Ask Willkie Farr & Gallagher Anything!

[DTB]

Hi Gemma! @WillkieGemma

I hope you are having a great day! Thank you so much for doing this.

I just finished my law undergraduate and I am now enrolled on the LPC. I had a question about the application form, specifically question three which states "Please tell us about your achievements and positions of responsibility". I would be very grateful for your response.

- I wanted ask how we can avoid answering this question by repeating the same information from the work experience section? Would you recommend we don't write in the work experience section what we want to write in this section?
- Secondly, I wanted to ask what is the best way to approach this question! Since it is only 250 words is it best to simply simply state our achievements and responsibilities similar to a work experience section or selecting just one or two experiences and expanding into them?

Thank you so much!

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @YB Thanks for your message!

My advice would be that you should never repeat anything in your application - you can draw out work-related achievements that you didn't include in the work experience section but you shouldn't repeat the same thing. The achievements and interests section can also include extra curricular activities, such as volunteering, sports, drama, music, positions of responsibility, community based work and pro bono. The word count is I think 500 and personally, I would include everything of note, rather than editing out your achievements.

Many thanks
Gemma

 

[DTB]

Hi @YB Thanks for your message!

My advice would be that you should never repeat anything in your application - you can draw out work-related achievements that you didn't include in the work experience section but you shouldn't repeat the same thing. The achievements and interests section can also include extra curricular activities, such as volunteering, sports, drama, music, positions of responsibility, community based work and pro bono. The word count is I think 500 and personally, I would include everything of note, rather than editing out your achievements.

Many thanks
Gemma

Thank you so much for this!

 

[Kayla Prendergast]

Hi Gemma! Thank you for providing guidance on our applications.

1) If successful, can a future trainee request to start their training contract earlier (e.g. beginning of the year rather than typically in September)?
2) What is the opinion of the firm of an applicant interested in passing the New York / California bar? Will this be accepted or discouraged?

Kind regards,

Kayla

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi Gemma! Thank you for providing guidance on our applications.

1) If successful, can a future trainee request to start their training contract earlier (e.g. beginning of the year rather than typically in September)?
2) What is the opinion of the firm of an applicant interested in passing the New York / California bar? Will this be accepted or discouraged?

Kind regards,

Kayla

Hi @Kayla Prendergast

Thanks for your message - please see my answers below:

1. Our start date is in the September of each year - we have five trainees joining us each year and we prefer them to start at the same time. If we have a vacancy in an earlier intake, then we would let you know as and when the vacancy arises.
2. Several of our London-based lawyers are qualified in more than one jurisdiction. If it is relevant to your practice after qualification and something that interests you then, great!

I hope that helps,
Gemma

 

[corplaw0702]

Hi @WillkieGemma,

Thank you so much for your answers on this forum so far. I wanted to ask you whether assessment for vacation scheme applications were cumulative or solely based on the individual stages.

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @corplaw0702 They are based on the individual stages. In particular, the third assessment stage, the written exercise, is completely anonymous. Each candidate is given a number, rather than a name (only I have the key) and each exercise is marked by two assessors. If the marks given by each assessor are at odds with each other, that exercise then goes to a third person for moderation. All the assessors are associates or partners.

do let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks!
Gemma

 

[Saul Goodman]

Hi @WillkieGemma! I understand that Willkie is currently recruiting trainees for its 2024 intake but would like to know if there are any spots available for 2023 and, if so, whether candidates will be considered for that too? Thank you!

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @Saul Goodman we don't have any vacancies before September 2024 I'm afraid. Last year we recruited for 2021, 2022 and 2023 and we filled all spaces at that time.

 

[Jnh222]

Hi @WillkieGemma I hope your well. I was just wondering if you could give any insight to Willkie’s written exercise? Like what would you be looking for from applicants? How is it marked and how do you decide who to proceeds to interview? Thank you!

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @Jnh222

Thanks for your message. I really don't want to sound as if I'm fobbing you off, but it's really important to us that all candidates receive the same information about each stage of the process, so the information contained in email from me (should you have been invited) is all I can give you or direct you to. Any other information wouldn't be fair on others. I hope you understand!

Thanks
Gemma

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Hi @WillkieGemma,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am interested in applying to Willkie in the upcoming application cycle. I've done my research on the Firm's practice areas, but could you please let me know of the current seat options for trainee solicitors at the Firm. It would be even better if you can include any international and client secondments.

In addition, will you be recruiting on a rolling basis for the 2022-2023 application cycle?

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @Dwight

Thanks for your message! Our seat options are all our practice areas in London, with Private Equity and Litigation, Investigations Compliance & Enforcement as our two compulsory seats. We do not have any client or international secondments at present.

I review applications as they come in, but our spaces will not fill until after the deadline date.

Thanks!
Gemma

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Hi @Dwight

Thanks for your message! Our seat options are all our practice areas in London, with Private Equity and Litigation, Investigations Compliance & Enforcement as our two compulsory seats. We do not have any client or international secondments at present.

I review applications as they come in, but our spaces will not fill until after the deadline date.

Thanks!
Gemma

Thank you for your response, @WillkieGemma.

In regards to the second aspect of my enquiry - does that mean that applicants will be progressed to stages beyond the application phase before the deadline date?

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @Dwight , yes I review all applications within 15 working days of receipt.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Hi @WillkieGemma,

I hope you are having a great day!

Do you prefer the work experience section to be written in bullet points or prose/full sentences?

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @Dwight sorry for the delay! I prefer full sentences, which can either be paragraphs or bullets. What I'm really after is a well written explanation of your role and your achievements in that role.

 

[Deleted member 3712]

Hi @Dwight sorry for the delay! I prefer full sentences, which can either be paragraphs or bullets. What I'm really after is a well written explanation of your role and your achievements in that role.

Hi @WillkieGemma

I hope you are having a great week.

Thank you again for answering our questions

I was wondering, when say full sentences, would writing ‘Cultivating x skills and achieving x…’, ‘Establishing a new project in x area…’, ‘Networking with associates…’ be acceptable so that we’re not repeating ‘I’, e.g. I established’, ‘I cultivated?’ ‘I networked’?
Or do you prefer the latter?

Thank you!

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @WillkieGemma

I hope you are having a great week.

Thank you again for answering our questions

I was wondering, when say full sentences, would writing ‘Cultivating x skills and achieving x…’, ‘Establishing a new project in x area…’, ‘Networking with associates…’ be acceptable so that we’re not repeating ‘I’, e.g. I established’, ‘I cultivated?’ ‘I networked’?
Or do you prefer the latter?

Thank you!

Hi @birdlawspecialist

No problems.

My advice would be to focus less on just listing skills or using vague sentences, but to hone in on your responsibilities and ensuing achievements. For instance;

I worked 16 hours per week, alongside full time study. As a sales associate at WH Smith, my main responsibilities were x, y and z. After six months in the role, due to my good performance, my manager asked me to train new employees and act as a buddy.

When you say 'establishing a new project', you need to tell us (recruiters) what your actual role was. What did you do?

Thanks!
Gemma

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi all

Happy to be back for the new application season. As ever, I'm happy to answer all your questions, whether in relation to Willkie or other firms. For context, in addition to working in legal graduate recruitment for 14 years, I spent nine years working in Employability at a law school and at a diversity platform, where I helped hundreds of candidate to vac scheme and TC success.

Many thanks
Gemma