2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

[Dheepa]

Does Gibson Dunn take any direct TC applicants or mainly from their VS?

Think they're one of those firms that only look at TC apps if someone from the VS has turned them down but perhaps @Daniel Boden knows better!

 

[Daniel Boden]

Does Gibson Dunn take any direct TC applicants or mainly from their VS?

Yeah GD only really takes trainees from its VS and doesn't usually look at direct TC apps

 

[NK]

Is it too late to apply to Macfarlanes’ direct TC ?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it too late to apply to Macfarlanes’ direct TC ?

Considering they don’t close until the 31 July, I think you’ll be fine!

 

[H48]

To me they are separate questions. One is asking you to talk about the core skills/attitudes needed to succeed, the other is asking you to highlight what makes you different, so outside of the core skills/attitudes. You could talk about any experiences in either question though.

Thanks for this advice. I don't know why but I seem to really struggle with USP questions. Would you recommend going down the route of a characteristic, an experience and hat it taught it has taught me, or something else? Sorry if I'm completely overthinking this, I just find it quite hard to draw out something that really is "different."

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for this advice. I don't know why but I seem to really struggle with USP questions. Would you recommend going down the route of a characteristic, an experience and hat it taught it has taught me, or something else? Sorry if I'm completely overthinking this, I just find it quite hard to draw out something that really is "different."

It’s never one things that makes us different from the next candidate, but a mixture or combination of things that do. Those things can be experiences or characteristics. It’s really difficult to advise you USPs because they are so personal to each individual person but I would try to think of the following:

• What have I done that is different to what the majority of other people do?
• What am I good at - where are my natural strengths that people or I rely on when things get tough
• What knowledge do I have that is of a higher level than other candidates?
• What do I do that’s different to other people, in terms of approach or opinion?

 

[LawStudentTC]

Hello, has anyone heard from Hogan Lovells?

 

[Tintin06]

What are Freshfields USPs? Struggling to differentiate them from other magic circle firms

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

What are Freshfields USPs? Struggling to differentiate them from other magic circle firms

8 seat training contract
Really strong Corporate and Disputes group - 2nd globally in M&A deal tables
Great at PE
US expansion/new offices

 

[Dheepa]

What are Freshfields USPs? Struggling to differentiate them from other magic circle firms

I think @wannabe has already given you some of the biggest differences but there's also quite a lot of helpful advice on Freshfields in this thread https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....e-trainee-at-freshfields-anything.2276/page-1

I actually think one of the key things about the Freshfields app in particular is that it should be more about yourself. Mentioning deals/the work they do should only come in if there is something that tangibly ties this back to you. So maybe consider this when you're doing more research into the USPs. https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....erview-tips-2019-2020.1423/page-55#post-16889

 

[HorsesForCoursesNeighNeighNeigh]

Hi all! Has anyone heard anything from NRF recently for direct TC? I haven’t had a WG invite and am not sure whether I should be worried. Applied very end of November, confirmed but nothing since.

 

[bibss]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughter and May recently?

 

[iamJW]

Hi all! Has anyone heard anything from NRF recently for direct TC? I haven’t had a WG invite and am not sure whether I should be worried. Applied very end of November, confirmed but nothing since.

I applied around the same time as you and I am also still waiting. Maybe they will update us in January after Spring VS applicants?

 

[lawyermeup]

Hi all! Has anyone heard anything from NRF recently for direct TC? I haven’t had a WG invite and am not sure whether I should be worried. Applied very end of November, confirmed but nothing since.

I applied in November and also still waiting! I reckon maybe Jan we might hear back

 

[Legal_rawn]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughter and May recently?

Nope I applied on the 4th of December and haven’t heard anything. Last year they rejected me in 8 days and I applied on the deadline so I’m hoping the silence is good!

 

[Veep9]

I applied around the same time as you and I am also still waiting. Maybe they will update us in January after Spring VS applicants?

Same boat, applied around 20 November, heard nothing. They responded in Jan last year and that’s what I’d assume will happen again (although last year they were clear that that was their policy; this year, grad recruitment said they were going to try to be rolling but, given not a single person seems to have heard, I think they’re just very busy with VS).

 

[JoNo]

Is anyone still waiting for A&O?

 

[bibss]

Nope I applied on the 4th of December and haven’t heard anything. Last year they rejected me in 8 days and I applied on the deadline so I’m hoping the silence is good!

Same, 2 years ago I was rejected in 5 days lol. So, I am really hoping it is a positive sign since I have been waiting to hear something for about 6 weeks now. Good luck!

 

[W]

Is anyone still waiting for A&O?

Yup

 

[JoNo]

Yup

Haven’t seen hardly anyone with direct TC ACs, have you?