General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[anulciak7]

Stephenson Harwood rejection - mind boggled as I thought it was a strong application - would anyone be able to have a look at my answers and shed light on any areas of weakness?

Is it possible they filled places from Vac Schemes?

 

[S87]

Guys, I am now more than ever convinced that firms mostly hire from their VS.
Very few firms hire from direct TC app and therefore we need to be more strategic.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I applied for their direct TC and haven’t heard back at all.

@Jessica Booker can I assume they are waiting to make a decision on their vac schemers first before they start on the direct TC applications? I haven’t heard yet of somebody who has got a response from them following a direct TC app.

You probably shouldn’t assume anything. Its quite possible your suggestion is the logical answer to what’s going on. But reality is it could be a whole load of other logical reasons too (and even a mixture of those reasons).

 

[gilo]

Is it possible they filled places from Vac Schemes?

It's impossible to say - you'd hope they would say so

 

[D]

Guys, I am now more than ever convinced that firms mostly hire from their VS.
Very few firms hire from direct TC app and therefore we need to be more strategic.

This should not be a shock, and is the corollary of not only firms investing time in you (running the VS), but also you investing time in the firm (learning about the firm on the VS).

If a firm runs a VS, theres a very good chance they use that as their primary recruiting tool.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Guys, I am now more than ever convinced that firms mostly hire from their VS.
Very few firms hire from direct TC app and therefore we need to be more strategic.

Most firms predominately recruit from vacation schemes or other feeder programmes. That has been the case since at least 2005... it is not something new or secret.

But not all vacation schemers get offers (typically anywhere between 70-80% unless it is a large cohort with few TC places), and then acceptance rate of those offers ranges anywhere from 50-80%, typically because vacation schemers have more than one vac scheme but can only accept one TC.

That means there are usually plenty of direct TC vacancies out there. This year might be slightly different just because of everything that is going on.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If a firm runs a VS, theres a very good chance they use that as their primary recruiting tool.

This is the whole point of vac schemes! Firms wouldn’t run them if they weren’t the most successful recruiting tool (which is why CC might have dropped theirs).

 

[S87]

This should not be a shock, and is the corollary of not only firms investing time in you (running the VS), but also you investing time in the firm (learning about the firm on the VS).

If a firm runs a VS, theres a very good chance they use that as their primary recruiting tool.

I 100% agree with you...just pissed that I did not think about it before.

 

[azbwcy]

For people that applied to Harbottle, did you get a confirmation email from the firm themselves - I only have the CVMail standard confirmation email and am at that stage in the cycle of overthinking everything lol

 

[E.A]

Oh dang do you think I should email them and ask for an update? I applied to Peters in April and Orrick in May and definitely haven't heard anything...

@Jessica Booker do you have any opinions on this?

Thanks!

I spoke to grad red at Orrick and they will review TC applications in Oct/Nov

 

[deckoking123]

Anyone heard from Arnold & Porter straight TC?

 

[Andrewp]

Anyone heard from Goodwin?

 

[Cer96]

Has anybody heard anything back from Irwin Mitchell?

I know they said they don't review apps on a rolling basis so not too worried yet, just wondered if anyone had any wisdom.

 

[cryingoverTCs]

I spoke to grad red at Orrick and they will review TC applications in Oct/Nov

Ah ok thanks!

 

[cryingoverTCs]

Just got an email from Peters & Peters - they have stopped recruitment for the 2022 intake for now and it will reopen in autumn 2020 so candidates will have to reapply

 

[tractor12]

Just received an interview for a paralegal role

I was wondering if anyone had any tips - how might it differ from a usual VS/TC one?

 

[S87]

Just received an interview for a paralegal role

I was wondering if anyone had any tips - how might it differ from a usual VS/TC one?

Use the STAR method to answer their questions and if they ask "do you have any questions for us?" Have them ready!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just received an interview for a paralegal role

I was wondering if anyone had any tips - how might it differ from a usual VS/TC one?

It will be much more focused on how you will fit into that specific team.

TCs and VS are all about recruiting for the firm as a whole where you will rotate around. Unless it is a pool paralegal role, you will be working in a specific team/practice area/group so the questions tend to be much more focused on why that specific role.

 

[tractor12]

Use the STAR method to answer their questions and if they ask "do you have any questions for us?" Have them ready!

Thanks you! Its a compliance role encompassing work on anti-money laundering documentation and conflict checks - do you think I should expect technical questions on that area?

 

[tractor12]

It will be much more focused on how you will fit into that specific team.

TCs and VS are all about recruiting for the firm as a whole where you will rotate around. Unless it is a pool paralegal role, you will be working in a specific team/practice area/group so the questions tend to be much more focused on why that specific role.

I see that’s really helpful - thanks!