Ask Paul, Weiss Anything!

[Jaysen]

I know there has been a lot of interest surrounding the launch of the new training contract with Paul, Weiss.

Paul Gascoyne, the Senior Recruitment Manager at Paul, Weiss, is live right now to answer your questions in this thread.

We’re also very lucky to have four associates from Paul, Weiss, including:

1. Naomi Shode and Anthony Isichei, private equity associates at Paul, Weiss
2. Ali Wathan, an antitrust & competition associate associate at Paul, Weiss
3. Ali Fazeli-Nia, an associate in the IP and technology transactions group at Paul, Weiss

Please feel free to ask any questions you have for the firm in this thread and the team will answer your questions. You might want to consider: Is there anything you want to know about writing a stand-out application to the firm? Is there anything more you want to know about what it's like to work at Paul, Weiss?

---

Interested in Paul, Weiss?​

• Apply for the November or December Open Day.
• Apply for the Spring or Summer Vacation Scheme.
• Join TCLA and Paul Gascoyne on 14 October 2024 to learn: ‘How to Secure a Training Contract at Paul, Weiss’ - Register here!

 

[FunmiO]

Hi, what attracted you to Paul, Weiss' private equity practice? How is their private equity practice different from other US firms?

 

[Tamilore101]

Good morning, I hope you're all well! Why do you enjoy working at Paul, Weiss? What are the main qualities you believe a trainee would need to be successful in the role please?

 

[Pbali]

Hi,

As a graduate, who has done the LPC, am I still eligible to apply for the vac scheme?

If so, is there anything you look for from graduates that is different from students?

How might my LPC impact my chances of securing a vac scheme/TC at Paul, Weiss? (I’m also open to pursuing the SQE if necessary.)

Thank you!

 

[ayiiii05]

Hi all, thank you for taking the time to speak to us today! I am a final-year student at a non-RG and I have three questions, each with a follow-up.

Firstly, Do you think the firm is good at recruiting associates from different types of backgrounds? What type of affinity groups are you involved in at Paul, Weiss?

Secondly, I am very interested in Private Equity and I wanted to know, Naomi and Anthony, what do you enjoy about it? Could you talk us through a day in Private Equity?

Thirdly, a question everyone wants to know, how do I stand out in an application to Paul, Weiss? Following this, for the work experience section, should I focus on what I did or should I add the skills I developed through that work experience and how it will aid me in a career in Law?

Thank you all!

 

[Amakaa]

What are the graduate recruitment team looking for in an application. Also will you be disadvantaged if you didn’t do a levels

 

[SakshiSahoo]

Good morning All,
1. What makes Paul, Weiss different from other firms?
2. What are the skills and qualities Paul Weiss looking for in applications?
Thanks!!

 

[josiemusgra]

Hi, I hope you're well! I was wondering when we would hear back about the outcomes of our open day applications for the one on 30/10? Thanks!

 

[snoopgoku14]

Hi All,

Very nice to e-meet you and excited to learn more about Paul, Weiss!

Would you be so kind to answer my following queries?

1. Having only recently opened applications for training contracts and vacation schemes, what can I expect from the training process at this firm? Do you have a structured training programme? And how does it compare to the traditional MC firms known for their established training programmes?

2. How is mentorship structured within the firm? What is the culture around feedback like?

3. What is the SQE resit policy?

4. Which provider is the firm partnering with for the SQE? If I receive an offer, is it possible to study for the SQE part-time? Alternatively, could I study independently and attempt to pass the SQE myself without enrolling in your partnered program, particularly because I am on a sponsored visa and need to ensure continuous employment for five years?

5. How does the firm integrate technology into its legal practice? Is there any example you may have? Are you using AI models such as ChatGPT, similar to Allen & Overy’s use of Harvey and Clifford Chance’s use of CoPilot aimed at enhancing employee experience?

I apologise for the long list of questions. I appreciate you are under time constraints, so I would be grateful for your response. Thank you!

