I agree with this as I have done this oin many paralegal interviews by asking the interviewer about theoir experiences to impress them.I always stress to people that they need to look at asking questions as the opposite way as most people approach them. Most people ask questions to try and impress in an interview, but my view is that this is your opportunity to ask the things that help you decide whether this is the right firm for you. Even if you are fairly sure this is the right firm for you, what would you want to ask the firm if you magically had five competitor offers on your desk? How would the questions help you decide that this firm is the one you want to choose over the other four?
Also, time has passed. Things do not stay constant. So you could ask about something the firm started doing/implementing/changing when you were there last summer - for instance, how is that progressing since you left the firm?
You could ask about their opinion on something - just because you have been told certain things, you haven't heard this person's opinion on a particular topic. As a lawyer, it is always good to try and look at things from different perspectives
You could ask about their experience in something - again, just because you were told something by someone else, doesn't necessarily mean it applies to everyone equally.
Linking some posts below for prepping written and group exercises-Hi @Jessica Booker,
How would you recommend preparing for a written exercise at an AC?
Also, do you have any tips on preparing for the group exercise?
I honestly have very little advice for preparing for group or written exercises. They are purposely designed so that preparing for them isn't needed or will have little impact.Hi @Jessica Booker,
How would you recommend preparing for a written exercise at an AC?
Also, do you have any tips on preparing for the group exercise?
No it’s not sent out to every applicant - at least it wasn’t for direct TC last cycle so assuming the same for VS.Is the Orrick WG test just sent out to every applicant? I just received one today but don’t want to celebrate knowing it might be a standard email
4 (in my case)Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?
I wouldn’t say that people generally secure 4 during their first cycle. I did a vac scheme last year and on my scheme people had between 1-2 and were mainly on their second cycle
Statistically probably 0 haha
You're smart! Thanks for letting me know.4 (in my case)
personal observation from a top uni in London: 4 at max, mean/median 2, lots without offers.Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?
Agreed, thanks for letting us know and for being so subtle about it 😂You're smart! Thanks for letting me know.
In my case 0. I only got a VS in my third cycle but I felt my first cycle was a bit of a practice run! Other may have been preparing for ages to apply for their first cycle! It’s not really a quantifiable thing as it really depends on every candidate, their situation, motivation and abilities!Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?
I saw a few responses to the post stating a number - I assumed people were giving the figures from their first cycle to give OP a range of what’s possible. e.g. the post following mine saying they got 0 in their case. It goes without saying it’s multi factorial with luck being a big factor.Agreed, thanks for letting us know and for being so subtle about it 😂
I’m not salty - I’ve also secured multiple VS. It just came across as insensitive, in my opinion.I saw a few responses to the post stating a number - I assumed people were giving the figures from their first cycle to give OP a range of what’s possible. e.g. the post following mine saying they got 0 in their case. It goes without saying it’s multi factorial with luck being a big factor.
Don’t be salty!
i politely disagree, to each their own!I’m not salty - I’ve also secured multiple VS. It just came across as insensitive, in my opinion.
I love this post so much what you said was spot on and I applaud you for this as some people can't get past the online application stage or the online test stage.personal observation from a top uni in London: 4 at max, mean/median 2, lots without offers.
I understand people may want to share that they've got many offers in their first cycle here, which is a massive achievement indeed (we love to hear those!), but it's worth knowing that this isn't necessarily the "normal". Personally I've received many ACs and offers but I'm very conscious that I'm in a privileged position (socio-economic, educational level, previous knowledge about the legal industry before applying, etc.) with quite a bit of luck. People who reads that it's "normal" to secure 4 offers may start to blame themselves for "failing" to get any and lose confidence - so let's be realistic and considerate here when sharing such information.
I mean if you think about it statistically, a firm usually receives some 3000+ applications but has 40-60 VS places (US firms with like 10 places).