What Type of Firm do you Want to Join
Choosing the correct firm for you is about deciding which firm caters to your strengths and needs. You should choose a firm to which you are suited. It should also be an achievable target. If a firm specifies that they require you to speak Spanish or German and just about speak English alone, then this will hardly endear you to the graduate recruitment manager. If you haven't read through the previous sections, do so now.
Many students fall into the trap of choosing a firm primarily by salary. Whilst salary is of course a very important factor, so too are the location and size of the firm, as well as many other factors which follow on from this. You may wish to look at both a firm’s target market and its internal workings. These are important factors as you will have to work within their methodologies. If you have researched the way in which they work and you can demonstrate why you will fit in, you will stand a greater chance of success with your application.
For instance, if the firm emphasizes international work, and you are unable to speak any other languages besides English, then this might hinder you. By focusing on the firms to which you are most suited, you face less chance of rejection. In another example I have seen, an applicant was accepted because of his social skills which the firm thought would fit in to their open style of business.
Many students pick firms primarily either through opportunity, convenience or another short term outlook. Instead, think of how that firm will suit your potential needs 5 and 10 years down the line. Firms have been known to ask questions similar to this in interviews. Factors to research here, are how many people are internally promoted and where their staff come from. A quick look at a firms 'our people' section will tell you this.
The type of firm a person can work efficiently in will depend largely on what that persons role will be within the firm. However, this role will be affected by the outlook of the firm. Below are listed some factors for you to consider:
- Size - Multinational firms, national firms, small firms, single office small firms
- Types of clients – Multinational firms, SME’s, private client
- Local clients only or clients from farther afield
- Type of law – corporate, commercial, private client, criminal
- Area of excellence – what the firm concentrates on
|
 |
There are many other different factors which effect a law and which will impact your decisions when applying, but the above factors may provide a starting point in your thoughts.
 Next: Firm Suitability
 Previous: Skills Required?
|
