Hearing Back from Law Firms, Assessment Centres & Interview Tips - 2019 - 2020

[jan28]

HSF summer scheme rejection. Has anyone been able to get feedback?

Sorry to hear that but yep they do. They give quite a detailed report on all three parts of the AC so make sure to email them and ask. I received it the next working day after asking for mine onwards/upwards.

 

[JoNo]

HSF summer scheme rejection. Has anyone been able to get feedback?

Hi Soliha - was this post-AC? May I ask when you submitted your application for the summer scheme? Thanks

 

[Faye]

AC invitation from Macfarlanes! Only applied 5 days ago so this is the fastest turnaround time I've ever experienced haha.

If anyone has tips for the AC/has done it before, please message me - I'd be so grateful

 

[gigi23]

AC invitation from Macfarlanes! Only applied 5 days ago so this is the fastest turnaround time I've ever experienced haha.

If anyone has tips for the AC/has done it before, please message me - I'd be so grateful

Congratulations and good luck !

 

[Jaysen]

AC invitation from Macfarlanes! Only applied 5 days ago so this is the fastest turnaround time I've ever experienced haha.

If anyone has tips for the AC/has done it before, please message me - I'd be so grateful

Amazing, well done!

 

[J Malone]

Anyone heard from Kirkland?

 

[Alice G]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone can help with a Clifford Chance query if you attended one of their open days this year.

I attended a CC open day last year where there was some advice on applications but I have heard a few things this year that diverge from this. For example, last year it was advised we should link back to the profession and CC itself wherever possible in the 600 words but this year I’ve heard the opposite was advised? Also I’ve heard that grad rec have indicated the STAR technique would be favourable, is this true?
Sorry it’s a bit late in asking but I’ve only just been made aware of these potential discrepancies between the two recruitment cycles and would be very very grateful for any insights

 

[Demna87]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone can help with a Clifford Chance query if you attended one of their open days this year.

I attended a CC open day last year where there was some advice on applications but I have heard a few things this year that diverge from this. For example, last year it was advised we should link back to the profession and CC itself wherever possible in the 600 words but this year I’ve heard the opposite was advised? Also I’ve heard that grad rec have indicated the STAR technique would be favourable, is this true?
Sorry it’s a bit late in asking but I’ve only just been made aware of these potential discrepancies between the two recruitment cycles and would be very very grateful for any insights

Hey, I went to the open day last year and I remember them saying not to refer to CC in the 600 words. When I was there they stressed that this should be about you. I think they said STAR should be used for your greatest achievement but I'm not sure if we are supposed to use it with other examples that we include.

I think they also said that you can use the fact that there is no word limit in the work experience section to your advantage. Whether this means to include your interest in CC there, I'm not sure.

With this all being said I know of people who have talked about CC and why they're interested in commercial law in the 600 words who have made it to AC...

 

[Alice G]

Hey, I went to the open day last year and I remember them saying not to refer to CC in the 600 words. When I was there they stressed that this should be about you. I think they said STAR should be used for your greatest achievement but I'm not sure if we are supposed to use it with other examples that we include.

I think they also said that you can use the fact that there is no word limit in the work experience section to your advantage. Whether this means to include your interest in CC there, I'm not sure.

With this all being said I know of people who have talked about CC and why they're interested in commercial law in the 600 words who have made it to AC...

Ooh that’s a tough one but thank you for replying to me!! I went to their first open day so perhaps the advice changed back then but I’m not entirely sure. I suppose I will just keep plugging away and see how the word count looks

 

[J Wu]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone can help with a Clifford Chance query if you attended one of their open days this year.

I attended a CC open day last year where there was some advice on applications but I have heard a few things this year that diverge from this. For example, last year it was advised we should link back to the profession and CC itself wherever possible in the 600 words but this year I’ve heard the opposite was advised? Also I’ve heard that grad rec have indicated the STAR technique would be favourable, is this true?
Sorry it’s a bit late in asking but I’ve only just been made aware of these potential discrepancies between the two recruitment cycles and would be very very grateful for any insights

General tips from the graduate recruitment team from an open day in November:

• There is no set way to do it; the 600 words is all about you and representing yourself in a way that allows them to get to know you
• I asked specifically about general approaches to the 600 word question e.g. whether to focus on what you did or to draw out all of the skills etc. Grad rec said there is no set way to do it, it is a blank slate for you to fill in whatever way you think best gets your personality across.
• There isn't a need to explicitly link the 600 words back to CC; motivation is a key focus when candidates reach the AC stage.
• One approach suggested by grad rec was to treat it like a story/multiple stories (STAR/CAR works here but they did not mention any specific approach)

Another thing:

• In your work experience, write about what you took from the open day you went to. Talk about what you took from each activity, what you learned and how it was impactful. You could do this as a separate work experience entry on its own or as part of another entry where you already talk about all your open days collectively.

