2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[RSta]

In the same boat with Winston & Strawn.

If anybody has interviewed with them this cycle, could you please let me know if they've started giving out offers yet or what stage they're at with their interviewing process? I'd really appreciate it!

FYI one of my friends has an interview with Winston tomorrow so they are still doing interviews at the moment.

 

[Kablahc]

I found this document quite interesting! https://www.shlegal.com/docs/defaul...ctures-2021_web-version.pdf?sfvrsn=2e84ed5b_0

Insight pages on firms' websites often have great overviews too! Good luck with your AC

Personally, I'd be a bit wary of learning stuff like this the day before an interview if you're not already prepared and aware of these issues. Whilst it may be good to have a story that's relevant to them, the last thing you want is to mention something you read about the day before and then being grilled on it further by people who are experts in the field and it becoming clear you don't really know all that much about it.

My advice would be to focus on the commercial awareness areas that interest you as ultimately the interview is designed to get to know your interests, not the interests/areas expertise of the interviewers.

PS: best of luck with your AC!

I’d suggest Retail Week (but I agree with Dan’s point!)

Thank you all! Just prepping in case they ask me anything - I was interested in property litigation when I made my app but things changed a bit since then so my knowledge isn't very current

 

[Matt_96]

Putting up the defences for the inevitable Forsters rejection after people had their AC invites last night:

(Congrats those who did btw!)

It's not a PFO til it's a PFO! I literally did my Simmons and Simmons app on the day of the deadline as a joke because I wanted to practice video interviews and they send them to every candidate. I have my AC tomorrow!

Given how long Forsters has taken to get back to some of us (I'm waiting to hear back from the 2022 cycle lol), it's not unreasonable to think they have a lot of people to get through and won't be giving all answers straight away. You still have a chance.

 

[Matt_96]

Does anyone know where I can find a rundown of important trends happening right now in property law/real estate? I got my AC tomorrow and turns out almost everyone interviewing me is a commercial real estate practicioner...

I don't know but I can certainly tell you about what I talked about in my interview with Trowers yesterday which was John Lewis's intention to enter the affordable housing market and whether it was the future of big retailers with large amounts of land but decreasing need for it, or whether it is a risky gamble that might go wrong given the onerous burden of affordable housing regulation on providers and the existing pressures facing the company. There are articles about it everywhere in the Times' business section as well as the FT.

 

[Kablahc]

I don't know but I can certainly tell you about what I talked about in my interview with Trowers yesterday which was John Lewis's intention to enter the affordable housing market and whether it was the future of big retailers with large amounts of land but decreasing need for it, or whether it is a risky gamble that might go wrong given the onerous burden of affordable housing regulation on providers and the existing pressures facing the company. There are articles about it everywhere in the Times' business section as well as the FT.

Thank you for this !! I'll have a look in the Times/FT in that case since they usually link similar articles!

 

[S87]

For all those who have an AC, @Paul - Shearman & Sterling posted something very interesting

"I've interviewed a lot of people for #vacationschemes recently. I've found that the vast majority of candidates are talking about the same commercial news stories. These are:

1. Regulation of 'big tech'
2. The death of the high street
3. SPACs

The analysis of these issues also tends to be the same.

Don't forget, the interview is an opportunity to differentiate yourself. Giving your own analysis on topics and news stories is the best way to do this"

 

[Florawilliams]

anyone heard back from Mayer Brown since AC? I had one end of Feb and still not heard

 

[Alex3107]

Out of curiosity, do people recommend only applying to around 10 firms that you really love or trying to apply to like 25+ ? I'm trying to plan ahead for next cycle

Hey! This cycle I applied to 10 firms, got invited to three ACs and got two VC - I would defo say focusing on the quality of applications (at least that's what I did, but I am aware it is also a numbers game). I would say to vary the types of firms you are applying to as well!

 

[Matt_96]

Thank you for this !! I'll have a look in the Times/FT in that case since they usually link similar articles!

Just to clarify, most of the articles I looked at did not go into depth about other retailers, so you'd have to draw those inferences yourself. Best of luck!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Can someone just tell me something reassuring before my AC this morning

Probably too late for ahead of your AC, but just remember you are one of a very small minority of people who have got to that stage. The firm see a lot of potential in you and want you to succeed.

 

[Alex3107]

Does anyone know where I can find a rundown of important trends happening right now in property law/real estate? I got my AC tomorrow and turns out almost everyone interviewing me is a commercial real estate practicioner...

Dentons and Eversheds have really amazing real estate reports, I've used them quite a lot in my ACs.

 

[LEL]

anyone heard back from Mayer Brown since AC? I had one end of Feb and still not heard

Was this for spring or summer?

 

[moesha12]

Has anyone still not heard back from MoFo after second round interview?? Did mine almost a month ago now so not feeling too positive but also just want an answer at this point

If they gave you a time frame by which you could expect to hear back and they've exceeded this quite substantially, I would say there's no harm in following up with an email. I know some people don't like doing this though through fear of looking impatient (myself included lol)

 

[Jacob Miller]

i dont know whether its the pandemic or the fact that I am so engrossed in all these applications but I found this quite romantic ahahaha

Damn, take me to dinner first!

(PS sorry, already taken)

 

[layla rose]

Probably too late for ahead of your AC, but just remember you are one of a very small minority of people who have got to that stage. The firm see a lot of potential in you and want you to succeed.

Obviously varies but what’s the average % of candidates who are taken to AC stage? just out of curiosity

 

[applicantmp]

Did anyone hear back after the Taylor Vinters AC?

 

[Daniel Boden]

Out of curiosity, do people recommend only applying to around 10 firms that you really love or trying to apply to like 25+ ? I'm trying to plan ahead for next cycle

Apply to as many firms as you can without sacrificing the quality of those applications is normally the best advice - for some people that may be 5 due to the time they have available, for others that may be 30 but obviously, the more apps you send the greater your chances!

 

[SamTam99]

Did anyone hear back after the Taylor Vinters AC?

They’re still running ACs until tomorrow! So will probs hear something next week/start of April

 

[Samantha]

anyone still waiting on Gibson?

 

[applicantmp]

They’re still running ACs until tomorrow! So will probs hear something next week/start of April

Ohh I thought that they were running until the 17th? Maybe they added more dates! Thank you