2025
Please provide a brief explanation for why you have chosen to apply for a particular location (or locations) (no word count)
I am drawn to the Shoosmiths London office because of its focus on high-profile, complex transactions, such as the recent £221 million sale of ByBox Group Holdings Limited to Francisco Partners. London’s unique position provides opportunities to work on challenging deals and the office’s multicultural environment reflects my enthusiasm for diversity and working with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
The Shoosmiths London office provides exposure to complex transactions in sectors such as private equity and technology, showcasing the firm’s innovative and strategic approach. The opportunity to collaborate with diverse clients and colleagues in London’s global business hub offers an excellent environment for professional growth, making it the ideal setting to develop my legal career as the office’s multicultural environment reflects my enthusiasm for diversity and working with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
Describe why you want to be a solicitor at Shoosmiths (300 words)
I want to train as a solicitor at Shoosmiths because of the firm’s reputation for innovation and its dedication for excellence and social impact.
Shoosmiths’ expertise is evident in its work across the business lifecycle, such as supporting Frasers Group in navigating dynamic industry changes and advising Rothschild & Co on intricate financial restructuring, highlighting Shoosmiths' capability to deliver impactful solutions that empower businesses to adapt and thrive in dynamic markets. I am inspired by the firm's commitment to tackling complex challenges in evolving industries, a focus that aligns with my own drive to provide strategic and creative legal solutions.
Studying history at Cambridge has equipped me with analytical and research skills that align with Shoosmiths' focus on strategic problem-solving. My ability to evaluate complex historical events and contextualise developments has strengthened my aptitude for understanding multifaceted challenges that face businesses. Furthermore, my participation in the xxx entrepreneurship programme has refined my problem-solving and lateral thinking abilities. Designing an app to compare food delivery prices and pitching business ideas to industry professionals during the entrepreneurship lab showed me how creative and strategic solutions can address real-world problems. These experiences resonate with Shoosmiths' emphasis on innovation and using business solutions to solve contemporary problems.
Shoosmiths’ commitment to community engagement, demonstrated through initiatives like the Trainee Pro Bono Challenge and SHOUTback corporate responsibility blog, stands out to me. During my participation in the entrepreneurial lab, I saw firsthand how ideas could create meaningful change, echoing Shoosmiths’ dedication to using professional expertise to address broader societal issues. This culture of collaboration and impact inspires me to contribute fully to Shoosmiths’ projects as I develop my skills further in a supportive environment. Shoosmiths offers the ideal platform to tackle complex legal challenges and grow within a firm that values innovation, inclusivity, and excellence.
Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words)
Rowing at university was a transformative experience that helped me develop key skills essential for a career as a solicitor. It was an activity that was initially outside my comfort zone due to my nonathletic background, comparatively short stature, and due to the challenge of balancing regular early morning training with academic responsibilities. Overcoming these demands required discipline, resilience, and effective time management—qualities that became fundamental to my personal and professional development.
During rowing season, I encountered a pivotal challenge when I did not meet the performance standard to qualify for an important race. Determined to improve, I approached this setback with a strategic plan, focusing on enhancing my fitness and technical abilities. I attended extra training sessions, incorporated targeted workouts, and meticulously tracked my progress to achieve measurable improvements. This structured approach not only enabled me to rejoin my team for the final race but also reinforced my ability to organise tasks efficiently and work towards ambitious goals under pressure.
Rowing also sharpened my teamwork and communication skills, as the sport required synchronisation, mutual trust, and seamless collaboration within the team. Success depended on understanding each member's strengths and maintaining a shared focus on our objectives. These qualities are directly transferable to the legal profession, where solicitors must work cohesively with colleagues and clients to navigate complex matters and deliver exceptional outcomes.
This experience strengthened my ability to stay composed under pressure, adapt to challenges, and persevere in the face of setbacks—skills crucial for addressing the dynamic demands of a legal career. I am confident that these capabilities, combined with my commitment to personal growth, will enable me to thrive at Shoosmiths, where I will embrace opportunities to develop further and contribute effectively within the firm’s collaborative and forward-thinking culture.
Shoosmiths people are collaborative. What are the characteristics of a successful team? Share an example of an excellent team you have been a part of, what you achieved together and explain how this experience might benefit your future career (300 words)
A successful team is characterised by clear communication, adaptability, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to achieving common goals. During my tenure as Secretary of my College Politics Society, I worked within a collaborative team responsible for delivering an unprecedented amount of speaker events. One significant challenge arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when we organised a high-demand speaker event while half the committee was unavailable due to illness or isolation. This situation tested our adaptability, problem-solving skills, and ability to remain composed under pressure.
To ensure the event proceeded successfully, I assumed multiple roles that went beyond my usual responsibilities. I hosted the speaker, assisted with event setup, liaised with the college administration, and directed attendees to the venue. At the same time, I maintained effective communication with remote committee members who provided virtual support. Multitasking and teamwork were crucial in overcoming the reduced manpower, and my proactive approach ensured that the event ran smoothly. This required flexibility and clear coordination among all involved, culminating in a seamless and well-attended event. Our efforts were recognised by the college and the guest speaker, who commended our ability to deliver under challenging circumstances.
This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving in addressing unexpected challenges—qualities that are integral to the legal profession. As a trainee at Shoosmiths, rotating through teams with diverse working styles and personalities, I will draw on these strengths to adjust to new environments effectively, build strong professional relationships, and contribute cohesively to team objectives. My ability to adapt quickly under pressure, combined with a commitment to professionalism and collaboration, will enable me to thrive in Shoosmiths’ dynamic environment while growing my skills and making meaningful contributions to the firm’s success.
