Clifford Chance has released a video explaining why they are only targeting penultimate year students, if this may add some clarity.
Hey Guest, do you have a question for graduate recruitment? Gemma Baker from Willkie is live to answer your questions!
Clifford Chance has released a video explaining why they are only targeting penultimate year students, if this may add some clarity.
The impression I get from that is that they’re basically telling people who don’t fit into the priority groups not to bother applying as they have a tiny chance of progressing, without actually saying those words.This is a great video! Explains well why they made the change and your chances of success in the recruitment cycle if you are not from the target groups.
The impression I get from that is that they’re basically telling people who don’t fit into the priority groups not to bother applying as they have a tiny chance of progressing, without actually saying those words.
To be frank, I suspect the time and effort would be better spent on other apps.
The impression I get from that is that they’re basically telling people who don’t fit into the priority groups not to bother applying as they have a tiny chance of progressing, without actually saying those words.
To be frank, I suspect the time and effort would be better spent on other apps.
Yes, I think they’re just trying to be transparent about how they’re recruiting/have been recruiting for a long time. She also explained how they have seen an increase of applications by almost 30% over the past year. I suppose this means that previously they were also mainly recruiting penultimate law students and final year non-law students, the only difference this year is that they have made their recruitment approach transparent to perhaps reduce the number of applications they get that they would typically reject anyway.
It’s to save the applicant the time they will spend on an application that has a low success rate and also to save them time spent reviewing it.
Do itt! Worth a shot!!Anyone not in CC's targeted groups thinking of still applying? I'm not too sure whether to give it a go or not :/
Exactly. I imagine it's very hard to look at the number of applications they receive on a non-rolling basis.
So this is basically a way to reduce application numbers?
However, are there not better ways to reduce application numbers rather than prioritising these 2 target groups and excluding so many other candidates? Wouldn't it make more sense to differentiate them through their academic ability or the overall quality of the applicant? E.g: Set A level requirements or even ask for a mid/high 2:1.
I'm not criticising this decision, I'm just genuinely curious why the academic stage an applicant is at is more important than the quality of the applicant.
It’s not that hard to be honest!
6000+? I wouldn't know but I figured it would be unless they're slashing many down with filters.
From their perspective, I guess it effectively ‘locks in’ the best students at an early stage as they can get ahead of other law firms.I don't understand why CC is prioritising programmes likes Spark? Surely some of the people coming through the programme will change their minds during university as they are exposed to other career options?
I don't understand why CC is prioritising programmes likes Spark? Surely some of the people coming through the programme will change their minds during university as they are exposed to other career options?
I don't understand why CC is prioritising programmes likes Spark? Surely some of the people coming through the programme will change their minds during university as they are exposed to other career options?
Maybe, but if you are applying to a first-year scheme you are also very likely to be committed to that path.
Also, they build in protections like this, just like with offers, if a firm takes on 90 trainees a year, they don't simply make 90 offers, as they know candidates will have applied elsewhere and have other offers.
I'm personally not a fan of their recruitment style, but I can't lie - Watching those at my uni who had already secured a TC in their first year made me very envious! I was longing for a TC at that point!
I don't agree with offering 1st year's TC at all - its a bonkers idea. No other sector does it either. I get that they lock people in early, but many people will just also look to upgrade their offer if they can anyway - so I doubt many are that truly locked in.
Except for valuable time that could be used applying elsewhere...Nothing to lose!
This statement could apply to any firm, though. Many firms recruit predominantly from vacation schemes and yet people still apply, especially if they're set on the firm and they're confident in their abilities to succeed on a Training Contract. People still get hired, even if they haven't gone through the vac scheme route (how else would firms fill vacancies if the vac scheme candidates weren't all up to scratch?). Absolutely nothing is lost here other than a bit of time and energy spent researching the firm and writing an application, but that applies with every firm.Except for valuable time that could be used applying elsewhere...