2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[ilovetheDLR]

Is there a website where you can see a firms recent deals? As the firm I am researching does not have their deals on their own website.

The only matter database I can think of is Law.com Radar but that's not free. I don't think there will be a free website that'll list all deals really but you could try the following:

Sometimes deals are mentioned under their "experiences" section of a partner's profile so might be worth trying that. Also, try searching for the firm name on legal news websites - Law.com, TheLawyer, LegalBusiness, Law360, IFLR1000, GlobalLegalChronicles, BloombergLaw are good ones. Failing that, you can also try searching the firm name on sites like PRNewswire as most press releases for announced deals will include legal advisors.

Bit strange for a firm to not include deals on their website though, do you mind me asking what firm this is for?

 

[Nnu]

if a law firm say they can't offer you a vacation scheme bt you're still under consideration for a TC is that a bad thing ? can't really gauge it

 

[Georgina Evans]

if a law firm say they can't offer you a vacation scheme bt you're still under consideration for a TC is that a bad thing ? can't really gauge it

I had this for BDB Pitmans, really not sure what to think

 

[pbyrne]

And PFO from Fox Williams. So that's all my apps from Jan out. Supposed to be focusing on direct tc apps but feeling v disheartened now and can't concentrate. This is my fourth cycle. I had two final round interviews in my second cycle but after that I haven't been able to get past application form stage and just don't know where I'm going wrong - I've had my forms checked and read by others (including lawyers) and think my two interview successes were based on worse application forms, so I'm completely stumped.

 

[ofm]

if a law firm say they can't offer you a vacation scheme bt you're still under consideration for a TC is that a bad thing ? can't really gauge it

I had this for BDB Pitmans, really not sure what to think

I just got this too & idk what to think either... hoping they decided that I had enough experience to warrant putting me in the direct TC route? Or I applied too late...

 

[21wajsz]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith recently! I submitted my research questions in early February and I haven't heard anything since (lowkey forgot I still had Reed Smith outstanding!)

 

[E1998]

Massive apologies as I am aware this has been spoken about recently. I received two vac scheme offers yesterday & OVER THE MOON (calls came through legit at the same time hahaha what are the odds)..

But of course the dates clash. I plan on asking one of the firms if alternative dates are available (one of them I know can't change the dates as its like a set time), what I want to know is the best way to go about this... as in the best way to word it haha. Then if they can't change it what should my plan be, I know @Jessica Booker recommends asking to be considered for a TC but should I include that in my original email asking to change dates or only if they respond saying they can't change the dates? If anyone has a recommending wording of this or has done it before please let me know!

 

[S87]

I just got this too & idk what to think either... hoping they decided that I had enough experience to warrant putting me in the direct TC route? Or I applied too late...

Can I ask you which firm is it?

 

[S87]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith recently! I submitted my research questions in early February and I haven't heard anything since (lowkey forgot I still had Reed Smith outstanding!)

Nope, I sent my research questions on February the 14th...It is really affecting me. Just send me a PFO plse

 

[ofm]

Can I ask you which firm is it?

BDB Pitmans

 

[LeilaScott]

has anyone heard from Dechert?

 

[cmaj]

I was in the same position - two of my three clashed. On the one hand, it was difficult because I really liked the firm I had to turn down, I worked so hard to get that offer, and that firm had more trainee places available. On the other hand, I just slightly preferred the firm which it clashed with. I feel like I've built a stronger connection with them and done a better job in the recruitment thus far. So I'm backing myself that I can convert it, rather than going with the other firm and wondering 'what if'...

I was in EXACTLY the same position as this! Although I loved one firm, the other fit my requirements better and had a higher ratio of VS to TC places. I tried to be objective in my decision and not think about the people I had met and who I liked more from that perspective. I'm still hoping that one of my vac schemes gets shorter though as one is 3 weeks and the first week clashes with one of the weeks of the one I had to turn down

 

[Sebastian Clark]

And PFO from Fox Williams. So that's all my apps from Jan out. Supposed to be focusing on direct tc apps but feeling v disheartened now and can't concentrate. This is my fourth cycle. I had two final round interviews in my second cycle but after that I haven't been able to get past application form stage and just don't know where I'm going wrong - I've had my forms checked and read by others (including lawyers) and think my two interview successes were based on worse application forms, so I'm completely stumped.

