2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Legalmel_99]

PFO fieldfisher submitted app on 23rd January.

 

[anon101]

I am afraid it doesn't mean anything. It's just the way the portal is formatted. I've had the tick from the very moment I completed my tests

Thanks! But are you sure, cause I think it was previously like this:

 

[els124]

Has anyone heard back from Freshfields post-AC for the summer VS? I had my AC last week and I'm wondering how long it'll take to hear back

 

[bibss]

Thanks! But are you sure, cause I think it was previously like this:

View attachment 2654

I believe I've always had the tick? Now you are making me second guess myself 😂 But yes, personally I recall always having the tick. Maybe this screenshot is from last year?

 

[anon101]

I believe I've always had the tick? Now you are making me second guess myself 😂 But yes, personally I recall always having the tick. Maybe this screenshot is from last year?

Ahahaha no both are from this year. I applied for two programmes: the first screenshot is from my application to the Spring VS and the second one is from my application to the Singapore-London TC. They're both in the same portal and I think I distinctly remember the "Candidate Review" for my Spring VS also being orange at first. But I'm very not sure ahahah, maybe we'll just have to wait for Links to get back to us but I'm not very confident. :')

 

[jan28]

hi guys pwc hasn't given a deadline for their vi so when would be a reasonable time to complete? some firms in the past have given a week whereas others have given two. also any advice for it would also be appreciated!

 

[cmaj]

RPC VS OFFER!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!

 

[ZaraB]

hi guys pwc hasn't given a deadline for their vi so when would be a reasonable time to complete? some firms in the past have given a week whereas others have given two. also any advice for it would also be appreciated!

I went on their website to check and the deadline is on 12th February!

 

[jan28]

I went on their website to check and the deadline is on 12th February!

amazing thank you so much!!

 

[ellensdaleoriginal]

Has anyone else still not heard anything back from K&E or MoFo post application?

Also, I have seen a few people who have been invited to an AC with Milbank. As they are one of the few firms that say they will only respond to successful candidates I am assuming I am unsuccessful. Is it acceptable to email grad rec and just ask for clarity? Or is the purpose of them saying they only reply to successful candidates partly so they don't have to deal with these kinds of emails? @Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

Has anyone else still not heard anything back from K&E or MoFo post application?

Also, I have seen a few people who have been invited to an AC with Milbank. As they are one of the few firms that say they will only respond to successful candidates I am assuming I am unsuccessful. Is it acceptable to email grad rec and just ask for clarity? Or is the purpose of them saying they only reply to successful candidates partly so they don't have to deal with these kinds of emails? @Jessica Booker

I guess it is in part to minimise the number of emails. No harm in asking them though in my opinion. Worst that can happen is they ignore your email.

 

[tk166]

If a firm asks about a commercial story that interested me at interview, does talking about the increasing interest in SPACs count as a commercial story?

 

[Lily721]

Hi guys, for a question asking you about a firm’s competitors - how would you expand on it, especially if you have to talk for a couple of minutes?

 

[Jessica Booker]

If a firm asks about a commercial story that interested me at interview, does talking about the increasing interest in SPACs count as a commercial story?

Don’t see why it wouldn’t be. I am seeing a reasonable amount in applications, so make sure you really nail the “why it interests you” part because it’s one of the more obvious topics at the moment.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, for a question asking you about a firm’s competitors - how would you expand on it, especially if you have to talk for a couple of minutes?

Think about how you could break it down. Do competitors vary by practice area, sector or geographical location. What makes them a competitor rather than just another law firm? Are there similarities in the way they work etc?

 

[cmaj]

If a firm asks about a commercial story that interested me at interview, does talking about the increasing interest in SPACs count as a commercial story?

Definitely! I heard a lot of firms discuss it last year. Make sure you know enough about it to talk about it though and that you do have a genuine interest. I always find it easiest to talk about an area I have a real genuine interest in because I can bring in multiple different news stories and give a broad overview of one story within its context as a trend.

Hi guys, for a question asking you about a firm’s competitors - how would you expand on it, especially if you have to talk for a couple of minutes?

I always look at legal500 and chambers to look at competitors in practice areas, and then I think about factors like geographical reach - global/regional? method of expansion? profit centres? strength in particular (practice groups in) cities? No firm has just one competitor! If you have TCLA Premium as well, look at the law firm profiles as this will give you some good pointers on where to start researching competitors. You could also align this with why you want to join a particular firm, e.g. "Your competitors do x whereas you do x which is why I want to work for you and not them".

 

[Rob93]

If a firm asks about a commercial story that interested me at interview, does talking about the increasing interest in SPACs count as a commercial story?

Absolutely but with the SPAC boom I'd recommend trying to get more specific about it and targeting sub-trends. Big ones off the top of my head are changes to how the sponsor 'promote' is structured to incentivise high quality acquisitions, US SPACs gearing up to hunt European assets and how SPACs slot into the private equity ecosystem.

In the UK context in particular, also worth discussing that the LSE desperately wants to make SPAC fundraising more attractive and the FCA-as-Listing-Authority is reviewing the Listing Rules to see if that can be done.

 

[21wajsz]

Slaughter Summer Vac Scheme PFO! Applied very near the deadline if anyone is wondering ) Honestly at this point, even if its a rejection I feel relieved because honestly the waiting game is honestly the most stressful part!!

 

[Luiz1001]

Just to confirm that Pinsent Masons did not send a confirmation email after completing their psychometric test? I did mine yesterday but no confirmation...

 

[Oxdart]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but those of us who haven’t heard from Latham are going to get a PFO soon...I’m sure most of you had figured that out anyway but just heard from a reliable source...quite bummed was my fav firm by some distance...