2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Asil Ahmad]

This is not an application rewlated question but it is about university grades and impact on future applications.

I am studying at BPP and am doing my exams in the pandemic. Most of you know that universities have given students 24 hours for online exams and some were given 72 hours for online exams in this pandemic. At BPP for undergraduate degree we were only given 4 hours and had had to sit the exam at the exam time. What do law firms think of this and do they know about this. Maybe @Jessica Booker you might be better to this query.

Should I state this in my applications or are law firms aware of this.

 

[gg332dd]

Orrick rejection after a year and a half of waiting 😂

 

[Matt_96]

Thank you for this !! I'll have a look in the Times/FT in that case since they usually link similar articles!

I was just catching up on the FT this evening and saw this actually: https://www.ft.com/content/efd5f095-e887-4d50-93fa-108d7249b6f1

 

[ChuPnl]

Did anyone hear back after the Taylor Vinters AC?

They won't get back to us until they've all been conducted (the last one is tomorrow).
So we'll probably hear back between this Friday and Friday next week.

 

[E.A]

So after 10 months of waiting, I just received my Orrick PFO. Honestly, I don't get this anymore. This was my best application to date, and it seems I progress the applications that are more last minute than the ones I work hard for. I work with some of these law firms on the other end of transactions (and with their trainees......) and I genuinely know I am "good enough" to get further than a mere PFO over and over and over and over and over again. This goal of getting a TC is getting really, really annoying. Feel very angry and not even sad anymore. Rant over, hope I'm not alone with feeling like this.

 

[Jaysen]

Just saw this K&E video on work-life balance on Reddit... "On balance I think my life remains in balance"

Love this! Do you have a link to the thread?

 

[Jessica Booker]

This is not an application rewlated question but it is about university grades and impact on future applications.

I am studying at BPP and am doing my exams in the pandemic. Most of you know that universities have given students 24 hours for online exams and some were given 72 hours for online exams in this pandemic. At BPP for undergraduate degree we were only given 4 hours and had had to sit the exam at the exam time. What do law firms think of this and do they know about this. Maybe @Jessica Booker you might be better to this query.

Should I state this in my applications or are law firms aware of this.

Law firms won’t care to be frank about this. If you were doing the exam in person it would be a fixed time. Everyone in your cohort will be under the same conditions. There is no need to mention it in applications.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Law firms won’t care to be frank about this. If you were doing the exam in person it would be a fixed time. Everyone in your cohort will be under the same conditions. There is no need to mention it in applications.

Thank you for this.

 

[MzM]

Have heard rumours in the financial world that the fallout of the Goldman associate survey has been other banks (+ Apollo) dishing out bonuses as a thank you to associates!

 

[corporatelawww000]

Ashurst PFO finally!

Sorry to hear that... did u receive this through email or call?

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Hey all, how would you go about mentioning future VSs you have coming up in a direct TC application, if the firms you've got VSs with are all varied, and different to the one you're applying now? E.g. you've got a US and MC VS coming up, and now you're sending a direct TC to a mid-market UK firm.

 

[whisperingrock]

Just saw this K&E video on work-life balance on Reddit... "On balance I think my life remains in balance"

In the vein of funny youtube videos, my siblings just sent me this:

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey all, how would you go about mentioning future VSs you have coming up in a direct TC application, if the firms you've got VSs with are all varied, and different to the one you're applying now? E.g. you've got a US and MC VS coming up, and now you're sending a direct TC to a mid-market UK firm.

You just have to make sure you are explaining what that firm in motivational answers. Almost deal with the elephant in the room (or in your application) that it looks like you are applying for second best.

 

[Legalmel_99]

Anyone heard from DWF post AC? ☺️ And if so was this by email or call?

 

[Anon 11031]

Anyone heard from DWF post AC? ☺️ And if so was this by email or call?

I saw two people get offered their VS yesterday on my LinkedIn so I don't think you'll be waiting too long! ☺️

 

[Numerius Negidius]

Love this! Do you have a link to the thread?

https://www.reddit.com/r/LawSchool/comments/mbuvzc

 

[layla rose]

In the vein of funny youtube videos, my siblings just sent me this:

this has made my week hahaha thank you for sharing

 

[Andrew M]

Yes - if it's virtual it might be one week online like last year but they're planning it to be in person. The first week is a presentation week where everyone from across the UK offices comes to London. It's just so frustrating that I had to turn down another vac scheme for it But I am on the reserve list!

That does suck! I think all three of my offers have confirmed that they're running our scheme online now.

 

[whoknew]

Love this! Do you have a link to the thread?

Quite tragically, the woman who spoke about Balance in her life passed away a couple of years after this video from a heart attack

 

[Velikilawyer123]

You just have to make sure you are explaining what that firm in motivational answers. Almost deal with the elephant in the room (or in your application) that it looks like you are applying for second best.

Hmm well I think I can justify my motivation for the firm pretty well, but I don't think I could directly address why I've applied to BOTH them and some of my other firms (e.g. I find it very hard to find much if any similarity between a high-end US PE-focused firm and a mid-market asset finance UK firm). So in that case, if the difference is so glaringly obvious, would it better to simply leave out my upcoming VS that I can't marry with this firm, even if my specific motivation for this firm is solid?