2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Lisa Lowe]

Truly gutted after BCLP rejection for summer VS. Was told my application had many grammatical errors when I had submitted it through Grammarly a billion times, sent it out to friends and family to double check to spot any errors, read it over and over agin till I memorised every word, full stop, comma and colon. This was the firm which invited me to an open day in year 12 and behaved as a catalyst to me pursuing a career in commercial law.

However, after an hour of sobbing I have managed to pull myself together and once again pray for better news. I hope that anyone who reads this message does receive good news and positive vibes.....

Really sorry to hear! How did you manage to get feedback on your written app?

 

[Tariq Kioumji]

I applied on 28th November

Thanks! i applied end of Dec so my application might not even be considered for this round of ACs.

Best of luck!!

 

[Bugsy Malone]

DLA rejection (applied 22nd dec and completed WG on 28th)

 

[lawyermeup]

Thank you! I got the invite at 6.30pm tonight - applied near the deadline.

There are some good write ups on this forum that I used for my WVS interview! The AC consists of a test, an HR interview and a Partner/Managing Associate Interview. The test is nothing you can prepare for... it's like a reading comprehension, and a quick SJT. The HR interview is focusing on motivations but mainly competencies. I loved my HR interview and got really friendly with my interviewer, remember to stick to STAR but also I'd really recommend being honest rather than saying things you expect they'd want to hear!

The Partner interview is based off a case study. I thought you got quite a lot of time to do the case study, but it's reviewing a Sale & Purchase Agreement and finding any issues in it. I would really recommend looking at Warranties/Indemnities. 15mins before your partner interview, you get a 'crisis' email which you discuss. For the Partner interview, don't stress! I literally wrote something that was factually incorrect, the Partner flagged it up, and we talked through it and it was completely fine. The most important aspect of it is to show your thought process and that you are a logical thinker. They really want you to succeed!!! Also biggest advice is just be yourself and like don't answer questions how you think they want you to if that makes sense? they want your personality to shine through. Best of luck and let me know how it goes!!!

 

[Natalie Black]

Does anyone have an idea of how long Bird & Bird take to get back to you post WG?

Got an email today saying they'll get back to us after they finished with the vacation scheme lot. Some people are saying they got a VI invite straight after WG test though. I didnt

 

[KB2020]

There are some good write ups on this forum that I used for my WVS interview! The AC consists of a test, an HR interview and a Partner/Managing Associate Interview. The test is nothing you can prepare for... it's like a reading comprehension, and a quick SJT. The HR interview is focusing on motivations but mainly competencies. I loved my HR interview and got really friendly with my interviewer, remember to stick to STAR but also I'd really recommend being honest rather than saying things you expect they'd want to hear!

The Partner interview is based off a case study. I thought you got quite a lot of time to do the case study, but it's reviewing a Sale & Purchase Agreement and finding any issues in it. I would really recommend looking at Warranties/Indemnities. 15mins before your partner interview, you get a 'crisis' email which you discuss. For the Partner interview, don't stress! I literally wrote something that was factually incorrect, the Partner flagged it up, and we talked through it and it was completely fine. The most important aspect of it is to show your thought process and that you are a logical thinker. They really want you to succeed!!! Also biggest advice is just be yourself and like don't answer questions how you think they want you to if that makes sense? they want your personality to shine through. Best of luck and let me know how it goes!!!

Thank you so much! That's really helpful.

 

[Edward]

I submitted two applications in a row, albeit on the deadline. It took me a week to prep per application. What a challenging process. I'm exhausted now

 

[p9b]

Congrats on the AC invite!! if you dont mind me asking, which location was this for? thanks!!

London!

 

[p9b]

Congrats! when did you complete your telephone interview?

29th December! So tomorrow would have been exactly two weeks

 

[Pallatablelawyer]

Does Katten ask everyone to confirm their right to work in the UK?

I’ve been asked to send a scan of my passport. I’m a UK citizen and studied in the UK, so I’m not sure why I’ve been asked or if they ask everyone.

Yeah

 

[Lawyer101]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any experience of the CMS AC? Got mine this week and I'm getting nervous!

 

[OB]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has any experience of the CMS AC? Got mine this week and I'm getting nervous!

Same, nerves definitely sinking in now haha

 

[castrooo]

To those that have already done the Dentons telephone interview, did grad rec ring the phone number you provided in the application form? I booked my slot in December and have my interview tomorrow morning but never received a confirmation email re any joining instructions.

 

[CSM]

Anyone heard from Clyde & Co?

 

[Daniel Boden]

Invite to assessment centre at Macfarlanes!! Yay!!!

I applied on 9 November 2020.

Congratulations Ricky! I also just got invited to an AC at Macfarlanes. If anyone has any advice on preparing for the Macfarlanes AC I would really appreciate it if you could send me a message.

Congrats to you guys!! So did I! if anyone has any advice I would also really appreciate it!

I did a thread/post on the Macfarlanes AC a year or two ago which hopefully you'll be able to find? No idea if the AC has changed since then but it may be helpful to you guys

 

[Ricky]

I did a thread/post on the Macfarlanes AC a year or two ago which hopefully you'll be able to find? No idea if the AC has changed since then but it may be helpful to you guys

Thanks, Daniel.

There is also a video on Macfarlanes' website about their new virtual assessment process.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Truly gutted after BCLP rejection for summer VS. Was told my application had many grammatical errors when I had submitted it through Grammarly a billion times, sent it out to friends and family to double check to spot any errors, read it over and over agin till I memorised every word, full stop, comma and colon. This was the firm which invited me to an open day in year 12 and behaved as a catalyst to me pursuing a career in commercial law.

However, after an hour of sobbing I have managed to pull myself together and once again pray for better news. I hope that anyone who reads this message does receive good news and positive vibes.....

I'm not sure if this is the case and you may have had a different experience but when I got rejected from BCLP a couple of years ago, they sent me the same feedback which I then realised was the same feedback that they sent to everyone - was like a generic note. No idea if that's the case for you but if it is hopefully that should ease the pain a bit as it sounds like you did a really great job proofing your app which should bode very well for your apps going forward so try and keep your head up if you can

 

[anon101]

Hey guys, I sent my Baker McKenzie app on the 30th Dec and still haven't heard back about the WG, is anyone else in the same position?

 

[bringtring]

If in a TC interview, the partners joke that something you said "that's just got you a TC on its own"
and then at the end of the interview they say "good interview". Can I reasonably suppose that it went well?

 

[Ricky]

Truly gutted after BCLP rejection for summer VS. Was told my application had many grammatical errors when I had submitted it through Grammarly a billion times, sent it out to friends and family to double check to spot any errors, read it over and over agin till I memorised every word, full stop, comma and colon. This was the firm which invited me to an open day in year 12 and behaved as a catalyst to me pursuing a career in commercial law.

However, after an hour of sobbing I have managed to pull myself together and once again pray for better news. I hope that anyone who reads this message does receive good news and positive vibes.....

BCLP sends out like 2 or 3 different generic feedback emails. Was this feedback given to you after asking or automatically?