2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Jason S]

Hey, I really wish I had found this forum before now - I really want to be able to now bring hope to others who are feeling down. I finally have a TC offer accepted, but it’s my fourth year. In second year uni I thought I’d managed it, I had a summer vac scheme with a MC firm, I did well, I tried my best, my feedback was good but the interview went badly. It was a rejection. The next year I focused on uni, did about 7 applications, was rejected at app stage each time. The year after, I’d graduated, I got a job, I applied for more vac schemes, I did a winter vac scheme at a big international firm and my feedback was great but again, anxiety got the better of me and I was rejected at the end because of the interview. I tried applying for some direct TCs in the summer. rejected again. Then this year I applied for some vac schemes, some direct TCs, I made it past the app stage on all the applications, I had worked on commercial awareness, I entered the aspiring solicitors commercial awareness competition, I was doing a masters, I kept progressing through the competition, I managed to be chosen as a winner of the competition, a week after I had an AC with a MC firm, I passed the AC, I got the training contract. I accepted.

For three years I felt awful, I felt inadequate and not good enough and that I didn’t know how to change my luck, I felt like everyone I knew had already got TCs and I was the ‘last one’ from my uni cohort. I wish others could know that if you’re facing rejection you’re not alone, if you’ve cried and felt awful about yourself and felt like you’ll never get your TC offer, if you’ve been rejected by your ‘dream firm’ after spending hours on an application and attending events, I can entirely relate. I hope if you relate to any of those feelings currently your luck changes soon - mine did and I’m sure yours will too ❤️

Just out of interest, are you still attending the vac schemes you won through the competition? Cant imagine what I’d do, some great firms to potentially get another TC from but then probably cba haha

 

[PositiveVibesOnly]

Just out of interest, are you still attending the vac schemes you won through the competition? Cant imagine what I’d do, some great firms to potentially get another TC from but then probably cba haha

I’m not, no. It was hard to decide though ngl as the firms were brilliant. What it fell down to was me realising that me doing the vac schemes would take vac scheme places away from people who would love to work for those firms, and I didn’t want to do that to people when, in reality, the firm I have the TC offer from is probably what I’d have taken at the end of the summer regardless

 

[John Travoni]

Anyone heard from Cooley.

We find out tomorrow. Hopefully it’s good news guys

 

[ab1147]

Still waiting to hear back from Hill Dickinson having applied 1 day before deadline - should I presume it’s a PFO?

I applied very close to the deadline and got an interview invite so it's not necessarily a PFO! I think they are just doing interviews in batches

 

[Asil Ahmad]

We find out tomorrow. Hopefully it’s good news guys

Hopefully but in the email they said if you hear before 24th then you have progressed. also if I get a rejection tomorrow it is okay because I am in webinars all day tomorrow best day to receive rejections.

 

[KB2020]

I imagine every interview could differ but my interviewers didn't really - I went into quite a lot of depth in my answers though because I was conscious that they hadn't seen my application and knew nothing about me/my experiences

I got a few follow up questions but it was very conversational. They seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out more about me so the questions were not anything I couldn't answer.

 

[tk166]

When firms say they have 10-12 TC places, does that mean they give out more offers? For example, Latham has 24 TC places (I think) but I also know many people that have rejected their Latham TC offer, and yet on chambers student it says there are 48 trainees, so they have to have given more than 24 offers no? I’m approaching a vac scheme with tight numbers and its stressing me out so need comfort haha

 

[Zay]

When firms say they have 10-12 TC places, does that mean they give out more offers? For example, Latham has 24 TC places (I think) but I also know many people that have rejected their Latham TC offer, and yet on chambers student it says there are 48 trainees, so they have to have given more than 24 offers no? I’m approaching a vac scheme with tight numbers and its stressing me out so need comfort haha

The 48 trainees is the total number of trainees i.e. they have 24 trainees per intake

 

[Daniel Boden]

Hey, I really wish I had found this forum before now - I really want to be able to now bring hope to others who are feeling down. I finally have a TC offer accepted, but it’s my fourth year. In second year uni I thought I’d managed it, I had a summer vac scheme with a MC firm, I did well, I tried my best, my feedback was good but the interview went badly. It was a rejection. The next year I focused on uni, did about 7 applications, was rejected at app stage each time. The year after, I’d graduated, I got a job, I applied for more vac schemes, I did a winter vac scheme at a big international firm and my feedback was great but again, anxiety got the better of me and I was rejected at the end because of the interview. I tried applying for some direct TCs in the summer. rejected again. Then this year I applied for some vac schemes, some direct TCs, I made it past the app stage on all the applications, I had worked on commercial awareness, I entered the aspiring solicitors commercial awareness competition, I was doing a masters, I kept progressing through the competition, I managed to be chosen as a winner of the competition, a week after I had an AC with a MC firm, I passed the AC, I got the training contract. I accepted.

