Application form and interview
The first stage of the process is the application form. You will be required to submit your CV and Cover Letter and include details on your educational background and experiences. Your application should also highlight experiences that may not be captured in your CV such as any other hobbies, skills or achievements. This is your opportunity to showcase who you are and why you think you would make a good solicitor apprentice.
The next stage is a virtual interview. At this stage you will be asked two prerecorded questions and be given a timeframe to consider your answer before the recording stages.
Tips for the virtual interview:
- Be yourself and be prepared to talk about yourself & your experiences mentioned on your CV
- Research the firm
- Focus on transferable skills and examples of where you have demonstrated them
Assessment day
A small group of candidates, who have been through the application and virtual, are selected to attend the assessment day. The assessment centre consists of a written exercise, which will assess your analytical skills and attention to details. You will also participate in group tasks which will allow you to demonstrate collaboration, and problem solving abilities as you will work with others to tackle an activity. Additionally, you will be interviewed by members of the apprenticeship committee at Bristows, this is your opportunity to demonstrate your passion, professionalism and readiness to take on the challenges of the legal field. It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions that you may have about the firm, apprenticeship and the role.
You will also be asked to give a short presentation on a topic of your choice. This is a chance to showcase your interests and expertise, while also demonstrating how well you can present your ideas clearly and engagingly.
Preparation
A number of our current apprentices have shared their advice for prospective apprentices for the application process and assessment day:
- Research the firm, understand different practice areas and the firm’s mission, vision, and values - at Bristows we are proud of our culture so to understand and have a strong association to the culture is important.
- Prepare for different scenarios - for different tasks you can practice different methods. For group tasks, ensure you are getting involved and being yourself and practicing what might come up. The interview stage is a relaxed environment to ensure we can get to know the candidate so although we want you to be yourself, make sure you are prepared for the interview and potential questions that may come your way.
- Be yourself - we want our apprentices to really fit in at Bristows and enjoy this exciting venture.
