2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Celestie]

Huge congrats on Cambridge! Yeah I think they still would - a friend of mine was able to defer his TC to do a Masters in Business so hopefully, your firm will be receptive to that too

Depends if the firm even gives me an offer!! I have been ever so lucky this year! Thank you for all your wonderful support!

 

[magdalenite2017]

People who've done 1st round interviews at gibson dunn, how long did it take to hear back?

Took exactly a week for me (positive response)

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Just out of curiosity, why do people and what is the benefit of doing a masters before an LPC/GDL and TC. Also is this something that can be funded by a firm if you have a TC with them. My question is more focussed for those that have secured a TC before grad and decided to do a masters (LLM) before LPC/GDL.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just out of curiosity, why do people and what is the benefit of doing a masters before an LPC/GDL and TC. Also is this something that can be funded by a firm if you have a TC with them. My question is more focussed for those that have secured a TC before grad and decided to do a masters (LLM) before LPC/GDL.

Highly unlikely to be funded by a firm.

People need to consider masters courses for purely their own benefit rather than it being something that will automatically strengthen their application. For those who secure a TC and then defer for masters study, it's usually because they want to pursue it for their own interests and know they are less likely to complete a masters during their career.

 

[Matt_96]

Highly unlikely to be funded by a firm.

People need to consider masters courses for purely their own benefit rather than it being something that will automatically strengthen their application. For those who secure a TC and then defer for masters study, it's usually because they want to pursue it for their own interests and know they are less likely to complete a masters during their career.

I have heard of people doing masters in specialised fields that have been funded e.g. Oxford's Diploma in IP Law, or KCL's LLM in Competition law so it is possible, but again that seems to be something done a few years post-qualification, not pre-TC.

 

[Kablahc]

Just out of curiosity, why do people and what is the benefit of doing a masters before an LPC/GDL and TC. Also is this something that can be funded by a firm if you have a TC with them. My question is more focussed for those that have secured a TC before grad and decided to do a masters (LLM) before LPC/GDL.

Most people I know in my law cohort who've deliberately delayed TC apps until the final year because they want to take a Masters do it for academic interest, for example, one person I know wanted to get a PGCE because they wanted to teach later in life. I'll most likely be doing a Masters before my LPC because I realised it's going to probably be my one chance for many years to do something academic just for fun before having to focus on work! Aside from that it's got no direct benefit to my career apart from putting another acronym after my name lol. This is something you have to do out of your own pocket though. I've never heard of a firm funding a pre-TC Masters, even something like the BCL or the Cambridge LLM.

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Sorry this is not law related but I have an interview for a Policy Adviser role at the Civil Service. Its a behaviours/strengths based interview but I haven't done an interview in a while so was hoping to get some tips? I currently work at the CS but my interview was exceptionally easy and only took 15 minutes so I don't think its a good comparator!

 

[MLF]

Sorry this is not law related but I have an interview for a Policy Adviser role at the Civil Service. Its a behaviours/strengths based interview but I haven't done an interview in a while so was hoping to get some tips? I currently work at the CS but my interview was exceptionally easy and only took 15 minutes so I don't think its a good comparator!

Hi Melissa, feel free to send me a private message I'd be happy to help, I work as a paralegal with the CS and have recently done the Success Profile training

Marie

 

[AspiringSol]

I agree that it is not our responsibility to change attitudes, im mixed race myself. However, I just think its misleading to assume your experience will be better at a more 'diverse' firm.

I only say this as someone with a friend at a VERY diverse MC firm. You'll probably be able to guess to one im talking about. And although the firm has many black and brown associates, trainees etc. Her experience with racism has been absolutely awful. Unfortunately we can not just assume our experiences will be good just because the firm is diverse. As for many firms I think they are more bothered about reaching a diversity quota than actually improving the working experiences of their black employees

Sorry I know that I’m so late to the conversation but I think the key difference is that at least you have a community if the trainee intake/culture is more diverse. Speaking from personal experience, having other POC around you can make a huge difference to your mental health and decrease the feelings of isolation - even through just meeting at lunchtimes if you’re not actually in the same team. Of course. racism happens everywhere. But the key difference is having a community and allies to stand up for you.

