2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Staples]

The SQE is supposed to open up job opportunities though, so many the job market will become less competitive as there isn't a bottle neck at the TC stage.

TCs will still exist, they are just being rebranded under the SQE label

This sounds very optimistic - am I right in thinking there’s no requirement for SQE-era QWE to be paid? It will be interesting to see how big a share of QWE (on average) ends up being unpaid experience (eg law clinics)

 

[Jessica Booker]

This sounds very optimistic - am I right in thinking there’s no requirement for SQE-era QWE to be paid? It will be interesting to see how big a share of QWE (on average) ends up being unpaid experience (eg law clinics)

Not having to make a two year commitment will open up opportunities. Thats the biggest issue with the current system. Lots of firm tred carefully or just get fixed term contract paralegals in when needed because you can't predict what you need 4-5 years in advance.

Yes - one of my biggest issues with the SQE is it encourages unpaid work.

Law firms won't see law clinic work as QWE even if the SRA does though.

 

[Etudierlaw2022]

Hi guys I have quite a specific question - i live in quite a rough house and all the walls of my house look pretty bad and are either brick or peeling wallpaper so it looks really unprofessional in video interviews. Do you think I should email graduate recruitment to tell them that the bad background isn’t through a lack of caring or should I just leave it?

I've seen people in ACs and vac schemes have a pre selected background on zoom, and it's been totally fine. Some students even put a generic photo of the city to which they were applying in as their background which sparked some conversation, so I think it would be okay to do something like that. I think recruiters are aware that not everyone's living background is ideal for interview!

 

[FM302989]

Hi guys I have quite a specific question - i live in quite a rough house and all the walls of my house look pretty bad and are either brick or peeling wallpaper so it looks really unprofessional in video interviews. Do you think I should email graduate recruitment to tell them that the bad background isn’t through a lack of caring or should I just leave it?

Ngl I have this same problem as I've just moved into a new flat. Currently don't have a desk either

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker if 2021 is the final year that a firm allows their trainees to do the LPC, and said trainee is due to start the TC in 2023, would they want that trainee to do the LPC 2021-22 and then have a year off before the TC or is it normal practice for firms to want their trainees to do the LPC in the year before the TC starts and therefore in this scenario they'd instead want you doing the SQE?

I would expect them to put you in the SQE cohort starting in 2022 and for you to have your gap year before hand

 

[Staples]

Yes - one of my biggest issues with the SQE is it encourages unpaid work.

Law firms won't see law clinic work as QWE even if the SRA does though.

What worries me is that I come from a country (Italy) where the overwhelming majority of law grads earn little or even no money during their ‘praticantato’ (in short the Italian equivalent of a TC). I hope the UK doesn’t ever go down that path

 

[Etudierlaw2022]

Ngl I have this same problem as I've just moved into a new flat. Currently don't have a desk either

I feel your pain. I had to buy a desk for the sole purpose of a VS

 

[T123]

I've gotten an interview for A+O Singapore already. They were this past week.

Thank you, I hope it went/goes well. Do you mind me asking when you applied?

 

[FM302989]

I feel your pain. I had to buy a desk for the sole purpose of a VS

Even a simple desk is essential. Now I've just gotta wait a week for a desk to arrive I ordered elsewhere.

Had to cancel an IKEA delivery after they said must would arrive 6-7 weeks' time (y'all don't order from IKEA, their customer service is two pack of a$$).

 

[aspiringlawyerr2021]

Has anyone else heard back from Bird & Bird?! Done my AC recently and I haven't heard back

 

[Parent]

Are you using Zoom or Teams or something else? On those two it’s easy to put a different background - just make sure you don’t move about too much as it can have a sort of “aura” around you.

 

[JayC]

I would expect them to put you in the SQE cohort starting in 2022 and for you to have your gap year before hand

Are all of us applying for 2023 TCs right now going to be doing the SQE then? And will the firms sort everything out for us in terms of prep courses etc or is it literally just on us to pass the exam now? Forgive me for not having followed this development closely enough

 

[Jessica Booker]

Are all of us applying for 2023 TCs right now going to be doing the SQE then? And will the firms sort everything out for us in terms of prep courses etc or is it literally just on us to pass the exam now? Forgive me for not having followed this development closely enough

No. A lot of firms are not moving to the SQE until 2024 as far as I am aware.

Firms who sponsor the LPC will provide an equivalent sponsorship for the SQE, depending on how they are preferring to train people. Some people are learning on the job, some people are only doing SQE1 before a TC, some firms are saying you have to pass SQE 1 and 2 before starting a TC.

 

[applyingstudent1998]

Thank you, I hope it went/goes well. Do you mind me asking when you applied?

30th December

 

[Maculay]

Hi guys I have quite a specific question - i live in quite a rough house and all the walls of my house look pretty bad and are either brick or peeling wallpaper so it looks really unprofessional in video interviews. Do you think I should email graduate recruitment to tell them that the bad background isn’t through a lack of caring or should I just leave it?

Try to find out if you will be using MS Teams or Zoom. If you're using MS Teams you can set up a default background.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Since CC has been transparent about recruiting this year - I'm talking priority candidates (penultimate year law and final year non-law);

Did anyone who was a non-priority candidate get invited to an AC at CC for the TC?

 

[dzlee]

Anyone else did the AC interview for Dechert from the previous 2019/2020 cycle? Have you heard back from them?

 

[S87]

What worries me is that I come from a country (Italy) where the overwhelming majority of law grads earn little or even no money during their ‘praticantato’ (in short the Italian equivalent of a TC). I hope the UK doesn’t ever go down that path

Hey fellow Italian, yes I have friends who are trainee solicitors and are not paid.

 

[TheLegend27]

I’m so sorry to hear that, did either of you know what percentiles you got? I didn’t do that well so am trying to brace myself for a PFO

I received a PFO post-WG too, and my percentile was 92% (no kidding). The level of competition is just mind-blogging.

 

[Florawilliams]

mayer brown AC summer VS!! so happy! if anyone has any tips i would really appreciate it