What is your job title?
Head of graduate recruitment.

Where do you work (geographically speaking)?
I'm based in Birmingham, but have responsibility for the whole of the United Kingdom.

How did you end up in law?
My first job was with an umbrella organisation called Legal Resources Group and from that I went into law firms.

What are your main responsibilities?
Selection and recruitment of the firm's trainees and management of the whole training contract process.

How long have you been in the job?
I've been here for 11 and a half years.

Who is in your team?
We've got two people with a focus on universities, one focused on trainee development and diversity, and two in an admin team.

What are the most/least enjoyable aspects of recruiting?
To see people you knew as a trainee get to partnership.

Do you socialise with your trainees/vac scheme students?
Yes. It's good to see people in a relaxed environment outside of work.

What has been your most memorable moment in the job?
There are too many to isolate, but one would be winning the first TARGETjobs award for diversity.

Do you attend law fairs? Why is it important for students to attend?
Yes we do. I think students can gain an awful lot from talking to firm representatives. It enables them to find out a lot more about individual firms and potentially leave a good impression on the right people.

What's the most annoying question you're asked by students?
Questions where the answer is readily available on our website or in student directories.

What do you look for in a candidate?
Intellectual rigour is a given; someone who is able to communicate well and who shows true drive and ambition to succeed.

What is the most common mistake you see candidates making?
Being nervous - there's no need. Candidates should be interviewing us as much as we are them.

What has a candidate done that has most impressed you?
Someone who is really prepared, has done their research and effectively interviews us.

How should candidates approach you for feedback after an interview?
With an open mind. They should be willing to take constructive criticism, with a view to it helping them with future interviews.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining the legal profession?
Do your research well, so you know it's definitely for you. A law degree doesn't show you what day-to-day life as a lawyer is like. It's important to make sure you understand the career. Vacation schemes and open days are really helpful in terms of developing your understanding.

What makes your firm stand out from the rest?
The firm offers people the opportunity to work across the United Kingdom, with high-quality work whichever office they're in.

If you could do something completely different, what would it be?
I'd be a themed-party organiser.

What's your guilty pleasure?
A crisp sauvignon blanc.

What's your desert island disc?
Anything from REM's early days.