Law Career Convention 2011

Thursday 17 November 2011

INTERVIEW: TIPS AND TRICKS

Hello all,

As the Law Career Convention 2011 is drawing near, we suppose that many of you would be (or should be) preparing for a possible attachment/pupillage interview. Here are some useful links on interviews which we believe would help you nail an internship/chambering spot with your desired firm, or if not, at least assist you to make a good and lasting impression on the firms. (Tips from Paul Subramaniam and Mr Choon during the CV & Interview Workshops will be included.)

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

Different firms conduct their interviews in different ways. If you can, do ask friends or seniors on how the interviews are conducted so you can be well prepared before the D-day. During the interviews, you can expect:

Written tests
Personality tests
Research skills tests
Formal interviews
Informal interviews
Interviews with a panel

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

http://thepupillagepages.com/index.php?cat_id=14#2

http://www.uwe.ac.uk/careers/resources/occupations/Sample%20pupillage%20interview%20questions.PDF

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivlaw.htm

Paul’s Tips

If you can, tell the interviewer(s) what you have that no other trainee does.You can make an impression by telling the firm what you can do for the firm.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/jan/21/law-rupert-myers-barrister-pupillage-interviews

http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-barristers/applications-and-interviews/how-to-prepare-for-your-pupillage-intervie

Paul’s Tips:

Prepare to have something to talk about - eg: Current news, current changes to the law, controversial case, current event/conference you've attended etc...

HOW TO PRESENT YOURSELF DURING THE INTERVIEW

http://thepupillagepages.com/index.php?cat_id=14#1

http://www.legalassistantprogram.net/how-to-ace-your-legal-assistant-interview

Paul’s Tips:

Be yourself. Be honest, enthusiastic, engaging and sincere. Do not be uptight.

Mr Choon's Tips:

Have a firm handshake.
Express yourself - be ready to talk, ask questions and express interest.
Do not be swayed by misleading arguments given by the interviewer. Sometimes, they are testing your ability to stand your ground.

QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/intervw.htm#Ask

Paul’s Tips:

If the firm makes you an offer, there is no harm asking how much time you have to get back to the firm. (If you are not sure whether you want to take the offer, make sure you do NOT accept it only to cancel your acceptance later on. That would give a very bad impression of yourself on the firm)

If you did not get an offer, you are perfectly entitled to ask the firm how you did during the interview so you could improve in the next interview(s) you have.

If you have forgotten to ask or tell the interviewer something during the interview itself, it is perfectly fine to let them know later on via email.

We hope you'll find these tips and tricks useful and we wish you the VERY BEST OF LUCK in acing all your interviews!!!

Saturday 12 November 2011

CV & INTERVIEW WORKSHOP by PAUL SUBRAMANIAM (of ZICOlaw)

On Friday, 11 November 2011, we invited Paul Subramanian who is the Knowledge Management & Training Partner of Zaid Ibrahim & Co (also known as ZICOlaw), to advise the Year 1 and Year 2 LLB Law students in Taylor's University College (Lakeside Campus) on how to write a CV and how to nail an interview.

Paul has practiced litigation for 22 years. Now, he plays a salient role in the firm by updating lawyers and partners of ZICO with the changes in the law and its industry as well as training them with the knowledge and skills necessary to best serve their clients. Besides that, Paul has a vast experience in interviewing and screening candidates to work in ZICOlaw. Therefore, his advice and tips on CV writing and how to sail through an interview should be highly valued. (These advice and tips will be posted in the next post.)

Paul, showing off his good looks in 2 enlarged photos of himself. :)

The Workshop was lively and interactive, with each student being given a workbook to fill in their details following the template of a standard CV. Paul also told the eager students to write down in their workbooks how they see themselves in 10 years. He hoped that at this early stage, the students would be able to set down their career paths and focus their studies, curricular activities and work experiences towards achieving the plan they had in mind.


The enthusiastic young generation, ferociously writing down their ambitions.

We'd like to thank Paul Subramaniam again for taking the time off his very busy schedule and for his tireless efforts in guiding the law students on how to prepare for their future career paths. We hope that the students found this Workshop useful and would begin to start typing out their CVs and to keep Paul's tips in mind every time. We are very pleased with the turnout and active participation of the students during the Workshop!

Isaac Cheah (middle) and Edmund Chek of KPUM and UMLS respectively, handing Paul a crystal trophy as token of appreciation for a brilliant Workshop.

MORE ROADSHOWS AT UKM, UIA AND KDU.

Hello all,

The LCC 2011 team will be on the road once again and are making their way to your school! Lookout for the LCC 2011 poster and our smartly dressed team with their laptops ready to register your names and store your CVs.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Date: Monday, 14 November 2011
Time: 2.00pm

KDU College

Date: Thursday, 17 November 2011

Time: 1.00pm

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), Gombak

Date: Thursday, 17 November 2011

Time: (To be confirmed)

***Remember to bring along your CVs (in soft copy) or email them to cv.lcc2011@gmail.com!

Poster to lookout for:

Thursday 10 November 2011

MMU MELAKA CAMPUS ROADSHOW, 8 NOVEMBER 2011

WHAT WE DID

The team distributed flyers to promote the LCC 2011 and explained the importance of handing in their CVs to the participating firms if they wanted the opportunity of getting internships or chambering spots.