 

[j597]

Does anyone know the dates of the summer vac scheme for Shoosmiths? I think in the past they have had a couple of weeks to choose from but not sure if anyone has heard anything for this year?

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Hey everyone. I've been lurking but this is my first post. I'm a non-law student and I have no real law work experience apart from online sherpa/forage schemes. Unfortunately I was not successful in any of my VS applications. Is there any point in applying for direct TCs? If so, could anyone suggest any firms which take a substantial amount of their graduates from direct TC applications, in particular I would like to focus on environmental/energy/real estate.

 

[ilovetheDLR]

Does anyone know what the term dates (Autumn intake that is) were for the GDL at BPP and ULaw this academic year?. I might have to defer my May exams to August due to extenuating reasons and want to know whether I can still start the course after I get my results by the end of September ish. Has anyone been in a similar situation before? Any help would be really appreciated.

Also if I was to get a TC offer, would law firms allow me to start the course slightly later due to this reason @Jessica Booker? Surely they wouldn't mind as long as I get a 2:1 overall in my undergrad right?

 

[ab1147]

Does anyone know what the term dates (Autumn intake that is) were for the GDL at BPP and ULaw this academic year?. I might have to defer my May exams to August due to extenuating reasons and want to know whether I can still start the course after I get my results by the end of September ish. Has anyone been in a similar situation before? Any help would be really appreciated.

Also if I was to get a TC offer, would law firms allow me to start the course slightly later due to this reason @Jessica Booker? Surely they wouldn't mind as long as I get a 2:1 overall in my undergrad right?

I’m doing the GDL at BPP and we started on 7th September, but I know people who were allowed to enrol up to two weeks after the initial start date. My friends at ULaw started their teaching at the end of September I think! Hope this helps!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Sorry this is not law related but I have an interview for a Policy Adviser role at the Civil Service. Its a behaviours/strengths based interview but I haven't done an interview in a while so was hoping to get some tips? I currently work at the CS but my interview was exceptionally easy and only took 15 minutes so I don't think its a good comparator!

Is this for HM Treasury or another department?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know what the term dates (Autumn intake that is) were for the GDL at BPP and ULaw this academic year?. I might have to defer my May exams to August due to extenuating reasons and want to know whether I can still start the course after I get my results by the end of September ish. Has anyone been in a similar situation before? Any help would be really appreciated.

Also if I was to get a TC offer, would law firms allow me to start the course slightly later due to this reason @Jessica Booker? Surely they wouldn't mind as long as I get a 2:1 overall in my undergrad right?

I have known sponsored future trainees starting the GDL 1-2 weeks later than the course start date. Think the courses generally start the third week of September, but it's been a while since I have enrolled someone on to a course, and things may change this year given both Covid/SQE stuff

 

[JayC]

Does anyone have advice on how I might prepare for a White Collar Crime group exercise or what that might entail?

 

[Msh123]

What does it mean if you've been waiting to hear back post-final stage for 6 weeks and have been told the firm is still collecting feedback?? Is that their way of saying we're leaving PFOs till the end so we will reject you later, or they genuinely have not decided?

 

[Jessica Booker]

What does it mean if you've been waiting to hear back post-final stage for 6 weeks and have been told the firm is still collecting feedback?? Is that their way of saying we're leaving PFOs till the end so we will reject you later, or they genuinely have not decided?

Most likely they are still interviewing other candidates and won't make a decision on you until it all interviews are concluded. It's not a negative though - grhy could easily have decided to turn you down if they didn't think you were up to the standard try would expect.

 

[Anon 11031]

Sorry this is not law related but I have an interview for a Policy Adviser role at the Civil Service. Its a behaviours/strengths based interview but I haven't done an interview in a while so was hoping to get some tips? I currently work at the CS but my interview was exceptionally easy and only took 15 minutes so I don't think its a good comparator!

I work for HMRC and my role required an interview that lasted about an hour (I work in compliance). What sort of advice are you looking for? I'll try my best to answer any questions you might have! ☺️ Feel free to PM if you need to.

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Is this for HM Treasury or another department?

It's for the Ministry of Housing, communities and local authorities!