Getting my training contract was "easy", says northernmost trainee

Getting my training contract was easy? Let me qualify that. Getting onto vacation schemes or onto the graduate recruitment pathways leading to a training contract is spectacularly hard for most aspiring lawyers and I was no exception. Despite having so much work experience that editing my CV down to two pages was a real challenge, having done pro bono, been involved in the JLD at national level, and having a 2.1 and great marks on my LPC, I was getting next to nowhere.

In 2010 I made it to the final stages at two major law firms, only to fall at the last hurdle. In 2011 I didn't get anywhere at all. So in September last year I decided to start again from scratch and look at all my options. I had some contacts among the local high street firms, but they hadn't been recruiting for several years. I decided to make another push.

I made a bit of a nuisance of myself (but hopefully not too much) as I started phoning around, being fobbed off, calling into reception and waiting to talk to the partner responsible for recruitment, and sending emails. And here's where my luck turned and my persistence paid off.

One firm that I emailed (where I didn't actually have any contacts) replied. "We don't have anything for you," they said, "but come in for a chat." So in I went after having prepared myself to talk about all my unique selling points and skill set. I don't think I'd ever been quite so prepared for interview.

This is where the element of timing played its part. My original email had arrived in the senior partner's inbox in the same month that their assistant had announced he was leaving. When I turned up, all ready to do my pitch, the carpet was rather pulled out from under my feet at the very start. Even before I managed to park my behind on the chair, I was asked why nobody had snapped me up already. I admitted that it was a bit of a mystery, but that these were competitive times. Fairly early on the topics of notice periods and expected salary arose and it became clear that the hard sell would not be needed. Three days later I was offered a training contract, and I am now the most Northerly trainee in England and Wales.

So yes, getting my actual training contract was easy. An email with a CV attached and an easy interview that was more of an informal chat, and that was it. However it was all the spadework that went in before that was crucial. My referees had been approached and I later found out from them that they had both put in glowing references. I was really glad that I worked hard with them and showed plenty of initiative. If you do nothing else, make sure that whatever references you get will be great.

So, is it worth doing some old fashioned leg work and putting yourself about? It can be. Networking is important. When I got to interview I was able to talk about the work I had done with solicitors that my interviewer knew, and I knew the local legal market. Sometimes, making contacts and knocking on doors can lead to an opportunity that makes all the difference.

Have you hit a brick wall? Step back and take a good look, there may be a few doors in the wall. Knock on them; what have you got to lose?

Mark Pentecost is a trainee at Sanderson McCreath and Edney, Berwick-upon-Tweed.