2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

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Jessica Booker

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@Jessica Booker I’m wondering if you have a sense from your time in grad rec how prescriptive firms tend to be if they’re funding the GDL and LPC. Would a firm be okay with me starting the GDL in the January intake, for example, and then doing the fast track LPC starting the following January? Also do you think a firm would be okay with me doing either or both online?
They tend to be more prescriptive with the LPC, especially where they have bespoke courses.

The GDL they tend to be more open to where it is a standardised course (eg no optional modules). Before Covid, I would have said they would have probably told you to do it on campus, but they might be more open to the GDL being online this year given its last year and potential on-going disruption to in-person studying.
 
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HannahW1992

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Likewise. Just means that the firm wasn't right for us. Onwards and upwards!
 

j597

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Jan 18, 2021
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Does anyone have any advice with clashing vacation schemes? I have 2 vacation schemes secured for summer but they overlap by one week - I love both firms and would appreciate anyone's advice on the issue. Is it unheard of that firms would allow you to miss the whole/some of their vac scheme but still be considered in the TC assessments? I know it's a very nice problem to have, I certainly didn't expect I'd be in this situation! 😂
 

Jacob Miller

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  • Feb 15, 2020
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    Does anyone have any advice with clashing vacation schemes? I have 2 vacation schemes secured for summer but they overlap by one week - I love both firms and would appreciate anyone's advice on the issue. Is it unheard of that firms would allow you to miss the whole/some of their vac scheme but still be considered in the TC assessments? I know it's a very nice problem to have, I certainly didn't expect I'd be in this situation! 😂
    It's highly unlikely a firm would allow you only to complete one week for another firm's scheme.

    If this were me< I would do the following:
    1. Contact firm A to ask if there was an alternative week I could do
    2. If no, contact firm B to ask the same
    3. If no, decide what firm's scheme I wanted to do more
    4. Accept that scheme, contact the other scheme and say that, due to dates, you're unable to attend the VS. Ask whether you'd be able to be considered for a direct TC interview with the same firm (some might, others won't - no harm in asking here)
    Hope this helps :)
     

    j597

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    Jan 18, 2021
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    It's highly unlikely a firm would allow you only to complete one week for another firm's scheme.

    If this were me< I would do the following:
    1. Contact firm A to ask if there was an alternative week I could do
    2. If no, contact firm B to ask the same
    3. If no, decide what firm's scheme I wanted to do more
    4. Accept that scheme, contact the other scheme and say that, due to dates, you're unable to attend the VS. Ask whether you'd be able to be considered for a direct TC interview with the same firm (some might, others won't - no harm in asking here)
    Hope this helps :)
    This is really helpful. I imagine firms have different thoughts on the matter but I definitely agree this is the most sensible way of approaching it, thank you Jacob :)
     
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    Jessica Booker

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    Does anyone have any advice with clashing vacation schemes? I have 2 vacation schemes secured for summer but they overlap by one week - I love both firms and would appreciate anyone's advice on the issue. Is it unheard of that firms would allow you to miss the whole/some of their vac scheme but still be considered in the TC assessments? I know it's a very nice problem to have, I certainly didn't expect I'd be in this situation! 😂
    1) check whether either firm has flexibility with dates

    2) if not, unfortunately decline one of the two offers.
     
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    Jessica Booker

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    Thank you Jessica! I know one of the firms has other dates for a different location - I assume the firm would have to offer other dates for the same location for your number 1 to be an option?
    They will only offer a scheme based on the location you are willing to have a TC at.
     
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    packhorse

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    Jan 12, 2021
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    Apologies if this has been asked- but does anyone have experience or know of someone who has secured a TC offer and asked the firm who issued the offer whether they can complete other vacation schemes before accepting? Asking for a friend... ;)
     
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    Andrew M

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    Jan 7, 2020
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    Does anyone have any advice with clashing vacation schemes? I have 2 vacation schemes secured for summer but they overlap by one week - I love both firms and would appreciate anyone's advice on the issue. Is it unheard of that firms would allow you to miss the whole/some of their vac scheme but still be considered in the TC assessments? I know it's a very nice problem to have, I certainly didn't expect I'd be in this situation! 😂
    Contact the firms and find out if they can be flexible. I rejected one of my offers because the date they gave for the office I applied to clashed with another scheme I had already accepted. They called me and asked me if I'd be interested in doing another date. So I would definitely recommend checking to see!
     

    Jacob Miller

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  • Feb 15, 2020
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    Apologies if this has been asked- but does anyone have experience or know of someone who has secured a TC offer and asked the firm who issued the offer whether they can complete other vacation schemes before accepting? Asking for a friend... ;)
    I did this with Travers as I still had my NRF VS to go, and, while I was pretty sure I wanted Travers I wanted to see whether NRF changed my opinion. They'd initially given me a deadline before the NRF VS, I explained that I had another VS and, while I was pretty sure I'd take Travers' TC offer, I felt I owed it to myself to do the scheme having worked hard to get a place on it. They were super chill, gave me as much time as I needed and, in the end, I knew travers was the one for me so dropped out of the NRF exit interview so I wasn't competing against other candidates.
     
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