2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[jd3447]

does anyone have advice for the mishcon case study? never done an AC or anything so i'm terrified

 

[LawStudent31]

Did you get the telephone call regarding the interview invite today.

Thursday Morning I got the call. Applied early Jan.

 

[Jessica Booker]

In a recent AC I was asked 'If I had a magic wand right now, and could do anything to fix the economy, what would I do?". This question stumped me as I was ready to discuss current things of interest within the commercial sphere (crypto currencies, ESG, SPACs etc etc) as well as issues and remedies within the legal world such as legal tech and COVID, but this questions took me by surprise. With such a broad question I was quite lost.
I spoke about tax and the new budget regime, but after that my answer was pretty terrible...whoops.

I would love anyones opinion on this so I can be better prepared in the future! Thank you @Dheepa @Jaysen @Jacob Miller

It’s going to be difficult to give advice on this. It’s one of those questions where there is no right or wrong answers really. It’s more your logic/rationale in why you choose the thing you would fix. It’s definitely one of those questions where you can make your individual answer though, so your tax answer may not have been as bad as you think it is.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Thursday Morning I got the call. Applied early Jan.

Good luck

 

[Nnu]

This is a super broad question and gives you scope to talk about a deal, any new initiatives a firm has implemented or something more typical like legal tech. I'd probably start research by looking at some of the headlines on The Lawyer to see if there's anything you could use (if you choose to take the second route I mentioned). If that doesn't work I'd probably stick to talking about a particularly innovative or creative deal. For something like this, make use of the firm's annual report - usually includes a lot of in depth highlights on a deal.

A slightly lesser known example that jumps to mind is when DLA Piper had a huge cybersecurity issue a couple of years back the firm very quickly went to working via Whatsapp solely (no emails because they were dealing with the hack) to still get client work done. Doesn't seem like they did anything particularly new but I think there's something to be said about coming up with any means/approach necessary to get work done.

thank you so much for this! super helpful!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Is everyone doing their spring VS this week except for White and Case who started it last week. Just wondering as if VS is on this week then grad recruitment are not reading applications this week at all.

 

[GK8997]

Is everyone doing their spring VS this week except for White and Case who started it last week. Just wondering as if VS is on this week then grad recruitment are not reading applications this week at all.

I actually think that most spring VS start in April but I know a few (including mine) that start this week!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I actually think that most spring VS start in April but I know a few (including mine) that start this week!

Good luck and which firm are you at tomorrow if you don't mind me asking.

 

[GK8997]

Good luck and which firm are you at tomorrow if you don't mind me asking.

Thank you! It's with Weil but I know Reed Smith is also next week!

 

[Jacob Miller]

does anyone have advice for the mishcon case study? never done an AC or anything so i'm terrified

My article on case studies is available via the link in my signature below, should be of some help

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Thank you! It's with Weil but I know Reed Smith is also next week!

Wow that is really impressive have fun.

 

[GK8997]

Wow that is really impressive have fun.

Thank you!!

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Hey,

Can anyone please suggest a good resource for a good overview on a typical M&A deal. Everywhere I read, the structure of the deal seems different and includes different steps. So, can someone please suggest where I can read about the anatomy of a typical M&A transaction that is enough and not too much for an AC?

@Jacob Miller @Dheepa @Naomi U @Alice G @Daniel Boden @Neville Birdi

 

[Daniel Boden]

Hey,

Can anyone please suggest a good resource for a good overview on a typical M&A deal. Everywhere I read, the structure of the deal seems different and includes different steps. So, can someone please suggest where I can read about the anatomy of a typical M&A transaction that is enough and not too much for an AC?

@Jacob Miller @Dheepa @Naomi U @Alice G @Daniel Boden @Neville Birdi

I'd recommend A&O's 'Anatomy of a Deal' video which gives a pretty good overview of the different steps here:

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Hey all, how would you suggest explaining to a firm why you're applying for a direct TC with them, but didn't apply for a VS with them, especially if you've managed to secure VSs with other firms during this cycle?

Truth be told I generally focused my VS efforts on firms which predominantly recruit from their VS and left those with no preference for direct TC applications, but just wondering how best to tackle that question should it come up.

And, actually, should I even mention if I've secured / have upcoming VSs with other firms when applying for a direct TC? Would I mention that under work experience?

Thanks!

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker @Jacob Miller @Neville Birdi

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey all, how would you suggest explaining to a firm why you're applying for a direct TC with them, but didn't apply for a VS with them, especially if you've managed to secure VSs with other firms during this cycle?

Truth be told I generally focused my VS efforts on firms which predominantly recruit from their VS and left those with no preference for direct TC applications, but just wondering how best to tackle that question should it come up.

And, actually, should I even mention if I've secured / have upcoming VSs with other firms when applying for a direct TC? Would I mention that under work experience?

Thanks!

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker @Jacob Miller @Neville Birdi

If at an application stage you don’t, it would only be at interview you would really explain something like this. And then you just logically explain your application strategy - if that’s the approach you took, then explain it as it is.

Yes - you should include VS you have scheduled. I personally wouldn’t put it in work experience as you haven’t done it yet, but you could briefly mention it in other sections, like any career motivation questions or an “any other information you want to provide” type question/section.

 

[CAL_LPC]

Hi! Congratulations on the VI 🤞. My interview was very straight forward and blunt (to be brutally honest - it wasn't a conversation nor did they take any questions, so something to look out for - I think a few others experienced the same!) Other than that there were 3 questions, centred around the usual stuff you expect - about the firm, the role itself and a commercial one. Be prepared to tailor it to your stream (I did business stream for reference!) My main tip would be to just be calm and collective in your answers. All the best 😆

Thanks Num! I appreciate you sharing your experience and I hope yours went well 🤞.

 

[jasonweee]

Got the Gibson Dunn first round interview last night!

Please PM me if you have done the interview before (its been a bad cycle lol and I want to do well)

 

[jasonweee]

Got the Gibson Dunn first round interview last night!

Please PM me if you have done the interview before (its been a bad cycle lol and I want to do well)

applied on the deadline in case anyone was wondering

 

[jcatherine]

Got the Gibson Dunn first round interview last night!

Please PM me if you have done the interview before (its been a bad cycle lol and I want to do well)

i did both rounds — they're quite big on commercial awareness from what I gather the first round is a chat about your CV so make sure you know your CV well