General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Ifmhouse4]

Congrats! Is this for a vacation scheme or direct TC?

Hi there, thanks! It’s for the vac scheme

 

[Ben1897]

Indeed - although the article suggests “the majority” were offered TCs, which we don’t think is accurate.

Do you expect other firms to start following suit?

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

Should applicants currently completing direct TC applications be worried about vacation schemers being offered TCs? And do you think other firms will follow suit? I read that CC is holding online classes in replacement for their vacation scheme.
Any opinion on that would be much appreciated

Indeed - although the article suggests “the majority” were offered TCs, which we don’t think is accurate.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Should applicants currently completing direct TC applications be worried about vacation schemers being offered TCs? And do you think other firms will follow suit? I read that CC is holding online classes in replacement for their vacation scheme.
Any opinion on that would be much appreciated

In no different way than they should have been if the vacation schemes took place.

Some firms whose vacation scheme recruitment process replicates the TC process may make direct offers. But even then it would only be to candidates they were exceptionally confident would meet the benchmark.

When you assess vacation scheme candidates you ultimately are looking for different things (you can be a bit more open minded/take more risks with VS candidates).

You can’t do that with TCs - the level of investment is far too high to take a punt on someone.

Some firms will just recruit later though - I wouldn’t expect all firms to make VS candidate direct TC offers instead. For those firms that do choose this route, it will only be a proportion of training contracts they offer anyway.

 

[Alice G]

Do you expect other firms to start following suit?

I don’t think anyone can answer this right now. This is unprecedented so very hard to predict what firms will do and firms will not be releasing this information until it’s all absolutely decided and set in stone. Unfortunately, hard as it is, it’s just a case of waiting to see what firms will do.

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

In no different way than they should have been if the vacation schemes took place.

Some firms whose vacation scheme recruitment process replicates the TC process may make direct offers. But even then it would only be to candidates they were exceptionally confident would meet the benchmark.

When you assess vacation scheme candidates you ultimately are looking for different things (you can be a bit more open minded/take more risks with VS candidates).

You can’t do that with TCs - the level of investment is far too high to take a punt on someone.

Some firms will just recruit later though - I wouldn’t expect all firms to make VS candidate direct TC offers instead. For those firms that do choose this route, it will only be a proportion of training contracts they offer anyway.

Thank you Jessica

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica

one of the major benefits law firms have is the massive time lag in recruitment and the individual starting their job. Many firms will just do their 2022 recruitment alongside their 2023 recruitment in the next cycle.

 

[haylaw]

online assessment with stephenson harwood! does anyone know what this entails? is it just the watson-glaser?

yes it's just WG!

 

[FutureCity]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith after they put their assessment centres on halt?

 

[micross]

Hi!

So I submitted the application in January to DAC Beachcroft and heard a few weeks ago inviting me to do a VI, deadline this week. And then they said once they review it they will be in touch to let people know whether they are through to assessment centres in June and July. Hope that helps.

Oh I see, thanks for letting me know!

 

[M1999]

Hi everyone. Has anyone done a personal statement for a masters in law (qualifying). I need to get my app out there but I’m worrying about getting rejected. It’s at ULAW

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone. Has anyone done a personal statement for a masters in law (qualifying). I need to get my app out there but I’m worrying about getting rejected. It’s at ULAW

Is it a GDL or LPC MA? If so, I wouldn’t really worry too much about it. Just make sure it is reasonably well written and you will be fine (they don’t fill these courses)

 

[M1999]

Is it a GDL or LPC MA? If so, I wouldn’t really worry too much about it. Just make sure it is reasonably well written and you will be fine (they don’t fill these courses)

It is actually a MA qualifying law course! Thank you so much for your reply

 

[Jessica Booker]

It is actually a MA qualifying law course! Thank you so much for your reply

I need to be frank about this.

That course is just the GDL with an additional 6,000 research project.

It won’t be difficult/competitive to get on this course.

 

[Law123]

Hi Jessica,

What would be the best way to answer in an interview your biggest failure without making it seem too detrimental?

Thank you again!

 

[Alice G]

Hi Jessica,

What would be the best way to answer in an interview your biggest failure without making it seem too detrimental?

Thank you again!

Hi there,
just thought I’d chip in on this briefly. I’ve always just been honest when answering this question. I don’t think you can say anything too detrimental provided you can show genuine reflection and convey what the experience taught you. It’s always best to perhaps discuss what you do now or would do to ensure it didn’t happen again. Failure isn’t a bad thing or something to be scared of discussing (though I appreciate It can be tough) - things in the legal world don’t always go to plan. Being resilient, dealing with failure and being able to reflect on it are great qualities and I always think authenticity is best- that’s the same for greatest weakness questions too.

 

[Law123]

Thank you very much Alice for your help!!!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

What would be the best way to answer in an interview your biggest failure without making it seem too detrimental?

Thank you again!

focusing on what you learnt from the experience/how you have developed from it.

you are going to fail a lot as a lawyer, so it isn’t always a bad thing to show you have developed resilience and self awareness from past failures. In fact, people who haven’t failed much in life tend to not be cut out for law.

 

[Law123]

Thank you for the help!!

 

[BGBlaw]

Hi guys,
I'm filling in an application now & there's space for 6 examples of legal work experience, but you can't delete any of them & you have to write something in the boxes in order to move on to the next page. I only have 2 examples of direct legal work experience - would you recommend putting N/A in the other boxes?
Thanks!