We recently chatted to Lydia about how she securing an opportunity with RPC, her top tips for members going through the application process and how Bright Network helped her secure the role.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’ve just graduated from the University of York with a Law degree and I’m about to start my LPC at the University of Law in Moorgate. I’ll gain experience as a paralegal for a year after this is finished and then start my Training Contract with RPC!
What stood out to you about RPC?
I just loved their #StrikinglyReal campaign – it really stood out to me as a firm that seemed quite different to a lot of the other big firms that I had spent time applying to in the previous year. It really stood out to me that I was going to be able to make connections and therefore feel valued as an individual person and feel part of a team, which is something I personally felt was missing from larger firms where you’re part of a trainee intake of about 40 people. Alongside that, RPC had some quite niche areas of law for a commercial law firm to be so highly ranked in – I loved its media department, and it excited me that I’d have the opportunity to try different areas of law which I might not have tried in a traditional City law firm.
After attending the RPC Summer Scheme, how did you find the culture at the firm?
Honestly, everyone was absolutely lovely – they could not have given up more time for me. I had associates that would arrange virtual coffees with me and follow up and offer help with interview prep – things they didn’t have to do when they were so busy but did anyway so that I felt more confident. I think those small things really made such a big difference. People were always so happy to answer any questions and just have a chat with us like we were normal people, rather than just interviewees. Really a human firm – which I loved.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
This was my second year of applications and, in the first year, I didn’t have a strategy, I just applied to every firm that I thought I was meant to because they were a ‘good firm’ on paper. I didn’t actually want to work for all of them, and no wonder I didn’t get anywhere with them because of this! The big city firms with huge trainee intakes wouldn’t work for me, but they would for some of my friends. So, make sure that you sit and evaluate what it is that youwant, and don’t get caught up in the conversations you have at university where you hear what everyone else is doing and think that’s what you should be doing too.
Also, make sure you speak to people – virtual events during COVID were great for this. Find specific, niche facts about the firm that link to you and your motivation for wanting to work there because it makes your application so much more compelling if they know you’ve actually spoken to someone and learnt something really specific, rather than just taking something off the website or recruitment brochure.
For RPC specifically, on the vacation scheme, I was so worried about being the best candidate and being as useful as a trainee lawyer already. But RPC stressed that this wasn’t important; they just want someone who’s willing to learn, chat to people and be the kind of person that someone would want to work with every day. Let your personality shine across, it’s not as serious as you think it is.
What are you most looking forward to about joining the RPC Training Contract in 2023?
I’m firstly really excited to meet my trainee intake – we’ve got some drinks planned in London in a few weeks’ time and I’m so excited to get to know a new group of people from all different backgrounds and universities.
I’ve loved studying law at university so now I’m really excited to get a fresh take on it by actually practising it – I’ve heard it’s so different and I got a bit of a taster of it on the vacation scheme, but I can’t wait to see what that’s really like.
Did Bright Network help you secure this role and, if so, how?
Definitely! I went to the Bright Network Festival and it was so helpful to sit and chat with people at the firm (especially virtually, so it was even easier!) and it meant that I did gain those specific facts that I really needed to make my application stand out. I gained really genuine reasons to express why I wanted to work for RPC - I don’t think I would’ve been able to write a good application without it! So, I would definitely recommend going to this event and as many similar ones as possible.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The most important thing I’ve learnt from my application process is that you’ve got to find a firm you like. There’s no point applying to places just because your friends are doing it – sit down and really think about what works for you and go from there. Don’t worry about what other people are doing.
