Legal Cheek Careers sits down with Robert Dudley, BARBRI’s head of employability & engagement, to unpack what success looks like in the SQE era
The path to securing a training contract has never been easy, and with the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) reshaping legal education, aspiring solicitors face fresh challenges and opportunities. In the run-up to the Legal Cheek virtual student event, ‘Supercharge your CV: Skills and experience that give you the edge — with BARBRI,’ Robert Dudley, head of employability & engagement, shared some practical pointers on how would-be lawyers can enhance their employability and navigate the SQE. From developing true commercial awareness to tailoring applications and coping with rejections, the discussion also shed a light on how the SQE’s introduction is influencing what law firms look for in junior lawyer talent.
According to Dudley, since the SQE was introduced in 2021, firms have started expecting a broader skill set from candidates. The SQE is “a completely different beast” compared to the old Legal Practice Course, and it even assesses candidates at the level of a day-one qualified solicitor rather than a day-one trainee,” he tell us. As a result, the bar has been raised in terms of knowledge and skills. “Graduates are expected to demonstrate resilience, adaptability and an ability to apply the legal knowledge they’ve built in real-world scenarios”. Dudley notes that legal employers also place greater emphasis on commercial awareness and good client care — recognising that law firms are businesses serving business clients, so factors in the political and economic environment can have a “massive effect” on their work and that of their clients.
One buzzword that often looms large in aspiring lawyers’ minds is commercial awareness. Dudley was keen to demystify this concept, describing it “not as a textbook subject but a mindset, an approach, a way of being open to what’s out there in the world”. In his view, you can and should read widely — from business news to blogs — but crucially you must truly reflect on what you read and understand it in a legal context. “It’s about always keeping in mind how whatever news article you’re reading applies to a potential law firm and the clients that it’s serving,” he explains. Simply quoting headlines isn’t enough — “it’s about digging into it much further” to show you grasp the bigger picture and the commercial realities underlying legal practice.
Employers expect this kind of commercial insight. Even if interview questions don’t explicitly mention commercial awareness, recruiters will be looking for evidence that a candidate understands the business context of law. Dudley advises candidates to connect their commercial insights with their own interests and experiences. Firms “don’t want you to be a robot,” he warns, so simply regurgitating the Financial Times won’t suffice. Instead, candidates should be authentic — explain why a particular news story interested them, what impact they think it has on the firm’s work, and even perhaps relate it to a personal experience where possible. This reflective approach shows genuine engagement. Law firms love to see that an applicant can not only “read really widely” but also “reflect and understand that wider perspective”, as this will help a candidate stand out.
When the discussion turns to applications, Rob highlights the cardinal sin most students make — submitting a generic one. In an age when many firms use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter applications, a one-size-fits-all submission will likely be rejected before a human even reads it. Dudley stresses the importance of tailoring each application to the specific firm and role. Candidates should clearly articulate why they want to work for that organisation and how their own experiences align with the firm’s work and values. Showing that you’ve really researched the organisation, beyond just a quick website skim, is vital. As he put it, “a lot of firms want to see that you’ve taken the time to dig deep and understand what they’re all about, and this goes beyond simply listing their practice areas”.
In contrast, a well-crafted application that is tailored to the firm is the “ultimate green flag”. A real stumbling block for some is attention to detail. Accurate structure and grammar is a non-negotiable, as mistakes or leftover text from another template are tell-tale signs of a rushed job and can land an application straight in the “no pile”. Dudley encourages students to put in the time to research each target firm thoroughly, going “beyond surface-level facts”. And once you’ve written your application, double-check that you’ve explicitly evidenced everything the job description is asking for. “Have I absolutely evidenced in my application exactly what they’re looking for?” is the question Dudley advises to keep in mind.
For those feeling overwhelmed by the process, Dudley had some practical tips. “Rather than firing off dozens of generic applications, start with a manageable number,” he suggests, with around ten high-quality applications as a good initial goal. This approach ensures you can dedicate sufficient effort to each one and avoid burnout. Have friends, peers or mentors review your CV and even do mock interviews; fresh eyes can catch blind spots or inconsistencies that you might miss. And if rejections do come, which they undoubtedly will, try to treat them as learning experiences. Dudley emphasises resilience: building up the ability to handle rejection is part of the journey in law. “There’s always going to be failure and it’s not actual failure. It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint,” he says. “Instead of getting discouraged, candidates should reflect on their applications, identify areas to improve, and refine their approach continually. With persistence, the right opportunity will come. You might not get there straight away, it will come,” Dudley assures.
In his role at BARBRI, Dudley has a dual focus on helping students pass the SQE and improving their employability. BARBRI’s SQE prep courses are delivered entirely online, which allows many students to study whilst working — thereby developing practical skills alongside academic knowledge. The courses integrate black-letter law with real-world scenarios, mirroring the format and demands of the SQE assessments. Designed by experienced solicitors, the programme uses techniques like spaced repetition to help students embed and retain vast amounts of legal knowledge over time. Each student follows a Personal Study Plan via an online platform that adapts to their schedule. For example, if a student is swamped with work in a given week, they can mark themselves as unavailable and the system will recalibrate their study tasks accordingly. This flexible, tech-driven approach has paid dividends, according to Dudley, noting BARBRI’s SQE pass rates far outperform the market average.
Beyond the exams themselves, BARBRI also supports students’ career development. All BARBRI students have access to an online CareerHub, a platform for resources on the legal industry and application techniques. Dudley revealed that even prospective students can use a free “Head Start” version of this platform. Notably, those who complete the SQE with BARBRI retain access to CareerHub for two years after leaving. “You can’t assume that everybody’s going to suddenly go into their dream job immediately after qualifying,” Dudley says. “Many new lawyers start out in paralegal roles or take alternative routes — and some may shift into in-house positions or emerging areas like legal tech, project management or legal operations over time.” Dudley goes on to stress that there’s no longer just one “gold standard” path, and the modern legal world is full of varied opportunities. He considers it part of BARBRI’s role as an education provider to expose students to this wider landscape, helping them build the confidence and networks to navigate whichever path they choose.
In a rapidly changing profession, one constant is the need for authenticity. As a final piece of advice, Dudley urges aspiring solicitors to be genuine about their motivations. “Recruiters constantly hear generic proclamations like ‘I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer,’ so it’s crucial to go further,” he says. “Show an employer why you want to be a lawyer — not just that you want to be one”. Whether it was an inspiring role model, an impactful personal experience, or a challenge that first sparked your interest in law, highlighting that story can make you more memorable. By giving real examples of what drives you towards a legal career, you demonstrate the kind of reflection and self-awareness that firms appreciate. “It’s not about legal experience, it’s about demonstrating the skills that you have,” Dudley says, pointing out that any experience can fuel your motivation and provide evidence of your abilities. Ultimately, showing your personality and passion through concrete examples of your achievements will help differentiate you from the crowd.
Join us on the afternoon of Tuesday, 4 November for ‘Supercharge your CV: Skills and experience that give you the edge — with BARBRI’, a virtual event for students. Hear from experts as they reveal what legal employers and recruiters really look for in graduate and trainee applications, and learn how to present your experience to truly stand out. APPLY NOW.
