Rachael Driscoll (she/her) is a legal talent coordinator at Cooley (UK) LLP. She’s based at the London office and has been at the firm for three years.
What has been your most memorable moment in the job?
I really enjoy our ‘Meet Cooley’ days, as they’re such a great way to meet interesting and engaged people who are genuinely curious about the firm. These events are just as exciting for us as they are for the attendees and it’s a real highlight of our autumn recruitment season. Another favourite is our spring and summer programmes. I really enjoy getting to know the participants over the course of the scheme and watching their confidence grow. It’s rewarding to see how far they’ve come and to enjoy all the long-term planning that’s gone into the programme!
Does your firm run a vacation scheme? Will it be in person or virtual?
Yes, Cooley runs two vacation schemes – one in the spring and one in the summer. These are both in person in our London office.
How important is your vacation scheme as part of the recruitment process?
Our spring and summer programmes are an essential part of our process, as we exclusively recruit our trainees through those programmes.
What kind of work can candidates expect to experience during the vacation scheme?
Participants will get to work on a variety of tasks from different practice areas. We encourage them to take the initiative to go and connect with lawyers, whether that’s over a coffee in our internal café or a chat at their desk to explore further opportunities. Every participant will complete set exercises, designed by our lawyers who then review the work.
What key skills does your firm look for in candidates when they apply?
We look for friendly and warm candidates, who can work independently, collaborate as part of a team and are eager to learn. We value candidates who can think on their feet, communicate effectively written and verbally, and have a great eye for detail – these are all things that can show well in an application. Candidates must have a good understanding of what kind of work Cooley specialises in and what the firm has been up to recently. This level of understanding shows a good use of initiative.
What is the most common way that candidates let themselves down in their applications?
It’s easy to think your application is ready to submit once you’ve finished writing it, but we strongly encourage candidates to pause before submitting. Instead, have it ready, step away for a bit and revisit it the next day with fresh eyes. A second (or even third) look can help you to catch small, but important errors. One of the most common mistakes that we see in applications is the misspelling of the firm’s name. We’re ‘Cooley’ – not ‘Coolie' or ‘Cooley’s’. Your application is your first impression and taking the time to double-check everything, especially names, reflects well. A well written and proofread application stands out, and we like to see that kind of effort from the start!
Should candidates use examples of non-legal work experience in their applications?
Absolutely – all work experience matters! It’s so important to recognise that the non-legal work experience is just as valuable as legal work experience. These roles offer a range of transferable skills that are key for becoming a lawyer, such as communication, teamwork and customer service (which is essential when client facing!).
How should a candidate approach researching a law firm? What key things about your firm should any good candidate know and be able to talk about?
Candidates should always know the key practice areas of the firm they want to apply to and whether that firm specialises in a specific area. If you’ve researched a specific interest in a certain matter or news article and mentioned that in your application, be ready to speak about that if you’re interviewed. You might even be interviewed by somebody who was working on that matter!
Does your firm run an assessment centre?
We do – this is in person in our London office. The assessment centre is a great opportunity to network with other candidates and Cooley lawyers. At the assessment centre, candidates should expect a group exercise in the morning, followed by a short presentation and then a networking lunch. In the afternoon, candidates are interviewed by two lawyers or partners.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in a career at Cooley?
One piece of advice I always give is to be yourself. Whether you're more outgoing or more reserved, that's absolutely ok at Cooley. We value those who can be authentically themselves and want to get to know the real you because that's where your strengths show.
What’s your favourite way to unwind from work?
After a day at work, one of my favourite ways to unwind is heading to my local park for a walk and feeding the geese!
