2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[arbitracion]

Just finished my V&E VI! That re-record button is a godsend but also super addictive

 

[NSinger]

Anyone know if NRF give you your WG score upon request? Don’t want to bother grad rec if it’s their policy not to.

 

[A92167!8]

Does launch pad allow you to have a split screen during a VI?

 

[MW110601]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me on answering this Shoomsmiths question:

‘... Looking forward, consider the challenges facing the profession and describe how Shoomsiths can remain competitive and attractive to clients without compromising on profitability? There are many issues which may feed into this answer, but we would like you to focus on your top three priorities.’

Do you think it would it be best for me to look at 3 separate challenges and then provide 3 solutions?
Or 1 challenge with 3 different solutions?

I understood this to focus on your top three challenges with solutions, but I'm also not 100% sure

 

[Kopperskjold]

Haha nope don’t think there’s a separate WG! Also for linklaters I applied for direct TC in like December, never received anything from them but checked my portal and it said I’d been rejected so might be worth checking

Ohh mine says on hold so I guess I'll have to wait

 

[Edward]

Are Gateley rolling basis or not?

Deadline based.

 

[Naomi U]

Would it be ok to apply for a paralegal role at a firm where I am still waiting to hear back from for a VS application? I'm worried it might come across that I lack focus in what I want, but I really like the firm and I am looking to get some experience to help get my foot in the door. There's nothing on the application form preventing me from applying for two roles.

Hiya

I don't see anything wrong with this at all! If anything it emphasises you motivation for a career in commercial law as well as emphasises your interest in the firm ☺️

 

[Naomi U]

Just realised I got a Hogan Lovells AC invite yesterday but my email filtered it out. The email says to choose the earliest slot possible because they recruit on a rolling basis but when I clicked on the link, the earliest one they had was March 2.

Anyone know when their ACs start/started?

Congratulations on getting your ac!

I wouldn't worry too much about dates and times, its far from a first come first serve process.
Best thing you can do now is focus on your prep & go into your ac knowing you are a confident & deserving candidate!

Best of luck ☺️

 

[Naomi U]

If a law firm asks you where else you applied is it okay to mention that you applied to their competitors? I don’t know if that will look bad

I don't think it looks bad at all. The focus here is to test your understanding of the firm and to assess your motivations. Understandably, if you have spoken heavily about wanting a global transactional focused career, yet mention firms which are domestic and focus on heavily on litigation, this undermines your responses relating to motivation and interest. On this note, it can be argued that mentioning a firm's competitors would in fact be a good thing as it shows you have an understanding and keen interest in firms with similar practice areas and sector reputation.

However, like I said, the focus is also to test your motivations. So if you do have a firm that's a bit more different to the initial firm, then I think that's fine to say so long as you are able to identify and explain those differences whilst relating this to your interest at your interviewing firm.

Hope this helps!

 

[futuretraineecity]

Can you find out your Freshfields WG score?

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Anyone know it NRF give you your WG score upon request? Don’t want to bother grad rec if it’s their policy not to.

Is this for the summer vs?

 

[ishikam]

Can you find out your Freshfields WG score?

Yes! I just sent an e-mail to grad rec and they sent me a report within the hour.

 

[AR3]

Anyone heard anything from Irwin Mitchell?

Nothing yet! I applied for the PLS stream, but I believe someone on here was invited for a PLS VI as late as 29th Feb last year

 

[MandyAA]

I understood this to focus on your top three challenges with solutions, but I'm also not 100% sure

Right okay, thank you!

 

[lwsand]

Hi everyone! I was just wondering if anyone knows what the Linklaters virtual AC involves? Thanks in advance!

 

[Jammo58]

Hi everyone. I have a question for anyone who has completed vacation schemes in the office (most likely pre-COVID).

Q) Is the format very different for an in-person scheme than a virtual scheme? Specifically, is the majority of the time spent sat in a department actually doing real work, and does the feedback received from this count significantly towards your offer?

I have only completed a 1-week virtual scheme (December just gone) and I found that there were LOTS of assessments (1 corporate, 1 disputes, 1 banking, 1 group exercise + more + interview) but almost no time spent actually sat in a department. I definitely excel most when I am shadowing and carrying out several tasks at once for multiple stakeholders with the freedom to manage my own time, but sadly I didn't get a chance to demonstrate this at all during the virtual scheme.

I am hoping to secure a summer VS which will likely be 2+ weeks, and I am really hoping COVID is over so it can be in the office. Otherwise, I have applied to some direct TCs but I know that these usually require more experience on the CV (I am also currently looking for paralegal work). If unsuccessful this cycle, I am happy to wait and reapply to more in-person vac schemes next year if they are likely to be better.

