2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Ricky]

Can’t knock you down though Ricky, I remember you still got that Macfarlanes vs 🤪 Congrats again btw!

Cheers. Still waiting to hear MB AC outcome as well!

 

[AAA_a]

Sorry to hear about all the Dechert PFOs. Just wondering are they for spring or summer though?

 

[Han.louise]

Has anyone done a Burges Salmon AC recently?

 

[Ricky]

Sorry to hear about all the Dechert PFOs. Just wondering are they for spring or summer though?

Spring.

 

[lozza_2]

Can't quite believe it but been invited to an AC for Ashurst VS! applied literally 5 mins before the deadline (29th Jan) and did not perform very well on revelian assessment test so am very shocked right now 😅

 

[Tangle]

Hi! When were you invited to do the tests/VI and did you apply to the London office?

Hey I received them on Tuesday and no it was for Bristol

 

[aaron_atde]

Anyone else got a Mills & Reeve AC next week?

 

[losinghope]

Can't quite believe it but been invited to an AC for Ashurst VS! applied literally 5 mins before the deadline (29th Jan) and did not perform very well on revelian assessment test so am very shocked right now 😅

Congrats! By chance when did you receive the AC invite

 

[lozza_2]

Congrats! By chance when did you receive the AC invite

Thank you! I received the invite just after 8pm tonight

 

[21wajsz]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

 

[Tavistocksfinest]

How did the AC gO?

Got the vac scheme offer a week after my AC!

 

[Kola]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

Depends on the firm. Certain firms care more about grades e.g. Slaughter 'and' May whereas others just care about the 2:1. For reference, I have a 54 in contract law but that hasn't stopped me from getting ACs because I have a 2:1 overall.

 

[21wajsz]

Depends on the firm. Certain firms care more about grades e.g. Slaughter 'and' May whereas others just care about the 2:1. For reference, I have a 54 in contract law but that hasn't stopped me from getting ACs because I have a 2:1 overall.

Thank you! I was just worried because even though I have consistently scored 2:1 (albeit on the lower end), I barely have any firsts in my module! Just thought that will be a concern. But thank you so much for the clarification, definitely eases my worries.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

 

[AA99]

Has anyone done a Burges Salmon AC recently?

I did a Burges Salmon AC for the winter vac scheme back in November so feel free to drop me a message with any questions👍

 

[LEL]

Can anyone give suggestions/advice as to how to tell tutors you'll be missing uni because of a vac scheme?

 

[Lawgirl123]

Finimize is a godsend but christ the emails give me a heart attack every day

Is it free??

 

[Legal_rawn]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

I have such a range of grades (49% to 84%, however a 2.1 in both years) and have had ACs with MC and US firms whilst also having a VS last year! So it really depends more on the individual firm rather than the group!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

Grades are definitely looked at closely.

A overall 2.2 in your second or third year will not be ideal. Occasional module is fine, but a 2.2 average in a year will be a concern for many firms, even if you did average a 2.1 by the end of your degree.

 

[MikSoroko]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

I don't necessarily agree - I lean towards the view that firms look at your applications holistically.

For instance - I didn't do too well in one of my public law modules last year, and it dragged my grade down to a low 2.1, whereas I did well on the rest of them, namely contract, criminal and tort which I presume are the more important ones for some firms. I don't feel like it has hindered me, and I seem to be doing better with US firms which tend to have more stringent academic requirements.

So I think firstly, sometimes it depends on which module you have done poorly in, but also the quality of the rest of your application, how well you score on the tests/WG etc.