Interview/Open Day/Vacation Scheme Updates- Coronavirus

[Helena]

I understand my posts may have upset/angered people.

I will always tell people straight on here and that often means telling people messages they don’t want to hear. However, I am genuinely trying to help people.

Prior to this craziness I dealt with many instances where people’s personal circumstances meant things were more difficult for them in a vacation scheme than others. The only way I could help them is if they asked for support. I think people would be surprised how many who work in law firms will have had similar challenges - not everyone who works in a firm is a fee earner or a trainee that have the luxury of fleeing to Mum and Dad’s in suburbia.

I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to help us all. Your wisdom and knowledge is invaluable and your honesty a tonic.
Thank you

 

[mab299]

Taylor Wessing now confirmed to be a week-long virtual scheme in Summer

 

[Jessica Booker]

Quick question - are people still being paid on these virtual internships?

 

[EJ]

Are on the LL June Vac Scheme by any chance?

No, Burges Salmon!

 

[mab299]

Quick question - are people still being paid on these virtual internships?

Yes, the weekly rate still applies

 

[D]

Quick question - are people still being paid on these virtual internships?

CC cut theirs in half.

 

[Jessica Booker]

CC cut theirs in half.

is that because it is shorter, or is the hourly/day rate half?

 

[D]

is that because it is shorter, or is the hourly/day rate half?

Yes, I think so. There are now 5 days max (3 classroom, 2 work shadowing in the Winter). This would seemingly explain it.

They have backed themselves into an odd position, however, as they are not going to be interviewing until the Winter. This obviously poses a problem for persons who have to respond to their TC offers.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yes, I think so. There are now 5 days max (3 classroom, 2 work shadowing in the Winter). This would seemingly explain it.

They have backed themselves into an odd position, however, as they are not going to be interviewing until the Winter. This obviously poses a problem for persons who have to respond to their TC offers.

makes sense then if they are shorter (unfortunately).

I suspect they may try to squeeze in work shadowing earlier (if they can) if people have other offers, or would just hope people renege earlier offers

 

[AH9891]

Yes, I think so. There are now 5 days max (3 classroom, 2 work shadowing in the Winter). This would seemingly explain it.

They have backed themselves into an odd position, however, as they are not going to be interviewing until the Winter. This obviously poses a problem for persons who have to respond to their TC offers.

I’m also curious to know how it works for people that need to still do the GDL. I understand that there’s the accelerated one, but that then means that people on the course won’t have time to work while studying. Are they going to bump up the grants they offer as a result? I’m not on the scheme, but I’m on LLs and worried they’d do something similar. Would be impossible to sustain living in London for most people without a source of income and that grant definitely wouldn’t cover it, so it appears to seriously disadvantage people who don’t have parents pay their way!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I’m also curious to know how it works for people that need to still do the GDL. I understand that there’s the accelerated one, but that then means that people on the course won’t have time to work while studying. Are they going to bump up the grants they offer as a result? I’m not on the scheme, but I’m on LLs and worried they’d do something similar. Would be impossible to sustain living in London for most people without a source of I come and that grant definitely wouldn’t cover it, so it appears to seriously disadvantage people who don’t have parents pay their way!

they might put you on the SQE anyway, so no need for the GDL...

 

[D]

makes sense then if they are shorter (unfortunately).

I suspect they may try to squeeze in work shadowing earlier (if they can) if people have other offers, or would just hope people renege earlier offers

Perhaps. I do get the impression that CC is moving away from VS's though as a recruitment tool. They only have one summer VS this with 20 people on it. They seem to be recruiting primarily from SPARK, Direct TC and their new scheme.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Perhaps. I do get the impression that CC is moving away from VS's though as a recruitment tool. They only have one summer VS this with 20 people on it. They seem to be recruiting primarily from SPARK, Direct TC and their new scheme.

well there’s only sense to pay a rate by a day rate. There’s no logic to pay someone for several weeks if they are only doing a few days.

although vacation schemes are a great way for candidate to experience the firm, they aren’t always the best way to recruit people (strangely). If you have a robust recruitment process, you can rely on on vac scheme methods.

 

[jan28]

they aren’t always the best way to recruit people (strangely)

just wondering, why aren't vac schemes the best way to recruit?

 

[Jessica Booker]

just wondering, why aren't vac schemes the best way to recruit?

resource intensive
You can get people on them who use them just to build their CV
They sometimes give people a false sense of what life as a trainee/junior lawyer is truly like

From my perspective, they are great - they are a fantastic way to recruit generally. But they don’t always work for individual employers, and if other programmes/recruitment drives show greater levels of success, I can understand why an employer chooses to move away from internships.

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

Hi Jessica, in a previous post you said that assessing people for a TC vs a VS is completely different, even if the application process and assessment centres are in theory identical. What distinguishes what firms are looking for - is it just a more polished product, or is it more legal knowledge etc? Thanks

 

[Alice G]

Hi Jessica, in a previous post you said that assessing people for a TC vs a VS is completely different, even if the application process and assessment centres are in theory identical. What distinguishes what firms are looking for - is it just a more polished product, or is it more legal knowledge etc? Thanks

Think it tends to be that with TCs they will maybe push and challenge your motivations a bit more because they need to be sure you’re committed as trainees are an expensive investment in the firm’s future. interviewers tend not to look for legal knowledge unless you are a law student perhaps in a technical interview or if you have recently written a dissertation for law but even then, this tends not to be too intense from what I’ve heard (I’m non law so have never been challenged on anything remotely legal in nature, just commercial stuff).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, in a previous post you said that assessing people for a TC vs a VS is completely different, even if the application process and assessment centres are in theory identical. What distinguishes what firms are looking for - is it just a more polished product, or is it more legal knowledge etc? Thanks

it isn’t that it is completely different, you just have different expectations/standards.

You can take a punt on someone for a vacation scheme, with the knowledge that any concerns can be tested out during their internship. You are less likely to do this for a TC, because the investment is too high (time and money).

So it isn’t a specific thing that firms looks for more or less, it is just that they can be a little more open minded/willing to take a chance on vac schemers

 

[yahyee96]

Has anyone heard from Mishcon?

 

[Ar2016]

What is the likelihood of firms holding virtual AC's throughout May for their upcoming summer virtual schemes or TC interviews? @Jessica Booker