2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[TM]

Rejection from Reed Smith post research questions.

 

[to law or not to law?]

If a firm recruits on a rolling basis and their deadline is 31/03 (today) is there any point applying? Just got rejected from WBD and I've just seen a firm I like that has a deadline of today but recruits on a rolling basis. Is it safe to say that spaces are probably filled by now? (They recruit less than 5 trainees I think)

 

[Legalmel_99]

If a firm recruits on a rolling basis and their deadline is 31/03 (today) is there any point applying? Just got rejected from WBD and I've just seen a firm I like that has a deadline of today but recruits on a rolling basis. Is it safe to say that spaces are probably filled by now? (They recruit less than 5 trainees I think)

Nothing to lose but could have a lot to gain

 

[Legalmel_99]

Sooo I assume gateley will be tomorrow 😓

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker Jess, when do you reckon is the right time to ask a firm to be part of an earlier TC intake?

I have a VS coming up which could if all goes well lead to a 2023 TC. If I'm keen on going with the 2022 intake (provided there's space, of course), when would be the best time to mention this? During the VS? During the exit interview? After they offer your the TC?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Jess, when do you reckon is the right time to ask a firm to be part of an earlier TC intake?

I have a VS coming up which could if all goes well lead to a 2023 TC. If I'm keen on going with the 2022 intake (provided there's space, of course), when would be the best time to mention this? During the VS? During the exit interview? After they offer your the TC?

An exit interview with HR/Grad Rec could be appropriate to raise it - then you phrase it in a way that is more like “if there is an opportunity to be considered for a 2022 TC, if very much like to be considered, but happy to continue with 2023 too”

Otherwise when you get the offer.

 

[LegalLordLox]

Got the WBD PFO “application fell just under the benchmark”. I will spend way more time on my applications next year! Two firms left now.

 

[Kablahc]

For all you people who will have to leave a 'gap year' between graduating and doing their LPC, or for those of you who are planning to do it, what is everyone planning to do? GR let me know there's no space on the '22 cohort for my TC so I'll be waiting until 2023. I've got a postgrad offer but it's conditional on a 1st, which it's extremely unlikely for me to make. Considering how dry the job market is even for paralegals and that most firms want theirs to have experience or to have sat the LPC, what's everyone else here planning on doing if they have to take a TC gap year? Options are getting so dry I'm looking at the NY Bar...

 

[Jessica Booker]

For all you people who will have to leave a 'gap year' between graduating and doing their LPC, or for those of you who are planning to do it, what is everyone planning to do? GR let me know there's no space on the '22 cohort for my TC so I'll be waiting until 2023. I've got a postgrad offer but it's conditional on a 1st, which it's extremely unlikely for me to make. Considering how dry the job market is even for paralegals and that most firms want theirs to have experience or to have sat the LPC, what's everyone else here planning on doing if they have to take a TC gap year? Options are getting so dry I'm looking at the NY Bar...

If it was me, I’d travel as much as I could while I could.

 

[M1999]

Yeah exactly what I was referring to as well! Interesting that it disagrees with what grad rec said.

For all you people who will have to leave a 'gap year' between graduating and doing their LPC, or for those of you who are planning to do it, what is everyone planning to do? GR let me know there's no space on the '22 cohort for my TC so I'll be waiting until 2023. I've got a postgrad offer but it's conditional on a 1st, which it's extremely unlikely for me to make. Considering how dry the job market is even for paralegals and that most firms want theirs to have experience or to have sat the LPC, what's everyone else here planning on doing if they have to take a TC gap year? Options are getting so dry I'm looking at the NY Bar...

Not sure if this is just me but I would do something unrelated to law, and chill out. You’ve worked so hard and you deserve a year to do things you’ve always wanted to do, learn new skills, travel, get a job you wouldn’t normally go for. I think it’s a blessing in disguise really forcing you to have a gap year

 

[Kablahc]

If it was me, I’d travel as much as I could while I could.

