I graduated last summer with a degree in history and I am currently applying for training contracts. However, on a number of application forms I have been asked "What area of current law would I change and why?" Given that I studied history at university, I feel that applicants with a law degree are likely to have an advantage in answering this question. Where could I research topical legal issues in order to answer these questions?

I’m sure many people are struggling with the same forms. To put your mind at rest, law students should not be at a great advantage with these questions as firms are not expecting a detailed essay. You usually only have a paragraph or so in which to answer the question. Instead, they want to see that you can identify the practical impact of the law and write a clear, concise argument for why one particular law should be changed.

By this stage, you should be reading the legal press on a regular basis: the law section of The Times, but also The Lawyer, Legal Week, the Law Society Gazette — all of which are available online. If you are interested in areas such as legal aid work, then there are sector specific publications such as Legal Action. Alternatively, if your interest is commercial law you should be reading the business pages of quality newspapers. The mainstream press is full of legal stories, even if they are not presented as such. Front-page headlines recently include divorce, regulation of the financial sector and media libel.

When answering these questions, you don’t need to know all the details of the law (it is unlikely the reader of your application form will); you just need to know the basics of what the current law is and be able to present a well-stated case for why it should be changed.

Which law you choose is down to you but it is worth looking at the work of the firms you are applying to. If you’re applying to commercial firms, showing the problems of a law in the commercial setting might strengthen your application, but this is not essential. The crucial thing is to show that you appreciate how important the law can be, the impact it can have and that you can present your views in an engaging way.

If you have a question about your career in the law, e-mail law@timesonline.co.uk

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