General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[D]

What is the best way to find out about a firm’s main practice areas? I know Legal 500 is good for top ranked but these aren’t always directly correlated with main practice areas! I’m particularly interested in firms with a good litigation/disputes department

I highly recommend simply engaging with the firm. See if they are running webinars etc. You'll soon get a feel for where their strength is and who they perceive their competitors to be. This will increase your understanding of that area of the market.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I highly recommend simply engaging with the firm. See if they are running webinars etc. You'll soon get a feel for where their strength is and who they perceive their competitors to be. This will increase your understanding of that area of the market.

Agree with this - sometimes a firm can be highly ranked in something but they may not take a lot of trainees into that area (and even fewer NQs). It is something to be mindful of and balance when thinking about your motivations and how you will apply them in your applications.

 

[TChopeful2021]

When asked to bullet point extra curriculars and positions of responsibility in 100 words, is it best to only mention 2-3 in detail or list more but in less detail?

 

[Jessica Booker]

When asked to bullet point extra curriculars and positions of responsibility in 100 words, is it best to only mention 2-3 in detail or list more but in less detail?

Generally I’d list more with less detail. Too many people describe the self-explanatory with extra curriculars. If it was me, I’d list each one maybe with a key achievement or two eg:

Treasurer - University Law Society (2018-19) increased revenue by 50% through commercial sponsorship.

Mooting (2019-20): reached semi-finals of Random Moot Title and finals of Second Random Moot Title.

Student Law Clinic (2018-20): Volunteered approximately 8 hours each week. Worked on tenancy and student finance matters, successfully resolving three cases with support from qualified lawyers.

The above is only 53 words and so it shows you could go into slightly more detail or add more entries quite easily.

 

[Deleted member 5185]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard’s London office yet?

 

[Andrewp]

Anyone from Dentons or Goodwin?

 

[Crastle]

Anyone applied to Haynes and Boone?

 

[S87]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard’s London office yet?

Nope..I have not heard back. However, I have moved on and trying to focus on how to move on with my career.

 

[Lumree]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard’s London office yet?

Applied in April and still waiting! Not holding my breath

 

[S87]

Applied in April and still waiting! Not holding my breath

Same mate!

 

[Brandon93]

For anyone waiting on Travers Smith, I emailed grad rec and they said we'll hear in the next couple of months. I applied for the Direct TC.

 

[EMD]

For anyone waiting on Travers Smith, I emailed grad rec and they said we'll hear in the next couple of months. I applied for the Direct TC.

Oh wow, was expecting to hear from them soon but maybe not then

 

[Kablahc]

Anyone from Dentons or Goodwin?

I heard from Dentons last week Rejection, but said they'd like me to apply next year since I applied too late (on the deadline basically) - annoying but what can you do! I believe they've given most of their TC places to their vac schemers

 

[M1999]

Does anyone know how many people AG recruit through direct TC? Just wondering if I have a good chance of making it to the AC

 

[Deleted member 5185]

Oh wow, was expecting to hear from them soon but maybe not then

Same, I was still clinging to the idea of August in the original email!

 

[Andrew M]

Does anyone know how many people AG recruit through direct TC? Just wondering if I have a good chance of making it to the AC

I don't have numbers but I know from speaking to grad rec and trainees that the vast majority of TCs are offered to vac schemers. I haven't actually seen anybody from this direct TC cycle say that they have been invited to an AC, unless they're keeping it to themselves. There does seem to be quite a few waiting to hear back after the application though...

 

[Andrewp]

I heard from Dentons last week Rejection, but said they'd like me to apply next year since I applied too late (on the deadline basically) - annoying but what can you do! I believe they've given most of their TC places to their vac schemers

Oh right sorry to hear... Which day did you hear? I have not heard post-first interview and was wondering what is going on.

 

[M1999]

I don't have numbers but I know from speaking to grad rec and trainees that the vast majority of TCs are offered to vac schemers. I haven't actually seen anybody from this direct TC cycle say that they have been invited to an AC, unless they're keeping it to themselves. There does seem to be quite a few waiting to hear back after the application though...

Oh I see! I have been invited to a VI, but I’m not sure how many people make it past this stage :S

 

[cryingoverTCs]

@Jessica Booker Hi! I had a question about a situation I'm in and I thought you'd be a great person to consult. I was contacted on LinkedIn by the Director of Innovation at an international firm as he had seen that I will be the brand ambassador for his firm and also that I am currently working on on a chatbot that provides legal advice, so he asked if I was interested in being connected with their Head of Automation. Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity and he asked me for my email, which I gave and then I did not hear from him again.
I chased him up a week and a half later, and still did not receive any response. This was on the 21st of August. What do I do now?

Thanks and sorry for the long backstory haha

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hi! I had a question about a situation I'm in and I thought you'd be a great person to consult. I was contacted on LinkedIn by the Director of Innovation at an international firm as he had seen that I will be the brand ambassador for his firm and also that I am currently working on on a chatbot that provides legal advice, so he asked if I was interested in being connected with their Head of Automation. Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity and he asked me for my email, which I gave and then I did not hear from him again.
I chased him up a week and a half later, and still did not receive any response. This was on the 21st of August. What do I do now?

Thanks and sorry for the long backstory haha

It's holiday season - lots of partners/heads of departments will be on holiday with their kids, some probably wont be back until next week where a lot of the private schools do not go back until Monday.

So give it a couple more weeks. 10 days seems like a long time to you, to a partner/head of department, it feels like 10 hours.

If you haven't heard back by mid September, drop a very quick/brief email asking if there is any further information you can provide. If you don't hear back after that, then unfortunately it is just one of those things that is likely to come to nothing.