Early Careers Insights: How we hire graduates at Forsters
What makes a successful training contract or vacation scheme application?
In the first episode of Early Careers Insights, Forsters’ Early Careers Manager, Emma Cooper, and Early Careers Partner, Matthew Evans, take listeners behind the scenes of our graduate recruitment process. Drawing on years of experience assessing applications and interviewing future trainees, they share practical advice for students considering a career in law and explain what they look for in successful candidates.
The episode explores every stage of the recruitment journey, from completing an application form and preparing for a video interview through to assessment days, vacation schemes and final interviews. Along the way, Emma and Matt discuss some of the most common misconceptions about applying to law firms and explain why authenticity, preparation and genuine enthusiasm are often more important than candidates realise.
Hear why attention to detail matters, how to approach researching a law firm, what strong application answers look like and why candidates should focus on demonstrating what they have learned from their experiences rather than simply listing achievements. The conversation also covers the role of AI in applications, common pitfalls to avoid and how applicants can showcase their personality throughout the process.
Emma and Matt also provide insight into what happens during Forsters’ assessment days and vacation schemes, including the skills recruiters are assessing and how candidates can make the most of the opportunities available to them. Throughout the episode, they emphasise the importance of being yourself and encourage listeners not to self-select out of the process if they are unsure whether they are the “perfect” candidate.
Whether you’re exploring a future career in law, preparing a vacation scheme application or researching training contracts, this episode offers valuable advice from the people responsible for recruiting and developing the next generation of lawyers at Forsters.
