continues to evolve, companies and institutions are increasingly looking to digital solutions to streamline their operations, reduce costs and increase efficiency. This includes the use of AI and machine learning, as well as leveraging digital solutions such as cloud computing, virtual reality, and blockchain. Digital transformation not only helps companies to become more efficient and profitable but also helps to create new opportunities for social impact. The digitalisation of society introduces new job prospects, more accurate technology to the healthcare industry, and provides more access to educational resources. In schools, the introduction of streaming allows distant learning and was vital for the continuation of teaching during the pandemic. This trend is likely to continue over the next five years, as digitalisation is not only an opportunity for growth but necessary for survival.
Describe a recent experience which presented you with a challenge which required you to do something differently, or find a new innovative approach. You may draw on experiences from your work, voluntary experience or educational history. 300 words
Within my current role as an Application and Systems Analyst at Bloomsbury Publishing, I was able to identify misuse of funds, causing Bloomsbury to lose £24,000 every year via labour costs. The company had outsourced a data collection project which I believed I could set up internally. Although I had minimal experience in this field, I was confident in my technology and research skills to find a way to automate this mundane task using free, third-party software.
I found several programs specifically created for data extraction and utilised online resources, such as YouTube and chatrooms dedicated to these programs, to self-teach them to myself. My goal was to cater the programs to Bloomsbury’s needs. Within two weeks, my research enabled me to be able to code multiple templates to automate the data extraction process. During the past nine months, the program I implemented has been used for increasing efficiency across four departments, supplying 24 times more data than originally requested.
The introduction of these programs has also enabled the company to request further information from me which had previously not been possible when the project was outsourced. We are now able to have a better understanding of trends in the book market by tracking all of our books sold on Amazon, Waterstones and Blackwell’s. With more awareness of the market, the business is able to make better decisions on what to publish and market, increasing revenue and profits.
Showing initiative and tackling new, challenging tasks with confidence is fundamental to succeeding in any industry. Considering how competitive commercial law is, corporate solicitors must be able to identify problems and come up with creative solutions to support their client’s businesses. Furthermore, they should also be proactive and seek out new opportunities for their clients, as I have done in this example.
Please tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to either your academic or working environment. When answering the question, please consider the Bates Wells values. 200 words
After graduating from my Politics and International Relations undergraduate degree, I was really keen to personally research the ‘Kurdish Issue’ in Turkey but the financial demands of living abroad for a substantial period of time made this impossible. However, I was determined to pursue this goal and applied for several scholarships and bursary’s before finally being funded by the Sutton Trust and JP Morgan. They financially supported me while I travelled across Turkey for two months researching the political, economic, and social barriers facing Kurdish citizens.
Within eight weeks, I visited eleven cities, interviewed 70 people, and visited two schools to give presentations and hold English speaking classes. In 2023, I plan to publish my findings from my interviews, providing updated data and my opinion on the current state of Kurdish identity in Turkey.
Throughout this project, I developed several fundamental skills, such as communication and organisation skills, which I believe are essential requisites for all solicitors. I utilised my interpersonal and Turkish and Kurdish speaking skills to build trusting relationships with local citizens to gather participants for my project. I also hope for my report to raise awareness of Turkey’s ill-treatment of its ethnic citizens, namely the Kurds.
Please give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility or other relevant information that will support your application. 200 words
- Sutton Trust & JP Morgan Opportunity Bursary 2022 Recipient
Awarded £4600 to conduct research on the treatment of Kurdish citizens in Turkey
- Treasurer of the 93% Club at the University of Law- 2021
- Treasurer of the Summer School Society at the University of Nottingham- 2019
Selected to handle all financial matters at two societies at different universities
- Campus Ambassador for Ark Teacher Training for the University of Nottingham- 2019
Selected to represent Ark and independently lead their marketing strategy at UoN
- Student Leadership Award- 2016
Awarded the highest student award at sixth form for my work in organising weekly mixed-gender sports tournaments
- Head Boy at Oasis Academy Hadley- 2016 & 2017
Chosen by the majority of the students and teachers to be the youngest Head Boy for two consecutive years
- Enfield High Achievers Award 2016
Recognised as a high achiever in the borough of Enfield for my GCSE grades
Volunteering experience
The National Community Law Project CIC
Volunteer Paralegal
September 2021- May 2022
In conjunction with working full-time and studying part-time, I also dedicated 8 hours per week volunteering as a paralegal to the NCLP within the family, contract, and immigration departments. I effectively utilised skills I had developed throughout my undergraduate degree and the GDL, such as analyses, problem-solving, and constructing arguments, to carefully research the law related to each client’s case. I then presented a summary and my recommendation to the senior members leading the cases. To provide the best research possible, I obtained a Foundation Certificate for LexisNexis.