As a trainee, you’ll rotate teams and work with people at different levels, with different working styles and personalities. Which of your strengths will you draw upon to help you handle these changes? (300 words)
In order to handle changes as a trainee, I will draw upon my adaptability and interpersonal skills, both of which I have developed through my academic and work experiences.
At university, I was selected to participate in a funded academic research initiative exploring xxx financial, material, and intellectual links with the Atlantic slave trade using primary sources from the 1700s. The research process evolved significantly over time, often with little guidance available as I was the first cohort to participate in the five-year long project. This required me to be adaptive and innovative as I navigated new areas of inquiry and looked through the archival material. I had to seek help and communicate effectively with my peers on the project as well as with the archivists to achieve the collective objectives of the project. Navigating these shifting circumstances and communicating innovative strategies to address them reinforced my ability to remain flexible and resilient in unfamiliar environments.
Additionally, my ten months of front-line guest-facing work at [theme park] significantly improved my interpersonal and teamwork skills. I provided world-class service to guests and supported colleagues in diverse situations, including resolving disputes, assisting those requiring medical attention, and responding to incidents around the park. Working with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds required me to communicate effectively and adapt to different working styles. My role demanded close collaboration with colleagues to ensure smooth operations, fostering strong teamwork and problem-solving skills in high-pressure settings.
These experiences demonstrate my ability to adapt quickly, build strong relationships, and maintain professionalism in dynamic environments. As I adapt to different working styles and personalities while working at Shoosmiths, I will draw upon these skills to navigate changes effectively, contribute meaningfully to team objectives, and thrive in the firm’s collaborative and forward-thinking culture.
AI question: How do you expect to use generative AI tools to enhance your effectiveness as a solicitor in the future? (no word count)
Generative AI tools have the potential to transform the way solicitors work by boosting productivity, improving accuracy, and streamlining processes. In the future, I aim to leverage these tools to enhance my effectiveness in legal practice.
One key application is contract management and review. AI-powered tools, such as Shoosmiths' Cia, can identify key risks, detect deviations from market standards, and propose corrective drafting. These solutions significantly reduce the time and costs of legal reviews while ensuring thorough and precise document analysis, minimising errors.
Generative AI can also revolutionise legal research by synthesising vast amounts of information and providing relevant insights. This allows me to focus on strategic aspects of cases rather than mechanical research tasks. Similarly, AI-powered e-discovery tools will help identify crucial documents during litigation, improving case preparation efficiency.
Ethical considerations will remain central in my use of generative AI. By acknowledging challenges such as data protection and potential inaccuracies, I intend to utilise these tools responsibly, ensuring that they complement rather than replace my expertise. I will prioritise originality and creativity in my work while adhering to professional standards.
Generative AI will also enable me to dedicate more time to higher-value tasks like building client relationships and addressing complex legal issues with innovative solutions. Thoughtfully integrating these tools will help me stay at the cutting edge of technological advancements, deliver excellent client service, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the legal profession.
I have used generative AI to refine the flow of this answer and ensure its presentation is professional. I am committed to using generative AI to deliver professional-quality work to clients in a career at Shoosmiths.
2024
Describe why you want to be a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths (300 words)
I am a graduate in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford. Studying English, I learnt to argue, analyse texts and write clearly – skills integral to a legal career. Having enjoyed my marketing internships at LitHits and Sparkler, I want a career which requires agile commercial thinking as well as academic skills. My legal placement at eBay assured me that working as a solicitor is the right career for me as it combines technical knowledge with commercial strategy.
I was drawn to apply to Shoosmiths because of your excellent retail and consumer practice. I developed my interest in this sector as Style editor for The Oxford Student newspaper at university. The insight into e-commerce I gained at eBay showed me how this sector is undergoing exciting changes in the face of technological innovation. I was particularly interested to read that Shoosmiths advised M·A·C Cosmetics on launching their M·A·C Viva Glam NFT in 2022, a project which made headlines in the beauty world. I am eager to work with influential consumer brands as they pursue such innovative projects.
I have also attended several insight events on disputes and investigations. This sparked my interest in Shoosmiths's health and safety practice, particularly the firm's involvement in high-profile inquiries into the Manchester Arena bombing and the Grenfell Tower tragedy. I would value the opportunity to train at a firm involved in such important national affairs.
I attended the Legal Cheek Spring Vacation Scheme where I heard from Shoosmiths solicitors at the real estate session and virtual law fair. I learnt about Shoosmiths's impressive financial growth and ambitious expansion into the UK's commercial centres. I am applying to train at Shoosmiths as a growing, forward-looking firm and one committed to fostering a diverse and supportive community.
Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words)
I work as a waitress at the Ivy Café in Wimbledon Village. This role has developed skills which are highly transferrable to a legal career. These include attention to detail, organisation, work ethic, commercial awareness, team work and communication skills.
I would apply the attention to detail I have developed to a career in law, taking the time to spot potential issues in advance. Dealing with problems that arise during my shift, I take the initiative to find a practical and creative solution, setting me up for success as a solicitor.
I have also developed organisational skills. I am able to plan ahead, polishing cutlery and folding napkins in the afternoon to make my job easier during peak times. Working long hours has developed my drive and work ethic. I deliver the best possible service even into the twelfth hour of my shift.
Working at the Ivy has also developed my commercial awareness. I am aware of my role in the business's success and I consistently strive to improve our our weekly average spend-per-head. I recently achieved my personal target of £40 average spend-per-head in my section. I achieved this goal by consistently upselling our specials and offering drink refills. This understanding of business development is a core skill for a solicitor, especially in private practice.