For three years I felt awful, I felt inadequate and not good enough and that I didn’t know how to change my luck, I felt like everyone I knew had already got TCs and I was the ‘last one’ from my uni cohort. I wish others could know that if you’re facing rejection you’re not alone, if you’ve cried and felt awful about yourself and felt like you’ll never get your TC offer, if you’ve been rejected by your ‘dream firm’ after spending hours on an application and attending events, I can entirely relate. I hope if you relate to any of those feelings currently your luck changes soon - mine did and I’m sure yours will too ❤️

Many congrats to you and Woody! Hope you were able to celebrate your brilliant achievement which is a culmination of all your hard work and sounds extremely well deserved so you should be very proud!

 

[tk166]

The 48 trainees is the total number of trainees i.e. they have 24 trainees per intake

No yeah I know, but what I’m saying is that if they have 24 trainees per intake and they fill out all places every year (48 students), and there are several people who declined the offers surely it means they offer more than 24? How do they know how many more to offer?? its such a science

 

[Jedward87]

I applied very close to the deadline and got an interview invite so it's not necessarily a PFO! I think they are just doing interviews in batches

I haven’t even got the Watson glaser invite though which is also bothering me...being rejected even before that is just 👍🏻

 

[topsawyer]

Hi, does anyone know long HSF usually take to get back to people after the AC? I know in the past they’ve told people the same day but I’m curious about whether this is usually the case- thanks!

I got a phone call within half an hour with an offer! At the AC, GR said that they aim for the same day or the next at max. But then again if your AC is on a Thurs/Fri, you may have to wait till next week.

 

[topsawyer]

Does anyone know the period that Ropes& Grays ACs are happening? Is it just throughout the whole of March?

Mine's on the 16th of March, and seeing the other replies, guess you're right!

 

[PositiveVibesOnly]

Many congrats to you and Woody! Hope you were able to celebrate your brilliant achievement which is a culmination of all your hard work and sounds extremely well deserved so you should be very proud!

Haha why thank you (and Woody obviously says thank you too but he’s not sure what for!) Really appreciate it! ✨☺️

 

[CharlotteLegal]

Anyone done the gateley assessments/VI?

Also looking to see if anyones done it yet!

 

[Naomi U]

Hi everyone!
(it might be a stupid question)
but I am wondering whether there is a point in applying for a training contract with no legal work experience? or is it better to wait for autumn for VS applications?

Hiya!

I don't think this is a stupid question at all!
From my own personal experiences, I think recruiters who view tc apps look for more certainty regarding your motivations for a career in commercial law at that firm. This is because unlike a vac scheme, which creates an opportunity for both you and the firm to gain a better insight into each other, a direct tc is a bit more permanent so to speak. Therefore, I personally don't see anything wrong with applying at all but rather its all about how you structure your app to show that you are confident and certain with regards to motivations in applying for a tc at that firm.

Hope this helps ☺️

 

[Lillith]

I got a phone call within half an hour with an offer! At the AC, GR said that they aim for the same day or the next at max. But then again if your AC is on a Thurs/Fri, you may have to wait till next week.

Ah cool, thanks for letting me know. I’m hoping it isn’t a case of doing the offers first and the rejections after, but I guess I can’t do anything about it now 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[pe17797]

When did you get your invite?

This afternoon

 

[GK8997]

No yeah I know, but what I’m saying is that if they have 24 trainees per intake and they fill out all places every year (48 students), and there are several people who declined the offers surely it means they offer more than 24? How do they know how many more to offer?? its such a science

Some firms let the successful candidates know first so that if they reject they can offer places to other candidates they may have liked (this is what happened at a smaller firm I did a VS with)- I imagine they also will look at direct TC apps to fill any places they still have if there aren't other candidates they want to offer places to?

 

[Lawgirl123]

Does anyone else delete rejection emails straight away ? 😂