Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. Could you please explain what the latter part of this statement means: "Assessment centres will take place in May 2022 and applications might re-open in summer 2022 following the initial recruitment process." This is from the Ashurst's TC webpage.

Thanks in advance.

To me this suggests if they do not find the talent they need from the earlier application deadline or through converting from their summer vacation schemes, they may reopen applications. However, there is no guarantee of this, so probably best to apply now if you can.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

To me this suggests if they do not find the talent they need from the earlier application deadline or through converting from their summer vacation schemes, they may reopen applications. However, there is no guarantee of this, so probably best to apply now if you can.

Thank you so much for the clarification.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please tell me, for "What makes Ashurst different?", is the question just looking for points that are merely unique about the firm or does the firm also want us to also justify how those different things are important to us?

For example, Ashurst is the legal partner of the McLaren racing group and I believe no other firm has an association with another racing group, Ashurst offers a pro-bono seat during its TC but I do not know of other firms who do the same but I have no interest in both these things, to be honest.

Thanks.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please tell me, for "What makes Ashurst different?", is the question just looking for points that are merely unique about the firm or does the firm also want us to also justify how those different things are important to us?

For example, Ashurst is the legal partner of the McLaren racing group and I believe no other firm has an association with another racing group, Ashurst offers a pro-bono seat during its TC but I do not know of other firms who do the same but I have no interest in both these things, to be honest.

Thanks.

I’d pick the things that are of particular interest to you. You could pick out lots of different distinguishing factors about a firm, but your application is really about you and so highlighting the differences you feel are important I think is the route to go here.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

I’d pick the things that are of particular interest to you. You could pick out lots of different distinguishing factors about a firm, but your application is really about you and so highlighting the differences you feel are important I think is the route to go here.

Thanks for your response, Jessica. Just a follow-up question, please? When they say "different", what do they mean? Are they looking for attributes or things that absolutely no other firm has or are they looking for attributes that very few firms have? The former is very difficult because it's highly unlikely that there is something that unique to Ashurst or even other firms for that matter, but would our answer still be okay if we point out things that very few firms have?

Thanks.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks for your response, Jessica. Just a follow-up question, please? When they say "different", what do they mean? Are they looking for attributes or things that absolutely no other firm has or are they looking for attributes that very few firms have? The former is very difficult because it's highly unlikely that there is something that unique to Ashurst or even other firms for that matter, but would our answer still be okay if we point out things that very few firms have?

Thanks.

I think it can be something fewer firms do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something wildly unique. It could also be something other firms do, but they just have a slightly different emphasis or focus on it compared to other firms.

Also combination of factors can make something more unique. That is what I always stress when people apply and they have to explain what is unique about them. It’s unlikely to be individual factors alone, but the combination of factors will mean they are unique.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

I think it can be something fewer firms do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something wildly unique. It could also be something other firms do, but they just have a slightly different emphasis or focus on it compared to other firms.

Also combination of factors can make something more unique. That is what I always stress when people apply and they have to explain what is unique about them. It’s unlikely to be individual factors alone, but the combination of factors will mean they are unique.

Very interesting, thank you so much for this insight.

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Hi Jessica. I know this is quite a firm specific question but out of curiosity how are vac schemes assessed? In this firm’s case, we had three assessments, one group task and a partner interview. I didn’t manage to finish one of the tasks (by quite a bit) and I am so worried it will be a deciding factor for my TC chances. GR told us that the partner interview and group assessment at the highest weighted assessments but I still worry it will look badly on me as an applicant!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica. I know this is quite a firm specific question but out of curiosity how are vac schemes assessed? In this firm’s case, we had three assessments, one group task and a partner interview. I didn’t manage to finish one of the tasks (by quite a bit) and I am so worried it will be a deciding factor for my TC chances. GR told us that the partner interview and group assessment at the highest weighted assessments but I still worry it will look badly on me as an applicant!

Unfortunately, I can't answer this clearly beyond what the firm has already told you about weighting of each exercise. There isn't one approach to assessments and so I would only be making similar assumptions to what you will.