My communication skills have developed as I have learnt to build relationships with guests. This is highly transferable to a legal career where building personal connections with clients is key to success. I also communicate with my team members, asking for help when my section is busy and offering help when it is quiet. I would apply this collaborative spirit and open communication style when working in a team as a solicitor.
Shoosmiths people are collaborative. What are the characteristics of a successful team? Share an example of an excellent team you have been a part of, what you achieved together and explain how this experience might benefit your future career. (300 words)
The key characteristics of a successful team are a clear shared goal, open communication and a supportive culture. These characteristics are central to the success of the excellent team of presenters on 'The Firm Rundown' podcast which I am a part of.
Since I became a presenter in February this year, the team has aimed to put out regular episodes. We have excelled in achieving this goal and have put out episodes reliably each Tuesday morning for the last two months. This is a huge improvement on last year when the podcast released ten episodes sporadically over twelve months.
In order to achieve reliable weekly output, the team decided to invite a broader range of interviewees to appear on the podcast. In addition to solicitors at City firms, we interviewed legal recruiters, in-house lawyers, and solicitors at regional and boutique firms. This has increased the diversity of perspectives represented on the podcast as well as allowing us to put out steady content. In order to make this shift, the team communicated openly about our ambitions for the podcast and agreed that regular content was our priority.
To achieve our goal, every team member had to be committed to contacting legal professionals and preparing thoughtful interview questions. The supportive culture at 'The Firm Rundown' is crucial to keeping presenters motivated. All positive developments are met with praise and thanks from our team chat and any problems can be shared without judgement.
This experience will benefit my future career in commercial law because I have learnt the value of
communicating effectively. I know how important it is to make compromises to establish a very clear shared goal. Most importantly, I will commit to recognising the efforts and achievements of my fellow team members because a happy team is a productive team.
As a trainee, you’ll rotate teams and work with people at different levels, with different working styles and personalities. Which of your strengths will you draw upon to help you handle these changes? (300 words)
In order to handle these changes I will draw upon my adaptability.
I developed high-level adaptability when working for the hospitality staffing agency, HOST. I completed shifts in plate waiting, bar service and hostess roles, adapting to the changing demands of each role. I also worked in a different team at each shift. This taught me to be open-minded to different working styles and personalities and to adapt accordingly so that each team could work efficiently. This experience is highly transferrable to working effectively in rotating teams as a trainee.
I also developed adaptability when managing my team of journalists as a section editor for The Oxford Student paper. My team members were balancing their roles at the paper with academic commitments and occasionally couldn't deliver pieces to deadline. In these situations, I learnt to adapt my plans to ensure the section was always completed in time. This will help me when working in rotating teams with a range of people as a trainee because I am able to adapt to other people's unique pressures and commitments to ensure tasks are completed effectively.
My childcare experience has further developed my adaptability. For the last eight years I have been providing freelance childcare to local families, from regular nannying to occasional babysitting. The unpredictable nature of working with children has taught me to be flexible. This will help me when working in rotating teams as a trainee solicitor because I am able to change my approach easily to adapt to changing situations.
The legal industry is evolving rapidly with advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in generative AI, which has the potential to revolutionise legal research, document drafting, and even client interactions. At Shoosmiths, we’ve been working with AI for years and know a thing or two about what responsible AI can do in the real world. We lead the conversation on innovation and use our expertise to help drive change where it matters. It’s why we don’t ban the use of AI in trainee solicitor application forms.
Effective communication and being detail oriented are essential skills for succeeding as a trainee at Shoosmiths, and an application form is the first opportunity you have to communicate as your authentic self. You may choose to use generative AI as a tool to assist you in developing your own original and thoughtful responses, but you should never simply copy and paste answers from the internet.
At Shoosmiths, we place a high value on originality of thought, creativity, and innovation. Successful applications will be personal; you’ll demonstrate genuine effort and unique perspectives, as well as giving the reader a true sense of why you are applying for the role. You’ll also show how your strengths will help shape the future of the firm.
We view the responsible use of AI as something that can strengthen your abilities, fostering creativity and refining ideas, rather than a shortcut to replace authentic input.
How do you expect to use generative AI tools to enhance your effectiveness as a solicitor in the future?
If you have, you may also choose to include specific examples of how you have utilised generative AI to elevate part of your application to Shoosmiths, in this answer. (300 words)
I expect to use generative AI tools to deliver faster solutions for clients, freeing up my time to work on more complex matters and to focus on business development.
Generative AI uses machine learning, where algorithms detect patterns in data and use these patterns to automate tasks. Machine learning can be used in a legal context for E-discovery searching and scanning, reviewing documents as part of due diligence exercises, and speeding up legal research. This use of AI is well established, the English courts have endorsed the use of predictive coding to identify relevant documents for disclosure in High Court litigation since 2016. Shoosmiths have harnessed machine learning to deliver efficient solutions for clients through the firm's AI-powered contract review tool, Cia. This eliminates the expensive and time-consuming grind of contract review, getting clients to signature faster. In the future, I would use generative AI to achieve a similar goal: saving time on repetitive tasks to ensure quicker turnaround times for clients while redirecting my energy towards tasks which require advanced thinking or human connection such as building relationships with new clients.
Generative AI can take this a step further by generating output which mimics human response. Shoosmiths have taken steps towards embracing generative AI by using Microsoft 365 Copilot. Copilot can be grounded with information from business Outlook emails, Word documents and Microsoft Teams chats to answer questions and generate. This will boost productivity by saving time spend searching through files or email archives. In my future career, I would create text through generative AI and review it later, applying my own expertise. The time saved by creating text through generative AI for business development and solving complex legal problems. In this way, I would use generative AI as a tool rather than a shortcut.
