applying for vac Schemes to TC Dreams

[hush-hush]

Hey everyone!

a little bit about me - I'm an international student and graduated from a non-Russell group university in London (can you guess?) with high merit in LLB Law honours. My current stage is studying the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1&2) starting this September, and I'm self-funding it.

I have never actually fully applied for vac schemes - don't get me wrong, I've tried to get myself to apply, and I've done a lot of research, but call it imposter syndrome - I just haven't been able to send in applications because I don't want to deal with rejection possibly😖

When talking about legal work experience - I actually have done a quiet 4 legal internships through the past three years of law school during my winter/summer breaks but in my home country - which is an international hub. Additionally I had volunteered all through second and third year of law school at a legal clinic - which technically does qualify as "qualifying work experience" but its too short of period to be considered. While I haven't applied for vac schemes, I have attended several open days and was a campus ambassador for a law-adjacent company and a brand ambassador for another. I have also just been selected for the Baker McKenzie and AS mentorship programme starting soon🤞 + I'm also currently on the ASPIRE programme to get ahead this year.

This is my last year to apply for vs/tc's before I have to leave the country + I'm also doing the sqe which adds even more pressure. I know that I can stay for two more years through the graduate visa but currently I'm not sure if that is something I would invest in, I do prefer staying in London so I'm for sure considering it but more so as a last option.

I was inspired to make a forum of my own so that I could hold myself accountable and actually apply. I've done a lot of research and the firms I'm interested in are big international law firms (Dentons, Baker Mckenzie, A&OShearman, Bird&Bird etc). I do have actually go into a deep dive and actually research firms but the goal is to apply for 5 firms a month so that's 20 firms in total over the course of 4 months (Sep-Dec) 🫢 I know I'm being very ambitious in applying to so many - but hopefully it works out in the end. I will also be applying to their oversees offices as most firms have an office in my home country.

On my to do list :

1. RESEARCH FIRMS
2. Keep up to date with commercial news to get my commercial awareness up to date.
3. Apply for open days so that I get at least one foot in through firms.
4. REVISE REVISE REVISE all 7 core modules (for the sqe)

I'm just starting out and I'm a bit lost and I have loads of information in my head so this forum is very much gonna be a digital dump for my brain! Oh also I've never really done a Watson Glazer test before so any thoughts, starting tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated😙 ( whether it's in general or regarding the test).

 

[sapphireoreos]

As a fellow international student who's worried about visa time limits (I'm graduating in June), best of luck! It is rough but am wishing you all the best

 

[PoliLegal]

This is my second cycle but last time round I had to do a couple of Watson Glasers. There are YouTube videos with tips but my best advice is practise, practise, practise. I did loads (maybe 15 - 20) before doing a real one for a firm.

Good luck!

 

[hush-hush]

Update!

I’ve just added some Forage internships to my to-do list! 🎉 Now, I’m on a mission to build up my commercial awareness, but I’m not sure where to start. I know there are loads of podcasts out there, but I’m a bit lost on which ones are actually good.

I’ve already got a LittleLaw subscription, which is fab, but since I spend a lot of time commuting, I’d love to make the most of it by listening to some podcasts on the tube. Any recommendations for a good one?

 

[sammm10101]

Update!

I’ve just added some Forage internships to my to-do list! 🎉 Now, I’m on a mission to build up my commercial awareness, but I’m not sure where to start. I know there are loads of podcasts out there, but I’m a bit lost on which ones are actually good.

I’ve already got a LittleLaw subscription, which is fab, but since I spend a lot of time commuting, I’d love to make the most of it by listening to some podcasts on the tube. Any recommendations for a good one?

Honestly if you can get a financial times subscription (I get mine through my uni), so many of theirs are really informative and actually interesting to listen to. Their daily news briefing is good for general stories, but their 'Behind the Money' podcast is the best. A recent one which was great detailed the changing nature of businesses considering headquartering in Texas, the economic and political currents behind this, etc.

 

[hush-hush]

Update:

Sooo things haven’t exactly been going to plan lately 😅 I feel like I'm in this burned-out shell. I’ve been spending so much time researching firms and going over my applications, but guess what? I haven’t actually submitted any yet 🙈. I’m still working on it, and I know I’ll get better at this. I just need to snap out of this funk, but it's tough. Even though I know I'm doing all the right things, I feel a bit stuck.

Also, I just moved back to London, and the jet lag is real—it's hit me hard. My SQE course started last week, and honestly, it’s a lot. I’ve been so overwhelmed with everything that I haven't had a chance to focus on applications. But, I promise this week is the week I’m going to get on top of it!

On the bright side, I did complete two forage internships, which I’m counting as a win!

And I applied for, and got spots at, some open days with Dechert, CMS, and Mayer Brown, so that’s exciting!

Other than that, it’s just been the small matter of, you know, moving across continents. No biggie, right?

I feel like I should give myself a break, but honestly, if I do that, knowing me, it’ll turn into a long break, which I just can’t afford right now.

As for my SQE studies, I’m feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed. It’s so different from what I’m used to—I haven’t had to memorize so much information since school, and that was 4 years ago! I’m trying to take everything in, but it’s hard to know where to even begin. There’s so much material, and the thought of memorizing all these concepts feels daunting. I know where I need to start, and I’ve got all the resources, but it’s a matter of figuring out how to tackle it all without feeling completely buried.

If anyone’s studying for SQE1 and has tips on how to actually manage all the content (without feeling like I’m drowning!), please share! I could really use some advice on how to get back into the swing of things.