General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[George Rowe]

A lot of firms have said they are scrapping A-Level/GCSE requirements, yet they still ask you to complete those details in the application form - might lead to some sort of indirect bias.

 

[Jessica Booker]

A lot of firms have said they are scrapping A-Level/GCSE requirements, yet they still ask you to complete those details in the application form - might lead to some sort of indirect bias.

At least you can apply and your application is still reviewed. Previously, many systems would stop you from applying or would get a straight no/no review of application if you had applied.

 

[ibs97]

A&O TC 2022/3/4 - any news?

nothing yet

 

[Sam55]

Anyone heard back from Sidley, Latham or White & Case for TC?

 

[Sammy Watkins]

Apart from A&O, CMS, Linklaters - anyone else open for vac schemes yet?

 

[AverageHotSauce]

Has anyone heard back from Linklaters for direct TC?

Nope. Still waiting.

 

[Shalli]

Nope. Still waiting.

Also in the same boat, lost count of the months now haha!

 

[Shalli]

Apart from A&O, CMS, Linklaters - anyone else open for vac schemes yet?

Mishcon is also open, as is Ashurst.

 

[CorporateB3]

As a law student who is looking to submit applications to various law firms - is there a preference for modules that I take as an undergrad? I am very interested in a number of non-commercial electives but don't want to send a message that I'm not interested in commercial law.

 

[Jen E C]

As a law student who is looking to submit applications to various law firms - is there a preference for modules that I take as an undergrad? I am very interested in a number of non-commercial electives but don't want to send a message that I'm not interested in commercial law.

It doesn't matter what modules you take but just be prepared to justify why you didn't choose more commercial ones. I've only ever been asked about my modules once but this is even less of an issue now that most interviews are conducted on a CV-blind basis.

 

[Deleted member 5185]

Anyone heard back from Sidley, Latham or White & Case for TC?

Still waiting for Latham, and White & Case. Waiting for the sweet relief of the email.

 

[Kablahc]

As a law student who is looking to submit applications to various law firms - is there a preference for modules that I take as an undergrad? I am very interested in a number of non-commercial electives but don't want to send a message that I'm not interested in commercial law.

Not at all. Recruiters understand you might not get a choice to pursue commercial electives at uni because of class sizes/lack of availability/module quality. You'd make up for it on the LPC anyway especially if it's a firm that chooses your modules or goes through BPP. Usually you can show your interest much better in other ways by going to open days, vac schemes, doing extracurriculars etc. Plus you'll probably get better grades doing something you're more interested in, even if it isn't Corporate Law 101. It would probably be harder to justify getting a 3rd in a commercial module you hated than choosing to pick public international law instead tbh!!

 

[Popal]

Hi

Has anyone on this forum had any experience applying to the Government Legal Department? I have an Assessment Day in a few weeks. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Hello,

I went through a similar application process as a paralegal. Definitely know the success profiles, particularly the civil service behaviours (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles) as this will be what you are assessed on. There will be strength-based and behaviour-based questions, prepare to talk around the success profile buzzwords e.g. 'how have you ensured you have made effective decisions in the past'. Also, they mark you more highly if you use active words e.g. 'I delivered', 'I communicated' etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Andrewp]

Anyone heard from Goodwin?

 

[XARA]

1. Tech & innovation
2. Types of work. They will be mostly coming from restructuring, litigation & PE (other departments might be quieter); and a boom in the both tech and healthcare sectors
3. Emphasis on employees' mental health // productivity
4. Remote working & the future of the office sector in the City (is it worth paying those rents for a swimming pool that nobody is in?)

I've answered something similar; excuse the brevity due to the word limit.

Provide one or two commercial impacts of COVID-19 on the UK legal profession in 2020/2021 with an explanation of the impact(s)?

Lockdown restriction has exacerbated consumers’ habits from brick and mortar to digital commerce. Consequently, one of the big commercial impacts of COVID-19 is the continued rise of e-commerce. A new normal means that e-commerce is likely to have a big share of the economy.

First, transactions on e-commerce will bring about opportunities for the FinTech department in various City law firms. Most e-commerce activities are conducted either through mobile phones or web-based purchasing. Any fast-growing companies must strive to improve their payments services to achieve the goal of frictionless trade.

Second, retailers retain their customers on e-commerce through personalising web content, offers and promotions. Consequently, the emphasis on data privacy will have an impact on the focus of legal advice due to the associated reputational damages that could give rise to.

With this trend, it also means that a lot of the legal work from the retail industry has turned into restructuring and insolvency. Given the UK is entering into a recession, the following year will be characterised by insolvencies, even with a V-shape recovery. The new normal of social distancing that transformed our shopping habits define the types of work the legal profession will handle in the next year.

Thanks for this really comprehensive message! So great to know that we were thinking along the same wave-length, I just wanted to ensure that I had something to say that was a little different to the standard 'technology' answer!

 

[Jessica Booker]

As a law student who is looking to submit applications to various law firms - is there a preference for modules that I take as an undergrad? I am very interested in a number of non-commercial electives but don't want to send a message that I'm not interested in commercial law.

not really an issue as most firms recruit non law grads. It’s just an opportunity to demonstrate commercial law if this is lacking elsewhere in your application.

 

[George Rowe]

At least you can apply and your application is still reviewed. Previously, many systems would stop you from applying or would get a straight no/no review of application if you had applied.

Yeah I guess so, but I still think they should completely remove the GCSE/A-Levels sections if they truly mean they will not look/assess those grades.

 

[Sam55]

Yeah I guess so, but I still think they should completely remove the GCSE/A-Levels sections if they truly mean they will not look/assess those grades.

I assume they do assess these but they are just taking a more holistic/contextual approach to applications with weaker grades rather than outright rejecting them- I thought some firms just said they are removing minimum a level grades, not not considering A levels at all. Did some firms say they are no longer assessing GCSEs and A levels?

 

[LegalNim]

Yeah I guess so, but I still think they should completely remove the GCSE/A-Levels sections if they truly mean they will not look/assess those grades.

I'm not sure if firms have said they won't assess on those grades - just that they don't have a minimum requirement. Meaning that they still consider them but they won't exclude a candidate who has a first class degree and wealth of work experience, clear motivation and desire and everything else just because they got BBB at A Level.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yeah I guess so, but I still think they should completely remove the GCSE/A-Levels sections if they truly mean they will not look/assess those grades.

They haven’t said they are not assessing grades, they have just said they are not applying a minimum criteria that stops many 10,000s of students being ineligible to apply.

Reality is though they will put very little weighting on the A-levels. But seeing them also allows to see how people have progressed in the last 3 years - seeing someone go from B/C/D grades to a first at uni will be impressive, and potentially more so than someone who has always academically excelled. Grades are also needed for any contextualised recruitment process too.