Furthermore, for more intricate cases the NCLP would form bigger groups of paralegals to divide the tasks amongst. I often took the lead within these groups to arrange online meetings to discuss our tasks and assign them according to each paralegal’s strengths and interests. Working within a team for a shared goal was highly rewarding as it enabled us to utilise our different experiences and attributes to build a strong case for our clients.
Through this work experience, I was able to improve several essential skills. Firstly, drafting clear targeted written communications that are sensitive in tone and style (e.g., emails & letters) developed my interpersonal and people skills. Secondly, while working in smaller groups, I regularly took leadership and responsibility to guide the project and support the team. Finally, I became a better problem solver by understanding the intricacies of the law and refining my research methods. 236 words
Summer School Society and 93% Club
Treasurer
Sep 2019 – June 2020 & Sep 2021 – June 2022
I am proud to have been the Treasurer of the Summer School Society and the 93% Club at the University of Nottingham and the University of Law respectively. As Treasurer, I was responsible for managing the financial affairs of the society, ensuring that all funds were properly accounted for and that all income and expenditure were correctly recorded. Also, I regularly liaised with other members of the society and university staff to ensure all financial requirements were met.
Furthermore, I utilised in-person events and social media to network and negotiate with potential sponsors. In 2019, I successfully arranged Ark Teacher Training to subsidize a pub quiz event. Ark was able to raise awareness for their graduate teacher training programmes while our members enjoyed an informative and fun social event. This opportunity was mutually beneficial to all parties involved and established the foundations for a relationship that has continued since its inaugural in 2019.
I gained a great deal of experience in financial management, as well as developing my event planning and organisational skills. I also developed a better understanding of the legal framework surrounding financial activities and learned how to use events to build a relationship with potential partners and sponsors. However, the most important skill I developed in these positions was teamwork.
Overall, my experiences as Treasurer were invaluable. I improved my financial management and organisational skills and was able to apply my knowledge and experience from my first role at UoN to my second role at ULaw. 249 words
Work Experience
Bloomsbury Publishing
Data Specialist (June 2021- February 2022) and Application and Interfaces Analyst (February 2022- January 2023)
Within these two roles, my responsibilities included acting as the first call for internal support tickets regarding our business systems, ensuring the accuracy of our data feeds, and testing new releases of our main programs. I carefully listened to my colleagues who were unable to use our programs efficiently and offered both group and, 1-2-1 training sessions catered to their specific roles. Within my first 8 months at Bloomsbury, I resolved over 1700 support tickets, 600 more than any other team member, resulting in my promotion.
Moreover, I was responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of our ONIX and NGO feeds to our third-party sellers in the UK, America, and Australia. This included checking our data was formatted correctly to ensure successful ingestion to their systems, rebooting our servers when necessary and escalating major data inaccuracies to the team. With these responsibilities, I participated in and lead discussions with the wider systems team by confidently voicing my thoughts on topics at team meetings and presentations.
Furthermore, I took initiative and led an independent project to automate a mundane Amazon data extraction task. I demonstrated resilience and motivation by utilising my spare time to research new online software, self-teach it to myself, and implement it. By automating this task, I was able to save the business £24,000 annually from misused manhours. This software is currently being used to support four departments by providing daily sales figures. The key skills I developed within these roles included communication skills, research skills and analytical skills.
