[Anouska]

I work for a firm based in Somerset and Dorset with about 120 employees and 15 partners. I completed my LLB Law degree in 2005 and achived a 2.1. After graduation I secured a job at my current firm as a paralegal in the conveyancing team and I have been there ever since.

I now have the opportunity to apply for a training contract at my current firm.

The questions are:
[i]
1. Please outline any public duty or voluntary service experience you may have. [/i]

Just one, quite big problem here, I don't actually have any current voluntary commitments and I am worried about what they might think about this. In my draft answer I have so far relied on previous activities, such as, I used to assist at my dance club at uni by helping to teaching the beginners' class and being a mentor to new students. I was also a student ambassador at uni and assisted at open days etc. Does this sound appropriate?

[i]2. Please provide any addtional information about your experience, skills and ambitions which you consider to be relevant and explain why you feel you are suited to a career as a solicitor. [/i]

I have used details of my experiences with the firm to assist here. Basically, the experience has really cemented the idea that I want to be a solicitor and helped me to gain some experience of what that might be like. I have given examples of the skills that I have acquired and used criteria from the job advert in my answer.

It would be helpful to have another opinion on what the questions mean and what the firm are looking for in my answer. Any thoughts or tips would be most appreciated. Thank you.

[Google]

[thecvstore]

With regards to the voluntary experience - don't worry too much about what this was actually doing, just ensure you use it to showcase your transferable skills, ie: people management, communication, etc...

For question 2, it sounds like you've got it spot on here - this is your best chance to show the company why you want to work for them and from your answer, it sounds like this is a good start!

[Anouska]

Thank you very much.

I have now submitted my application. Fingers crossed!