2024
Shoosmiths Discover Placement 2024 Application
Describe why you want to be a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths (300 words)
I want to train at Shoosmiths due to the firm’s opportunities for development such as the business development project, a unique and positive reflection of the firm’s strategy in valuing innovation and encouraging an alternative challenge. I am interested in this project because of the entrepreneurial acumen I have been exposed to witnessing my family members start businesses. As Shoosmiths work with early-stage businesses, as well as large corporate and professional services firms such as Rothschild & Co, I am eager to gain further exposure to a business’ various stages in its life cycle, navigating financial risk and assessing competition in the market.
Shoosmiths is commended for their high-profile and innovation-led clients, such as Frasers Group Plc. From my experience as Team Lead and Ambassador at [redacted], I had direct exposure to this company, its brand and purpose and also its future aspirations working on high-value collaborations when headhunting students for their schemes. I am enthusiastic about working with exciting clients such as Frasers Group in the future and working at the forefront of important developments such as when Shoosmiths’ Corporate Restructuring and Advisory teams supported the administration of Wilko.
Due to my socially mobile background, I value Shoosmiths as a firm that takes accountability not only for its employees but also for its community, through its SHOUTback corporate responsibility blog and the Trainee Pro Bono Challenge. I have previously volunteered at primary schools in disadvantaged areas to relay interest in practical aspects of law and the importance of higher education. I have also undertaken an external pro bono scheme at the [redacted] helping youths regain their independence and social skills in the world of work. A sense of community is important to me both within and outside the workspace, therefore I wish to maintain this enthusiasm at Shoosmiths.
Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words)
During my second year of university, I was elected to the position of Secretary for the [redacted] Society, a global grassroots movement of individuals passionate about creative problem-solving at the intersection of law and technology, demonstrating my willingness to learn.
My role involved organising the membership process, supporting the President and managing the society’s correspondence. I was responsible for organising and managing legal tech-based events for students but also engaging in relevant topics such as smart contracts, blockchain and data protection and monitoring the changing priorities of the legal industry to provide members with insight on upcoming changes. Organisation is a fundamental skill for solicitors due to the fast-paced environment and varied client work provided at Shoosmiths.
I marketed events using social media platform, Instagram, competently generating interest resulting in 30-40 attendees from diverse backgrounds to events relevant to modern society. My strategy was to regularly post at least three times a week using various content ranging from our own Coding for Beginners workshops, Legal Research Workshops with Lexis Nexis and external speaker events surrounding cyber security and FinTech. Social media is a tool becoming increasingly popular with law firms and I would be keen to contribute towards Shoosmiths' popular Instagram page.
My motivation for becoming a core member of the society draws from my awareness that law firms are affected by technology, which I have utilised in the form of hybrid working and using AI to duplicate lawyers’ behaviours. As the primary support function of the society, I wanted to familiarise myself with developments. In turn, I have provided the relevant ability to time-manage and have a genuine interest in innovation to carry out this role to the best of my ability, all of which will be relevant to a lawyer at Shoosmiths in the modern world.
Shoosmiths people are collaborative. What are the characteristics of a successful team? Share an example of an excellent team you have been a part of, what you achieved together and explain how this experience might benefit your future career. (300 words)
Shoosmiths’ people are collaborative, as reflected through innovating the Discover Placement Programme, allowing for more diverse and creative teamwork. This aligns with my skill set, as I enjoy working as part of a team with a variety of individuals and believe that effective communication, active listening and organisation allow for the makings of a successful team.
As the Academic and Careers Secretary of the [redacted] Society, I worked as part of a team to host the society’s successful Annual Careers Dinner in 2022. A key component was to maintain weekly correspondence reviewing the timeline of events for several months leading up to the event.
As a team, we discussed and delegated tasks between the individuals, creating action lists to meet internal and external targets. We communicated using online group chats to provide support and update the team on the progress of all tasks. A supportive team reduced the likelihood of low morale and the potential for excessive anxiety, allowing everyone to focus on other commitments.
The President and I collaborated with the publicity secretary to help conduct the marketing of the event. We required specific expertise to increase student engagement. The team agreed on key information that needed conveying on a repetitive basis, which was monitored for level of student engagement through regular meetings.
As a result, we hosted approximately 160 attendees, from first years to postgraduate students, and legal professionals, to network and build relationships for insight into legal careers. Our commitment to deadlines successfully allowed 14 firms and organisations to attend and network.
My experience of teamwork instilled in me confidence that this transferable skill demonstrates my versatility and the ability to focus on the task whilst working with various individuals. I look forward to applying these characteristics at Shoosmiths when embracing new colleagues within different departments.
As a trainee, you’ll rotate teams and work with people at different levels, with different working styles and personalities. Which of your strengths will you draw upon to help you handle these changes? (300 words)
My internship experience at [redacted] involved rotating through different departments, including the Global Media Legal Team (which had sub-teams), UK&I Legal and Compliance team, risk and compliance and Global Privacy, Tech and IP. This opportunity developed my strength of effective communication due to the regular contact I had with the Senior General Counsel, trainee solicitors and other interns across the legal team. I scheduled reviews of my progress to maintain a high standard of work and develop my understanding throughout the entire process of tasks set. My initial communications within the teams allowed me to feel comfortable and settled into the departments, creating a rapport with my supervisors and colleagues.
