Matt Oliver
Matt is a former FTSE 100 lawyer and qualified career coach who founded Trainee Solicitor Surgery in 2009. He’s helped over 300 aspiring solicitors secure training contracts at top UK and US firms, drawing on 10 years of legal practice and 15+ years of coaching expertise.
Matt shares free, trusted advice in his articles and offers expert one-on-one coaching for those who want tailored support from someone who has been on both sides of the process.
Posts
Contents Introduction The Different UK Legal Systems The SQE Qualification Framework 4 Main Pathways To Qualify as a Solicitor in England & Wales A Quick Guide for School Leavers Introduction When you start to consider becoming a solicitor in the UK, things can quickly get confusing. There’s a lot of information out there, and much…
At some point in a law firm’s training contract recruitment process, you’ll likely have to discuss legal industry trends. Questions take different forms and can ask you to focus on different aspects. This is a key part of commercial awareness and is essential if you’re to land a training contract offer. In this post, I’ll…
Trainee solicitors are a goldmine of information and advice for aspiring solicitors. But so few candidates make the most of this. You will give yourself a competitive advantage if you find ways to meet trainees and ask them well-thought-out questions. In this post, I’ll explain why you should ask trainees questions and give you examples…
What skills do lawyers need to thrive? This guide covers 21 essential skills every lawyer needs and why they matter for a successful legal career.
An in-house legal training contract is the right choice for some candidates. As a former in-house lawyer, I’ve seen trainees benefit from the different in-house training environment and develop into excellent lawyers. In this post, I’ll share 5 of the biggest benefits of doing your training contract in-house. I’ll also guide you on how to…
Many successful training contract candidates will tell you their successful application cycle included law firm open days. This is because open days give you numerous benefits that can increase your chances of success. One of the most important benefits is getting yourself noticed and standing out from the crowd. Firms often note the names of…
One question that firms routinely ask to decide who to reject at interviews is “Why do you want to be a solicitor?”. The bad news is many candidates aren’t able to figure out how to answer it well. The good news is that you can gain a competitive advantage if you do. In this post,…
Those who attend first-year law schemes offered by law firms have a greater chance of success in securing a training contract. These schemes, often called first-year insight schemes, offer the opportunity to spend between a day and a week in a law firm. They are increasingly important for both candidates and firms in the training…
Having coached many successful Magic Circle applicants, I’ve seen what helps them secure a training contract ahead of the thousands who get rejected. Here are 3 of the biggest lessons from their stories: Lesson #1: Starting early is a game-changer Successful candidates regularly say that being organised and starting the TC process early was key…