Course curriculum

Recordings of previous live employability bootcamps and masterclasses

    1. Introduction to the speakers

    2. Introduction to commercial awareness

    3. How to read about and discuss current affairs

    4. Key business, finance and legal concepts

    5. Example interview case studies: a law firm's role on an acquisition

    6. Bootcamp Q&A

    1. Introduction to commercial awareness

    2. Mergers and acquisitions

    3. Example interview case studies

    4. Current affairs masterclass

    5. Q&A

    1. Full masterclass

    1. Personal branding, imposter syndrome, managing wellbeing and developing resilience (Jake Schogger, Akil Hunte & Hannah Salton)

    1. Boosting your employability Q&A (Jake Schogger, Gordon Chung, Sim Mann & Akil Hunte)

    2. Boosting Your Employability (with contributions from Jake Schogger, Hannah Salton, Sim Mann, Gordon Chung & Akil Hunte)

    1. Commercial law applications masterclass (Jake Schogger)

    2. Commercial law applications masterclass (Jake Schogger & Hannah Salton)

    1. Psychometric test masterclass: verbal reasoning, Watson Glaser, situational judgment, logical reasoning, e-tray, numerical

    1. Practical Networking & LinkedIn (Jake Schogger, Hannah Salton & Ali Obeid)

    1. Tackling Virtual Assessment Centres (Jake Schogger & Hannah Salton)

    1. Introduction to commercial awareness and key business, finance and legal concepts (Jake Schogger, November 2020)

    2. A law firm's role on transactions - example case studies (Jake Schogger, November 2020)

    3. Introduction to commercial awareness and key business, finance and legal concepts (Jake Schogger, Harry Clark & Joe Mallet, September 2020)

    4. A law firm's role on an acquisition (Jake Schogger, Gordon Chung & Sim Mann, September 2020)

    1. Succeeding during internships (Jake Schogger & Sim Mann, November 2020)

    2. E-guide to succeeding during internships (with contributions from Jake Schogger, Harry Clark, Joe Mallet, Hannah Salton & Ali Obeid)

    1. Current affairs with Watson's Daily: a review of 2020 and beyond, plus trends affecting the legal industry

    2. How to confidently research and discuss current affairs (with Watson's Daily)

    1. Training Contract Masterclass (Jake Schogger)

    2. E-guide to typical trainee tasks (by Jake Schogger)

    1. Employability Q&A with Jake Schogger, Harry Clark, Joe Mallet & Ali Obeid

    2. Employability Q&A with Jake Schogger, Gordon Chung, Sim Mann & Akil Hunte

    1. Commercial Law Handbook

    2. Training Contract Handbook

    3. Application, Interview & Internship Handbook

    4. Investment Banking Handbook

    5. Consultancy Handbook

    6. Business Writing Handbook

    7. Legal Practice Course Handbook

    8. LinkedIn networking group

Bootcamps & Masterclasses

  • 40 lessons
  • 29 hours of video content

Instructors

Commercial Law Academy Founder & Ex-Freshfields Lawyer Jake Schogger

Jake Schogger is a qualified lawyer, career coach, entrepreneur, author, copywriter and consultant. He is the founder and CEO of City Career Series, a publishing company that has sold ~50,000 handbooks designed to help students secure City careers, including the critically acclaimed Commercial Law Handbook and Training Contract Handbook. He also founded Commercial Law Academy. He trained at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and now acts as a legal adviser to start-ups and scale-ups, whilst also working as a career coach and delivering career-related presentations at universities across the UK. In addition, Jake works with tech start-ups and runs a variety of his own businesses. Connect with Jake on LinkedIn via www.linkedin.com/in/jakeschogger

Career Coach & Ex-Magic Circle Recruiter Hannah Salton

Hannah Salton is a qualified executive coach, career consultant and former corporate graduate recruiter. She spent the first eight years of her career recruiting graduate talent for leading international corporations, including telecoms giant BT and elite law firm Allen & Overy. In 2017 she transitioned to a career in coaching and professional development, specialising in helping graduates achieve ambitious career goals. Through her personalised one-to-one and group coaching programmes, she helps people develop the skills, confidence and awareness needed to secure their dream job. For more information, visit www.hannahsalton.co.uk and connect with Hannah on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-salton-coaching

Ex-City law firm partner Helen Pamely

Helen Pamely is a former City law firm Partner, turned psychotherapist and executive coach. Helen knows first-hand the challenges of living and working in the high-octane legal world. Blending this experience with her in-depth knowledge of mental health, psychology & performance, she offers unique and powerful insights into how we can become the happiest, healthiest & highest performing versions of ourselves. This enables her to support lawyers to unlock their personal and professional potential.

