This is probably a really stupid question (that has probably been asked before sorry) but do you write mergers & acquisitions or M&A in application forms?
Hey Guest, do you have a question for graduate recruitment? Gemma Baker from Willkie is live to answer your questions!
This is probably a really stupid question (that has probably been asked before sorry) but do you write mergers & acquisitions or M&A in application forms?
perfect, thanks Jessyou might have to select something (the form might not let you leave it blank) but you could always clear this up in a free text box or extra information section.
Hi everyone
I am currently working on CMS' application questions and feel as though I have demonstrated good commercial awareness but not really spoken about CMS specifically as a firm. The questions are:
Focusing on one or more of CMS’s sectors, what challenges and opportunities for growth do you see presenting themselves over the coming 12-24 months? (200 words)
- I have talked about a sector's challenges & opportunities and briefly at the end how CMS can capitalise on this (but I suppose a lot of law firms would be able to capitalise on the same opportunities)
What does exceptional client service look like from a future facing lawyer? (200 words)
- here I have focused on directly answering the questions, very briefly adding how I fit the picture, but again no CMS-specific info
How would you describe the relationship between law and business? (200 words)
- I think this is the question where I can really demonstrate my research of the firm, but I don't feel like i'm properly answering the question.
I keep trying to fit some sentences in there, but it feels disingenuous and shoved in. When I rewrite the answers to make them more CMS-specific, they no longer directly answer the question. I'd love people's advice on which question is best suited to be focused more on CMS-specific content!
This may be a silly question so I apologise in advance! If you have a telephone interview but you are not living in the UK can it be changed to a Zoom interview as there are no costs involved in that?
Hi Jessica - I have a vac scheme offer from a firm (firm 1) which said the offer is open for a week. I got this on Thursday. I am also waiting for the outcome of an interview I did 1.5 weeks ago at a firm (firm 2) which I would take over firm 1 if offered. I called firm 2 on Thursday to ask if I could get the outcome sooner in light of this, and they said they would get back quickly, but I haven’t heard yet.
Is it worse to keep firm 1 waiting until closer to the deadline (they’re small so I am worried they would remember me for it/see it as a lack of interest in them), or to chase firm 2 with a call on Monday saying that I really need to make a decision quickly? Would trying to speed up firm 2 damage my chances (might there be some sort of ‘backups’ list they are working down which I would be taking myself off by asking for a quick decision)?
Sorry for how long this is...
Hi @Jessica Booker, I hope you are doing well. There is a question on the application form that asks if I have applied to the firm before, and if so, I should provide the detail and outcome of my application. I never heard back from the firm regarding an outcome of my application from the previously cycle and I did check the spam/junk section of my mailbox. My friends did receive rejection emails from the same firm for the same vacancy, which made me think that the firm would not send out 'silent rejections'. At the risk of sounding silly, may I ask if I should leave out mentioning the outcome, say that I have been rejected or say that I have yet to receive an outcome? Thank you very much
Hi Jessica. I have a training contract interview soon following a vacation scheme where the work portion was cancelled. For questions like "what did you learn from/think about the scheme", should I mention the technical content that I learned in the training workshops to demonstrate knowledge of what trainees do (eg that lawyers do XYZ in an M&A), or should the focus be on "why this firm" (deals, USPs)?
Additionally, they said there will be a commercial question to show an understanding of the legal industry and ability to think critically. They also suggested looking into SWOT/PESTLE. Does this appear to suggest that they will ask about law firms' business specifically rather than a general industry's relationship to the law?
Thanks in advance!
Firms tend to be more flexible regarding the GDL. For instance, my firm, Gibson Dunn, has allowed me to do the GDL at ULaw as it has a campus close to where I live but they would prefer me to do the LPC at BPP with the rest of my cohort, apart from anything else so that we can get to know each other before we start at the firm. Hope that helpsHi Jessica, I was wondering how likely it is that a firm which says that it 'expects' its future trainees to do the GDL with BPP would let me do it elsewhere if I got a TC there?
Hi Jessica, I was wondering what firms use the academic reference for? I was not very close to my personal tutor but my former university German lecturer has said she would happily be my referee. However, my 'home' school was the business school, not the languages department, so I'm not sure she would have access to all of my module scores. Although, I have my academic transcripts so would this be a problem?
Hi @Jessica Booker , I've heard from some people that you should write down the amount of money you secured as sponsorship for a society and from others that you shouldn't. For a figure of e.g. £2000 secured across four sponsorships, would you recommend I write both figures down or just the 'four sponsorships' part?
I've been told that four-figure numbers don't really mean anything to firms with huge budgets (understandable) but was wondering whether you would recommend putting them down anyway as this is quite significant for a student.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Jessica, I was wondering how likely it is that a firm which says that it 'expects' its future trainees to do the GDL with BPP would let me do it elsewhere if I got a TC there?