We recently caught up with Olukoyinsola about how she became a trainee solicitor with Norton Rose Fulbright, making her application stand out and her tips for how you can do it too.
What stood out to you about Norton Rose Fulbright?
There were many things that stood out to me about Norton Rose Fulbright, such as the high chance for an international secondment due to the global spread of the firm’s offices and even the significant projects and deals the firm has worked on within the African continent. But above all, what stood out to me most was the nature of the people I interacted with at the firm and the numerous positive things they authentically had to say about their experience at the firm so far.
How did you make your application stand out?
In writing my application, I was intentional about mentioning the insights I had gained from speaking to individuals who presently worked at the firm and why what they mentioned mattered to me specifically; this is something that you can’t always just look up online so is a surer way to make what one writes unique. I also tried my best to highlight what I considered the interesting aspects of the work they do and, once again, why this mattered so much to me specifically and drew me to the firm.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
What I found most challenging was preparing for the Watson Glaser test. As someone completely new to the test’s concepts, it was quite difficult at first to understand the different segments of the test and what was really required at each stage, then later on the difficulty was with finding enough tests to practise with so I could keep improving my skill and understanding. As a result, I’m extremely grateful for the websites and forums that compile places where you can find a good amount of tests to practise with and explanations of the test segments, they made all the difference.
Want to practise for psychometric tests too? Complete our practice tests here.
How did Bright Network help you secure the role?
One of the key things that helped me from Bright Network was the Internship Experience UK. Being able to practise a common aspect of trainee legal work as well as having the opportunity to hear clear explanations of certain aspects of legal practice that I previously had very little understanding about proved very useful in explaining my motivations for and comprehension of the role I was applying for.
Learn more about Internship Experience UK and complete our Academy modules!
What are your top tips for tackling tough interview questions?
One of my top tips would be to remember that it’s perfectly fine to ask for clarification on a question that you may not have understood at first or that you’re finding a bit tricky to wrap your head around; interviewers don’t expect you to know everything or to be perfect and neither should you expect that of yourself. Also, it’s perfectly fine to take a moment to think about what you want to say, and even more so to think about how you want to structure your answer because the key thing isn’t only just what you say but is really HOW you say it and how clear your communication
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
Some significant feedback that I received was to be confident in myself and my capabilities and not be afraid to showcase these prominently in my application because I had the tendency to play down my achievements and this didn’t help anyone. Also, I received helpful feedback on ensuring I really took the time to think well about my motivations for law and what I personally wanted from my place of work and for my career. It was only after doing this that I was able to stop giving generic application answers and could then communicate clearly why I had specifically chosen one firm over the other; this made all the difference.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Don’t be afraid to reach out to individuals already working at the firms you’re thinking of applying to for a chat about their authentic experience there; people are a lot more willing to help than we think!
- Practise speaking aloud your answers to interview questions and working on your structure and clarity, even if it’s not a strict STAR answer, the most important thing is that you’re clear in getting your key points across in a manner that's easy to follow.
- Really take the time to think about why you want to do the aspect of law you’re thinking of practising and what you really want out of your career, it’s the best thing to help you narrow down firms to apply to and makes you more convincing in your answers.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
