Allen & Overy trainee-to-be Adreanne Orunmuyi on getting your foot in the door at an international law firm

It has never been harder to get a training contract. There are more high calibre applicants than ever, while firms have fewer trainee places – and the situation is unlikely to change for the next few years. But hard does not mean impossible. There are still training contracts out there; you just have to stand out to get one.

I'm no expert, but I successfully went through the application process last year. I was delighted to secure a training contract with a magic circle firm, but I also remember clearly how demoralising the application process can be at times. I'm not a straight-A student, so I know a bit about standing out in the right way. Here are some of the techniques that worked for me:

Do your homework

First of all, call and check whether firms are still recruiting, as some have stopped without advertising it.

Having done that, think about the type of legal career that you want and target firms where you think you would fit in. Look for press coverage describing recent deals and their areas of expertise. Google firms and search for information about recruitment, training, expansion plans and their strategy for riding out the recession. All of this information will help you answer the 'Why us?' question.

Work experience

In this climate any legal experience will go a long way as it demonstrates that you're making an informed choice about your future career. If you apply for a vacation scheme and are instead offered an open-day, go to it. They usually provide useful tips about what firms are looking for and can be put down as legal experience on your application forms. They also give you a chance to make a good impression in person – and you never know what may come of them. I was offered a vacation scheme on the back of one open day, and a job as a paralegal on the back of another.

If you don't get a vacation placement, then be proactive, call smaller firms or the Citizens Advice Bureau and ask about opportunities with them. Think laterally: if you're interested in City law, then work experience in a corporate environment – not necessarily a corporate legal environment – would be beneficial. If your interests lie in niche areas like media law or human rights, then work experience at a magazine or civil liberties group would be helpful.

Also, don't underestimate the value of work experience in part-time or summer jobs. Being a shop assistant or a bar tender allows you to develop skills like teamwork, organisation, commitment and commercial awareness – all of which can be used on application forms and at interviews.

Play to your strengths

You need to be honest with yourself and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Try making lists of all your academic and extracurricular achievements, including things like work experience, society involvement, volunteer work and travel. Then pick out the best examples and put them in your applications, but make sure you explain which skills they helped you to develop and how.

If you don't have the best grades, focus on extracurricular activities. Use different examples for each answer as it shows you're well-rounded and makes for a more interesting read. Only mention the things that you would feel comfortable talking about in an interview – because if you write it down it will come up.

Finally, a few words of warning

You don't want to come across as boring, but avoid making 'wacky' statements – they're an easy way to stand out for the wrong reasons. If you're invited to an assessment centre, don't be the loudmouth who doesn't let anyone else speak.

If you get an interview, take a deep breath, relax and smile. Your application impressed someone so they just need to confirm that you're an intelligent, likeable person that they could put in front of a client. Applications are a tough test, but when you understand the formula you get results.