Current Commercial Law Issues

wez99950

Hi there, was wondering would some legal eagles on here be able to help me! I have an interview with a commercial law firm over in London. I have a BCL and LLM but don't know a hell of a lot on the commercial law front.

I'm just looking for some advice/help/information on the commercial world so at least i might have something semi-related to speak about at the interview!

Thank you!

Arsenal1986

Never interviewed with any firms in London so not entirely sure what they're looking for. The Irish firms would expect you to have a good awareness of whats going on in the commercial world in general and then if you knew about one or two big commercial legal issues itd be a bonus. When I was interviewing, was asked about AIA/Prudential and Cadburry and Kraft mergers and NAMA and proposed Tax system reform.

Some Commercial legal issues that I think are interesting (may not be that big/important)

Lehmans Litigation

New UCITs directive

Basel III

crystalmice

A very hot topic at the moment is the issue around bankers bonuses, particularly the issues of payment confidentiality. Try looking up articles on that in british papers, and be aware of the EU CRD III directive.

Any major transactions the firm is involved with will be relevant.
However be careful not to overly focus on specifc transactions ect- a good working knowledge of the main challenges for the British economy, main areas of income & expediture, how you woudl repir issues in the public finances ect is vital, as general questions about how you would tackle economic/business issues are more far likely than speccifc questions about specific transactions.

Read the first few pages of the FT and the main british papers every day between now and then.

Be prepared to have some answers to hyotheticals around how you would improve a failing business ect.

A general knowledge of all this stuff is much more important that a specific detailed knowledge of one m&a!

Good luck!

wez99950

Thank you both! Very very helpful!

are there typical questions that you have come across during interviews? this is my first interview for a legal job so quite nervous and am unsure how to prepare really tbh!

i also have to do a watson glaser test on the day.......never had to do an aptitude test before and there doesn't seem to be many sample watson glaser tests available.

banterful

Arsenal1986, just wondering did you bring up the Kraft Merger, Tax reform etc or were you directly asked about it in the interviews?? Did they know you had an interest in that area or were those issues particularly related to the firm?

T.Watson

Just wondering if there are any other sources outside reading papers and looking up the firm's website that people might recommend? Don't really feel up to scratch in relation to commercial awareness and wondering if there's any recent Irish or English cases I should look up and be familiar with? Also wondering what's the best way to deal with a situation where if you're asked a commercial question but you're not familiar with it in an interview? Is there a good way of responding? Thanks