JJ Food Service
Telesales Representative (August 2020 – February 2021) and Customer Service Supervisor (February 2021 – June 2021)
Alongside studying the GDL part-time, I worked full-time at JJ Food Service. As a Telesales Representative, my daily roles included taking orders accurately via phone and email, promoting our new and on-sale products, and negotiating prices with our customers. During my six months in this position, I was recognised as the highest-selling agent for three months. I heavily focused on developing my negotiation and communication skills, two crucial requisites for a solicitor. I first listened to my customers and understood their needs before discussing potential products and prices we could offer, constantly pushing for a deal advantageous for both parties. Furthermore, I was responsible for delivering sales presentations to larger customers during the pandemic. I worked alongside a team to settle a deal worth £25 million a year with a national fried chicken franchise, bringing in up to £2.5 million in profit.
I was then promoted to Customer Service Supervisor where I focused on providing exceptional customer service and delivering superior customer service experiences. I have gained a wealth of experience in dealing with customers in a variety of situations, from answering queries and dealing with complaints to providing advice and assistance to my team. I continued to excel by taking on average 25% more incoming calls than my team by concentrating on my time management and problem-solving skills. Processing information quickly was vital to succeeding in this role, and arguably as a lawyer too.
Aldi
Assistant Store Supervisor (July 2019 – Sep 2019)
During my summer break in 2019, I worked 30 hours per work as an Assistant Store Supervisor at Aldi. I was responsible for overseeing the store assistants, ensuring the highest standards of customer service were met, and ensuring the store run efficiently and profitably. When necessary, I further supported our team by quickly and accurately operating the tills during peak hours, restocking our shelves, and maintaining a clean, tidy store floor. I worked with different departments, such as the front end, fresh and frozen departments in rotating our stock and promoting items closer to their expiry date to minimise waste.
Additionally, I worked alongside store associates to provide customers with an excellent shopping experience. As the only Turkish and Kurdish speaker, I was typically responsible for using my communication and people skills to provide first-class service to our large Turkish and Kurdish customer base.
I greatly enjoyed this experience which taught me about the importance of remaining calm in stressful situations and communicating with customers to support their needs. Furthermore, I developed several skills, such as organisation and multitasking skills, which have made me a better supervisor.
Overall, my experience as an Assistant Store Supervisor at Aldi was both rewarding and educational. I enjoyed being able to work with a variety of departments and customers, as well as having the opportunity to support and supervise a team in the smooth operation of the store.
Star Fish & Chips
Store Assistant (June 2016 – Oct 2017)
I worked as a Store Assistant at a Fish & Chips shop before starting university. Typically, I worked 25 hours per week during term-time and 60 hours during breaks.
Within three months, I had a 360 understanding of running a Fish & Chips shop and my responsibilities had developed from handling customer orders to managing the shop alongside the chef. This entailed, cleaning and preparing the shop before opening, handling both in-person and telephone orders, operating the till and training and supervising new employees. I also supported the chef with basic food preparation, such as cutting chips, preparing the fish, changing the oil, and overseeing the cooking of items.
The most important skills I learned were working as part of a team and effectively communicating with colleagues and customers. When under pressure during peak hours, to operate smoothly as a team we designated roles and supported each other. We also ensured each customer was satisfied with both their food and our service to provide the best experience possible. Building a loyal and happy customer base was the key in this industry.
Overall, my experience as a Store Assistant at a Fish & Chips shop was a great learning experience. I was able to develop my customer service and communication skills, as well as my ability to work as part of a team. I also had the opportunity to practice using a cash register and stocking shelves, which I found to be very beneficial later in my career.
2021
Why do you want to become a solicitor and what key skills do you have that are relevant to the role?
What attracts me to a career as a solicitor is the use of expertise to help clients solve legal problems. I want an intellectually challenging job where I can develop specialist knowledge, but also one where I can build relationships with clients, collaborate in a team, and do work which has a positive impact on the world.
