Leadership, Commercial Awareness and Authenticity: An Interview with Future Trainee Solicitor Raphael Khoo

Current stage of Raphael’s career

Raphael is a final‑year LLB student at University College London and currently serves as President of the UCL Law Society. In summer 2019, he completed vacation schemes with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Sidley Austin. He will begin his training contract with Clifford Chance in February 2021.

Opportunities and responsibilities as President of UCL’s Law Society

Before becoming President, Raphael served as Vocational Officer, organising 3 negotiation competitions for society members. He was elected President in March 2019.

In this role, he manages sponsorship arrangements with more than 40 city law firms, Inns of Court and chambers. This year, he secured 6 new sponsors. He leads a committee of 18 members and oversees all society events, including careers events, competitions, publications, pro bono initiatives, sports and socials.

One of his favourite events was a dog‑therapy de‑stress session in the law faculty, where students spent 2 hours with 3 therapy dogs. Raphael also sits on the UCL Laws Faculty Teaching Committee and the Student‑Staff Consultative Committee, representing LLB students to the faculty.

He notes that these responsibilities strengthened his leadership, teamwork and public‑speaking skills. As he explains in the attached document, “Being involved with so many activities in school gave me a range of examples to write about in my applications.”

Choosing commercial law

Raphael chose commercial law because it aligns with his interests in finance and legal problem‑solving. Before committing to this path, he completed several online finance courses on Coursera to understand the business world and the clients that commercial firms advise, particularly fund managers.

He became interested in securitisation and derivatives after studying the Global Financial Crisis in A‑level Economics. He then began listening to industry‑specific podcasts such as Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, The Blackstone Podcast and FT’s Behind the Money.

Using this commercial insight, he applied strategically to firms with strong relationships with fund managers and investment banks. This allowed him to articulate his motivations clearly and authentically, avoiding generic application answers.

Volunteering and its impact

In his first year, Raphael volunteered as part of UCL Law’s Grassroots Human Rights Programme, teaching human rights law to Year‑11 students. He found the experience fulfilling and valued the opportunity to make complex information accessible.

He notes that the skills he developed mirror those required of commercial lawyers: simplifying complex issues, understanding industry trends and presenting information clearly. He encourages students to volunteer if time permits.

Raphael’s advice for aspiring lawyers

Knowledge

Raphael emphasises the importance of understanding the role of commercial lawyers, industry trends and the unique strengths of each firm. He recommends:

• Jake Schogger’s Commercial Law Handbook
• Podcasts such as BBC Business Daily, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs and FT’s Banking Weekly
• Chambers Student’s True Picture profiles

Listening to podcasts during daily routines, such as breakfast or commuting, helps build commercial awareness consistently.

Network

He advises students to list target firms and track their events throughout the academic year. Authentic conversations with firm representatives are more valuable than rehearsed questions. He recommends following up with a thank‑you message via email or LinkedIn.

Authenticity

Raphael encourages applicants to ask themselves, “Why does this matter to me?” This helps avoid clichés and ensures that motivations are specific, genuine and personal.

Fun fact

Raphael is passionate about content creation. He describes himself as a semi‑professional landscape and cityscape photographer and is exploring videography and motion graphics. He notes that “lighting is key” and hopes to produce more creative visual content soon.