2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[JayB]

I have received 2 training contract offers from high-street law firms, but my goal is to become a trainee and a qualified lawyer at a City law firm in London. I was wondering if I don’t secure any TC offers from my “dream” firms - can I still move to an international City law firm once qualified, even though I’ve trained at a high-street firm?

Or is my chances slim, as I don’t want to narrow myself!! :/

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker

 

[jasonweee]

if I have a job that I intend to take next year (not a TC) would it be unethical to do a VS? I feel kind of bad but I kind of want the experience.

 

[John Travoni]

I think we should definitely hear back from Baker McKenzie regarding TC application by next week as their first year scheme just ended today.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I think we should definitely hear back from Baker McKenzie regarding TC application by next week as their first year scheme just ended today.

Also, they had their VS end this week.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I have received 2 training contract offers from high-street law firms, but my goal is to become a trainee and a qualified lawyer at a City law firm in London. I was wondering if I don’t secure any TC offers from my “dream” firms - can I still move to an international City law firm once qualified, even though I’ve trained at a high-street firm?

Or is my chances slim, as I don’t want to narrow myself!! :/

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker

This may come across as blunt, but this is highly unlikely to almost impossible.

The work you will be doing in a high street firm is light years away from the type of clients and the type of matters you would work on in an international firm.

You’d have to have a whole lot of good fortune for it to happen. For instance, if you got involved in something that was very niche/fast growing or something that went from being small scale to complex.

There might be some practice areas where it is more feasible, but I am not convinced even then it would be something that happens enough to be able to say you could make the transition.

 

[Jessica Booker]

if I have a job that I intend to take next year (not a TC) would it be unethical to do a VS? I feel kind of bad but I kind of want the experience.

Do you want the experience but know you won’t be looking for a TC?

 

[FM302989]

I have received 2 training contract offers from high-street law firms, but my goal is to become a trainee and a qualified lawyer at a City law firm in London. I was wondering if I don’t secure any TC offers from my “dream” firms - can I still move to an international City law firm once qualified, even though I’ve trained at a high-street firm?

Or is my chances slim, as I don’t want to narrow myself!! :/

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker

Read this article about Richard Youle. Trained in Hull's high street and is now a Partner at Skadden

From Hull high street trainee to US firm high flyer - Legal Cheek

Richard Youle, co-head of private equity at Skadden, reveals how he staged one of the best career progressions of his time

www.legalcheek.com

 

[Jessica Booker]

Read this article about Richard Youle. Trained in Hull's high street and is now a Partner at Skadden

From Hull high street trainee to US firm high flyer - Legal Cheek

Richard Youle, co-head of private equity at Skadden, reveals how he staged one of the best career progressions of his time

www.legalcheek.com

I’d stress the late 90s/early 00s were a very different time!

 

[FM302989]

I’d stress the late 90s/early 00s were a very different time!

I'd argue we'll never know where our careers will take us. If we put our mind to something and work hard, I'd like to believe people can achieve their ambitions and work their way up.

I know we don't live in a fantasy world, but after all, trainee positions are few and far between across the whole country

 

[Jessica Booker]

I'd argue we'll never know where our careers will take us. If we put our mind to something and work hard, I'd like to believe people can achieve their ambitions and work their way up.

I know we don't live in a fantasy world, but after all, trainee positions are few and far between across the whole country

There will always be extreme outliers, but I my view is to be one you’ll need a lot more than hard work to get you there. The article itself suggests this is one of those occasions.

 

[FM302989]

There will always be extreme outliers, but I my view is to be one you’ll need a lot more than hard work to get you there. The article itself suggests this is one of those occasions.

I dunno, just doesn't really seem like a message that I would personally want to encourage, but I respect your view and you're more than likely right

I'm working at a high street firm and will be moving to a City firm to train. One person at my high street firm qualified a couple years back, moved to an international firm and now works as a legal counsel for a global company. Another qualified recently and moved straight away as an NQ to a Silver Circle firm. I'd rather take the view that yes, I agree moving up is difficult and there will be biases against regional firms, but I hope that will change so it won't necessarily be an extreme outlier in the future. Guess discussion is what this forum is all for anyway!

I'll allow the original question-asker to make their own decision though!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I dunno, just doesn't really seem like a message that I would personally want to encourage, but I respect your view and you're more than likely right

I'm working at a high street firm and will be moving to a City firm to train. One person at my high street firm qualified a couple years back, moved to an international firm and now works as a legal counsel for a global company. Another qualified recently and moved straight away as an NQ to a Silver Circle firm. I'd rather take the view that yes, I agree moving up is difficult and there will be biases against regional firms, but I hope that will change so it won't necessarily be an extreme outlier in the future. Guess discussion is what this forum is all for anyway!

I'll allow the original question-asker to make their own decision though!

There might be something special about the firm you worked at. It could easily be an anomaly. But moving pre-TC will be fairly common though.

 

[MS2000]

Hi, does anyone know if Forsters give their vac scheme offers via email or telephone? I know they are not going to get back to us until the end of the month (cry) but I think I will be somewhere with bad phone signal that week.

How did you get on with the assessment centre?

 

[Jessica Booker]

How did you get on with the assessment centre?

If they can’t get hold of you by phone, they will email.

 

[CareerChanger]

Good luck to everyone expecting to hear back from Trowers today (assuming today is in fact the day)

 

[jasonweee]

Do you want the experience but know you won’t be looking for a TC?

Maybe in the future but I got an interesting job that I know I want to stick with for a couple of years.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Maybe in the future but I got an interesting job that I know I want to stick with for a couple of years.

If you are doing the vac scheme pre being employed, then there isn’t really an issue with you doing so, you are trying it out. Be mindful that if you are trying to do this while you are employed, it will be much more difficult. Many organisations you have to declare alternative employment, and your employer may not allow you to go and work elsewhere for a couple of weeks.

 

[jasonweee]

If you are doing the vac scheme pre being employed, then there isn’t really an issue with you doing so, you are trying it out. Be mindful that if you are trying to do this while you are employed, it will be much more difficult. Many organisations you have to declare alternative employment, and your employer may not allow you to go and work elsewhere for a couple of weeks.

ahh ok. Yes im not employed yet. The vac scheme is prior to the start date. Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

ahh ok. Yes im not employed yet. The vac scheme is prior to the start date. Thanks!

Not really an issue then. Lots of people try out vac schemes to see whether it’s something they want to pursue - you are just doing it for a potentially later date.

 

[josemourinho]

How did you get on with the assessment centre?

Ok I think! A few hiccups but definitely not going to overthink them. Didn't really get a break because even the lunch bit is cameras on which I think was probably my least fave part of the day, although ofc they were nice enough to provide deliveroo. The wait is killing me though.