2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[leolegal]

Has anyone heard anything from Bird&Bird or Mayer Brown after the WG and situational tests? Sent both before Christmas haven’t heard anything.

No reply from Bird & Bird after the WG test which I did 29/12

 

[leolegal]

Anyone heard back from HSF for summer vs?

No I haven't heard back after passing the test

 

[DJMG]

No reply from Bird & Bird after the WG test which I did 29/12

I completed the test on the 31st December and have just heard back-so shouldn't be long for you!

 

[Lawfulx]

Oh! Just received the Arctic Shores invite from Taylor Wessing!

Congrats! When did you apply?

 

[sabma]

Has anyone heard anything at all from Gibson Dunn? Or has any clue as to when they will look at apps? I know they are rolling but I haven't seen anyone hear from them yet so just wondering

 

[conniekatherine]

Invite from Taylor Wessing for Arctic Shores applied on 24th December

 

[BiancaR]

Has anyone heard back from HSF yet? This is only my second cycle of applications- I applied fairly early and am quite stressed as I haven't heard anything yet? When is it normal for firms to respond about ACs?

 

[BiancaR]

(Thank you in advance for any insights!)

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

Has anyone heard back from HSF yet? This is only my second cycle of applications- I applied fairly early and am quite stressed as I haven't heard anything yet? When is it normal for firms to respond about ACs?

Hey!

HSF recruit on a non-rolling basis. This means that they wouldn't respond to anyone until after the deadline has passed and so, everyone has a fair chance/everyone's at the same level.

Did you apply for Spring? I've seen a bunch of AC invites and rejections for the Spring scheme but nothing Summer. Likely, they're recruiting for Spring first and then will move onto Summer later.

Good luck!

 

[RyanM1]

Hi-I would be v grateful if anyone who has completed the Bird & Bird VI this cycle could offer any insights/advice?

congratulations! When did you submit your WG and hear back from them?

 

[Naomi U]

If asked in an interview about a recent commercial news story that interested you/that you've been following, what should you include in your answer and how should it roughly be structured? Thanks!

Hi @Ashton97

From my experience , interviewers who are asking this question will be more focused on your reasons for interest rather than the news story you offer. Therefore my advice when preparing for these commercial awareness questions is to select 3- 4 stories/deals you are particularly interested in (preferably from a variety of sectors or from the sectors the firm you are interviewing with focuses on).

When you are researching these stories/deals ask yourself:

What market/ industry was this achieved in, and what are the current trends e.g. is this an emerging market, a declining market?

Was this the first deal of this kind and why? When was the last/similar deal completed and what were the reasons for the time lag?

Was this deal particularly more complex and why? (Consider cultural, financial, environmental, tax and competition implications)

If the story is one involving the firm you are interviewing at- why was X firm able to succeed on this deal (consider location e.g. are they the only firm with practising capacity in that region, and practice area e.g. does X firm offer a unique service to clients that cannot be offered elsewhere)

I think if you approach your preparation for this question from this angle, this will really help to tailor your answer!

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

[NSinger]

Thank you on the deadline, December 31st!

Sorry to bother you again was wondering if you applied to spring or summer. Im still waiting to hear back for summer

 

[DJMG]

congratulations! When did you submit your WG and hear back from them?

Submitted the WG on the 31st December and heard back 5pm today

 

[BiancaR]

Hey!

HSF recruit on a non-rolling basis. This means that they wouldn't respond to anyone until after the deadline has passed and so, everyone has a fair chance/everyone's at the same level.

Did you apply for Spring? I've seen a bunch of AC invites and rejections for the Spring scheme but nothing Summer. Likely, they're recruiting for Spring first and then will move onto Summer later.

Good luck!

That completely makes sense! I applied to the summer scheme so it's such a relief to hear they haven't started sending out acceptances yet. Thank you so much!

 

[RyanM1]

Submitted the WG on the 31st December and heard back 5pm today

Thanks! Was that for Spring or Summer?

 

[DJMG]

Thanks! Was that for Spring or Summer?

Summer!

 

[ellwilsen]

Has anyone who is attending the macfarlanes ac on Thursday not received the email today?

 

[Angeliki]

For the Travers Smith application these are the questions:

Please copy and paste your cover letter into the space provided below (there is no word limit).

Is it necessary to include my address and the firm's address in the cover letter? If I was going to upload a separate file I would include it but here I don't know if it is necessary.

Please give details of your main extra-curricular activities and leisure interests.

Please give details of any positions of responsibility and achievements or awards at school, university or elsewhere.

I my cover letter, I'm thinking I should mention why commercial law and why Travers Smith because if I include why me then I won't have much to mention in these two questions. Also, for the second question, should I mention any awards and programmes I participated in from secondary school? Or would it seem irrelevant because it was so far back? Any advice?

 

[Jessica Booker]

For the Travers Smith application these are the questions:

Please copy and paste your cover letter into the space provided below (there is no word limit).

Is it necessary to include my address and the firm's address in the cover letter? If I was going to upload a separate file I would include it but here I don't know if it is necessary.

Please give details of your main extra-curricular activities and leisure interests.

Please give details of any positions of responsibility and achievements or awards at school, university or elsewhere.

I my cover letter, I'm thinking I should mention why commercial law and why Travers Smith because if I include why me then I won't have much to mention in these two questions. Also, for the second question, should I mention any awards and programmes I participated in from secondary school? Or would it seem irrelevant because it was so far back? Any advice?

Plenty of people will reference things from school, especially sixth form.

 

[Veep9]

Anyone applied to Osborne Clarke? I’m struggling with their questions more than others!

Please outline the reasons why you wish to pursue a career in commercial law at Osborne Clarke. Within your answer you should also include details of how you have developed your skills through your hobbies and interests. (500 words max)*

Is this “why commercial law”, “why OC” and “why you” rolled into one? So essentially a cover letter but focused on your hobbies rather than academics/work ex?

I think the reason I’m struggling with it is because there’s also another question about how OC can be distinguished from other firms which would be part of my answer to why OC anyway!

Grateful for any thoughts!