I am worried about this too - I am still to apply to Bird & Bird. The deadline for Jones Day isn't until January though.
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2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion
- Thread starter Jaysen
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I am worried about this too - I am still to apply to Bird & Bird. The deadline for Jones Day isn't until January though.
thank you for the response!! very helpful! i don't know anyone who has progressed yet
Ok for real though, can Travers please just send their rejection? Getting impatient.
Travers have a bit of a reputation for leaving applicants on 'read' so to speak!
That in itself kinda puts me off the firm. Its decent professionalism if you know you aren't going to take someone on to let them know and wish them the best :/
It took Travers 9 months to reject me for a direct TC app.
Ropes are non-rolling. Confirmed in an LGBT Students Presentation today. They'll start screening in February, with ACs in March
Hi, I did the interview in March. It is a set of questions about your motivation, competencies etc. Think beforehand what attracts you to the firm, what the work of a commercial solicitor entails (I had exactly this question asked), why commercial law, what your biggest weakness is, whether you can show an example of teamwork etc.
Btw when did you do the WG because I reapplied this year (as in March they told me that they had decided to stop recruitment and therefore I never found out what the outcome of my interview was
)Btw when did you do the WG because I reapplied this year (as in March they told me that they had decided to stop recruitment and therefore I never found out what the outcome of my interview was
I was in exactly the same position as you (never found out interview result) and submitted my application on 15th, Watson on 20th, invite to telephone today. Best of luck.
Can anyone explain how it makes practical sense (from an applicant and recruitment perspective), that law firms ask for written answers (at times 2000+ words in length) – only to have a test straight after which determines whether your application is read.
I understand there are exceptions as some firms look at the test result and written answers holistically (Freshfields is a great example), but for many the test is just a criteria for your application to be read – leading to a lot of wasted time for the applicant who can spend up to a week drafting answers to questions. For the recruiter, having a number questions in the first stage means less high quality applicants can be bothered to apply.
Does it not make sense, as companies in other sectors are starting to do, to have a a short application form which can be filled in <30 mins (to assess eligibility), followed by a test, which if you pass you can then submit written answers to questions?
I don't think this will happen in the near future, but I am yet to see an argument to why the process is structured this way.
I understand there are exceptions as some firms look at the test result and written answers holistically (Freshfields is a great example), but for many the test is just a criteria for your application to be read – leading to a lot of wasted time for the applicant who can spend up to a week drafting answers to questions. For the recruiter, having a number questions in the first stage means less high quality applicants can be bothered to apply.
Does it not make sense, as companies in other sectors are starting to do, to have a a short application form which can be filled in <30 mins (to assess eligibility), followed by a test, which if you pass you can then submit written answers to questions?
I don't think this will happen in the near future, but I am yet to see an argument to why the process is structured this way.
Hi, I did the interview in March. It is a set of questions about your motivation, competencies etc. Think beforehand what attracts you to the firm, what the work of a commercial solicitor entails (I had exactly this question asked), why commercial law, what your biggest weakness is, whether you can show an example of teamwork etc.
Btw when did you do the WG because I reapplied this year (as in March they told me that they had decided to stop recruitment and therefore I never found out what the outcome of my interview was
Thank you so much!! This is amazingly helpful!!
I did the WG last week not sure of the exact date I think it was 25th or 26th?? hope you hear back soon as well
which office are you applying for??
I was actually thinking about this the other day. I came to the conclusion that long application forms followed by a test probably stops a lot of low effort applications in general, which would be a slog to read. The thinking probably is that if someone is willing to write 2000 first on why the firm, they are dedicated and actually interested.
Also by having a long application and then a test, instead of the other way around, it keeps cadidates from seeing and learning the test under fake names and then applying for real after they know how to game it.
Valid points - just to react to this. I think the applicants who are interested in the company will be the ones who submit detailed answers following the tests. The difference will be these answers are actually read and their efforts spent writing these answers are not in vain. Further, for those that make it that far in the process – I think it will actually incentivise them to write higher quality answers than they would have if it were the first stage of the process.
Re: the test - given the prevalence of Watson-Glaser tests (which have randomised questions from a question bank) I don't think it is possible to game it the same way as it may be in other forms of tests. But this point is definitely valid.
The civil service makes you do tests before they let you complete an application for some posts - honestly think law firms should do the same
Very true – although I do hope law firms don't adopt the full civil service recruitment package!
It's has a crazy amount of stages including: around 8 tests which takes around 6 hours to complete; a video interview; written answers; AC; and then final interview. It makes me thankful some firms just have cover letter/cv -> interview!
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