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Application Tips

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I’m Ben Hynes, Graduate Recruitment Lead at William Fry, working alongside our HR and Professional Development teams.

Ben Hynes

I manage traineeship recruitment and our early career programmes, including WFirst, college placements and our summer internship programmes.

I want to help you see your talent shine and support you as you develop your career. If you have questions about our recruitment processes, what makes a good application, or what’s involved in our programmes, I’m the person to talk to.

Please email [email protected].

Give yourself time to prepare. Strong applications are clear, well-structured and tailored to William Fry. Get the basics right by checking your spelling, punctuation and grammar, and draft your answers before transferring them to the online form. It’s also worth asking someone you trust to read your application before you submit it. A fresh pair of eyes can spot mistakes and help you present your experience clearly.

Use the application to show us what makes you, you. Tell us about the experiences, interests and achievements that have shaped you, including part-time work, societies, sport, travel, volunteering or other commitments. These experiences can demonstrate transferable skills such as teamwork, resilience, communication and taking responsibility.

Most importantly, show that you understand why William Fry appeals to you. Research our work, our people and our early career opportunities, and be specific about why you want to train or intern here. We’re looking for people who are curious, engaged and ready to contribute.

There’s no single right CV. Varied experiences can help you demonstrate initiative, adaptability and the ability to work with others. Part-time roles, travel or work abroad, college societies, sport, charity work and other commitments can all give you valuable experiences to draw on. Make the most of your time at college by getting involved in things that genuinely interest you.

Be open, be interested and be yourself. Campus events are a chance to meet representatives particularly trainees, so use them to find out what life and work is really like at William Fry. Think about the culture and opportunities that matter to you and ask questions that will help you decide whether William Fry is the right fit.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It shows genuine interest and helps you leave the event with a better understanding of the firm and its opportunities. Most importantly, use the opportunity to have a real conversation and let your personality shine through.

We welcome candidates from all disciplines and have people from many academic backgrounds working at the firm. What matters is that you can demonstrate a genuine interest in corporate and commercial law.

Yes, but they are only one part of the picture. We consider each application as a whole, looking at academic performance alongside your personal qualities, experiences and potential. A consistent academic record and a 2.1 degree or above are required, but they are not the only things we look at.