From CCD at A-level to Vacation Scheme at a Globally Elite Corporate Law Firm
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By Hassan Akram, CEO, City Careers Coach
This article is written by Hassan Akram, the CEO of City Careers Coach. We help students enter the world’s most elite finance careers through our experience as elite finance recruiters. Hassan has spoken at Harvard, MIT, and Yale on this and writes in the Times of India on getting into elite careers. He’s recruited for elite corporate careers, including investment banks, corporate law firms, and venture capital funds. He has also interviewed 1,000+ professionals from Goldman Sachs, Kirkland & Ellis, and McKinsey. 100% of our clients are successful at the CV stage. 95% secure at least one corporate career. Our highest client starting salary is $180,000 at 21. We have an in-depth understanding of passing recruitment processes for elite, high-paying, and prestigious finance careers.
Check our case studies of clients securing offers in corporate law. Here’s a client from China with CCD at A level secure a vacation scheme at one of the world’s most elite firm, Ropes & Gray, here’s a client from also from Malaysia, securing multiple training contract offers, and here’s a client from Switzerland securing a training contract with the elite US law firm Sidley Austin
INTRODUCTION
Client Profile: The client, a determined individual faced with the challenge of CDD grades at A-level and an academic journey through a non-Russell Group university, aspired to break into the competitive world of corporate law. Before working with us, he consistently gained rejections. Against the odds, his goal was to secure interviews with top-tier law firms, including Ropes & Gray, Macfarlanes, and Hogan Lovells.
Challenges:
- Academic record not reflective of the industry’s typical benchmarks.
- Attended a lower-ranked university, perceived as a disadvantage in a sector where pedigree is often valued.
- Lack of a clear strategy to navigate the competitive legal job market.
City Careers Coach’s Tailored Approach:
Recognising the unique challenges and potential of the client, City Careers Coach designed a bespoke programme to transform his trajectory.
- Branding and Profiling: Our first step was to redefine the client’s personal brand, highlighting his unique strengths, experiences, and the resilience demonstrated by overcoming academic challenges. We worked closely with the client to craft a narrative that showcased his potential to contribute meaningally to a top law firm.
- Application Writing Mastery: The client received personalised guidance in articulating his experiences and aspirations through compelling application documents. Leveraging our extensive repository of successful applications and insider insights, we ensured his applications resonated with the ethos and expectations of his target firms.
3. Strategic Networking Development: Understanding the power of networking in the legal profession, we implemented a targeted networking strategy. This included facilitating introductions to industry professionals, coaching on effective communication, and leveraging social platforms to build meaningful connections.
4. Interview and Assessment Centre Preparation: The client underwent rigorous mock interviews and assessment centre simulations, reflecting the specific selection processes of Ropes & Gray, Macfarlanes, and Hogan Lovells. This preparation was instrumental in building his confidence and honing his ability to articulate his value proposition effectively.
5. Continuous Support and Feedback: Throughout his journey, the client received unwavering support from our team. Regular feedback sessions helped refine his approach, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with the high standards of his target firms.
Outcome: Defying expectations, the client secured a vacation scheme with Ropes & Gray, and interviews with Macfarlanes, and Hogan Lovells. His journey from achieving CDD grades at A-level to interviewing with some of the world’s most prestigious corporate law firms is a testament to his perseverance and the bespoke support provided by City Careers Coach.
CONCLUSION
This case study exemplifies City Careers Coach’s commitment to empowering clients, irrespective of their academic backgrounds, to achieve their aspirations in the legal sector. Through personalised branding, strategic application writing, targeted networking, and comprehensive interview preparation, we equip our clients with the tools necessary to succeed in the highly competitive legal job market.
Please visit our blog on The Times of India for guidance on entering elite careers: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/author/hassan-akram/
ABOUT US
We help students secure the world’s highest paying finance careers.
‘Really clear and structured frameworks. Genuinely world-leading. I’m a former private equity investor and was impressed by the depth of their knowledge for elite careers, such as private equity and venture capital. Can’t wait for them to come to HBS again.’
‘I honestly had never heard about City Careers Coach. But they honestly blew me away with the truly personalised nature of the programmes. I got spring weeks at investment banks, hedge funds, and I secured experience at a PE fund. I have a summer internship at an investment bank coming (BNP Paribas). I’m fairly confident I’ll convert this to a full-time offer through the firm’s internship conversion programme.’
‘City Careers Coach was incredibly helpful in my CV recruitment process. I had gathered useful pieces of recruitment information from various sources prior to meeting Hassan, but he was able to bring it all together to help me have a clear picture of what a good recruitment strategy looks like. Beyond being extremely knowledgeable, Hassan, the firm’s CEO, was incredibly flexible, friendly, and willing to help out in any way — I would highly recommend Hassan to anyone looking to break into elite finance careers.’
City Careers Coach is an international network of freelance finance recruiters. We are from investment banking, corporate law, and private equity backgrounds. We provide premium, bespoke, and personalized 1–1 career development programmes. These are for university students looking to enter elite corporate high-paying careers. We have an exceptionally strong track record. 100% of our clients pass CV stage. 90% of our clients secure at least one internship or graduate role. And our average client starting salary is £150,000.
Check our case studies of clients securing offers in corporate law. Here’s a client from China with CCD at A level secure a vacation scheme at one of the world’s most elite firm, Ropes & Gray, here’s a client from also from Malaysia, securing multiple training contract offers, and here’s a client from Switzerland securing a training contract with the elite US law firm Sidley Austin
Please visit our blog on The Times of India for guidance on entering elite careers: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/author/hassan-akram/