However, if it was a timed exercise, it is quite common for them to not be finished. Generally, if they are generous on time, most people would complete them to the necessary standard. If it was an exercise you were asked to do in your own time, then it's going to depend on how busy you were elsewhere (e.g. with your department) - someone who has been kept busy with client work is likely to be given some slack compared to those who have had time to complete such assessments.

This sounds slightly blunt/brutal but I wouldn't try to over-analyse it now or try to anticipate what might be - I don't think it is particularly helpful to do so. You have to wait until the decision comes back and/or you get feedback on how they perceived you did. You can't change what has happened with the assessments, so I would just try to think about other things you can control now, rather than those you can't.

 

[James Carrabino]

Hi Jessica. I know this is quite a firm specific question but out of curiosity how are vac schemes assessed? In this firm’s case, we had three assessments, one group task and a partner interview. I didn’t manage to finish one of the tasks (by quite a bit) and I am so worried it will be a deciding factor for my TC chances. GR told us that the partner interview and group assessment at the highest weighted assessments but I still worry it will look badly on me as an applicant!

Hi @thirdtimelucky this is definitely not something you should let yourself get down about because often these exercises really are not designed to be finished! As @Jessica Booker mentioned, it is impossible to know for sure until you find out the result, but I definitely would not let it play on your mind when you have more tasks and assessments to focus on because I am sure that something like this would not put you out of the running!

 

[mailer]

Hi Jessica, I hope you’re doing well! I have a question about how to apply for paralegal roles.

I’m in my last year of uni (law) and am planning on applying for paralegal roles for when I finish uni, pre-LPC (I have legal work experience, as well as an upcoming summer vac scheme). I’ve seen that many people from my uni who graduated before me have paralegaled straight from uni pre-LPC at big city firms (MC, big international/UK, etc).

I can’t find much information on where/how to apply for these/similar paralegal roles and when is best to start applying - would you be able to please provide some guidance?

Thank you so much for your help, this forum is invaluable!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, I hope you’re doing well! I have a question about how to apply for paralegal roles.

I’m in my last year of uni (law) and am planning on applying for paralegal roles for when I finish uni, pre-LPC (I have legal work experience, as well as an upcoming summer vac scheme). I’ve seen that many people from my uni who graduated before me have paralegaled straight from uni pre-LPC at big city firms (MC, big international/UK, etc).

I can’t find much information on where/how to apply for paralegal roles and when is best to start applying - would you be able to please provide some guidance?

Thank you so much for your help, this forum is invaluable!

LinkedIn and major job boards, like Law Gazette will probably be good ports of call to find vacancies. You can also set up job alerts on these sites to get updates when new jobs are posted.

Read the job spec carefully. A firm that says the LPC or a certain level of experience is a requirement, I wouldn’t bother applying to. If it says it is a preference, then you should apply.

You may also want to try and register with some recruitment agencies that specialise in recruitment for the type of firms/locations you are looking for. You can often find them by looking at who you know have secured paralegal roles are connected with on LinkedIn.

You should start applying for such jobs 6-8 weeks before you are ready to start the job. Any earlier, and you may find the roles require someone to join before you can.

You may also want to focus on temp or short term contract roles as these are often less popular and more flexible with requirements. They can often be a good way to step into a firm and then secure a longer term role once you have impressed them.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello, @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please help me figure out what the recruiter is probably looking for through the following two questions:

1 - When did you have to explain a difficult concept to someone?

2- A difficult law that you understood and why it was important.

For Q1, I'm not sure if the grad rec is interested in being explained the topic in the exact manner that we used to explain the concept to someone? What is it that is really being assessed here? The framework that we adopted or the actual explanation and our ability to simplify?

For Q2, doesn't this go against the classic "There is no legal knowledge required and candidates will not be assessed on the same"?

 

[James Carrabino]

Hello, @Jessica Booker hope you are well. Could you please help me figure out what the recruiter is probably looking for through the following two questions:

1 - When did you have to explain a difficult concept to someone?

2- A difficult law that you understood and why it was important.

For Q1, I'm not sure if the grad rec is interested in being explained the topic in the exact manner that we used to explain the concept to someone? What is it that is really being assessed here? The framework that we adopted or the actual explanation and our ability to simplify?

For Q2, doesn't this go against the classic "There is no legal knowledge required and candidates will not be assessed on the same"?

