Allen & Overy app - 2018/19

[Ben Littlewood]

Hi guys, hope you're having a great summer. I was just wondering, is there any particular advantage in applying for A & O's winter scheme as opposed to the summer one? I am going into final year now so I am eligible for both but does the competition tend to be similar?? Would appreciate any advice you might have.

 

[Romiras]

Yeah they do. My friend has applied for three years in a row and each application question has more or less changed. Some questions changing into completely new questions, whilst others being tweaked a bit only.

 

[Alice G]

Thank you @Abstruser, that is more than I could have hoped for. I guess I better get started!

Hey @Christy

I have yet to do my app but do you know what this year's questions are?

 

[Jaysen]

Hey @Christy

I have yet to do my app but do you know what this year's questions are?

They've taken out the first question from Abstruser's list for 2018/19, the rest are the same.

 

[Alice G]

They've taken out the first question from Abstruser's list for 2018/19, the rest are the same.

Thank you @Jaysen!

 

[Jaysen]

Thank you @Jaysen!

No worries - it's a bit of a tricky one now as there's no obvious place to link to A&O in the application form.

 

[Alice G]

No worries - it's a bit of a tricky one now as there's no obvious place to link to A&O in the application form.

Hmm, I will start drafting maybe in the next couple days and see how I get on but the issue is trying to write without any events to attend. Will try my best to do my research and might contact HR about what they think if I was to postpone my application til October when I can meet the firm- I’m concerned that they do screen on a rolling basis

 

[Lumree]

No worries - it's a bit of a tricky one now as there's no obvious place to link to A&O in the application form.

I linked to A&O in the changes to the legal sector question. Perhaps it's worthwhile to do so when there is no other obvious opportunity to talk about A&O!

 

[Jaysen]

I linked to A&O in the changes to the legal sector question. Perhaps it's worthwhile to do so when there is no other obvious opportunity to talk about A&O!

Yep that’s exactly what I’d recommend!

 

[Jaysen]

The main thing I’d flag up - if you’re going to tailor to A&O in that way (or in other app forms where the question doesn’t ask for it), try to make the link natural and properly tailored to the firm.

It doesn’t like great if you have a commercial issue and say something like: ‘and this applies to firms like A&O’. I’ve seen that a lot in recent A&O apps.

If you can’t find a way of making a natural fit, I think you’re better off taking it out completely.

 

[Lumree]

Just submitted mine! Should hear back within the next 21 days.

 

[Lumree]

Would you recommend practising for the SJT or is it better to just go in with your raw judgement?

 

[Dannys]

Just finished the SJT and there was no immediate response via email that indicated whether pass/fail. Just letting everyone know

 

[Jaysen]

Would you recommend practising for the SJT or is it better to just go in with your raw judgement?

It has been a while since I've done an SJT so others may be better able to help.

I'd say do a little practice just so you can get used to the format/timing, although I'm not sure how good the practice tests are on this (I think I recall Shearman & Sterling recently sharing one on their LinkedIn page).

I'd also say approach it by answering honestly (rather than what you think will impress), but also keeping in mind the roles and responsibilities of a trainee.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

You can’t practice SJTs - they are bespoke to each organisation. A pass on one could easily be a fail on the next where they are looking for different outcomes.

They aren’t timed either so there’s little point. Best thing to do to prepare is read the firm’s values and try to align your answers to them where you can, but at the same time be practical in your responses. Where people often go wrong is assuming the “ill work harder/longer” is the right answer to choose, when the reality is “what’s the most efficient way of dealing with this” is actually the approach to take.

 

[Lumree]

You can’t practice SJTs - they are bespoke to each organisation. A pass on one could easily be a fail on the next where they are looking for different outcomes.

They aren’t timed either so there’s little point. Best thing to do to prepare is read the firm’s values and try to align your answers to them where you can, but at the same time be practical in your responses. Where people often go wrong is assuming the “ill work harder/longer” is the right answer to choose, when the reality is “what’s the most efficient way of dealing with this” is actually the approach to take.

Thanks Jessica, that's really useful advice.

 

[Syafiqkay92]

Hi guys,

for this question would the question of expanding into Africa be ok, I don't want to speak about tech

I think it's ok as long as you can explain it succinctly and how that is relevant to A&O. I can see that A&O is the first elite global law firm to establish a practice in South Africa so that could be a good example of how A&O is setting the trend. I think if you can explain how Africa expansion is becoming a trend in the legal sector, then you will have a strong answer. Given the increasing prospect of economic recession, this might make business sense because African economy is less correlated to the Western economy and therefore investment institutions might want to explore how investing in Africa can help them diversify against the risk of recession. A&O being one of the early adopters is setting the trend which could establish the firm well in Africa. I think Slaughter and May also have a strong and growing practice in Africa. Competition means that this is a viable business strategy.

I'm trying not to write about technology as it's quite a cliche but I remember reading a post on TCLA forum which says that cliche is cliche for a reason. It's fine for law application as long as you can find an angle. I want to write about technology because it's something that I am quite interested in. Technology is a trend that is happening in the legal sector and it's one of the trends that are over-hype especially with AI. However, I think real disruption will happen with the effective use of existing technology (a strategy that is in line with A&O Fuse) rather than imagining a future with AI. I'm not so sure about this.

What do you think? Let's discuss this further, you might find your angle. Curious to know what everyone thinks.

Best wishes,
Syafiq.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Technology as a whole is a broad cliche (it’s like saying Brexit or Recession)....

But if you pick specific technologies rather than the broad term, it won’t be cliched at all. Unless you know nothing about that technology or have no real interest in it

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi guys,

for this question would the question of expanding into Africa be ok, I don't want to speak about tech

Do you have a genuine interest in expanding into Africa?

Can you be more precise? Africa is a massive continent with a very diverse set of potential clients/sector work.

 

[Syafiqkay92]

Technology as a whole is a broad cliche (it’s like saying Brexit or Recession)....

But if you pick specific technologies rather than the broad term, it won’t be cliched at all. Unless you know nothing about that technology or have no real interest in it

That’s a good point. I suppose if I talk about a specific problem that the technology is trying to solve and link that to the impact that technology could have on the legal sector generally and A&O specifically, I could answer the question without being cliche.

Thanks Jessica. I think I found an interesting angle.

Best wishes,
Syafiq.