Generic applications are rejected. Specific applications progress. The difference is almost always the quality of the research behind them.

Most candidates research law firms the same way: visit the website, read the about page, note a few practice areas, and mention a deal they found on a Google search. This produces answers that sound like everyone else's because everyone else is doing the same thing.

This 9-step checklist shows you what to look for, where to find it, and how to turn what you discover into answers that sound specific, credible, and genuinely motivated.

The nine steps cover:

• The firm's core practice areas and what makes each distinctive

• Recent deals, matters, and mandates and how to talk about them analytically

• The firm's strategic direction — mergers, lateral hires, office expansions, new practice group launches

• The firm's clients and sectors — who they advise and what those clients actually care about

• Culture and working environment — what trainees and associates say in surveys, directories, and open days

• Trainee structure and seat rotation — what the training contract actually involves

• How the firm is positioned relative to competitors — what makes it a different choice from similar firms

• Recent commentary from partners and senior lawyers — podcasts, articles, thought leadership

• The firm's diversity and inclusion record — programmes, statistics, and stated priorities

Each step includes guidance on where to find the information and a note on how to use it in a specific application context.