Not sure if this is just me but I would do something unrelated to law, and chill out. You’ve worked so hard and you deserve a year to do things you’ve always wanted to do, learn new skills, travel, get a job you wouldn’t normally go for. I think it’s a blessing in disguise really forcing you to have a gap year

Yeah I know a lot of people usually would travel or have done! It looks like an amazing experience but not really an option for me sadly so don't really know what to do other than do non-law postgrad (cannot stand the thought of a standard LLM after all this 😂)

 

[Kubed]

Reed Smith PFO after research questions... got 2 more firms to hear from and then gonna cry in a hole till next cycle. Honestly just very demotivated.

It's not over yet! I was in a similar position this time last month and managed to get interviews/ACs for my final 2 outstanding applications, making it through to vac schemes for both. Keep the faith

 

[Daniel Boden]

For all you people who will have to leave a 'gap year' between graduating and doing their LPC, or for those of you who are planning to do it, what is everyone planning to do? GR let me know there's no space on the '22 cohort for my TC so I'll be waiting until 2023. I've got a postgrad offer but it's conditional on a 1st, which it's extremely unlikely for me to make. Considering how dry the job market is even for paralegals and that most firms want theirs to have experience or to have sat the LPC, what's everyone else here planning on doing if they have to take a TC gap year? Options are getting so dry I'm looking at the NY Bar...

Travel travel travel!!! Do as many things you can to avoid thinking about law imo

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yeah I know a lot of people usually would travel or have done! It looks like an amazing experience but not really an option for me sadly so don't really know what to do other than do non-law postgrad (cannot stand the thought of a standard LLM after all this 😂)

Only do a post grad study if you want to. It isn’t really going to help your career.

If you have secured a TC, you’ll probably secure a paralegal role fairly easily if you wanted to.

But you could do any job. Assuming finances are not a problem if you are considering post graduate study, you could choose to volunteer or do anything you wanted for your own passions/interests.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Yeah I know a lot of people usually would travel or have done! It looks like an amazing experience but not really an option for me sadly so don't really know what to do other than do non-law postgrad (cannot stand the thought of a standard LLM after all this 😂)

Why would travelling not be an option out of interest? Alternatively, I'd work in another job for a few months to save up the money to then go travelling if it's a money issue?

 

[EVjuji]

Got the WBD PFO “application fell just under the benchmark”. I will spend way more time on my applications next year! Two firms left now.

I am afraid this is just their standard PFO..

 

[tk166]

Only do a post grad study if you want to. It isn’t really going to help your career.

If you have secured a TC, you’ll probably secure a paralegal role fairly easily if you wanted to.

But you could do any job. Assuming finances are not a problem if you are considering post graduate study, you could choose to volunteer or do anything you wanted for your own passions/interests.

Random question, why do law firms hire future trainees as paralegals? Also I want to save money for travelling, do you think being a paralegal for 6 months is doable or do I need to stay for a full 12 months?

 

[Daniel Boden]

Random question, why do law firms hire future trainees as paralegals? Also I want to save money for travelling, do you think being a paralegal for 6 months is doable or do I need to stay for a full 12 months?

Short-term paralegal contracts are very common so I wouldn't worry too much about that

 

[Kablahc]

Only do a post grad study if you want to. It isn’t really going to help your career.

If you have secured a TC, you’ll probably secure a paralegal role fairly easily if you wanted to.

But you could do any job. Assuming finances are not a problem if you are considering post graduate study, you could choose to volunteer or do anything you wanted for your own passions/interests.

I guess I'll have a look - I don't know if it would be easier to maybe ask the firm I'm due to be training at if they had any paralegal positions open closer to the time? Although most firms seem to want paralegals with some sort of experience! Maybe I'll get looking at volunteering in that case.

Why would travelling not be an option out of interest? Alternatively, I'd work in another job for a few months to save up the money to then go travelling if it's a money issue?

A few reasons but mostly because I haven't seen my partner in over a year because of the pandemic (studying in different locations) and I can't think of anything worse than that being the same except we're in totally different timezones! 😭

 

[Jessica Booker]

Random question, why do law firms hire future trainees as paralegals? Also I want to save money for travelling, do you think being a paralegal for 6 months is doable or do I need to stay for a full 12 months?

Because it’s a sign of quality and it works well if they know the paralegal is only needed for a set period of time.

Contracts can be as short at 3 months through to 24. Really depends on the role being advertised.