 

[J Malone]

how many days would the application stage take for firms? a week? or 10 days?
So after a week or 10 days of submitting the application, then would it be better to consider as a rejection?

Thanks

 

[Alice G]

General tips from the graduate recruitment team from an open day in November:

• There is no set way to do it; the 600 words is all about you and representing yourself in a way that allows them to get to know you
• I asked specifically about general approaches to the 600 word question e.g. whether to focus on what you did or to draw out all of the skills etc. Grad rec said there is no set way to do it, it is a blank slate for you to fill in whatever way you think best gets your personality across.
• There isn't a need to explicitly link the 600 words back to CC; motivation is a key focus when candidates reach the AC stage.
• One approach suggested by grad rec was to treat it like a story/multiple stories (STAR/CAR works here but they did not mention any specific approach)

Another thing:

• In your work experience, write about what you took from the open day you went to. Talk about what you took from each activity, what you learned and how it was impactful. You could do this as a separate work experience entry on its own or as part of another entry where you already talk about all your open days collectively.

Excellent thank you for such detailed insight! It appears they really just want to see us do it in the way we see fit as I guess this allows our personalities to come through in and of itself!
Thanks again!!!

 

[Alice G]

how many days would the application stage take for firms? a week? or 10 days?
So after a week or 10 days of submitting the application, then would it be better to consider as a rejection?

Thanks

There is absolutely no set timeframe. Some firms may provide students with guidance about this perhaps online or at open days but there is no one size fits all and don’t assume a rejection. I always think that no news is good news so don’t fret about the time taken because firms have so many apps to review, especially around this time and in January.

 

[Soliha]

Hi Soliha - was this post-AC? May I ask when you submitted your application for the summer scheme? Thanks

No, it is post application review. I submitted on 29th Nov and did the test. Heard back today.

 

[PSM]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone can help with a Clifford Chance query if you attended one of their open days this year.

I attended a CC open day last year where there was some advice on applications but I have heard a few things this year that diverge from this. For example, last year it was advised we should link back to the profession and CC itself wherever possible in the 600 words but this year I’ve heard the opposite was advised? Also I’ve heard that grad rec have indicated the STAR technique would be favourable, is this true?
Sorry it’s a bit late in asking but I’ve only just been made aware of these potential discrepancies between the two recruitment cycles and would be very very grateful for any insights

Hi Alice,

I attended an open day in September! Grad rec said we didn't need to focus on linking it back to the firm as others have said and did say STAR method would really help. They also said to try quantify achievements or work experience tasks as much as possible as that helps them get a better picture. So I think there may have been a slight shift this year?

Good luck with your application!

 

[Jaysen]

General tips from the graduate recruitment team from an open day in November:

• There is no set way to do it; the 600 words is all about you and representing yourself in a way that allows them to get to know you
• I asked specifically about general approaches to the 600 word question e.g. whether to focus on what you did or to draw out all of the skills etc. Grad rec said there is no set way to do it, it is a blank slate for you to fill in whatever way you think best gets your personality across.
• There isn't a need to explicitly link the 600 words back to CC; motivation is a key focus when candidates reach the AC stage.
• One approach suggested by grad rec was to treat it like a story/multiple stories (STAR/CAR works here but they did not mention any specific approach)

Another thing:

• In your work experience, write about what you took from the open day you went to. Talk about what you took from each activity, what you learned and how it was impactful. You could do this as a separate work experience entry on its own or as part of another entry where you already talk about all your open days collectively.

Great advice, thanks for taking the time to share this!

 

[Alice G]

Hi Alice,

I attended an open day in September! Grad rec said we didn't need to focus on linking it back to the firm as others have said and did say STAR method would really help. They also said to try quantify achievements or work experience tasks as much as possible as that helps them get a better picture. So I think there may have been a slight shift this year?

Good luck with your application!

amazing advice - thank you so much for your help and clarifying this for me! I have been so busy I have left it later than i would like but fingers crossed! Best of luck to you too!

 

[Daniel Boden]

Anyone heard from Kirkland?

Nothing yet for me

 

[NickyRaykes]

Hi guys - this is my 5th year applying for training contracts so I'm pretty desperate! Does anyone have any tips/advice for the Bird & Bird VI?

 

[Penelope]

How soon after the WG can we ask Linklaters for our mark?