2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Jooooopp7]

Just to point out that you don't need legal work experience to secure a vacation scheme. Soft skills developed in non-legal work experience is just as valuable for applications, if not even more so.

In my own interviews this cycle, I've only had one partner ask me once about a week of work experience I did in a law firm. The rest have focused on other roles and responsibilities I have held.

ahh yeah completely understand this, and defo feel that firms are much more interested in other work experience, I'm just not sure that it looks good for me to have never had any legal experience despite being a few months away from finishing the gdl and also just want to have something productive to fill my summer with ahah

 

[Ophelia K]

I was wondering if any of you know how I could gain some legal work experience? It's looking more and more like I won't get a vacation scheme this year but really need some actual experience, not sure if covid has prevented any shadowing from taking place so any advice would be incredibly welcome! e.g. does anyone know if legal summer internships are still open/a thing?

Definitely just reach out to some firms. I was in the same boat this year and managed to secure work during lockdown as a legal assistant and I'm now working as a paralegal. I just reached out to a number of different firms and a handful replied!

Edit: I also did a non-law undergrad degree and had no prior legal experience so it's definitely doable

 

[thirdtimelucky]

I absolutely love Ghibli movies 😭 and this is so beautiful! If you're ever considering selling any of your crocheting seriously PM me lol.

You are too kind omg :') I've never thought about selling any of my stuff but if I have the time/feel they're good enough to sell I'll let you know!!

But if you're ever interested in doing it yourself its really REALLY easy to start. I knew nothing about embroidery last year, got a cheap beginners kit off amazon and went on youtube for a better guide then 1 month later I was doing my own designs (best thing about embroidery is you don't need to know how to draw as you can trace the image with pencil!!!)

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Definitely just reach out to some firms. I was in the same boat this year and managed to secure work during lockdown as a legal assistant and I'm now working as a paralegal. I just reached out to a number of different firms and a handful replied!

Edit: I also did a non-law undergrad degree and had no prior legal experience so it's definitely doable

Did you reach out to high-street firms or bigger firms? I always wanted to email but felt quite scared as I had no legal experience?

 

[theTC_girl]

Nope!! I'm still anxiously waiting

Just heard back so they may be sending out replies now.

 

[Annalie]

Just heard back so they may be sending out replies now.

Oh really! Thanks for letting us know

 

[theTC_girl]

I was wondering if any of you know how I could gain some legal work experience? It's looking more and more like I won't get a vacation scheme this year but really need some actual experience, not sure if covid has prevented any shadowing from taking place so any advice would be incredibly welcome! e.g. does anyone know if legal summer internships are still open/a thing?

There are some firms with applications still open e.g. Browne Jacobson, Anthony Collins to name a few. Check out LCN for deadlines. Check this out too: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEDWlKxnpYqORcRiGwxJGhBhKwVR0Y_yUPK7fBjsqV013MuA/viewform

 

[Ophelia K]

Did you reach out to high-street firms or bigger firms? I always wanted to email but felt quite scared as I had no legal experience?

I worked as a legal assistant at a small high-street firm for a little while and now I'm at a mid-sized firm as part of the corporate team. Honestly I initially thought it was a long-shot applying with no experience, especially in the middle of a pandemic, but I was really surprised by the response I had.

 

[Matt_96]

I don't think league tables are necessarily the most representative of how well a firm is doing.

There are many many US firms that don't even have a strong presence in London/relatively unknown in the London market that are miles ahead of many of the US firms that do have a strong foothold here. So when thinking about breaking into the US market, remember that MC firms really are squaring against a really large range of firms. Another reason is because the relationships US firms have with their clients in the US run very very deep (some are incredibly political I think but I won't get into that lol). A lot of well known corporate lawyers in the US go into politics/end up holding very high ranking positions in huge companies in the US and that kind of long standing relationship is very difficult to compete with.

Nobody does the revolving door quite like the Americans do! When I was an undergrad and just finishing my year abroad out there I did some work experience at a firm that specialised in communications law in Washington DC and like 2/3 of the partners I met had previously worked at the FCC (America's answer to Ofcom) or in some other form of federal regulatory agency.

 

[OB]

No, I completely agree with you, whilst not objectively bad I didn’t feel my results were completely accurate 🤷🏻‍♀️ But good to know they’re only partly considered

Yes, one individual was super stressed because they said their results were basically polar opposite of who they were, and grad rec just said not to worry because whilst they are part of your overall application, your results are not utilised as a form of screening.
So if you didn’t meet their required results for whatever reason you aren’t automatically rejected as a form of thinning their remaining applications, if that makes sense?

Super interesting results
mine were focus, fairness and emotion.

Yeah that makes sense! Would love to know if there’s a set of 3 they want or a combo of 2

 

[S87]

Another day with no news..See ya tomorrow lovely colleagues in despair!

 

[FM302989]

RIP my weekend. Two interviews to prep for

 

[Jacob Miller]

RIP my weekend. Two interviews to prep for

Will be worth it in the end! Congrats on securing the interviews.

 

[FM302989]

Will be worth it in the end! Congrats on securing the interviews.

Cheers King! Just gotta freshen up my motivations, competencies my profile and be ready for any surprising questions that may come my way

 

[M&ALawyer]

Interview invite for Winston & Strawn!

I applied quite early on in November for others still waiting.

 

[djqb]

Interview invite for Winston & Strawn!

I applied quite early on in November for others still waiting.

Wooo congrats! May I ask when your interview is?

 

[Jacob Miller]

Cheers King! Just gotta freshen up my motivations, competencies my profile and be ready for any surprising questions that may come my way

Best of luck! Remember you can follow up with any questions on my article threads for advice, can access them via my signature

 

[M&ALawyer]

Wooo congrats! May I ask when your interview is?

Thanks!

They have provided me with a range of interview dates until the end of March (so far). I have not been allocated a time yet.

 

[HorsesForCoursesNeighNeighNeigh]

Oooooh I just got the AC/open day (instead of vac scheme) for CRS!!!! I did their video interview a few weeks back, so happy!

 

[CF1234]

anyone heard from W+C yet? (post AC)