Try not to get too disheartened! This cycle has honestly been mad in terms of numbers, and it’ll be arbitrary/tiny things I’m sure that mean your applications aren’t progressing. I’m the same, I’ve had only 3 VIs this cycle out of 12 vac scheme applications and they’ve not progressed - I’ve definitely felt like throwing in the towel.

I honestly do believe it’s a numbers game at this point, and that luck plays a big part.

Take a few days for yourself and bounce back with the straight TC apps - when you look back on this period as a lawyer in ten years time you’ll be glad you persevered!

 

[Dheepa]

Massive apologies as I am aware this has been spoken about recently. I received two vac scheme offers yesterday & OVER THE MOON (calls came through legit at the same time hahaha what are the odds)..

But of course the dates clash. I plan on asking one of the firms if alternative dates are available (one of them I know can't change the dates as its like a set time), what I want to know is the best way to go about this... as in the best way to word it haha. Then if they can't change it what should my plan be, I know @Jessica Booker recommends asking to be considered for a TC but should I include that in my original email asking to change dates or only if they respond saying they can't change the dates? If anyone has a recommending wording of this or has done it before please let me know!

Huge congrats on the two vacs! ☺️ I would only ask about being considered for a TC if they say no to changing dates. Firms are a lot more flexible with changing dates rather than switching to the TC stream outright.

 

[John Travoni]

Someone really needs to educate Gateley GR on what ‘shortly’ means 😒

 

[Dheepa]

Is there a website where you can see a firms recent deals? As the firm I am researching does not have their deals on their own website.

Have you tried The Legal 500/Chambers rankings? They usually have highlight deals listed. I’d also recommend searching The Lawyer. Everything is usually behind a paywall but sometimes the headlines give the names of clients away

 

[InNeedofaTC]

Someone really needs to educate Gateley GR on what ‘shortly’ means 😒

It’s been 11 days? If that’s what ‘shortly’ means then I’ve been living life all wrong 😭

 

[Andrew M]

I was in EXACTLY the same position as this! Although I loved one firm, the other fit my requirements better and had a higher ratio of VS to TC places. I tried to be objective in my decision and not think about the people I had met and who I liked more from that perspective. I'm still hoping that one of my vac schemes gets shorter though as one is 3 weeks and the first week clashes with one of the weeks of the one I had to turn down

It's funny because we approached the same situation from opposite approaches! The firm I turned down have more TC places (although it's hard to gage how many they allocate to vac schemers) - I just felt that I might be a better fit for the other firm and that this could serve me better in securing the TC.

Is the 3 week scheme the DLA one? I would have thought that they'd have already cut the first week, to be honest!

 

[Dheepa]

I have a Cooley AC coming up and was wondering whether anyone has any tips or how to prep for a business case study and presentation :/ I've never done one before

Hey, so my biggest tip for business case studies is to actually try practicing some consulting case studies. There’s quite a few free ones online and they do a really good job of getting you to think about purely business solutions rather than legal solutions. There’s also quite a lot of advice on these threads on how to structure answers for business case studies.

For the presentation, assuming you are not given the topic beforehand, I’d say the key is time management. You want to make sure you leave enough of your prep/reading time to run through an intro, some of your key points and a conclusion. That way you’ll be able to start of the actual presentation really strongly. It’s also important to remember to really assume the role the case study has assigned to you. So if you’re a lawyer/consultant giving a presentation to clients start your presentation off greeting your assessors as if they we’re the clients. Small things like this really make a big difference.

Hope that helps!

 

[CJCH]

Anyone waiting to hear back from Mishcon post-VI?