Second seat trainee Ben Bramble shares his advice for navigating the Russell‑Cooke interview process.
With the application window now closed, prospective trainees will be turning their attention to the next stage of the process: the initial interview with a senior associate. If you are successful, you will progress to an assessment center at the firm’s Putney office, where you will complete a range of tasks followed by a final interview.
If you are preparing for interview at Russell-Cooke, it helps to focus on two fundamental questions:
- why should the firm take you on as a trainee?
- why do you want to train here?
Keeping these in mind will give your preparation structure and clarity.
Telling your story through your CV
To answer the first question, it is important to take time to really get to know your CV. One of the best pieces of advice I received when applying for training contracts was that strong candidates tell a coherent story about themselves. An interviewer is not just interested in what you have done; they want to know why you chose those experiences, what you have learnt from them and ultimately how they have led to you applying to Russell-Cooke.
A good way to prepare for your interview is to take each item on your CV and bullet point answers to each of these questions using the STARR method. By the time you have finished, your interviewer should understand how you have got to where you are, what you have learnt along the way and why these experiences make you an ideal candidate to train with the firm.
Showing genuine interest in the law
As well as showing what you have done, you will also need to convey what interests you. Here all of the usual advice applies: follow the news, keep up to date with legal updates, try and get to grips with the important trends in the industry, but for me, the key to answering this question effectively is honesty. It’s okay to not be passionate about AI! An interviewer will be much more engaged if the answers you are giving feel genuine. If a particular development has caught your attention, be ready to explain why it interests you and what questions it raises.
Researching and articulating your motivation
Turning to your motivations for applying, thorough research is essential. You should have a clear understanding of what distinguishes the firm and why that matters to you personally.
The firm puts out lots of useful resources to assist you with your research. The firm’s Responsible Business Report is a great place to start, as are the many articles showcasing the work the firm does. External platforms like Legal Cheek, Chambers Student Guide and RollOnFriday will also give you an insight into the firm’s culture and reputation.
Once you have developed an awareness of what sets Russell-Cooke apart, you need to articulate why these factors matter to your development. For example, if you are interested in the unique breadth of work the firm offers, explain why you think you would benefit from such a diverse range of experience. Effective candidates do not just list the firm’s qualities; they connect them to their own values and motivations.
A good understanding of the firm also allows you to ask insightful questions at the interview stage. Preparing a few well thought through questions to put to your interviewer will help you to stand out as a candidate.
As a people-focused firm, Russell-Cooke uses the interview process to understand who you are beyond your application. By this stage, you have already demonstrated strong academics and clear potential as a future trainee – that box is ticked.
The interview is not an interrogation; it is a conversation. Your interviewer is not trying to catch you out, but to see whether you could be their future colleague.
Good luck!
About Ben
Ben Bramble is currently a second-seat trainee in the real estate, planning and construction team.
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