2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

[Anon 11031]

Not a direct answer to your question...but if that firm isn't doing any work in an area you're interested in, would you actually enjoy working there? For example, I'm not overly interested in disputes work but I still applied to a few firms that were strong in this area - I can now see that were was no point in applying to these firms because my interests didn't match at all what they offered (and this obviously came through in my application because I was rejected almost immediately, which wasn't the case for firms with which my interests aligned). If you're not interested in data protection and struggle to write an application answer, this may be a good early sign that's it's not the right firm for you! Sorry I know this doesn't really answer your question but it's an important lesson I've learnt this cycle.

Hi! I really appreciate your input on this. It's becoming really hard to strike a balance here because I'm limited in both time and numbers of firms I can apply to. Basically I need:

- A firm that will pay for my LPC (funding myself is not an option)
- A firm that is local (Northern)

Those two points alone often mean I have to focus on big name firms as lots of the smaller ones near me don't seem to fund the LPC. On top of this, I need to get a TC for 2022,23 or 24 at the absolute latest due to personal circumstances.

Speaking to my partner, who is a lawyer at an international law firm, he said he would just focus on trying to get a TC with any good name firm that will pay for my LPC as when you're an NQ it's a lot easier to be picky with where you move to. I'm not fully convinced this is the best approach, but if I narrow down my search to area of interest, plus 2023 start date AND firms that will pay for the LPC ...I'm left with about 3-4 firms. So I'm trying to branch out to just commercial law firms, but I just don't know how to appear engaged in other areas.

It really sucks that I can't be more patient and just apply for places that interest me, because that's ultimately what I want. 😕

 

[Jessica Booker]

Wondering if anyone has any advice on this.

I am applying for offices outside of London, mainly for international or large law firms. When it comes to my motivation I almost always mention the areas I like such as financial regulation and banking. However, a firm I'm applying to is strong in these areas but the office I'm applying to doesn't seem to have a team dedicated to this sort of stuff. Rather, it has a strong tech and data protection presence. Do I still talk about the work the firm has generally done in my preferred areas (even if this was more in London) or should I aim to research and strongly focus on the office I'm applying for? I don't know a great deal about data protection nor am I overly interested in it...so I feel a bit stuck.

Help?

I’d focus on the work that office does.

Are there other departments in that office that you are interested in? You don’t have to be interested in their “specialism” as such, but there is little point talking about your interest in certain practice areas if you wouldn’t experience them in the seats in that regional office. Your application is likely to be unsuccessful on that basis alone.

 

[Anon 11031]

I’d focus on the work that office does.

Are there other departments in that office that you are interested in? You don’t have to be interested in their “specialism” as such, but there is little point talking about your interest in certain practice areas if you wouldn’t experience them in the seats in that regional office. Your application is likely to be unsuccessful on that basis alone.

There's some other areas I'm interested in, they have smaller teams in this particular office. And the nature of the work does mean they occasionally cross over into needing advice on financial regulatory elements too.

I just didn't know whether it was wise to recognise the focus of the particular office.

 

[poppyia]

48 hours ago but reckon they will have quite a few to review so not too stressed - we already have the AC dates etc

What will it say if it hasn't been reviewed yet?

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

What will it say if it hasn't been reviewed yet?

'Finished',

 

[poppyia]

'Finished',

Oh so finished if it hasn't been reviewed yet? And what if it has? Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

There's some other areas I'm interested in, they have smaller teams in this particular office. And the nature of the work does mean they occasionally cross over into needing advice on financial regulatory elements too.

I just didn't know whether it was wise to recognise the focus of the particular office.

If you have no interest in the focus, then no. You will only come unstuck unless you are great at blagging.

 

[John Travoni]

Oh so finished if it hasn't been reviewed yet? And what if it has? Thanks!

I thought it says ‘finished’ when it has been reviewed??? So what does it say when it acc has been reviewed??

 

[poppyia]

I thought it says ‘finished’ when it has been reviewed??? So what does it say when it acc has been reviewed??

Haha I know i'm getting so confused

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

I thought it says ‘finished’ when it has been reviewed??? So what does it say when it acc has been reviewed??

"reviewed"

 

[SS1]

Haha I know i'm getting so confused

It says finished, when you finish doing the interview. It will say reviewed when it has been reviewed

 

[poppyia]

"reviewed"

Thanks

 

[E.A]

It says finished, when you finish doing the interview. It will say reviewed when it has been reviewed

That's weird as it says "Finished" on my video interview from April 2020 too... maybe they never looked at my VI last year 🤣

 

[poppyia]

It says finished, when you finish doing the interview. It will say reviewed when it has been reviewed

Thanks!

That's weird as it says "Finished" on my video interview from April 2020 too... maybe they never looked at my VI last year 🤣

haha oh well, clearly best not to read too much into it and just wait and see!

 

[layk]

I got 2 commercial questions from the BM VI when I thought I was only getting one :/ defo challenging

 

[Celestie]

Wondering if anyone has any advice on this.

I am applying for offices outside of London, mainly for international or large law firms. When it comes to my motivation I almost always mention the areas I like such as financial regulation and banking. However, a firm I'm applying to is strong in these areas but the office I'm applying to doesn't seem to have a team dedicated to this sort of stuff. Rather, it has a strong tech and data protection presence. Do I still talk about the work the firm has generally done in my preferred areas (even if this was more in London) or should I aim to research and strongly focus on the office I'm applying for? I don't know a great deal about data protection nor am I overly interested in it...so I feel a bit stuck.

Help?

Having just done 2 TC interviews at an international large law firm - tie it to something personal that stands out to you.

I speak another language and I say internationality is at the core of my values, and I want my work to reflect that - in doing so, I would need to work for an international firm. You could tie this to your studies, travel, interests to learn something new, challenges that it provides - but make sure you provide examples of when you've looked into it. I've now spoken to at least 8 international lawyers from different seats ranging from senior associate to partner so I get it. I asked them why they liked international work, 7/8 said "it was something new/I liked the language/it was due to a client..."

TOP TIP: what I have really importantly learned, different seats interact internationally differently. Aka - I know some litigation seats who are purely transatlantic, and some finance who are purely EMEA work. So if you mention a seat, make sure you understand what international work they do cause it could show you up as not researching the firm if you don't.


*EDIT* My sleep-deprived self misread the original post, however, I will leave this up as general advice anyway ahahha. Apologies @lawnoodle

 

[JayC]

For the BM VI did anyone else's say '2021 Training Contract'? I definitely applied for 2023 TC and my CvMail says as much but the VI said 2021 TC for some reason

 

[M1999]

For the BM VI did anyone else's say '2021 Training Contract'? I definitely applied for 2023 TC and my CvMail says as much but the VI said 2021 TC for some reason

Probably because you’re taking it in 2021, I wouldn’t worry too much!

 

[EdwardC]

Has anyone heard back from CRS London post-AC?

 

[John Travoni]

How did everyone find the BM VI?? Which question did you find the most challenging ?