Besides that, the team also held brief talks in the Auditorium to promote the LCC 2011 to the students.

THE RESPONSE

A total of 70 law students registered.

LOOKOUT FOR THE NEXT ROADSHOW AT...

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Gombak

Date: Thursday, 17 November 2011

Time: (To be confirmed)

Remember to bring along your CVs (in soft copy) or email them to cv.lcc2011@gmail.com!

Sunday 6 November 2011

HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER, CV / RESUME (LINKS AND TIPS)

Here are some useful links on how to write a cover letter, CV or resume specifically for mini-pupillages/internships and pupillages.

COVERING LETTERS

· How to points: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/coveringletters.htm

· Standard template: http://www.esqresume.com/article/basic-format-attorney-cover-letter.html

SAMPLES:

· http://www.bestcoverletters.com/sample-cover-letter/Legal/Resume-Cover-Letter.html

· Mini-pupillages/Internships: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/covletpupillage.htm

· Pupillages: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/covletFullPupillage.htm

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:SYRrAggzpBIJ:www.oxbridgetrainingcontracts.com/examples/Pupillage-Cover-Letter.pdf+%22cover+letter%22+%22pupillage%22&hl=en&gl=my&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgY9TYsCMH0UIe65TcQb0kBMXLC84pLH90pzRI5TDpumH7KwcbyvklkXrQrWzWQXrC7avf_AHdTnFbyzm6w84fZssMSmk3NlbndGGT18VG6TrbZoUdIe8OoLtKCkatd2TPFPIcC&sig=AHIEtbTjg3JJxjqFuBrmDh4YcMIHt3jebQ&pli=1

Mr Choon’s tips:

1) 1) Address it to the CORRECT FIRM (always check, check check!)

2) 2) Write the POSITION you are applying for (pupillage, attachment, paralegal)

3) 3) Be SINCERE in praising the firm. Do not overdo it.

4) 4) Be CLEAR

5) 5) Keep it short and sweet

CV/RESUME

· How to: http://www.edgecvs.com/resume.html

· Checklist: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cv-checklist.htm

SAMPLES:

· http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

· http://www.alec.co.uk/cvtips/examstcv.htm

· http://www.118student.co.uk/student-careers/student-cv-template.html

· http://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/index.php/applications-and-interviews/cvs/law-cv-template/

· Mini-pupillages/Internsips: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/pupillagecv.htm

· Pupillages: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/pupillagecv.htm

1) Mr Choon’s tips:

Objectives

When writing a Cover Letter, CV or Resume, always keep in mind these 2 objectives:

a) ATTRACT the reader to gain a GOOD IMPRESSION of you.

b) Give the reader a REASON why he should OFFER you an interview.

Personal Details

a) Include only SUFFICIENT DETAIL .Do not write your life story.

b) MUST include telephone number (for ease of contact).

c) MAY include photograph of yourself (as preferred by Mr Choon). If you are attaching one, it should be CLEAR and DECENT (no pictures taken at a party or with peace signs)

d) Include a PROPER and DECENT email address (not bestlawyerintown@hotmail.com)

Education / Academic Qualifications:

a) MUST include a full account of your grades. Do not only state the number of As obtained. Include your Bs, Cs etc... Eventually, the interviewer would find out through your transcripts so there is nothing you can hide.

b) If you have obtained exceptional results (1^st Class Honours, Distinction, Outstanding) you SHOULD state them.

Curricular Activities / Work Experiences

a) Include positions and experiences which ADD VALUE to your CV (Does it tell the reader something more about yourself? Does it bring out your good character?)

b) Be HONEST. An experience interviewer can easily spot a liar.

FINALLY, CHECK IF IT LOOKS…

1) Neat

2) Professional

3) Clear and concise

REMEMBER, A GOOD CV WILL GAIN YOU 2 THINGS:

1) An interview

2) A head-start at interview

Good luck!

*** If you are interested in sending your CVs and Resumes to the participating law firms at the Law Careers Convention 2011 held on 19 November 2011, kindly forward them to cv.lcc2011@gmail.com and specify the position you are applying for.

CV WORKSHOP, 17 OCTOBER 2011

CV WORKSHOP, 17 OCT 2011

On Monday 17 October 2011, we were privileged to have Mr Choon Hon Leng from Raja, Darryl & Loh (RDL), to speak to us at the CV Workshop held by the Law Society of Universiti Malaya in conjunction with KPUM. Mr Choon is in fact the Recruitment Partner of RDL and has therefore read, and analyzed a multitude of CV’s and interviewed a good deal of applicants. During the talk, he advised the audience on WHAT TO and WHAT NOT TO write in a Cover Letter, CV and Resume as well as tips on etiquette during an interview.