We recently chatted with Henry about how he secured a role with RPC, what stood out to him about the firm and his top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in his footsteps.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Henry, I was born in Hong Kong and am half-Chinese and half-British. In terms of studies, I just finished my BSc in PPE at UCL. In terms of work, I’ve done a bit of everything, ranging from a top think tank in Hong Kong to a pharmaceutical consultancy, to a start-up. I decided that commercial law was for me after gaining some first-hand work experience where I felt a) wow this is super interesting and b) hmmm I think I would be well suited and can do well in this field. Outside of work, I really like yoga and meditation and was the treasurer of UCL’s yoga and meditation club. I also absolutely adore cooking and sharing food with my friends – I live to eat.
What stood out to you about RPC?
In one word, the people. I was really lucky to get onto the last in-person insight day before the pandemic threw everything off course – and RPC's approach to the people behind the lawyer really stood out to me. When I was at the insight day, everyone was super friendly but at the same time, you could tell they were razor-sharp. That combination really excited me as I could imagine and see myself working alongside these people. Of course, there was also experiencing the more intangible aspects and inclusivity of RPC's people culture - something super important to me as I am mixed race. I would really recommend going to insight days if you can!
What is the culture like at the firm?
I think this might sound quite cheesy, but they’re true to their branding, ‘Strikingly Real’. During my vacation scheme and insight day, I never felt like I had to pretend to be someone I wasn’t and this feeling was true across all seniorities ranging from trainee solicitors, right up to the partners that I spoke to. The thing that they all had in common was that they were all very down to earth and genuine, which was really nice to see.
Here's a good way of characterising RPC's culture, and it's from a conversation that I had with a newly hired associate during my vacation scheme: they said that people at RPC “empower and encourage, but they don’t intimidate”. That really stuck with me and speaks volumes about RPC's people culture.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
I think the top tip (which I’m sure you’ve heard before!) is to really tailor your application to the firm you are applying to. Lots of people say that, but they don’t elaborate on what they mean which was often rather frustrating!
How I like to think about it is bearing in mind the "three Cs" recruiters are looking for. That’s Competence, Compatibility and Commitment. Competence is about being able to demonstrate the skills the firm is looking for. Compatibility is about demonstrating that there is a right 'fit' between you and the firm. Commitment is demonstrating that you are dedicated to being a lawyer. Those three Cs differ depending on the firm and so bearing those three Cs in mind allows you to put yourself in the firm's shoes and more easily tailor your application to what they're looking for.
What are you most looking forward to about joining the RPC Training Contract in 2023?
I think both meeting new colleagues and getting stuck in. We’ve only just been told who our cohort is, and everyone is already getting really excited on the WhatsApp group chat, organising meetups and the like. I’m also really excited to get stuck into the work – RPC being a mid-sized international law firm punches above its weight in terms of the quality of work that it does and this was one of the key reasons that drew me to them. A case that comes to mind that RPC worked on is one that went straight to the supreme court about ambiguous wording in contracts – it’s stuff like that on really meticulous and complex legal matters that I look forward to.
Did Bright Network help you secure this role and, if so, how?
Yes! I came along to the Commercial Law stream of Internship Experience UK where there were speciality skills workshops which helped me understand – referring back to the three Cs – what RPC was looking for in terms of competence which meant I could tailor my application towards that. For example, one thing I learnt was that a key desirable skill was exercising empathy. This is because as a lawyer you need to be able to put yourself in the clients’ shoes and then think about their needs, and adapt your legal advice accordingly, making empathy a key competence that recruiters are looking for! I then tailored my application to highlight this 'Competence' that I knew the firm was looking for.
I also worked on my interpersonal skills through chatting with others on Internship Experience UK and even met a future member of my RPC Trainee cohort. We connected on LinkedIn and now we’re going to be colleagues!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Make sure to network with peers as well as the firm's representatives at events – I’ve found chatting to people also looking to go into law has been incredibly helpful in terms of application advice and also a sounding board for difficulties in the process. You’ll probably end up working alongside or opposite these people in the future – so it’s important not to neglect chatting with them too.
For any other Bright Network members looking for help or advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on my LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-mayhew/ – I know I wouldn’t be where I am now, having this "success story" conversation, without reaching out to lots of people and asking lots of questions, so I’m always happy to give the same in return. Best of luck with it all!