My strengths of proactivity and using initiative aided me in adapting well to different teams. I was able to adjust my writing formality when addressing different seniority by reflecting on previous correspondence and previous feedback on tasks. I consistently clarified instructions and expectations for tasks, confirmed deadlines and used my initiative to understand the importance of the task and the duration required to complete it. This will be useful in every department because asking the right questions across the different teams will lead to greater quality output, time management and prioritising, which I am eager to transfer to the Training Contract.
When given a product placement analysis task, I was allowed discretion to present my research in a clear and professional manner, early responsibility which I valued and confidently embraced. My strength in written communication allowed for effective formatting of the task as it turned into a template for future interns. These positive interactions provided confirmation that I was able to adjust to different working styles. I am therefore enthusiastic about developing and maintaining relationships across departments to collaborate efficiently and contribute to future projects at Shoosmiths in the same manner.
The legal industry is evolving rapidly with advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in generative AI, which has the potential to revolutionise legal research, document drafting, and even client interactions. At Shoosmiths, we’ve been working with AI for years and know a thing or two about what responsible AI can do in the real world. We lead the conversation on innovation and use our expertise to help drive change where it matters. That’s why we don’t ban the use of AI in trainee solicitor application forms.
Effective communication and being detail-oriented are essential skills for succeeding as a trainee at Shoosmiths, and an application form is the first opportunity you have to communicate as your authentic self. You may choose to use generative AI as a tool to assist you in developing your own original and thoughtful responses, but you should never simply copy and paste answers from the internet.
At Shoosmiths, we place a high value on originality of thought, creativity, and innovation. Successful applications will be personal; you’ll demonstrate genuine effort and unique perspectives, as well as giving the reader a true sense of why you are applying for the role. You’ll also show how your strengths will help shape the future of the firm.
We view the responsible use of AI as something that can strengthen your abilities, fostering creativity and refining ideas, rather than a shortcut to replace authentic input.
How do you expect to use generative AI tools to enhance your effectiveness as a solicitor in the future?
If you have, you may also choose to include specific examples of how you have utilised generative AI to elevate part of your application to Shoosmiths, in this answer. (300 words)
As a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths, I expect to use generative AI tools to enhance my effectiveness when managing and reviewing contracts through tools such as Shoosmiths’ implementation of Cia, the firm’s AI-powered contract review solution. This tool, in particular, assesses key risks and analyse deviations from market norms and generating corrective drafting. The innovated process will enhance my effectiveness as a trainee, as it will save 3 to 5 hours of legal review time and up to 80% against external legal costs per contract, allowing for a more efficient, streamlined and cost-effective process for the client.
Furthermore, I have followed the development of ChatGPT since its public launch in 2022 following my interest in technology, how it can be used within the legal industry and how it can benefit my future self. I acknowledge the ethical considerations and pitfalls of this tool such as plagiarism, potential breaches of data protection and data privacy as well as inaccuracies in information, through research and my own trial and error of the software. As [redacted] LinkedIn Communications and Marketing Coordinator, I frequently use Planable’s AI function to compare alternative ways of rephrasing engaging captions within LinkedIn posts, tailoring to my audience based on their interests and level of professionalism to simplify topics effectively. I am careful to remain consistent with my approach to AI and only utilise it to enhance and elevate my work. I therefore only intend to use generative AI for guidance and on an ad hoc basis.
Through my experiences, I resonate with Shoosmiths’ values of embracing innovation yet also remaining authentic. In light of this, I am confident in my ability to use generative AI tools to enhance my effectiveness in an ethical yet creative way, understanding the importance of original thought while at Shoosmiths.
2023
Describe why you want to be a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths. (300w/300w)
When I first started searching for training contracts in law firms which tend to offer more direct client exposure to trainees and a high-quality of work, I subsequently found out about Shoosmiths, and I felt like I found a perfect match. The firm is a national leader in many commercial sectors, including the ones I’m primarily interested in, namely Banking and Finance; Corporate; Pensions; Tax and Real Estate. I received 1st class grades in similar modules on my LLB and I chose corresponding modules for my electives in my LPC MSc. In addition to this, I was drawn to the work Shoosmiths’ associates do on deals with private equity firms.
I learned about this after attending a virtual event “Corporate Law at Shoosmiths”. The firms’ associates explored the day-to-day work of a corporate lawyer at Shoosmiths. I am used to this style of working as I used to work in a large [redacted company type] in London where I worked on many projects at once with strict, and often, short deadlines. The high-quality training programme at Shoosmiths is also another reason as to why I chose to apply. I read many testimonies from Shoosmiths trainees and was impressed by the common appraisals highlighting the approachability of the colleagues, involvement of the trainees in deals from the early stages, high quality of the work and the level of support the trainees’ receive in their professional development. Such an environment is one which I believe I would greatly benefit from, as I want to focus on my professional development and exploration of different commercial areas of law. Considering that in any case I would be supported by the experts in those areas, I believe that training at Shoosmiths would allow me to become the similarly high-quality lawyer I aspire to be.
Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words
During my time in the post-production department in the advertising agency ([redacted company]), part of my responsibilities surrounded scheduling and allocating talent (such as editors, sound engineers and animators) to TV and social media productions of different sizes. I studied Film & TV Production and I was familiar with each of those specialisms and I could estimate timelines and budgets based on the creative vision of the productions. At one point my department was restructured and I was tasked with integrating graphic designers to our workflow and manage their bookings on design projects. This was a big challenge for me as I not only did not have any knowledge in this area, but they also worked differently to what our workflow was set up to be. I organised many meetings with [redacted company]’s accountants, design producers, software engineers and the designers to plan their new workflow; ways in which we could alter our software to accommodate their projects and schedule and finally create new rate cards and budget templates. To achieve this, I had to talk to each of the types of staff, understand their requirements and limits as to what they can do and communicate this between them efficiently and clearly to create a comprehensive and seamless workflow. Eventually, we managed to create such workflow which ran alongside the post-production’s one. I am happy to say that my department is still using this method to this day. This challenge allowed me to expand my collaborative and communication skills and improve my problem-solving skills which I believe are crucial in a role of a solicitor, especially a commercial solicitor at Shoosmiths. Those skills would come useful whilst working on complex, challenging deals with a variety of departments from different offices across the Shoosmiths’s network.
Shoosmiths people are collaborative. What are the characteristics of a successful team? Share an example of an excellent team you have been a part of, what you achieved together and explain how this experience might benefit your future career. (300w/300w)
A successful team is one which can communicate and is well organised. For my first undergraduate dissertation I chose to make a short-film which I had to write, produce, direct and edit myself, but every other role had to be distributed to other people. I auditioned actors, interviewed make-up artists, camera operators and others. Finally, I managed to put together a group of 20 cast and crew ready to work on the film. We only had a few shooting days scheduled and a strict deadline. I had to make sure that everyone received their instructions in advance so they could be adequately prepared. I found that this gave everyone enough time to not only familiarise themselves with the material, but to also let them be creative with it. One of such creative changes was made by my camera operator, who changed the storyboard to experiment with a handheld camera during a fight scene which turned out to fit the style of the film better. There were times at which our plans were changed last minute, when some of the crew had to cancel right before the shoot day. However, due to great communication between the crew members I was told that this might be a possibility in advance, which in turn allowed me to have a replacement in place. As a solicitor I would often get to work as a part of a team, therefore I think that learning the team dynamics beforehand is crucial for the success of the team. Each of the solicitors in the team will have their delegated tasks and it is therefore very important that everyone can feel they can carry them out to the best of their abilities. They can only do so in a well organised group who can also communicate well.
As a trainee, you’ll rotate teams and work with people at different levels, with different working styles and personalities. Which of your strengths will you draw upon to help you handle these changes? (300 words)
Throughout my work history I worked with people of different ages, seniority, personalities and working methods. From working in a pub to a large advertising agency, I worked with a large variety of people. Looking back at my experiences, I believe that some of my strengths which aided me at the time were my friendly approach, hard-working nature and adaptability. My friendly nature allows me to bond with colleagues quicker and allow for both of us to feel more comfortable from the start. My hard-working nature on the other hand shows my colleagues that I am a dedicated member of the team and I aim to do well. Lastly, I pride myself in my adaptability as every time I joined an existing team, I managed to learn their well-shaped working methods quickly in order to assure the continuity of work. I believe that those traits will also assist me as a trainee at Shoosmiths. Training in a firm such as Shoosmiths would require me to change seats every 6 months and each of those seats will be in different areas of law. Each of them is dictated by different regulatory and commercial requirements, such as the fast-paced business nature of the commercial sector or the rigorous and procedure-focused dispute resolution and litigation sector. Whilst I am aware that each of the seats have their own unique challenges, I believe that the strengths will allow me to overcome the initial obstacles such as familiarising myself with new teams, adapting to their workflows and proving them that I am eager to learn and perform well in any assigned tasks. Overcoming those obstacles would be easier as a trainee at Shoosmiths through the firm’s culture which focuses on the approachability and openness towards one another in order to achieve common goals.
2022
Describe why you want to be a trainee lawyer at Shoosmiths.
At Shoosmiths' [redacted] Insight Evening 2020, I discussed the broad variety of Shoosmiths' work with [redacted Shoosmiths' partner] such as defending leading car manufacturers, acting for a robotic milking equipment supplier, and recently advising the high street brand Monsoon. This diversity motivates me to become a trainee at Shoosmiths because, currently, as an NHS legal assistant, I enjoy working with varying medical negligence claims that are specific to each individual as each case presents new stimulating challenges. Shoosmiths’ diverse work indicates that as a trainee, I would have the opportunity to engage in a variety of practice areas to develop my interests by learning to find solutions for Shoosmiths’ dynamic clientele range.
Continually, I deepened my understanding of Shoosmiths’ business strategy to become the UK's leading law firm by focusing on client experience. Previously, I worked as a personal assistant for clients visiting [ME city]. I was responsible for making the client's experience as straightforward as possible. I built long-term relationships as clients requested my assistance when returning. I want to become a part of facilitating this strategy because it presents the opportunity for me to grow with Shoosmiths by developing lasting partnerships with clients.
Furthermore, I toured Shoosmiths’ open-plan [redacted] office. I learnt how trainees have the opportunity to learn from others in a collaborative environment. The open-plan office at my workplace has encouraged me to take the initiative on complex cases since guidance is there when needed. Hence, Shoosmiths’ approachable culture motivates me to become a trainee to continually develop my skills. Additionally, [redacted Shoosmiths associate] informed me of her refugee work with the Manuel Bravo project. This struck a personal interest with me because I volunteered as a refugee sponsor with Emirates Red Crescent in [redacted ME city], and I am eager to develop my refugee work through Shoosmiths’ pro bono opportunities.
As a legal advisor you will spend time reviewing documents. Describe a time when you’ve had to analyse information, data or details to provide recommendations or solutions. How did you go about the task, and what was the outcome?
