Allen & Overy "Introduce a new law" question for VS application

[Jaysen]

Just another comment on this:

If you are choosing a very technical topic for this question, it's important to make sure the reader can still understand your topic and explanation, assuming the reader has little background knowledge about your chosen area.

If I read a topic and I find it too hard to follow your analysis, I don't find that impressive. It only tells me that you are unable to clearly explain a complex topic, which is obviously a crucial skill for a commercial lawyer.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just another comment on this:

If you are choosing a very technical topic for this question, it's important to make sure the reader can still understand your topic and explanation, assuming the reader has little background knowledge about your chosen area.

If I read a topic and I find it too hard to follow your analysis, I don't find that impressive. It only tells me that you are unable to clearly explain a complex topic, which is obviously a crucial skill for a commercial lawyer.

Considering most people reading your application and deciding whether to shortlist it or not are not lawyers, this is incredibly important.

 

[anon32323232]

Sorry to be a pain - does anyone have a list of what other questions are to the A&O vac scheme application? I can't access them before inputting all of my other data in the application portal...

 

[Jaysen]

Sorry to be a pain - does anyone have a list of what other questions are to the A&O vac scheme application? I can't access them before inputting all of my other data in the application portal...

• Describe a challenging situation you have faced, what made it challenging, how did you respond and what did you learn in the process? (250 words)

• As the world of law evolves, adaptability is a crucial attribute for future lawyers to have. Describe a time you had to demonstrate adaptability to reach a positive outcome. What role did you play in the scenario and what was the outcome? Did you do anything you would consider innovative as part of the solution. (250 words)
  
  
• Please bullet point anything else you’d like to add which you think is relevant to your application. This can be positions of responsibility, extra-curricular activities and achievements or academic awards or scholarships. (100 word limit)

 

[anon32323232]

• Describe a challenging situation you have faced, what made it challenging, how did you respond and what did you learn in the process? (250 words)

• As the world of law evolves, adaptability is a crucial attribute for future lawyers to have. Describe a time you had to demonstrate adaptability to reach a positive outcome. What role did you play in the scenario and what was the outcome? Did you do anything you would consider innovative as part of the solution. (250 words)
  
  
• Please bullet point anything else you’d like to add which you think is relevant to your application. This can be positions of responsibility, extra-curricular activities and achievements or academic awards or scholarships. (100 word limit)

Amazing - Thanks so much Jaysen!

 

[em311]

For the "introduce a new law" question I have written about the pet food industry (I have previously worked for a pet company) so it's something I find interesting and have direct experience in. However, my university careers advisor told me to scrap it as it has nothing to do with A&O and said I should choose something linking to the firm and their practices. I understand this point but thought because the question doesn't specifically refer to a new law in relation to A&O the firm was looking for people's own interests/a chance to see applicants' personality?

I am torn between keeping my current answer and trying to think of something relating to A&O - any advice?

 

[Alice G]

For the "introduce a new law" question I have written about the pet food industry (I have previously worked for a pet company) so it's something I find interesting and have direct experience in. However, my university careers advisor told me to scrap it as it has nothing to do with A&O and said I should choose something linking to the firm and their practices. I understand this point but thought because the question doesn't specifically refer to a new law in relation to A&O the firm was looking for people's own interests/a chance to see applicants' personality?

I am torn between keeping my current answer and trying to think of something relating to A&O - any advice?

Hey there,

I think there are a few great ways to answer this:

1. Speak about something commercial to show your interest and knowledge in this (provided this can be done well, written in simple terms and justified as a genuine interest)
2. Pick something relevant to A&O and their clients (kind of an extension of the above but felt it warranted a mention!)
3. Pick something which tells A&O who you are and what you are about

You seem to have picked the third one and I see no issue in this at all. I can sort of see why careers advisers may be tempted to advise you to ere on the side of caution but I do not think that is a necessary thing to do here.

To give you some support for this, whilst another firm, HSF have asked people to discuss topics of interest for a couple of cycles at least and at my AC we had SUCH a variety - one girl spoke about gin, one guy talked about football and someone else's had a medical angle.

I think the personality-driven responses could arguably be the most interesting and a good app is one that will be memorable. If you have written this in a convincing and engaging way and it really emanates your personality, I truly see no issue at all.