Grateful for any responses

 

[whisperingrock]

Hi everyone. I have a question for anyone who has completed vacation schemes in the office (most likely pre-COVID).

Q) Is the format very different for an in-person scheme than a virtual scheme? Specifically, is the majority of the time spent sat in a department actually doing real work, and does the feedback received from this count significantly towards your offer?

I have only completed a 1-week virtual scheme (December just gone) and I found that there were LOTS of assessments (1 corporate, 1 disputes, 1 banking, 1 group exercise + more + interview) but almost no time spent actually sat in a department. I definitely excel most when I am shadowing and carrying out several tasks at once for multiple stakeholders with the freedom to manage my own time, but sadly I didn't get a chance to demonstrate this at all during the virtual scheme.

I am hoping to secure a summer VS which will likely be 2+ weeks, and I am really hoping COVID is over so it can be in the office. Otherwise, I have applied to some direct TCs but I know that these usually require more experience on the CV (I am also currently looking for paralegal work). If unsuccessful this cycle, I am happy to wait and reapply to more in-person vac schemes next year if they are likely to be better.

Grateful for any responses

I didn't do an in person vac scheme, but my winter one was very different from what you're describing. From what I heard from trainees while I was there, it was as similar as they could possibly get it to being in person, including shadowing, doing real work, and very few assessments aside from a group project and the final interview. Of course the feedback from supervisors during the time in each seat was taken into account too, but it wasn't an "assessment".

It may have just been the firm you had you VS with rather than virtual ones as a whole.

 

[Kablahc]

Anyone heard anything from Irwin Mitchell?

Nothing yet! I applied for the PLS stream, but I believe someone on here was invited for a PLS VI as late as 29th Feb last year

I applied for PLS too really early on and I've not heard anything either!

 

[MS2000]

Think I have applied to 20+ firms this cycle so far. Worked really hard to tailor all of the apps. Feeling quite disheartened as I’ve had about 10 rejections and am yet to really hear much else - not sure where I am going wrong

 

[Dheepa]

Hi everyone. I have a question for anyone who has completed vacation schemes in the office (most likely pre-COVID).

Q) Is the format very different for an in-person scheme than a virtual scheme? Specifically, is the majority of the time spent sat in a department actually doing real work, and does the feedback received from this count significantly towards your offer?

I have only completed a 1-week virtual scheme (December just gone) and I found that there were LOTS of assessments (1 corporate, 1 disputes, 1 banking, 1 group exercise + more + interview) but almost no time spent actually sat in a department. I definitely excel most when I am shadowing and carrying out several tasks at once for multiple stakeholders with the freedom to manage my own time, but sadly I didn't get a chance to demonstrate this at all during the virtual scheme.

I am hoping to secure a summer VS which will likely be 2+ weeks, and I am really hoping COVID is over so it can be in the office. Otherwise, I have applied to some direct TCs but I know that these usually require more experience on the CV (I am also currently looking for paralegal work). If unsuccessful this cycle, I am happy to wait and reapply to more in-person vac schemes next year if they are likely to be better.

Grateful for any responses

So I think the answer to your question isn't that it varies depending on whether it's in person or virtual but that it depends on the firm's preferred way of assessment.

My first ever vac scheme was an in person one in 2019 and while there was plenty of opportunity to get involved in real work with my supervisor, the firm preferred to heavily weigh the TC decision based on the final case study + interview. While the work you complete for your supervisor and other people obviously help, less emphasis was placed on it.

Even with virtual schemes, I had different experiences depending on the firm. For example, the NRF VS was a very similar experience to what you described. Back to back timed assessments with not much time for anything else during the week. The Latham VS, although there were two assessments we had to complete, we had to do it over the course of the week which meant the things you mentioned like managing time and balancing different stakeholder expectations were very necessary. My Bakers VS felt most like an in person one because we were assessed on the live work we were doing for our supervisors/any one we had reached out to in different departments.

I understand where you're coming from with your points completely actually. I found the Latham and Bakers VS far more enjoyable in part because managing different workloads and managing my time just seemed like a more realistic experience and as close to an in person VS as it would get.

My best advice is look into the kind of virtual VS the firm runs. Speak to people who've completed it in the previous cycle and decide if the experience the firm provides you with is what you want. Also check how the firm is assessing candidates for the TC because if it's anything like the firm I did my first VS at, then there's very little point to showcasing those skills you want to anyway.

Hope that helps! ☺️