2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Asil Ahmad]

FT Podcast and don't be afraid to look at some of the banking ones.

I've come to learn that CA is massively dependent on the firm.

Like... priv~ private equity...

Watson daily podcast

 

[Daniel Boden]

Does anyone know of any good podcasts that could help with commercial awareness please??

In addition to the other suggestions already said, the Commercial Awareness Podcast is also excellent!

 

[Legalmel_99]

There’s a question on an application which says “please give details of positions of responsibility held during further education”

this might sound stupid but does this mean during college? Or can it be my activities outside of college or even university??

 

[layla rose]

if I had dedicated the same amount of time to my uni work as I have to apps this year I would defo be on track for a first lol

 

[layla rose]

There’s a question on an application which says “please give details of positions of responsibility held during further education”

this might sound stupid but does this mean during college? Or can it be my activities outside of college or even university??

I think it includes any positions outside of college/uni just as long as it was during that time

 

[Dheepa]

Does anyone know of any good podcasts that could help with commercial awareness please??

This thread will help ☺️

Commercial Awareness - Podcast Thread

Hey everyone. Commercial Awareness is not something you can cram. It is built up over time and is the result of how you engage with the business world that exists around you. If any of you are like me, I hate reading! So, I found my particular method of increasing commercial awareness was...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Andrew M]

if I had dedicated the same amount of time to my uni work as I have to apps this year I would defo be on track for a first lol

I can completely relate. I was a top 3/4 student in my first two years - I definitely am not going to be this year. 😅

 

[zigzag84]

FT Podcast and don't be afraid to look at some of the banking ones.

I've come to learn that CA is massively dependent on the firm.

Like... priv~ private equity...

Hey. Do you mean that firms which specialise in private equity ask for a lot more CA?

 

[Celestie]

Hey. Do you mean that firms which specialise in private equity ask for a lot more CA?

I think all firms ask for CA but if a firm specialises in something, they will expect you to know something about it.

I.E. If I owned a law firm that had a massive department on the IP law of memes, I would want you to have some CA on IP law in order to engage in current debates. PE wouldn't be useful to me here.

 

[Jony]

FT Podcast and don't be afraid to look at some of the banking ones.

I've come to learn that CA is massively dependent on the firm.

Like... priv~ private equity...

Hey. Do you mean that firms which specialise in private equity ask for a lot more CA?

For Skadden, I talked about ESG policies generally and got the scheme. I wasn’t asked anything about PE especially, except some of their new hires and how it would affect their standing in the market.

For Dechert, I was quizzed on v technical aspects of company structures, and while I don’t think you were expected to know anything industry-wide per se, it was useful to weave in some of the thought leadership that both Skadden and Dechert have written about/made podcasts about to reinforce even simple technical answers. For instance, I added into some of my answers a podcast which Dechert produced on cyber security and PE/DD - Brenda Sharon, their global co-head of Cyber was talking about the rising tide of cybervulnerabilities and how this affects companies during the deal period

 

[breadpitt]

How would you answer this question:
Firm X is going to a pitch for John Lewis to win them over as a client. My interviewer was going as a representative of the Commercial, IP and Technology department. What two other departments would you bring to the pitch and why?

 

[Zay]

How would you answer this question:
Firm X is going to a pitch for John Lewis to win them over as a client. My interviewer was going as a representative of the Commercial, IP and Technology department. What two other departments would you bring to the pitch and why?

I think there are a range of other lawyers you could bring in:
- Tax- can link this back to the budget, as well as the changes in tax JL might experience after losing stores
- Employment- link this back to them closing stores and what does this mean for their employees? what rights do the employees have in their contracts that JL now need to comply with?
- Real Estate/Property- link this back to them closing stores and what does this mean for the buildings they were using? do they need to continuing paying rent? or do they need to sell off buildings? Also, what is happening with their current stores? do JL need to renegotiate rent payments as the Gov continue to impose restrictions?

 

[breadpitt]

I think there are a range of other lawyers you could bring in:
- Tax- can link this back to the budget, as well as the changes in tax JL might experience after losing stores
- Employment- link this back to them closing stores and what does this mean for their employees? what rights do the employees have in their contracts that JL now need to comply with?
- Real Estate/Property- link this back to them closing stores and what does this mean for the buildings they were using? do they need to continuing paying rent? or do they need to sell off buildings? Also, what is happening with their current stores? do JL need to renegotiate rent payments as the Gov continue to impose restrictions?

Thank you so much!

 

[jkjk99]

I completed the Trowers test this morning and didn't receive any email confirmation... Should I be worried? Has anyone else completed the test?

 

[lawgal101]

Anyone able to shed some light on what to expect for Trowers' assessment day? Don't know what to expect 😖

 

[Anya B]

I got full 9/9 for applied intellect and 6/9 for the others? Intrigued about that as I'm far more hardworking than smart 🤣 they might be right about the tech though 🤣

I got exactly the same scores!

 

[Anya B]

Has anyone got any tips for a phone interview? Have one tomorrow and all the others I have done have involved video in some way

 

[Jessica Booker]

Has anyone got any tips for a phone interview? Have one tomorrow and all the others I have done have involved video in some way

Nothing really is that different - you just don’t have to worry about how you visually present yourself.

It sounds odd/stupids but try to smile while you are talking. Your tone will be lifted when you smile and you will naturally sound more engaging.

 

[CareerChanger]

I completed the Trowers test this morning and didn't receive any email confirmation... Should I be worried? Has anyone else completed the test?

I didn’t either. If you click the link after completing it, it’ll say the survey was already completed. That’s all the confirmation you get.

 

[Andrew M]

Has anyone got any tips for a phone interview? Have one tomorrow and all the others I have done have involved video in some way

Is it recorded or with someone? I actually prefer them because you don't have to worry about eye contact, which means you can refer to notes. In addition to what Jessica said re smiling, if you are sat down then make sure you have a nice open posture and don't slouch because it'll impact your energy and come across on the phone. You could even choose to stand up.