 

[Najwa]

Hi, can I just confirm that there isn't a cover letter element of the application and it is just answering the application question? Thanks!

 

[H.N.]

Hi, can I just confirm that there isn't a cover letter element of the application and it is just answering the application question? Thanks!

That's right! There's no cover letter element- just 4 application Qs and the SJT once you submit.

 

[Jessica Booker]

For the "introduce a new law" question I have written about the pet food industry (I have previously worked for a pet company) so it's something I find interesting and have direct experience in. However, my university careers advisor told me to scrap it as it has nothing to do with A&O and said I should choose something linking to the firm and their practices. I understand this point but thought because the question doesn't specifically refer to a new law in relation to A&O the firm was looking for people's own interests/a chance to see applicants' personality?

I am torn between keeping my current answer and trying to think of something relating to A&O - any advice?

A&O will have clients who make/supply pet food (can think of Nestle as one). So the careers service is wrong...

 

[em311]

Hey there,

I think there are a few great ways to answer this:

1. Speak about something commercial to show your interest and knowledge in this (provided this can be done well, written in simple terms and justified as a genuine interest)
2. Pick something relevant to A&O and their clients (kind of an extension of the above but felt it warranted a mention!)
3. Pick something which tells A&O who you are and what you are about

You seem to have picked the third one and I see no issue in this at all. I can sort of see why careers advisers may be tempted to advise you to ere on the side of caution but I do not think that is a necessary thing to do here.

To give you some support for this, whilst another firm, HSF have asked people to discuss topics of interest for a couple of cycles at least and at my AC we had SUCH a variety - one girl spoke about gin, one guy talked about football and someone else's had a medical angle.

I think the personality-driven responses could arguably be the most interesting and a good app is one that will be memorable. If you have written this in a convincing and engaging way and it really emanates your personality, I truly see no issue at all.

Thank you for your reply! Yes I understand where they’re coming from but I thought it was an interesting topic that perhaps wouldn’t be on many applications! It’s good to hear that there was a variation at your AC so I’m more hopeful now! Thank you Alice☺️

 

[em311]

A&O will have clients who make/supply pet food (can think of Nestle as one). So the careers service is wrong...

Thank you so much Jessica! I’ll keep this answer then☺️

 

[Lawgrad98]

'If you could introduce a new law what would it be and why? (250 words)'

Would it be advisable to answer the 'what' part before answering 'why', or is it fine to do it in reverse order? I feel that speaking about the 'why' part first helps my answer flow better and sets a good background before I speak about what the law is.

Thanks!

 

[Jaysen]

'If you could introduce a new law what would it be and why? (250 words)'

Would it be advisable to answer the 'what' part before answering 'why', or is it fine to do it in reverse order? I feel that speaking about the 'why' part first helps my answer flow better and sets a good background before I speak about what the law is.

Thanks!

Sounds fine to me

 

[Alice G]

'If you could introduce a new law what would it be and why? (250 words)'

Would it be advisable to answer the 'what' part before answering 'why', or is it fine to do it in reverse order? I feel that speaking about the 'why' part first helps my answer flow better and sets a good background before I speak about what the law is.

Thanks!

I agree with @Jaysen - no hard and fast rules and prioritising the way an answer flows and reads is often a good approach to take

 

[Frank]

Hi. Does anyone know if you can edit your responses after you click 'Save and Continue'? I want to edit how I described my work experience, but can't figure out how to go back on the form.

it's a 'back' tab top left corner...

 

[Sara Moon]

Hi, has anyone done A&O's SJT? Do you have any tips on how to prepare for it?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, has anyone done A&O's SJT? Do you have any tips on how to prepare for it?

cant really prep for SJTs - my advice is to look at the firms values and what they look for in trainees as this will give you some indication of the type of behaviours expected of people in the firm. But even that has to be taken fairly loosely.

 

[H.N.]

Hi, has anyone done A&O's SJT? Do you have any tips on how to prepare for it?

Like what Jessica said, the SJT can't really be prepared for. If you have an idea of the competencies A&O are looking for, these would be helpful to have by your side but to the greatest extent the SJT is something intuitive.

 

[Sara Moon]

Thank you @Jessica Booker @Haf !