Ex-stock broker and current affairs guru Peter Watson

Peter Watson has been a stockbroker, headhunter and entrepreneur for over 20 years. He writes and publishes the Watson's Daily blog on business and financial markets news, helping professionals and students alike to understand key trends and developments on a daily basis. Peter studied Law and Japanese at Cardiff University and so when he started working in the City, he had to "learn" economics and markets rapidly in a highly pressurised and competitive environment. He knows what you need to know and serves it up in an approachable way. Peter's markets knowledge comes from being a stockbroker for 13 years at four different investment banks in London and Tokyo, where he advised some of the world's biggest investors who traded on the UK, European and Japanese markets. He also advised CEOs and Chairmen of global blue-chip companies on investor trends and strategies. He has also been a City headhunter in finance and investment banking and a successful candidate in many different professions! www.watsonsdaily.com I @watsons_daily

Podcaster & Baker McKenzie Trainee Harry Clark

Harry Clark, future Baker McKenzie Trainee Solicitor, is best known as the host of the More From Law podcast, an employability and commercial awareness podcast that has accumulated tens of thousands of streams to date. He also produces comprehensive resources for aspiring lawyers, including a broad range of articles, e-books and other content designed to help increase access to the legal profession. For more information, visit harryclarklaw.com, search @harryclarklaw across social media and connect with Harry on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/harryclarklaw

Corporate City lawyer Gordon Chung

LinkedIn personality Gordon Chung trained and qualified at Baker McKenzie, where he practises as a Corporate M&A lawyer. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at City University of Hong Kong before obtaining his postgraduate Master of Corporate Law degree at University of Cambridge. He has also passed the New York state bar examination.

Ex-City lawyer, author, and founder Akil Hunte

Akil Hunte trained as a City lawyer at CMS, before becoming a music lawyer. He is also a public speaker, a motivational influencer, the author of ‘Unlocking Yourself After Lockdown’, a mentor to dozens of aspiring lawyers, the founder of ‘LinkedIn Skills For Lawyers’ and Non-Russel Group Lawyers, and the recipient of multiple awards.

Solicitor, YouTuber and DE&I champion Simranjeet Mann

Simranjeet Kaur Mann trained and qualified at Womble Bond Dickinson, having previously attended 4 assessment centres, completed 3 vacation schemes and received 3 training contract offers (plus worked in 3 paralegal roles and briefly at a “Big 4” accounting firm). She then joined tech-focused boutique law firm Founders Law, and now works as a consultant for Aspiring Solicitors. She’s passionate about increasing diversity across, and access to the legal profession, which has led to her offering regular guidance to aspiring solicitors via her Instagram page and her (light-hearted yet informational) YouTube channel.

Influencer & Future Vinson & Elkins Trainee Joe Mallet

Joe Mallet is an incoming trainee solicitor at global US law firm Vinson & Elkins, having previously secured five vacation schemes. He’s best known for his free LinkedIn commercial law resources group, in which he pools his best advice, resources and template application answers, all of which are based on the lessons he’s learned throughout his journey from student to lawyer. For more information, search for ‘Joe Mallet Resources for Aspiring Lawyers’ on LinkedIn and connect with Joe via www.linkedin.com/in/jm16328

YouTuber & White & Case Trainee Ali Obeid

Ali Obeid, a non-law graduate from LSE, is best known for his highly-personal and insightful career and university-related YouTube videos, as well as the comprehensive tips and resources that he publishes on LinkedIn. Coming from a lower socio-economic single-parent family, Ali truly understands the struggles of 'fitting in' and 'keeping up' with others, which is why his content focuses on helping students to break barriers and reach new levels, efficiently and effectively. He secured a training contract at White & Case, having also interned at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

The impact Commercial Law Academy is having...

Amber Pessoa

MSci Natural Sciences, University of Nottingham

“Such insightful resources - particularly helpful for preparing for an AC! The content brought my understanding of an M&A transaction from nothing to being able to successfully complete a case study interview!”

Zainab Atif

LLB, City Law School

“The academy has really been a crucial tool, simplifying what was otherwise a very complex and daunting process. As a result, I have received two assessment centre invites. It definitely is a must-have resource!”

Adam Khattak

Future trainee, CMS

“Incredibly useful resources! I was accepted onto a vacation scheme, which definitely wouldn’t have been possible without Commercial Law Academy - it can make a very big difference!”

Sophia Birch

LLB, University of Nottingham

"Thank you for the resources that the Commercial Law Academy provides - with the online platform I was able to secure my vacation schemes at a Magic Circle and another big law international firm!"

Rebecca Pauley

BA History, UCL and MSc Gender, LSE.

"Just wanted to drop a quick note to express how useful I've found the Academy for my applications this year. Going into AC preparation, I didn’t know where to start, so having specific courses laying out everything that might come up in competency and case study interviews has been an absolute game-changer. Ended up with ACs at Jones Day, Baker McKenzie, and Linklaters! Cannot thank you enough!"

Elaine Dunn

Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper

"Commercial Law Academy was the key contributing factor to my success in securing a training contract with a major international law firm"

Demi, Law graduate

Feedback on her Commercial Law Academy membership

"Putting your advice into practice, I've landed a training contract with the largest of Ireland's top 5 firms. The Commercial Law Academy was an invaluable investment for my career. Jake has an outstanding teaching style..."

Final year History student

Feedback on the training contract module

"Brilliant, so in-depth and insightful...I feel much more confident about how to approach applications and demonstrate my skills in a way that matches those required."

Kristy, Australian Law graduate

Feedback on the M&A content

"I have just received an email from [Magic Circle firm] saying that I passed the case study interview! It involved mostly contents covered by your M&A course - thank you so so much!! Honestly would not have made it without your courses."

Final year Politics & International Relations student

Feedback on the assessment centre, growth mindset and employability content

"I found the insights you provided extremely helpful and easy to understand, especially as a non-law undergraduate entering the legal sector."

Membership

Access all of our courses with a single, affordable subscription

Learn more