2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[els124]

Has anyone else not heard from Freshfields for like weeks, I did my AC like 6 weeks ago lol

I emailed them last week about updating my phone number and they added a little sentence on the end saying I'd hear back by the end of this week. Not sure if that'll be applicable to everyone but hopefully you'll hear by then too
I had mine 6 weeks ago too, it's kind of off-putting when it takes so long for them to come back, especially since other firms sometimes do it within 24h

 

[ishikam]

Finally heard back from NRF post-WG. If anyone's done the telephone interview and can tell me what it's like, please share!

Hey! Well done, when did you complete the WG?

 

[Jacob Miller]

Wild one, but I'll put it out there for TCLA squad gang. I've got an interview with a small City based firm next week. I was wondering if there's a decent bundle of generic law interview questions that I can do some prep with over the week. I guess why law, why us, dealing with teams, difficult situations are standard but if there are any others, that would be fab.

I think the best prep is always to know my own experiences so I can respond to questions on the fly, but prep never hurts!

Hey, you might want to check out the interview article linked in my signature

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

I emailed them last week about updating my phone number and they added a little sentence on the end saying I'd hear back by the end of this week. Not sure if that'll be applicable to everyone but hopefully you'll hear by then too
I had mine 6 weeks ago too, it's kind of off-putting when it takes so long for them to come back, especially since other firms sometimes do it within 24h

Its interesting that they now take 6 weeks to let people know as last year I heard back the next day! I wonder why they changed...

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hey everyone! I really need some help. I'm prepping a presentation for an AC where I have to pitch a prospective client to the law firm. I've got all the reasons for why its a good company and some reasons for why it's a good fit in the law firm, but I can't really figure out how to dig deeper than that.

How would one go about developing reasons for why the company is a good prospective client?

Any ideas would be so helpful!!! Thank you!!!

That sounds unusual - I've never heard of this before; these exercises are generally the other way round i.e., pitching the firm to a prospective client. I could be going mad, though, and it's more common than I thought! Just to double check, that's definitely what's being asked of you?

I mean, in any event it sounds like you're along the right path. I would treat it much the same as how you'd treat a pitch the other way round: find parallels between expertise and client needs, find other example deals or jobs the firm has taken on for clients in a similar space, discuss parallels in values and approach to business/ D&I etc and you can't really go too far wrong in my opinion

 

[ofm]

That sounds unusual - I've never heard of this before; these exercises are generally the other way round i.e., pitching the firm to a prospective client. I could be going mad, though, and it's more common than I thought! Just to double check, that's definitely what's being asked of you?

I mean, in any event it sounds like you're along the right path. I would treat it much the same as how you'd treat a pitch the other way round: find parallels between expertise and client needs, find other example deals or jobs the firm has taken on for clients in a similar space, discuss parallels in values and approach to business/ D&I etc and you can't really go too far wrong in my opinion

Yeah, I thought it was unusual! Its definitely to pitch a prospective client to the firm and explain why they would be a good target client. Really tough...

Thank you so much, that is so helpful!!

 

[Polyglot]

Finally heard from Kennedys for my direct TC app - it's a VI invite! Manchester office, applied on the deadline. Feels good after AG's PFO this morning.

Round-up so far - out of my 5 apps, I received 2 post-app PFOs. One VS already in the bag. Two outcomes (including Kennedys) still pending.

 

[Han.louise]

Has anyone heard back from Burges Salmon post AC?

 

[lawgal101]

Has anyone heard anything from trowers?

Received an assessment day invite on Friday

 

[CharlotteLegal]

Kennedys VI invite here also! My portal hadn’t updated last Fri so please don’t give up if yours hadn’t either.

 

[sam970]

Received an assessment day invite on Friday

Congratulations! What office did you apply for? Look like it’s a pfo damnn😭

 

[summer207]

Everyone at Taylor Wessing’s AC was lovely 😄 but my commercial awareness exercise was a car crash, not feeling hopeful

 

[packhorse]

Kirkland people any idea when we might hear back?

 

[Bonolaw]

Kirkland people any idea when we might hear back?

They are still doing the odd interview here and there

 

[deckoking123]

Hey guys! I have two vacation schemes in the bag should I be applying to more schemes or TCs ( I'm only anxious because last summer I had one vacation scheme and I did not convert it.

 

[Hele25]

I’m honestly just exhausted now. I am keeping positive/going to keep working hard until next year but it’s just so disappointing for all the plans I’d made. Does anyone have any advice on how to be proactive/get started early for next years cycle?
(I do still have 3 firms to hear back from, but I’m not super hopeful)
Also, this is probably more opinion based but how do people feel about obtaining masters degrees?
@Jessica Booker do firms value masters or would a more useful option be to take LPC/SQE (whichever)?
thanks for any advice!

 

[Legallunchtime98]

Has anyone else still not heard from Ashurst post-app, pretty gutted as I thought my test scores were decent (77 for cognify and 87 for emotify) and thought my answers were okay. I've seen people with lower test scores get ACs so thinking my app must have been pretty bad as I have decent academics and experience

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Building on the previous questions, could I ask what are the common VI pitfalls? Thank you

In some ways they are very similar to normal face to face interviews:

- don’t focus on answering the question (either go off on tangents to cover other things they are more comfortable/prepared to talk about, or try to cover other questions to prove other evidence)

- don’t think about how they present themselves. Looking disinterested, closed off body language, poor tone of voice etc.

- overly scripted answers that make you sound like it is a speech rather than a conversation. Makes it comes across as you have learnt something parrot fashion, and can make you seem more disingenuous. This is worse if people are also reading off a script. It’s fine to have “keyword” reminders but don’t rely on reading detailed/scripted answers.

More general advice on what do to attached.

 

[AspiringLawyer112]

Got the online test to complete for Womble Bond Dickinson (applied for the TC)

 

[Jessica Booker]

I’m honestly just exhausted now. I am keeping positive/going to keep working hard until next year but it’s just so disappointing for all the plans I’d made. Does anyone have any advice on how to be proactive/get started early for next years cycle?
(I do still have 3 firms to hear back from, but I’m not super hopeful)
Also, this is probably more opinion based but how do people feel about obtaining masters degrees?
@Jessica Booker do firms value masters or would a more useful option be to take LPC/SQE (whichever)?
thanks for any advice!

Unfortunately neither a masters nor the LPC/SQE are of value to most firms.

The exceptions will be:

- firms who do not sponsor the courses
- firms who have a very strong niche and look for people who have developed that niche through academics or work experience

I only suggest doing a masters if you personally want to do it (rather than for job application processes) or if you are very certain it will improve your chances with specific firms you are looking to apply to.