I will just jump in to say that I realised throughout my application process that despite claiming not to, some firms certainly did expect some legal knowledge, in many cases without even realising that it was assumed by the kinds of questions they asked 🤣

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

I will just jump in to say that I realised throughout my application process that despite claiming not to, some firms certainly did expect some legal knowledge, in many cases without even realising that it was assumed by the kinds of questions they asked 🤣

Hey, James. This is a little terrifying to be honest lol, more so because I am a law student. Could you please specify how much depth were they really looking for?

 

[Raynz]

Hi @Jessica Booker hoping for some clarity on this one
Im unsure how to structure a 300 word cover letter because the application also asks for 75 words on 'why this firm'.

1. Im confused as to where to appropriately state how my skills are advantageous to the firm - in the cover letter or the question?
2. If I state my skills in the cover letter (which seems more logical), what format should I go with in writing the cover letter (e.g LAW; FIRM; ME)? And What should I discuss about the firm which will not be in the (very) short answer?

Thank you in advance!

 

[James Carrabino]

Hey, James. This is a little terrifying to be honest lol, more so because I am a law student. Could you please specify how much depth were they really looking for?

I wouldn't know at all how much depth they were looking for, but I did not have any legal insight at the time at all so I went into zero depth

For example, one firm asked us to do our written task 'as if it were a problem question' and I had no idea what that meant but thought perhaps I was the only one who had no idea - I didn't realise that this was a law student term! So I didn't speak up and just wrote it like an essay...

Another firm's case study relied on knowledge of the concept of corporate legal personality, which I had not encountered before and only learnt about afterwards when discussing the task with another vac schemer (this meant that everything I had said was essentially wrong)!

So it was not a matter of being asked to provide any sort of in-depth legal analysis, it was simply that the task they had given us which they claimed could be done by law and non-law students alike, pre-supposed at least a modicum of legal knowledge in order to be done correctly.

Honestly, it is possible that after many years practising law, whoever set these tasks was completely unaware that the terms they used would be unfamiliar to a non-law student!

 

[James Carrabino]

Hi @Jessica Booker hoping for some clarity on this one
Im unsure how to structure a 300 word cover letter because the application also asks for 75 words on 'why this firm'.

1. Im confused as to where to appropriately state how my skills are advantageous to the firm - in the cover letter or the question?
2. If I state my skills in the cover letter (which seems more logical), what format should I go with in writing the cover letter (e.g LAW; FIRM; ME)? And What should I discuss about the firm which will not be in the (very) short answer?

Thank you in advance!

@Raynz I think that the cover letter is very short and so you do not need to spend much time at all discussing the firm, as you already have another question for that. In the firm-specific question you can go into all the unique details about the firm that demonstrate your research of the firm and why you are attracted to them.

In the cover letter, I would introduce yourself and where you are in life right now, before beginning by discussing 'Why Law'.

Then I would devote a small portion towards 'Why Commercial Law' specifically, in which you could possibly draw in broad themes about the firm and how that piques your interest e.g. if it is a large international firm then you can discuss your motivations to work at a large international firm.

Finally, do 'Why Me', including skills and all, and then sign off

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

I wouldn't know at all how much depth they were looking for, but I did not have any legal insight at the time at all so I went into zero depth

For example, one firm asked us to do our written task 'as if it were a problem question' and I had no idea what that meant but thought perhaps I was the only one who had no idea - I didn't realise that this was a law student term! So I didn't speak up and just wrote it like an essay...

Another firm's case study relied on knowledge of the concept of corporate legal personality, which I had not encountered before and only learnt about afterwards when discussing the task with another vac schemer (this meant that everything I had said was essentially wrong)!

So it was not a matter of being asked to provide any sort of in-depth legal analysis, it was simply that the task they had given us which they claimed could be done by law and non-law students alike, pre-supposed at least a modicum of legal knowledge in order to be done correctly.

Honestly, it is possible that after many years practising law, whoever set these tasks was completely unaware that the terms they used would be unfamiliar to a non-law student!

Thank you so much for this response, James.

 

[M991]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I am in a strange situation regarding TC offers, so I sent you a PM in regard to it. Hope it's fine. Thank you so much!