Matt Oliver

Matt is a former FTSE 100 in-house lawyer, an experienced legal career coach and MD of Trainee Solicitor Surgery. He provides entry level law careers advice to students and graduates through his writing and mentoring. He also offers private one-to-one coaching to those struggling with training contract and vacation scheme applications, interviews and assessment centres.

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Posts

commercial law

5 Critical Mistakes In “Why Commercial Law?” Answers

I’ve reviewed hundreds of answers to the “Why commercial law?” question – and I see the same critical mistakes repeated. It’s such an important question in any training contract application or interview. Failing to answer it well can be the difference between success and rejection. Firms want to avoid the risk that you’re unclear on…

Winning questions to ask at the end of a TC interview

Deciding the questions to ask at the end of a training contract interview is critically important. Many candidates don’t ask any. Or they fail to invest time in crafting questions to finish the interview on a high. This is a huge missed opportunity as the last impression you leave on your interviewers is important. I’ve…

Answered: How many training contracts should I apply for?

Ideally, you should aim for 10 to 15 training contract and vacation scheme applications per year. BUT…focusing on someone else’s ideal number of TC applications is the wrong way to think about it. The truth is there’s no magic number of applications to make. The real answer to the question is: it depends on your…

Using AI In Training Contract Applications: A Quick Guide

Your ability to use AI in training contract applications can set you apart from other applicants. And it’s only likely to become more important as AI and candidates’ knowledge of it develops. The sooner you get to grips with it, the better. In this post, I’m going to give you 3 key pillars: Guidance on…

Revealed: How Hard Is It To Get A Training Contract In Law?

I’m often asked: how hard is it to get a training contract? My answer is it’s notoriously difficult, with the majority of candidates failing each year. HOWEVER, the hurdles aren’t insurmountable. In this article, I’ll explore why it’s so challenging and why it can be easier than you think. I’ll also outline proven strategies to…

How To Get A Training Contract As An International Student – Insider Guide

In this post, you will discover key guidance and insider insights to help you secure a training contract as an international student. You will learn both from my 15+ years of experience coaching international students to help them secure training contracts and from co-writer Ananya Agrawal, an international candidate who has recently secured a training…

TSS Interview with Arnav Maru, International Student & Future Trainee Solicitor

In this interview, Arnav Maru explains how a more tailored approach helped him secure a training contract and the importance of coherent narratives in the application process. Arnav is a future trainee solicitor at Travers Smith, an Oxford post-grad with an undergraduate in law from MNLU, Mumbai, India. If you’re an international student, also check…

TSS Interview with Raina Mahapatra, International Student & Trainee Solicitor

In this interview, Raina Mahapatra provides invaluable tips, including how to overcome common mistakes and how best to leverage an international background. Raina is a current trainee solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland, with an LLM from Queen Mary and an undergraduate in law from India. If you’re an international student, also check out our Insider Guide…

TSS Interview with Lydia Odedeji, International Student & Future Trainee Solicitor

In this interview, Lydia Odedeji gives some important advice about maintaining a positive mindset and how to navigate the challenging TC recruitment process. Lydia is a future trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance with a Nigerian undergraduate in law. If you’re an international student, also check out our Insider Guide On How To Get A Training…