For the third day of my work experience at [redacted regional law firm], I was in the corporate and commercial department. The department head informed me of a client who supplied horse-bit (equipment to enable communication between the horse and the rider) products and who wished to sell their products in Germany. I was provided with a draft of the distribution agreement. I was requested to analyse the terms and conditions of the contract to ensure the clients interests were protected.
Firstly, I researched distribution agreement examples to familiarise myself with what should be incorporated, and to outline an ideal structure of how the contract should work. These initial steps ensured that when first reading the document, I understood the various headings, and I knew what terms and conditions to look out for. Secondly, I began my analysis by utilising my attention to detail skills to work through the document to note suggestions. For example, define the products, implement a separate UK and EU heading for value-added tax provisions and explain if payments should be made before or after product despatch. Thirdly, I went through the agreement while referring to my outlined structure, which included an insurance and liability guarantee heading. To minimise risks, I noted that these clauses should be incorporated.
I discussed my analysis with the department head. He agreed with my recommendations, and they were incorporated into the distribution agreement. The client received a specific contract that they could easily understand and has recently begun distributing their products in Germany. This task enabled me to independently conduct research and analytical work to apply it to real-life practice. Hence, I am prepared and motivated to engage in the research tasks and hands-on work of Shoosmiths' trainees since trainees gain a high level of responsibility throughout their training contract.
Shoosmiths' people are collaborative and frequently work together to provide solutions to clients. Tell us about a time when you worked in a team to solve a problem. In your answer you should include details about your role in the team and other team members, and how the outcome came about.
As an NHS legal assistant, our department received a court order for the disclosure of a mother and child's medical records and relevant staff statements by the 23rd January. The court orders were issued on the 6th January, but the solicitor did not receive the orders until the 21st January. Therefore, we had two days to disclose the records, when usually this is spread over a week. My supervisor requested that myself and another colleague assist her. She informed us of the difficult timeline, but I was determined to help.
We first created a detailed plan to simplify the task. I regularly use hospital databases for claim preparations. I took responsibility for gathering the mother's records. My colleague specialises in infant claims and would gather the child's files. My supervisor often communicates with the hospital staff and knew best how to obtain statements. Hence, we planned to solve the problem by utilising our skill sets.
I located the mother's records. However, I was unable to find her medical files from when she lived in Ireland. I informed my colleague. They explained how the hospital uses a separate database for the transfer of patient files. Additionally, my colleague could not identify notes relating to the child's previous admittance. I suggested checking the accident and emergency log as it is usually the first entry point. By collaborating to offer support, we completed our tasks. We updated our checklist and assisted our supervisor in gathering the statements, as she had a meeting to attend.
The following morning, we prepared and sent the disclosures to the solicitor. We achieved the deadline by having a clear understanding of our roles and by communicating struggles effectively. I developed my teamwork skills in a high-pressure situation, and I felt accomplished for successfully collaborating to complete the task.
In a competitive legal market, how do you think Shoosmiths can remain successful and attractive to clients in 2020 and beyond without compromising on profitability?
There are many complex issues which may feed into this answer, but we would like you to focus on your top three priorities.
Firstly, Shoosmiths could develop clientele experience and build long-term business partnerships by focusing on a cross-selling business model. Cross-selling is the selling of all services offered by Shoosmiths to its clients, to ensure that clients understand that Shoosmiths can meet all of their legal needs, instead of using multiple law firms. For example, Shoosmiths recently utilised its real estate, banking, employment and property litigation departments when acting on behalf of Revolution Bars group. Hence, at initial client meetings such cross-selling of services will allow clients to receive more incisive advice. This will assure clients confidence that Shoosmiths as a whole is committed to their objectives, enabling them to grow with the firm. By encouraging departments to work closely together, staff can continually increase their business development skills, without alternatively needing to hire additional expertise.
Secondly, at the Shoosmiths' [redacted] Insight Evening 2020, I learnt how Shoosmiths is currently working on technology-based initiatives such as document automation to do labour intensive document review. Such legal tech adoption will make it more reliable to predict legal efforts so lawyers can focus on the contract areas that need advice. It will enable Shoosmiths to provide more price certainty for clients who are becoming more price-conscious. Therefore, Shoosmiths can add value to the client's experience by providing more accuracy in a shorter period, and by billing on the value of the task rather than the time. Also, lawyers would have more time to focus on securing new work to help meet Shoosmiths' aim of becoming the UK's leading law firm without needing to spend on added recruitment.
Thirdly, Shoosmiths could expand upon its active environmental policy. The environment champions within Shoosmiths' offices should continue to encourage employees to turn off lights and power outlets when not in use to reduce electricity bills. Also, staff should be encouraged to use email where possible to enable Shoosmiths further to become a paperless workplace and to minimise resource costs. Hence, overhead costs will reduce. To facilitate this, employees should be engaged in environmental awareness campaigns and could propose new initiatives to ensure continual improvement via Shoosmiths' internal forum. This collaboration would boost staff morale resulting in increased productivity and teamwork to offer clients the best experience. These sustainable incentives would enable Shoosmiths to achieve positive environmental impacts and to demonstrate its ongoing corporate responsibility to clients since clients increasingly want to conduct business with environmentally friendly companies.
2021
Describe why you want to be a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths?
During my time at University, I was a Campus Ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors. Through this work, I became aware of Shoosmiths’ commitment to diversity, and attended an insight evening hosted specifically for Aspiring Solicitors candidates at the Manchester office. I found the firm's positive and open culture to be very refreshing, and spoke to solicitors at different stages of their careers, who were all enthusiastic about the firm and the work they did. Following this, I followed Shoosmiths on various social media platforms, to keep up to date about further events and information about the firm. I was pleased to see that the culture of the firm which I experienced at the insight evening was reflected in its social media. The firm's focus on people is clear, and makes it a firm that resonates with my own values and experience as a dedicated public servant in local government.
