Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Jessica Booker]

I've paid for my Tier 4 student visa as I studied the LPC this year, and am underway with the Tier 2 application process.

Just read through my offer letter and there is no indication of anything regarding visa costs, and the only conditions stipulated are those on my part relating to my studies. The firm has simply told me that I will be responsible for submitting the form and booking the appointment, so I guess I'll just have to pick up the costs.

Thank you so much anyway for your advice!

I would ask them to confirm anyway. Just mention as it isn't referenced in the offer letter you want to be sure of what you will need to cover and what they will so you can arrange your finances accordingly. They won't mind you asking and its a completely legitimate question.

 

[Samar]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

This might be obvious but just checking, an application question (on the part where they ask why law etc) asks:
Please give details of any plans you have for a gap year and why do you propose to take one (if at all)?

Do I just write I have no plans to take a gap year? Never seen this in an application before

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

This might be obvious but just checking, an application question (on the part where they ask why law etc) asks:
Please give details of any plans you have for a gap year and why do you propose to take one (if at all)?

Do I just write I have no plans to take a gap year? Never seen this in an application before

yes - if you have no plans just state that you wouldn’t be looking to take a gap year (assuming you wouldn’t have any time out from studies before starting a TC).

 

[CL20]

Hi Jessica,

I wanted to ask how LLMs are perceived during Training Contract applications? I get the impression that law firms are not interested in the LLM, but I am really interested in doing one. Could this negatively affect me in any way?

Thanks.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I wanted to ask how LLMs are perceived during Training Contract applications? I get the impression that law firms are not interested in the LLM, but I am really interested in doing one. Could this negatively affect me in any way?

Thanks.

it won’t negatively effect an application. It is just that for many firms it doesn’t bring an advantage by having one. There are some exceptions, particularly niche firms who may want more specific knowledge in something like shipping or IP, but for the vast majority a LLM doesn’t automatically bring something to your application, particularly if your application is lacking in evidence from the time doing your undergraduate.

 

[CL20]

it won’t negatively effect an application. It is just that for many firms it doesn’t bring an advantage by having one. There are some exceptions, particularly niche firms who may want more specific knowledge in something like shipping or IP, but for the vast majority a LLM doesn’t automatically bring something to your application, particularly if your application is lacking in evidence from the time doing your undergraduate.

Okay, thank you!

 

[Sam55]

Hi Jessica,

For a question such as ‘what skills do you think contribute to the success of a lawyer’, should I also mention how I have demonstrated these skills? Or should I just mentions what the skills are and why they are needed?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

For a question such as ‘what skills do you think contribute to the success of a lawyer’, should I also mention how I have demonstrated these skills? Or should I just mentions what the skills are and why they are needed?

Thanks for the help!

would there be any repetition with other questions if you did describe how you have developed those skills?

 

[Sam55]

would there be any repetition with other questions if you did describe how you have developed those skills?

The following question is ‘why are your skills/attribute suited to a career at the firm?’

 

[Jessica Booker]

The following question is ‘why are your skills/attribute suited to a career at the firm?’

then I’d be careful to not have repetition. Even if the second question didn’t exist, I don’t think heavy descriptions of how you developed the skill would be necessary, especially if there is a word count limit to the answer. At best maybe a round up sentence explaining how you have developed those skills would be sufficient. If it was necessary to provide this detail, the question would be worded differently.

 

[Sam55]

then I’d be careful to not have repetition. Even if the second question didn’t exist, I don’t think heavy descriptions of how you developed the skill would be necessary, especially if there is a word count limit to the answer. At best maybe a round up sentence explaining how you have developed those skills would be sufficient. If it was necessary to provide this detail, the question would be worded differently.

Ok, thank you for your help!

 

[S87]

Hi Jessica,

I am currently applying for a tc and they asked me to send my CV. When it comes to TC apps is better a skills based or a tasks based CV?

Thank you

 

[Jenna]

Hi Jessica,

I have a virtual AC on Wednesday. I have emailed to confirm my participation but have not received the MS Teams meeting info yet. When would you suggest chasing this?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I am currently applying for a tc and they asked me to send my CV. When it comes to TC apps is better a skills based or a tasks based CV?

Thank you

Task/responsibilities/outcomes CV rather than skills, in my opinion anyway. Skills CVs often get muddled where you are grouping activities together and it is more difficult to understand what you did, when.

Skills can generally be inferred from a CV but if there is anything out of the ordinary or you think that needs explaining in terms of skills, you can always put a short section towards the end of your CV with this detail in.

 

[S87]

Task/responsibilities/outcomes CV rather than skills, in my opinion anyway.

Perfect. Thank you so much

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I have a virtual AC on Wednesday. I have emailed to confirm my participation but have not received the MS Teams meeting info yet. When would you suggest chasing this?

Lunchtime tomorrow. Generally it seems links aren’t sent to fairly close to the time to ensure everyone who can attend gets the link, and no one who doesn’t attend can’t access the platform.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Perfect. Thank you so much

sorry see my edit for more rationale on why!

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica I was recently invited to a video interview and was wondering whether it is fine to have notes already present (examples for different competency questions) or should we prepare on the spot?

Thanks in advance

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica I was recently invited to a video interview and was wondering whether it is fine to have notes already present (examples for different competency questions) or should we prepare on the spot?

Thanks in advance

If the video interview live - e.g. with an interviewer with you, or is it pre-recorded questions?

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

If the video interview live - e.g. with an interviewer with you, or is it pre-recorded questions?

Its pre- recorded