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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 whether you can use AI in your TC applications.
- Common mistakes candidates make when using AI in training contract applications.
- Tips on how best to use AI in your TC applications.
We know AI can be a valuable tool, but the first thing to consider is whether it’s ok to use it in the first place.
Can You Use AI In Your TC Applications?
The use of generative AI for applications is a hotly debated topic.
Some are wary of AI and think it shouldn’t be used. Others are champions of it and think there should be no limits on its use. Either way, an ever-growing number of applicants are now using AI for different aspects of the application process.
In a survey by Shoosmiths and Lawcareers.net, 56% of candidates said they have used it or plan to use it for their applications.
My view is you most definitely CAN use AI in your applications.
It’s a tool that can help your thinking and writing.
I don’t see its use as much different to using a dictionary, a thesaurus or Google. All are helpful tools, but they need some human oversight.
Firstly, you’ll need to clarify each firm’s guidance on using AI for their application.
Most firms allow it, provided you follow specific guidelines:
- Be authentic
- Be transparent
- Don’t copy and paste AI-generated answers
So, yes, you should be able to use AI, but do so intentionally.
Before we look at how you can use AI for your applications, let’s look at some mistakes to avoid.
5 Mistakes To Avoid When Using AI As An Applicant
I review 100s of applications each year, and I’m seeing candidates make common mistakes with AI:
1. Believing AI Is A Shortcut
Candidates try to use AI as a shortcut.
And it’s not!
It’s merely a tool you can leverage as part of your application writing process. It may save you some time if you use it for some purposes, but mostly, it’s a tool to help with specific things to improve your existing process.
So, use it to enhance your process, not in search of shortcuts.
2. Getting AI To Write For You
Even though firms warn against it, candidates copy and paste AI-generated writing into their applications.
There are some critical problems with this:
- It won’t feel like your authentic and personal writing.
- AI writing uses the same styles – recruiters notice these when they appear in multiple applications.
- You can bet others will be using AI-generated writing, too – which means similar phrases and words get used repeatedly and are easy for recruiters to spot.
3. Not Thinking For Yourself
A lack of deeper thinking is one of the biggest things that holds candidates back.
You need to demonstrate who you are by describing your experiences, your skills and strengths, and your motivations. To do so, you need to THINK. This means reflecting deeply on who you are and what you’ve done – and doing this in the context of the firm you’re applying to.
Candidates who seek to replace this thinking with AI will fail at the application stage.
4. A Lack of Authenticity
One of the things you’ll hear law firms say is using AI can negatively affect authenticity.
You must be authentic in the training contract process, or you won’t succeed. Graduate recruiters can recognise authenticity (and a lack of it!).
Authenticity includes:
- Being original and not seeking to imitate specific qualities
- Being personal and genuine
- Being specific – and avoiding the generic
This will give your applications the unique feel AI can’t – and grad recruiters love uniqueness!
5. Not Giving Personalised Motivations
Way too many candidates give generic reasons for motivation questions such as:
- Why do you want to be a lawyer?
- Why do you want to train at this firm?
This has always been the case but it’s now exacerbated by AI.
AI can’t tell you your motivations and your genuine reasons why. And that gets to the core of it.
Those who do the work to think for themselves will win.
Now let’s look at how you can use AI effectively in your application process.
3 Tips On How To Use AI In Training Contract Applications
So, how can you utilise AI to improve your applications?
The reality is it has so many uses and you can personalise these to your own needs. It’s a Swiss army knife with a near-limitless number of tools. It’s up to you to figure out what it can help you with and to learn how to get the best out of it.
This is a critical life and career skill in itself.
Think of it as an assistant to your personal company of one (i.e. you!)
The quality of that assistant’s work will depend on two things:
- The quality of your instructions
- The quality control you exercise over its work
Here are some tips on how you can use AI effectively:
1. As A Research Assistant
AI is another tool in your research tool kit.
It’s not hugely different to using Google or asking someone questions. It has a lot of knowledge which you can utilise. Its strength is in its intelligence and how you can tailor your research to get better answers to more precise questions than you would from a Google search.
However, you have to be careful and understand its limitations.
One major problem is that it’s prone to ‘hallucinations’ and will give you inaccurate facts. So you need to fact-check and verify everything it gives you.
Some ways I see TC candidates use AI effectively are:
- Researching law firms, including what they look for in training contract applicants.
- Researching the legal sector, including the latest developments and themes.
- Researching a practice area, including what lawyers do and the latest developments.
- Researching a business sector, including opportunities, developments and issues.
Doing so will help develop your knowledge and opinions.
It’s also a great way to develop your commercial awareness.
2. As A Thinking Assistant
One of the big differences between AI and Google is the interactivity of AI.
Its more conversational interface and ‘intelligence’ make it a great tool for thinking. This can help you brainstorm ideas, clarify your thoughts and then structure and articulate the key points you want to make in your applications. It can be a really powerful sounding board if you use it correctly.
Knowing how to use AI effectively in your thinking process when crafting applications is a key skill that will help candidates stand out.
3. As A Writing Assistant
Whilst it’s important not to have AI write your applications for you, it can be a powerful tool to improve your writing.
Here are some key ways you can use it:
- Outlining – to help you organise and structure your ideas into an outline to use for your writing.
- Reviewing – to review and make suggestions on how you could improve your writing.
- Editing – to help you restructure your points or edit longer pieces to fit word count limits.
- Proofreading – it can help you eliminate all spelling and grammar mistakes and fix readability or clarity issues.
No matter how tempting, you should never use AI-generated writing, as it can never be personal enough.
A key differentiator between candidates will be whether an application has a personal and distinct feel. If it demonstrates you’ve used your critical thinking and analytical skills in the way you present your experiences, skills and motivations, you will have a much better chance of being successful. This is something AI can’t do well – so don’t rely on it to do so.
Always write from scratch in your own words and based on your own thinking.
Over to you…
If you put yourself at the centre of your thinking, your research and your writing when using AI, this is how you will win.
It’s easy to get this wrong. But if you get it right then the rewards are there for you.
Those who can learn to be AI literate and use it to enhance their applications will be successful, unlike those who try to get it to do all the work for them.