General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Law_Grad1]

you're not alone, i'm turning 25 end of november and still no TC yet, but gotta keep pushing. i totally get the feeling old bit, trust me i feel that too. just believe my journey is mine and it must all lead somewhere if i am putting in the work

It's funny how lonely this process can make you feel, despite how many people you know must be struggling beside you. Fingers crossed we can both prosper in good time.

 

[S87]

If a law firm asks you to discuss 'a legal case that recently caught your attention its implications' on the application form, should you talk about one they worked on or can it be any case (obviously one that relates to their expertise though)?

I would discuss something that you can connect to the firm’s practice areas. This demonstrates your commercial awareness but also that you have done your research. Remember to write as if you were the client, What would the client want from the firm? Why is she/he contacting that particular firm?

 

[Samar]

No dice after my AC. I guess it's another round of applications for me.

Just turned 25, 2 years out of university - I really thought this round was my round. I finally had all my ducks in a row - I'd done a great vac scheme the year before, I'd got a great paralegal job at a great firm. Now I've lost my job due to Covid, had to move back home (EU) as a result and facing another round of applications.

I know I'm still young, but somehow today, after getting the news, I feel older than ever.

Really felt like I'd done a good job on the AC too. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

I have a friend who is an associate at a big law firm who is 30 and did the very traditional route of vac scheme in second year then TC offer. Her boyfriend, who is also 30, just qualified this year. It is not a defining characteristic that he qualified a bit later, and now they're pretty much in a similar situation in life and I promise you, no-one is discussing this when they talk about him. People speak about him as an expert in his field because he used those 'extra' years to work hard.

Everyone has such different paths in life and I honestly think that what is meant for you will come to you if you work hard at it and stay true to yourself. I am also 25 and whilst it could seem to some that I could have qualified by now, I know that I have so much life experience and this journey proved to me how much I was willing to work hard over the past year. I burst out crying when I got the TC call and it was because I knew how much this meant to me because of the journey.

Honestly, life is a long journey and nothing should be a rush because things worthwhile are things worth waiting for!! You have nothing to prove to anyone except yourself, so just be as great as you know you are.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If a law firm asks you to discuss 'a legal case that recently caught your attention its implications' on the application form, should you talk about one they worked on or can it be any case (obviously one that relates to their expertise though)?

can be any - doesn’t necessarily have to relate to their expertise either, although it’s always an opportunity to show your interest in what they do

 

[Jessica Booker]

you're not alone, i'm turning 25 end of november and still no TC yet, but gotta keep pushing. i totally get the feeling old bit, trust me i feel that too. just believe my journey is mine and it must all lead somewhere if i am putting in the work

Remember the average age of a trainee is 28!

 

[D]

No dice after my AC. I guess it's another round of applications for me.

Just turned 25, 2 years out of university - I really thought this round was my round. I finally had all my ducks in a row - I'd done a great vac scheme the year before, I'd got a great paralegal job at a great firm. Now I've lost my job due to Covid, had to move back home (EU) as a result and facing another round of applications.

I know I'm still young, but somehow today, after getting the news, I feel older than ever.

Really felt like I'd done a good job on the AC too. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

you're not alone, i'm turning 25 end of november and still no TC yet, but gotta keep pushing. i totally get the feeling old bit, trust me i feel that too. just believe my journey is mine and it must all lead somewhere if i am putting in the work

I have a friend who is an associate at a big law firm who is 30 and did the very traditional route of vac scheme in second year then TC offer. Her boyfriend, who is also 30, just qualified this year. It is not a defining characteristic that he qualified a bit later, and now they're pretty much in a similar situation in life and I promise you, no-one is discussing this when they talk about him. People speak about him as an expert in his field because he used those 'extra' years to work hard.

Everyone has such different paths in life and I honestly think that what is meant for you will come to you if you work hard at it and stay true to yourself. I am also 25 and whilst it could seem to some that I could have qualified by now, I know that I have so much life experience and this journey proved to me how much I was willing to work hard over the past year. I burst out crying when I got the TC call and it was because I knew how much this meant to me because of the journey.

Honestly, life is a long journey and nothing should be a rush because things worthwhile are things worth waiting for!! You have nothing to prove to anyone except yourself, so just be as great as you know you are.

I won't be starting my TC until I'm 35 - There's lots of time guys. Just remember - we are all likely to work until 60 or so... just think how many years that is left

 

[Christina93]

Anyone applied to Haynes and Boone?

I've applied! I haven't heard back yet though.

 

[Jaysen]

Hi @Jaysen

Just wondering whether a new thread will be created for the next cycle?

Thanks!

Good question, this thread is far busier than the one we did last year.

Would you guys prefer a new thread just for this cycle?

As we grow, what I could do is start splitting these discussions into more specific threads.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Good question, this thread is far busier than the one we did last year.

Would you guys prefer a new thread just for this cycle?

It would make the most sense for these threads to be cyclical rather than on a calendar year basis imo

 

[XARA]

Was wondering whether anyone had any points regarding the changing legal landscape? What are the main things that are changing in the legal landscape? I am trying to think of stuff aside from technology because I know that that tends to be something most people turn to initially

 

[KerC14]

Just FYI - there is a strong possibility that BLM's recruitment is still on hold.

Just waiting for them to use their graduate marketing slogan and ‘press play’ again, we’ll be able to apply for the new cycle before we hear back lol

 

[Camilla]

Just waiting for them to use their graduate marketing slogan and ‘press play’ again, we’ll be able to apply for the new cycle before we hear back lol

They could easily have sent a blanket email update...to be honest I haven't been that impressed with their communication. I wasn't able to get feedback after my last AC there as they kept ignoring my emails and I just felt too embarrassed to keep asking.

 

[Patricia K]

Hi everyone! I'm Patricia and I'll be joining as TCLA's new Project Lead.

I'm just about to start my final year at university and have recently completed two vacation schemes this summer. In addition, I've been fortunate enough to have received TC offers from two other firms. It's nice to meet everyone and I look forward to getting to know more of you soon . Feel free to ask me any questions - I'm happy to help!

 

[0603]

Does anyone know if/ when Deloitte is opening for its graduate programmes? The website says September but when I register my interest with them they send me links to several programmes and ends the email saying due to covid applications wont be open. Unsure if they mean for general vacancies or the graduate/ spring/summer schemes.

 

[Kablahc]

Does anyone know if/ when Deloitte is opening for its graduate programmes? The website says September but when I register my interest with them they send me links to several programmes and ends the email saying due to covid applications wont be open. Unsure if they mean for general vacancies or the graduate/ spring/summer schemes.

I heard from someone who works at Deloitte that grad recruitment has been scrapped this year. They said this in an "unofficial" capacity though so keep checking back for the summer schemes just in case

 

[T202]

Was wondering whether anyone had any points regarding the changing legal landscape? What are the main things that are changing in the legal landscape? I am trying to think of stuff aside from technology because I know that that tends to be something most people turn to initially

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 both the 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.

 

[Frank]

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

 

[cryingoverTCs]

Has anyone heard back from Linklaters for direct TC?

 

[OB]

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

Rejection last week for 2022, think it was in relation to my A-Level grades so a simple no

 

[Lumree]

It would make the most sense for these threads to be cyclical rather than on a calendar year basis imo

Good question, this thread is far busier than the one we did last year.

Would you guys prefer a new thread just for this cycle?

As we grow, what I could do is start splitting these discussions into more specific threads.

I agree with Daniel; a new thread per cycle makes more sense