2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[202023r]

Anyone know how long A&O take to send their VS offer documents?

 

[castrooo]

Hi, does anyone know how long Dentons usually takes to get back to you after an AC? Thanks!

Is this for the spring or summer scheme?

 

[thewaythecookiecrumbles]

Hi! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle a 'What do you need to work on?' question? I want to try and answer this without drawing attention to negatives! Could I talk about goals that I have?

 

[Dheepa]

Hi! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle a 'What do you need to work on?' question? I want to try and answer this without drawing attention to negatives! Could I talk about goals that I have?

Hi Hana,

I understand not wanting to focus on negatives as especially in an interview the last thing anyone wants is to seem less than perfect. But the point of questions like this is for the firm to understand that you possess the self awareness to realise your weaknesses and have the initiative to work on them. I would suggest being open about any characteristic/habit you'd like to improve on and go into detail on the steps you've taken or are still taking to improve on them. I'm linking you a thread where this has been discussed recently and hopefully that gives you some ideas. https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/cooleys-application-question.2699/#post-49120

 

[Naomi U]

Hi! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle a 'What do you need to work on?' question? I want to try and answer this without drawing attention to negatives! Could I talk about goals that I have?

Hi Hana

I agree very much with Dheepa here. I think interviewers who ask this question are looking for self awareness and honesty. To answer I think I would mention any areas of weakness I think I have and why I think this is a weakness. I would then then focus the majority of my answer on explaining the steps I have made to overcome this and where I hope to be at the end.

E.g. if you want to work on public speaking- mention that it's something that whilst you are okay with, you'd like to improve as although it may not always show it is something that makes you feel quite anxious internally. To improve you have enrolled in X course or you have challenged yourself by joining X society ....


Best of luck ☺️

 

[thewaythecookiecrumbles]

Hi Hana,

I understand not wanting to focus on negatives as especially in an interview the last thing anyone wants is to seem less than perfect. But the point of questions like this is for the firm to understand that you possess the self awareness to realise your weaknesses and have the initiative to work on them. I would suggest being open about any characteristic/habit you'd like to improve on and go into detail on the steps you've taken or are still taking to improve on them. I'm linking you a thread where this has been discussed recently and hopefully that gives you some ideas. https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/cooleys-application-question.2699/#post-49120

Hi Hana

I agree very much with Dheepa here. I think interviewers who ask this question are looking for self awareness and honesty. To answer I think I would mention any areas of weakness I think I have and why I think this is a weakness. I would then then focus the majority of my answer on explaining the steps I have made to overcome this and where I hope to be at the end.

E.g. if you want to work on public speaking- mention that it's something that whilst you are okay with, you'd like to improve as although it may not always show it is something that makes you feel quite anxious internally. To improve you have enrolled in X course or you have challenged yourself by joining X society ....


Best of luck ☺️

Thank you so much for the advice, Dheepa and Naomi!

 

[jkjk99]

Is this for the spring or summer scheme?

Spring!

 

[collie_121]

Does anyone know how long you get to answer the question in the Addleshaw Goddard interview?

 

[traineeintraining]

HI has anyone recently done the LinkLaters AC? Could you please share your experience of the HR interview ? do they ask commercial awareness questions ? any help would be really great thank you

 

[Law on my mind]

Hi guys !

Anyone got a VI for Squire Patton boggs?? please pm me, I have it for the Birmingham office x

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know if the Gibson Dunn cover letter has a word limit?

 

[nicole88]

Does anyone know if the Gibson Dunn cover letter has a word limit?

max. 650 words

 

[Jessica Booker]

max. 650 words

Thought as much from application reviews I have done. A bit sneaky as it isnt obvious until you get to that part on Apply4Law/AllHires though!

 

[leolegal]

Anyone heard from Simmons post tests and VI? Feel like its pretty much a rejection for me at this point

 

[Daniel Boden]

Thought as much from application reviews I have done. A bit sneaky as it isnt obvious until you get to that part on Apply4Law/AllHires though!

Hey, none of that chat about my firm!

 

[MS2000]

Anyone heard from Simmons post tests and VI? Feel like its pretty much a rejection for me at this point

Haven't heard anything yet - stay positive!

 

[Legalmel_99]

could someone give me advice on an application question ''if you had £1,000 to invest in the stock market, what shares would you invest in and why''

 

[Legalmel_99]

I’m sorry to hear that for last year, thanks for the info though! Allows me adjust my expectations slightly re their reply!

Good Luck hopefully we are both successful with the firm

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle a 'What do you need to work on?' question? I want to try and answer this without drawing attention to negatives! Could I talk about goals that I have?

Hi Hana,

Here's a little excerpt from my next Monday Article which deals with this sort of question:

Talking about your weaknesses can be very intimidating, and understandably so: when we are interviewing with a law firm, we want to show the best version of ourselves and present as attractive a candidate as possible. Being asked about your biggest weakness is designed to test your emotional intelligence and self-insight, as well as how you grow from personal flaws. There are a few key dos and don’ts when considering your response to this question, for example:

Do:

• Choose to discuss a weakness which can be developed and improved with time
• Be genuine: don’t try and ‘invent’ a weakness here, transparency in answering questions such as this is extremely important, and it is obvious when a candidate is not being transparent
• Discuss how you have taken steps to identify and remedy this weakness, and what progress you have seen in yourself since taking those steps
• Show your desire to learn and develop as a person in your response

Don’t:

• Say that you don’t have weaknesses, or that you’ve ‘grown out’ of them: this comes over as conceited and displaying a lack of emotional intelligence and self-insight
• Try and frame a weakness as a positive: it is much more authentic to discuss a genuine weakness which you’ve recognised and worked on. It also displays a lack of insight
• Use the “I’m a perfectionist” response… unfortunately, this is massively over-used and is viewed as a ‘cop out’ response. Try and be more innovative in your response to provide a more nuanced and unique answer

Due to the fact that the structure to your response will vary considerably based on the example you choose to give, as such, it is extremely challenging to provide a useful mock answer. Just follow the above dos and don’ts and you’ll be in good stead!

 

[Ricky]

could someone give me advice on an application question ''if you had £1,000 to invest in the stock market, what shares would you invest in and why''

Opportunity for you to demonstrate your commercial awareness: do you understand the business/market etc. So pick a stock and then using SWOT/PESTEL/Porters 5/Financial performance/Current trends etc etc justify it.