2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Jessica444]

In my BCLP rejection it said "Please note, we considered your application to be particularly strong and would encourage you to reapply next year if you wish to do so."

I don't really know how to interpret this...

@Jessica Booker Do you think that this might be because I applied near to the deadline and they're rolling? Any insight would be better informed than mine! Thanks

 

[OB]

Does anyone know if reed smith will accept graduates on their summer placement? I’m technically only eligible for the spring scheme but I can’t make the dates- but stressed because I emailed them about it but haven’t heard a response, and I’ve just had a message from apply4law that they’re now closing apps in 2 days because they’re oversubscribed. Should I still bother?

Someone on here said a while back that grads could apply. I'm a grad and submitted my research questions at the weekend so I guess they would have filtered me out if I wasn't eligible!

 

[OB]

In my BCLP rejection it said "Please note, we considered your application to be particularly strong and would encourage you to reapply next year if you wish to do so."

I don't really know how to interpret this...

@Jessica Booker Do you think that this might be because I applied near to the deadline and they're rolling? Any insight would be better informed than mine! Thanks

I got the same and I applied in September lol. I was also rejected last week but received another rejection email today but with the added general feedback points

 

[hopefullawyer123]

Hiya!

I don't think there is anything wrong with doing so nor do I think this is something that will be unfavourable. Firms know you are likely to be applying elsewhere and if anything the fact that you were successful shows you are a competitive candidate. However, personally I only mentioned this if I was asked or it came up in discussion. (but of course this is just my experience)

If you are worried about the fact that the firms are substantially different as Dheepa mentioned, I would acknowledge this then focus your explanation on your interests whilst tying this to your specific interests at the latter firm.

Hope this helps & best of luck ☺️

Thank you Dheepa and Naomi! It’s something I have to mention to them and I feel a lot more confident doing so now

 

[Leen]

Hey guys! I was just wondering, how long does it usually take you to prepare for an AC?

 

[Jessica444]

I got the same and I applied in September lol. I was also rejected last week but received another rejection email today but with the added general feedback points

Yeah I just got that as well! It’s encouraging but equally if the applications were that strong then they would have been successful hahaha

 

[Jessica Booker]

In my BCLP rejection it said "Please note, we considered your application to be particularly strong and would encourage you to reapply next year if you wish to do so."

I don't really know how to interpret this...

@Jessica Booker Do you think that this might be because I applied near to the deadline and they're rolling? Any insight would be better informed than mine! Thanks

I don’t know why, could be because you applied late, it might just be that it’s been a very competitive year.

I would take their word for it though and reapply if that was something you wanted to explore at that stage.

 

[Jony]

Hey guys! I was just wondering, how long does it usually take you to prepare for an AC?

Depends on how much notice the firm gives you.

I had two weeks to prepare for Ashurst, so I spent the first week literally trawling the firm's website until I knew every sub-link and had a solid idea of the workings of the time (and random statistics and facts that were stored in my long-term memory that I used in my interview, to my interviewer's delight)

The second week was spent consolidating answers to interview questions, and the day before the AC I spent the whole day running through, on video, my entire interview process.

Conversely, I had 4 days to prepare for Skadden (but this was after the telephone interview, so I had already done some research) so I knuckled down to preparing answers for interview questions and ran my answers on video from day 1 of prep.

 

[Naomi U]

Hey guys! I was just wondering, how long does it usually take you to prepare for an AC?

Hiya!

I don't think there is a set time for anyone. Everyone is coming from different backgrounds, circumstances and experiences so naturally what may take one person a weekend to feel prepared and comfortable, may take someone else a week. Also, it's important to remember that it varies across firms.

With this in mind, I really think it's all about you and your own personal preparation plan. Time doesn't necessarily equal a successful AC.

I'd say, it's more about what and how you prep rather than the length of time, so I wouldn't worry too much about this.

Hope this helps & best of luck ☺️

 

[MD]

Congrats!! I completed the VS there last year so I'm happy to give any advice on the AC!!

Hi!! Congratulations on being invited to the Open Day. I have too! Which day have you been invited to? If anyone has any advice that would be great

 

[Kablahc]

PFO from BCLP with the same 'we would encourage you to reapply' line! At least it was a relatively speedy one 😂

 

[AAA_a]

Anyone heard from MoFo for summer VS?

 

[CJCH]

Me! I applied end of oct and still nothing. In previous years they've been much quicker to reject me, but I don't want to get my hopes up

As so many people are progressing to the next stages last few weeks already, I'm expecting a PFO 🥲

 

[C]

Depends on how much notice the firm gives you.

I had two weeks to prepare for Ashurst, so I spent the first week literally trawling the firm's website until I knew every sub-link and had a solid idea of the workings of the time (and random statistics and facts that were stored in my long-term memory that I used in my interview, to my interviewer's delight)

The second week was spent consolidating answers to interview questions, and the day before the AC I spent the whole day running through, on video, my entire interview process.

Conversely, I had 4 days to prepare for Skadden (but this was after the telephone interview, so I had already done some research) so I knuckled down to preparing answers for interview questions and ran my answers on video from day 1 of prep.

Hi, when you say running through on video your entire interview process, do you mean recording yourself on camera answering potential questions and seeing how you appear?

 

[SF1234]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughters post-interview for the summer VS?

 

[Kubed]

Does anyone know if reed smith will accept graduates on their summer placement? I’m technically only eligible for the spring scheme but I can’t make the dates- but stressed because I emailed them about it but haven’t heard a response, and I’ve just had a message from apply4law that they’re now closing apps in 2 days because they’re oversubscribed. Should I still bother?

Hey - probably worth calling them up to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure they said on their open day that they're not that strict about graduates only applying to the Spring Scheme (and vice versa) i.e. if the dates don't work for you, they'd still accept your application for the Summer Scheme.

 

[rose63]

Anyone else still waiting for Eversheds post VI for the Cardiff Office?

Yes, me! Have you heard anything yet?

 

[Cantab_95]

Me staring out the window waiting for any news to come in...

 

[Niall Lamont]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughter and May post interview? I'm pretty sure last week was the last of the interviews.

 

[HorsesForCoursesNeighNeighNeigh]

Also (sorry for all the qs)- do people normally use all 250 words for work experience sections??? At mishcon they really encouraged using the word count but idk in my other apps I feel like I just waffle to get to 250 and it’s unnecessary. Any thoughts?

I do for some and not others. I'll give them 250 words on a professional office job lasting 3 months, but 250 words on my 6 months spent making sandwiches would be painful (in my view!) if you have other experience worth speaking about. However am miles from an expert on these things...