As a logical thinker, I enjoy critically assessing arguments, finding their weaknesses and looking at an issue from all perspectives. I am fast learner; for example as an immigration paralegal, I quickly gained in-depth knowledge of immigration law and progressed to drafting advice letters in more complex areas of law such as overseas adoptions.I am an empathetic and articulate communicator, and am able to explain complex concepts in an accessible manner. For example, during my volunteering I worked with vulnerable clients with sensitivity, to ensure their applications for exceptional case funding were successful. I also developed my persuasive communication skills at [redacted organisation], successfully pitching fundraising to law firms and raising over £20,000.Finally, I am able to work calmly and efficiently under pressure, and am resilient in the face of challenges or setbacks.
What sets Bates Wells apart from other firms you’re applying to?
Bates Wells stands out for its commitment not only to technical excellence, but also to social responsibility. As a City law firm specialising in supporting charities and social enterprises, training with you would mean doing work which is interesting, values-driven, and with a positive impact.
I want to work for Bates Wells because you are at the forefront of the legal profession when it comes to tackling the climate crisis and social inequality. You don’t just pay lip service to these goals, as evidenced by your B Corp status, your Climate Programme, and the Stephen Lloyd Awards. I am also attracted by your reputation for fostering a friendly and non-elitist work culture.
I am keen to explore different areas of law, so the broad range of your expertise and the opportunity to undertake five seats during my training contract interests me. Inspired by my experience at the [redacted organisation], I am particularly excited by your public and regulatory department. Delineating the limits of public authorities’ powers and the extent of their obligations is a fascinating area of law, and I would love to learn more from the experts at Bates Wells.
In 2015 Bates Wells became the first UK law firm to be awarded a B Corp status. If successful, how would you help the firm continue to be a socially responsible organisation?
I am committed to making a positive contribution towards tackling the climate crisis, so I was inspired reading about the actions you have already taken in your recent Climate Programme, including adopting a zero waste to landfill policy and investing in the Sumatra Merang Peatland project. I would be excited to contribute to the project you lead to explore the ways in which law can be used strategically address the biodiversity crisis.
Your B-Corp responsibilities involve having a positive impact on the community, and if I were to work at Bates Wells I would like to initiate a project focused on improving social mobility. We could partner with other businesses or charities to create an educational outreach programme, to reach children who have fewer work experience or mentoring opportunities. This is particularly pressing as coronavirus is likely to have a long-term negative impact on social mobility.
I was also impressed to hear about the high-impact pro-bono work you undertake when I attended your recent “In the Spotlight” event. I would enjoy participating in pro-bono work if I joined Bates Wells, on both high-profile matters which may lead to changes in the law, and helping vulnerable people solve their individual problems.
Please tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to either your academic or working environment.
My proudest achievement was creating the [redacted organisation] exhibit, which celebrated the 2019 centenary of women being allowed to practice law. The exhibit told the history and milestones of women in the law through a historic timeline of the last 100 years.
The process involved writing biographies of pioneering women in law, undertaking historical research at archives such as the LSE Women’s Library. I curated the photographs to be used in the exhibition and gained permission from the copyright holders to use them in the exhibit. This task required extensive research into copyright law and meticulous organisation. I coordinated with our law firm sponsor, various academics, and a graphic designer to ensure the exhibit was accurate, informative and eye-catching.
The exhibit went on to be displayed at the Supreme Court, as well as many law firms and universities, and was seen by over one million people. I feel very proud to have increased awareness about the short but inspiring history of women in the law, and hopefully to have provoked people to consider how equal today’s society truly is.
Please give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility or other relevant information that will support your application.
For the [redacted organisation], I have been chosen to lead a team of volunteer legal assistants. I am responsible for communications between the Steering Committee and my volunteers, and for coordinating their legal research work, designating tasks and ensuring deadlines are kept. I recently completed the UK101 leadership development programme which has further improved my leadership skills. The course focused on strengthening the traits which will make us strategic and resilient young leaders.
My academic record has been consistently high, and I was in the top 15% of my cohort on the GDL at City University. I have successfully juggled my strong academic performance with part-time work, so I have excellent time-management skills. At school I was in a professional string quartet, performing at weddings and events, and at university, I worked part-time as a waitress and for [redacted organisation].
Last year, I was offered a Career Commitment scholarship to study the LPC at BPP University, which I did not take up as I could not afford the remainder of the fees.