Which Law Firms Should I Apply To?

First, you need to have an idea of what it is you might want to do for the rest of your career. It is okay at this stage not to have a great idea of this.

For example, you might want to be a sports lawyer or you might want to be a corporate lawyer. There is no reason why you can't apply to corporate factories as well as to niche sports law firms, so long as you don't 'fess up to this at interview - it sounds flakey.

Second, you need to be realistic. If you are studying at Scuzbrick Polyversity, you are not going to Slaughter & May.

Third, you need to get some sense of what differentiates law firms. In many cases, the answer is: not much. However, you can at least categorise the different firms.

Most law firms will fall into one of the following categories:-

Large City Firms - e.g. Clifford Chance
London Office of U.S. Firms - e.g. White & Case
Other City Firms - e.g. the Berwins - Berwin Leighton Paisner and SJ Berwin
'National' Firms - e.g. Eversheds
West End Firms - e.g. errmm
Niche Practices - e.g. Peters & Peters
Large Regional Firms - e.g. Shoosmiths
Other Regional Firms - e.g. errmm
High Street Firms Everywhere - eg.g look on your local high street.

In the City, the size of the law firm tends to dictate the following characteristics which tend to go together: reputation, money, beastings. I.e., the bigger the firm, the better the reputation, the more money you'll earn and the more you'll be beasted.

The above is a gross generalisation; however, it is a useful starting point.

If you are on for a First from Oxbridge, want to work at one of the 'best' firms and don't mind opting out of daylight, then of course go for the Magic Circle. You may also want to apply to some of the better U.S. outfits.

If your grades, University, or appetite for a beasting are less than the above, but you still want to be be a 'City' lawyer, then apply to the remainder of the top 30 English firms in London.

If you want a life and interesting work and are willing to forgo the big bucks - perhaps do media law or some such - apply to 'West End' firms.

If you would be happy to work in a regional firm outside of London, generally this means less prestige, less money, less high profile work (mega M&A deals will all be done in the City), better hours, better property prices, better commute, better schools for your children, better prospect of getting a training contract in the first place. It is that simple.

As the firm size gets smaller/more niche like, it helps to know what type of law you might want to do - with the general idea that what you want to do matches the strength of the firms you apply to.

As a general rule, it is easier to trade down in firm throughout your career than trade up. (Remember that size and prestige go hand-in-hand.) Ergo, if in doubt, start big - you can always trade down later in your career.

So:

1. Be realistic about which firms will have you.

2. Think about what type of law you might want to do.

3. The general rule (well, a gross generalisation, really) is the bigger the firm, the better the reputation, the more money you will earn and the bigger beasting you will get. Make your choices on this front.

4. Research firms so that you know which firms fall into which categories.

5. Apply to your chosen category of firms. Also, apply to firms that are one step up in the pecking order (or, if your aim is Magic Circle, do the top 30 firms).

6. As a variation on the above, if think you might be interested in a niche area, apply to firms in that niche as well as to 'full service' firms of comparable size or bigger.

7. Don't let the number of applications you do detract from quality. If you make the same typo 30 times, you will get the same rejection 3o times.