We chatted with Sien about her experience on the Covington Mentoring Programme. She chatted to us about her journey into Law, her mentor’s top application tips and how the scheme helped her to successfully secure her a Training Contract!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey into law
Hi, I’m Sien. I went to the University of Cambridge where I studied Politics and International Relations. I always knew in the back of mind that I could do the Law conversion later on, and so I was not disadvantaged by doing a non-Law degree. I committed to a career in Law in my final year. This was late in comparison to some of my peers who started the process during their first or second year but was also by no means too late. In this year I started the Training Contract application process. I knew I wanted to get some Law related experience on my CV, and so I completed virtual workshops for a few firms. I did a winter Vacation Scheme, but this did not culminate in a Training Contract, so I had to be patient! Following this, I secured a summer Vacation Scheme with Covington and went on to get a Training Contract with them.
Why did you decide to apply to Covington mentoring scheme?
As I did not know much about Law, I knew I needed to get as much insight and guidance as possible. Covington is an internationally renowned firm, and so the opportunity to get advice from someone in the firm was one I did not want to pass up. Having not done Law for my undergraduate degree, I was keen to get support along the way and build a relationship with the firm. I believe participating in any schemes or events firms hold is key - especially if you envision yourself in the firm further down the line!
What did you enjoy about the mentoring scheme?
There were two parts to the scheme. One was the one-on-one mentoring with a solicitor at the firm. My mentor was a trainee Solicitor at the firm and his journey into Law was completely different to mine. He decided to enter law after working in other industries. I really enjoyed building a relationship with someone who had successfully completed the journey. He has been a huge support to me and the tips he gave definitely increased my chances of securing a Training Contract. The other side of the scheme were the various workshops they held. It was hugely useful to get informative advice on areas including interview skills and application tips. This, in conjunction with the personal mentoring, made the application process much easier to navigate.
What did you learn from your mentor?
Don’t give up when you’re trying to get into Law! The application process is extremely competitive as there are many strong candidates and so people are not always lucky in the first round. Although rejection can be hard, it is important to persevere, and my mentor constantly reiterated this point. He also alerted me to specific skills you need to display in both the application process and when working as a solicitor. For instance, attention to detail and quality of writing were two huge points he stressed to me. It is important for people to produce high quality applications. A spelling mistake is enough for an application to not be considered. Additionally, he highlighted that application submissions should be as specific to the firm as possible. Research the firms’ main practice areas, their culture, their current activity, and tailor your application to this. While the process can get tedious it is important to do this so you can set yourself apart and exhibit an understanding of the firm!
Has the mentoring scheme led to any positive outcomes for your career?
Although the mentors cannot help you directly with your Covington application, the scheme as a whole undoubtedly gives you a good foundation to apply for a Training Contract both there and elsewhere. It was undeniably one reason for my success. The scheme was a great way of displaying I had already been involved with the firm and I could refer to this in my interviews. The scheme meant I had a greater understanding of the firm as a whole and this is always a strength!
What would be your top tip to members going through the legal application process?
You need to strike a balance between quality and quantity of your applications. As rejection can occur, it is advisable to complete multiple applications, but you do not want to do so many that the quality of them suffers. Finding a balance that works for you can depend on how much time you can dedicate to it. It is just as important to make sure you do not overburden yourself. In regard to the quality of your applications, it is useful to get others to proofread them. As I mentioned previously, also ensure applications are firm-specific. I submitted some generic applications that lacked a sufficient level of in-depth research into the firm, and this is a mistake I urge others not to make.
Anything else you would like to add?
If you are eligible for the Mentorship Programme I strongly recommend signing up! For those of you who may not be wholly committed to a career in Law, it could also be another method to acquire information to help you make your decision. It is hugely important to take advantage of every resource firms such as Covington are offering. The mentoring scheme also exemplifies the firms immense commitment to diversity and inclusion. Therefore, participation in the scheme as a mentee is contributing towards making law a more equitable and accessible industry for people from a variety of backgrounds.
Keen to discover more? View their profile here.