Legal internships

Law schools train us to think like lawyers, whereas law chambers demand us to be one. There is a gulf of difference between the two because the pillars of legal education are based on two layers of foundation: definition and application. In law schools we learn the importance of legal definition and in law chambers we learn how to apply those definitions to a certain scenario. Now the question remains whether a law student should wait until they are a graduate to apply for a position at a law chamber, the answer is 'no'. The reason being although formal legal education ends at law school but the best way to learn is by practising under the supervision of fully fledged lawyers. Thus, for undergraduate law students it is pertinent to do internship/pupilage to attain an edge to their persona as a legal professional.

However, speaking from personal experience scoring an internship offer is not as easy as it may appear. After appearing for my second year examination I decided to work for a law chamber as a pupil for a few months. That decision led me to attending a career fair organised by the institute I was studying in. Unlike single interviews career fairs are even more nerve wrecking as there, one has to give numerous interviews and then to add insult to injury if one is an undergraduate student their experience and motive will often be questioned. Therefore, the best way to prepare for such interview roulette is to prepare in three steps: first, draft a full proof curriculum vitae and cover letter; secondly, know how to handle tough questions and last; but not the least, be presentable.

The importance of good curriculum vitae cannot be downplayed because it represents who you are! From educational background to any past experience and also any particular skill a candidate might have which could add value to the work of a law chambers can be exhibited through a single piece of document. It is very important to proof read it as much as possible, even better if you can take someone else's advice on it, preferably a mentor. There should be consistency throughout the curriculum vitae and it should be drafted in the most professional manner, bearing in mind that this document will also convey how good you are at using IT facilities. As for the cover letter, it should convey how you have known about the law chambers, why you are interested in them and why they should take you in as a pupil or intern.

Although it might seem that your curriculum vitae should do all the speaking for you but in reality the questions posed by interviewers play a crucial role in the process of recruitment. It is very important to know about the law chambers you are being interviewed by, that includes the founder of the chambers to their field of expertise in addition to any significant milestone that chambers might have achieved. Some general questions will often be asked, for example, why do you want to be a lawyer? Remember that, the interviewers will ask these questions to all the candidates expecting a out of the box answer. To just reply, because I like law or because my family wants me to be one, is rather mundane. The answer to such a frequently asked question should be interesting enough to captivate the interviewer and make an impression on him/her. So, it is important to be candid and most importantly convincing and fluent while answering such general question. Sometimes they will also ask you question they know you have no knowledge of, just to see if you can keep your calm in a stressful situations. Most importantly, if you don't know an answer to a law based question, never say 'I don't know'. Understand that, the interviewer doesn't want you to know everything; he/she wants to see how you handle a difficult question in a stressful environment.

In addition, present-ability cannot be scarified either. In a profession like law, where words are worth millions the person who pronounces it should also appear important. As for undergraduate students seeking pupilage wearing suit is a safer option. Be humble with the colour you choose, the attention of the interviewer should be on your skills and not be demanded on your clothes. Appearing tidy, meticulous and proficient not only adds value to your curriculum vitae but also makes a great impression on the interviewers.

To extrapolate the important bit of interviews conducted by law chambers is, to exhibit that you are eager to learn, contribute to chamber work and look dapper while doing so.

The writer is a student of law, University of London International Programmes.