Best wishes,

 

[annalisekeating]

Could you please confirm whether LPC graduates will be exempt from SQE exams, or must we undertake SQE 2 before commencing a training contract?

 

[hateno]

Hello,

Does the firm have a sector-focused approach? If so, what are the key sectors in London that the firm focuses on?

Thank you!

 

[sammy01]

Hi,

Just two questions:

1. I understand that private equity is not offered as a specific seat for your training contract, is it encompassed within the M&A seat? If so, are the seats offered broad in nature? For instance, M&A covers public/private M&A/private equity?

2. What makes Paul, Weiss stand out amongst the other big US firms?

Cheers.

 

[Kaushik]

Hi, thanks so much for your valuable time today! It would be very helpful to know how the firm views overseas applicants or international talent. Would say age or professional qualification (For example law or accountacy) in another jurisdiction be an bar in applying? What does the firm look for international candidates to truly stand out? Thanks!

 

[Silvia Cunico]

Good Morning, thank you for taking your time and help us with questions we have about Paul, Weiss.

For my first question i wanted to ask if you think that a Master in Corporate \ Finance would be a good option after the bachelor to secure a vacation scheme. would it be considered a plus? After the master then prep for the SQE.

For my second question, what do you think is important to mention in the application to stand out and pass the selection process?

Thanks!

 

[solhan1125]

Good morning!

For Paul: Thanks for being here! I'm aware that you can apply for both an open day and vacation scheme under the same application form. Do you recommend we use one application form to apply to both, or do you prefer we send in completely separate forms one after the other?

For Ali and Anthony: Hey! What made you guys decide to jump over to Paul, Weiss after qualifying in different law firms? What drew you to the firm?

For anyone on the panel: What is P,W's strategy or the key metrics it focusses on to ensure it has a competitive edge and stays ahead-of-the-curve?

 

[ukhan7]

Hi Paul, I hope you’re doing well!

I’ve had a look at the LinkedIn profiles of associates at the firm and noticed many Oxbridge graduates.

My question is, how much value does the firm place on university calibre? I graduated from a non-Russell group uni and want to know whether I stand a chance of being interviewed given my academics. Thank you!

 

[tdbaby]

Hi! Thank you so much for doing this. In writing Paul, Weiss in an application, is it absolutely necessary to include the comma? Would it be taken as a spelling/grammar mistake if you omit the comma, or immediately strike out your application?

Thank you once again.

 

[MarcT44]

Morning everyone. Thanks to Paul, Weiss, Jaysen, and TCLA for putting this together.

Firstly, to the associates - when dealing with your workload and queries, who do you turn to currently at the firm? Do you expect to fulfil similar roles of guidance for trainees?

Secondly, to Paul and the Recruitment Team, I wanted to ask more about the timeline following an application to the Spring/Summer vacation schemes (ie: when do you expect to run the interviews and assessments). I am a SQE student and so I am trying to plan accordingly.

Lastly, again to the associates - has there been a deal/case that you are particularly proud of?

Thanks again and can't wait to hear what you say!

 

[Lawlife5]

Good morning! What would make an open day application successful? Thank you

 

[MatthewObiuwevbi]

1. How does Paul Weiss foster growth whilst maintaining a collaborative and supportive team environment?


2. How does the firm encourage junior associates to take on meaningful responsibilities early in their careers?


3. How does Paul Weiss balance specialisation with providing exposure to different practice areas for its associates ?


4. How does the firm approach advising clients in emerging technologies and industries, particularly in areas like autonomous vehicles and insurtech?


5. How does Paul Weiss actively promote diversity and inclusion within the firm and the broader legal community?


6. How does Paul Weiss approach billable hours, and what impact does this have on work-life balance and team collaboration?

7. Please if someone is qualified in another jurisdiction, will they need to complete both part of the SQE's whilst being sponsored by the firm.

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards