New year’s resolutions for successful training contract and pupillage applications

The new year is here already, with all the hopes of renewal, a fresh start and really getting things together. But beware - time has a habit of slipping away, so make sure you take action NOW! I have put together a list of issues which I think you should try to tackle at once if you are going to be successful in your quest to become a lawyer.

1. Look at the timeline in front of you. When are the significant deadlines (eg, 31 January for many vacation schemes - yikes!) and what do you have to achieve before they roll around? Make yourself a plan with short and long-term goals – and try to stick to it.  
2. When considering the merits of various employers, set up a checklist of questions to ask about them to help establish whether they may be 'the one'. Things like, "What are their main and best practice areas?", "Who are the competition?", "What are their values?" and most importantly, "How would I fit into this workplace?". Not all are easy to answer, but determined investigative work should pay dividends. Remember that you can save your research on firms in your MyLC.N account.  
3. Identify the key skills and competencies you need to demonstrate to potential employers, then mine your own activities and experiences for evidence that you possess these skills. Try using MySelf in MyLC.N.
4. Practise coming up with interesting, insightful firm/set specific questions to ask recruiters when you meet or speak with them. Not only will the answers be useful; you will also be demonstrating that you already have a good understanding of their business - recruiters remember switched-on candidates, so make sure you stand out.  
5. Book a meeting with your careers adviser and show them an application that you have prepared - ask them to be brutal. Advisers will help you put things right, while recruiters will just reject you and you won't necessarily know why!