Gulsum Qane

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Gulsum Qane

Law

London South Bank University

Tthe Future Lawyer of the Year

2023

Gulsum Qane

Last updated:

September

2023

If you are wondering whether to apply to the Undergraduate of the Year Awards – this blog is for you!

My Experience

There are 13 categories and I applied to The Future Lawyer of the Year Award, due to my interest in commercial law and the sponsor firm, Clyde & Co. It was motivating to see myself surpass rounds, as it provided me with the confidence to succeed.

The process consists of four rounds:

1.) Written application

2.) SHL test

3.) written application

4.) assessment centre.

targetjobs made sure to support me throughout the process, and provide a finalist meeting before conducting the prestigious awards in the beautiful Canary Wharf East Wintergarden.

Why Apply?

Win a vacation scheme and mentoring to receive a training contract opportunity at an international commercial firm.

Create long-lasting relationships with aspirational individuals.

Develop transferable skills to assist your legal career, such as critical thinking upon completion of the SHL test.

Finally, if you impress the partners and recruiters throughout the process, you could receive a vacation scheme as a finalist – that is how I earned mine!

My 3 Top Tips

1. Stay resilient. The process may be four competitive stages, but once you begin it is exciting to see yourself progress through the rounds. Remember the amazing opportunities that can come from participating in these awards – imagine a vacation scheme at your dream firm!

2. Avoid simple mistakes. To make sure I was surpassing the written application rounds, I effectively proofread all my answers by overviewing my work every two days with ‘fresh eyes’, until I was confident and happy. You can ask you friends or family to check your answers, or use the ‘ruler trick’ whereby you analyse your printed answer, sentence by sentence, using a ruler.

3. Finally, be yourself and do not worry about the numbers. Every year thousands of students apply, and you may doubt your ability to succeed. Imposter syndrome is a large issue, and many lawyers (including partners) continue to deal with this. However, you should remind yourself of your capabilities and what you bring to the table. Everyone is unique and being yourself will allow you to stand out from the crowd and make the process more enjoyable. You have the tools to succeed, so make yourself proud!

During Clyde & Co’s assessment centre, the graduate recruiters encouraged finalists to express themselves and not change into someone applicants may think would impress the interviewers. Being yourself is your secret tool, so trust yourself (I believe in you), and be confident showcasing your skills!

Takeaways

The awards are extensively recognised by graduate recruiters, hence remember that this is an opportunity for you to showcase your personality and skills. Stay resilient, reflect on mistakes, and praise yourself upon surpassing rounds.

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