I have worked on projects with far-reaching implications in the both the public sector and business world. For example, I am working in a project team which is delivering the [redacted], a national scheme to reduce the level of air pollution in [redacted]. Grants and loans are offered to businesses impacted by the charges coming into force, in order for them to upgrade their vehicles to meet emission standards. I led on the evaluations for the grant scheme, liaising with businesses to support them during the application process and [redacted]. This experience has given me insight into the way businesses work, and the impact of policy on business and I believe that a good understanding of the public sector would be invaluable to many commercial clients who often liaise with public sector agencies.
As a legal advisor you will spend time reviewing documents. Describe a time when you've had to analyse information, data or details to provide recommendations or solutions. How did you go about the task, and what was the outcome?
During my placement in [redacted] as part of my current role at [redacted], I worked on a business change programme. The aim of the project was to create a tool to facilitate the work of staff in the service, and create a new business intelligence platform for reporting.
I engaged with a range of stakeholders in order to produce an Options Appraisal to provide recommendations for the access and design of the new platform. I produced a standardised questionnaire to be used to aid engagement with a range of groups, and assimilated all the information I had gathered. I then analysed these requirements, also considering the strategic vision, technical possibilities and financial implications of each option.
I collated all the information from my background research, stakeholder consultations and knowledge of the project to produce a clear and concise report. I presented my Options Appraisal at the project board meeting, where my preferred option was adopted, by taking into consideration the practical, technical and financial implications of each option which I had clearly expressed in the report. The role of my work here was important, as it ensured that the project board made an informed choice on how to proceed with the design and access arrangements for the platform, and ensure that resources are managed efficiently and money is spent wisely.
This multi-million-pound investment into a technology driven business change project has given me exposure on how a technological solution can save time and money. I am keen to continue working with clients to drive innovation and improve processes as I understand how much value and efficiency this can add to clients. I believe Shoosmiths would be a fantastic place to drive these changes as it is a market leader in innovation for driving client experience.
Shoosmiths people are collaborative and frequently work together to provide solutions to clients. Tell us about a time when you worked in a team to solve a problem. In your answer you should include details about your role in the team and other team members, and how the outcome came about?
Whilst based in [redacted], the organisation made a commitment to remove all avoidable single-use plastic in food and drinks items. A dedicated cross organisation working group was set up to streamline the work being undertaken. I was given the responsibility to support this project centrally.
I developed a workshop on single-use plastic to help solve the problem of prevalence of single-use plastic in the organisation, by offering solutions on which alternatives to single-use plastic were feasible.
The cross organisation working group formed the core team, and engaging with them was important to be able to understand the issues in different services and present solutions. This included services such as [redacted]. I set up meetings with the core team, to understand the nature of their operations and services. I incorporated these findings into my workshop, and based my research around the issues they were facing.
I delivered a 2-hour workshop to the cross organisation group of senior officers as an advisory mechanism, and facilitated discussions throughout. The outcome was positive, and I received good feedback that the workshop had facilitated informed and positive decision making by managers. This example highlights my ability to work in a core cross-organisation and multi-disciplinary team, and present solutions as a result of this work. This is similar to the work of lawyers working in sectors, which cut across different practice areas, when they are required to work together on different issues for the same client. Shoosmiths’ commitment to sustainable practices and recycling is also something which stood out to me as this is something that I am very passionate about.
In a competitive legal market, how do you think Shoosmiths can remain successful and attractive to clients in 2020 and beyond without compromising on profitability?
There are many complex issues which may feed into this answer, but we would like you to focus on your top three priorities.
The current impact of COVID-19 has meant that law firms have had to adopt agile methodologies to ensure clients receive the same service they would have prior to the pandemic. In 2020, this will be a key point for Shoosmiths, and as a firm who are focused on providing the best client experience, it will be more important than ever to adapt to the new ways of working. As the country begins to move through different phases throughout 2020 and beyond, a law firm which is able to manoeuvre seamlessly through these changes is vital. It is clear Shoosmiths has already reacted positively, for example, by setting up webinars for different industries on relevant topics and creating a dedicated COVID-19 online hub to provide advice on how COVID-19 impacts clients businesses.
Secondly, embracing legal technology is an important way in which Shoosmiths can remain attractive to clients. The opportunities for technology to be used in the legal sector are growing quicker than ever before, and as highlighted by CEO, Simon Boss, embracing legal technology at Shoosmiths is important to help drive client experience. On a local level, Shoosmiths’ commitment to this in the Leeds City Region can be seen by their partnership work with Leeds City Council on Whitecap Consulting’s analysis of legal technology and innovation. By co-funding this work, Shoosmiths is contributing to innovation in this area across the region, supporting the ambitions for the city to be a leader in legal services.
Lastly, a focus on social responsibility and policy issues which go beyond the ordinary work a law firm engages in, will help the firm remain attractive to clients. Clients today are much more in tune with what is going on in the world, and will be a driver and a lever in influencing law firms to adopt a range of practices, such as sustainability. Not only will sustainable practices adopted by the firm be important to clients, but the way in which the firm provides advice in the context of such issues is important. For example, Shoosmiths acts for a number of car manufacturers in the UK, and moving towards electric vehicles is something impacting these clients. Similarly, in the living sector, developers are keen to incorporate environmental principles into any new developments. A law firm that is aware of these issues, and offers a business solution within the context of policy will attract clients.
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