Joanna White
20 Wellington Heights
Norfolk
NF9 3ZZ
4 January 2022
John Smith
The Big
City law firm
4 Fleet Street
London
EC4A 9ZZ
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am a second-year law student at Birmingham University writing to apply for a summer vacation scheme
at The Big
City law firm as advertised on targetjobs.co.uk. As requested in the advert, I have attached my
CV to this email.
I am passionate about law and have sought out experience relevant to a career as a solicitor during my time
at university. I recently undertook a two-day insight placement at the commercial City firm Tower & May
LLP. I shadowed a trainee who was undertaking their property law seat and had the opportunity to speak
with partners from other practice areas in order to broaden my knowledge of working as a solicitor. I was
able to contrast this large firm experience with my two-week placement at the high street firm Porters,
during which I observed solicitors as they acted for local businesses that wanted to expand. My supervisor
requested that I draw up a list of the relevant issues affecting a chain of vet surgeries that was undertaking
the purchase of another practice; I presented my findings to an associate and was commended for the
commercial awareness I displayed in highlighting the potential disadvantages of the acquisition. After
comparing both of these experiences with my time spent in open court sessions at Norfolk County Court
watching barristers practise advocacy, I have determined that I would be most suited to a career as a
solicitor at a City law firm and am now seeking more experience in this environment.
I am particularly interested in multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions and have been
following the expansion of some of the major UK-based law firms into new territories, such as Asia and
South America, in recent months. I have contacted some of your trainees on LinkedIn and was lucky
enough to meet some of the associates from your firm at some graduate recruitment events on campus.
They were so friendly and enthusiastic about their work that it prompted me to research more about The
Big City firm and sparked an interest in the M&A work that you do. I would love an opportunity to speak
further with your current trainees about their experiences of M&A and what it is like working with your
overseas offices. As you can see from my CV, I have some proficiency with languages and hope that my
skills in French and Spanish might benefit me when dealing with colleagues in your offices in Europe.
I have an ability to work well with clients that has been enhanced by my time working as a customer
services assistant at Sainsbury’s – my ability to build a rapport with customers and earned me a quick
promotion. I have put this skill to good use in my role as student manager of the university legal advice
clinic, in which I persuaded local law firms to supply solicitors. In my role as president of the university
law society, I have arranged guest speakers including Peter Lodder QC. By collaborating with other
members of the university Law Society committee, my colleagues and I increased the society’s
membership by 30% within six months.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I am available for interview at any time and look
forward very much to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Joanna White
