Course curriculum

    1. Introduction to this course

    2. Training contract seats

    3. Secondments

    4. Annual leave

    5. Qualification and career progression

    1. Staying organised

    2. Balancing work for multiple supervisors

    3. Delegating effectively

    1. Building your personal brand

    2. Handling feedback

    3. Networking across the legal industry

    1. Time recording

    2. Using your initiative

    3. Interacting effectively with supervisors

    4. Taking instructions

    5. Asking questions

    6. Business support teams

    7. Work diary

    1. Previewing, editing, comparing and redacting documents

    2. How to send professional emails

    3. Microsoft Word

    4. Microsoft Outlook

    5. Microsoft Excel

    1. Key skills required of trainee solicitors

    2. Getting the basics right

    3. Writing professionally

    4. Legal drafting

    5. Proofreading techniques

    6. Proofreading checklist

    7. Negotiating effectively

    8. Preparing for meetings and presentations

    9. Participating in meetings and presentations

    1. Producing research notes

    2. Legal research

    3. Business research

    1. Introduction to business development

    2. Why clients choose law firms: introduction

    3. Why clients choose law firms: capabilities

    4. Why clients choose law firms: reputation and experience

    5. Why clients choose law firms: value for money

    6. Why clients choose law firms: approach to building client relationships

    7. Why clients choose law firms: values

Navigating a professional environment

  • 42 lessons
  • 2 hours of video content

Why is this the best resource on excelling in a legal environment?

In short, because we've spent years working on complex legal matters - at some of the world’s most prestigious law firms - for countless high profile international clients, so truly know what it takes to be a great junior lawyer.

  • Reveals the most important lessons and learnings from Jake Schogger's Magic Circle training and experiences practising as a commercial lawyer over the past decade.

  • Brings together the tips and teachings of highly sought after City trainers that leading global law firms pay small fortunes to engage.

  • Highlights the most common mistakes and supervisor grievances, and sets out practical steps to help you avoid them.

  • Focuses on specific, highly actionable techniques, ideas and suggestions that you can easily implement from the get-go. No generic fluff!

  • Draws on a broad range of personal anecdotes and examples to give context and bring the content to life.

  • Includes animated videos to explain complex concepts more clearly and improve your learning experience.

Instructor

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

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

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