Does anyone know what WG mark is typically needed to get through to AC For Freshfields? Assuming it’s quite high as it’s the only stage between application and AC.
How confident are you in your knowledge of the core LLB/PGDL subjects, including Contract, Tort, Trusts, Land, Criminal, and Public Law?
TCLA is teaming up with BPP for a free interactive event designed to refresh your fundamentals, especially for those interested in or planning to take the SQE. We'll practise multiple choice SQE questions, with prizes for the highest scoring participants!
Register HereNo but that would be nice lol (did one in winter that didn't go too well, never heard back)Has anyone else who applied for a W&C WVS received a re-invite to complete the VI? I already completed it in October, but I received another invite today.
It’s so strange, they sent an email in November essentially saying we’re still considering your application and will tell you the result in the new year. Still nothing though - I kind of forgot about it (because I translated it to be a pfo).No but that would be nice lol (did one in winter that didn't go too well, never heard back)
The only way to qualify as a NQ solicitor in England and Wales outside of a TC is to have 2+ years of QWE in the UK and pass both SQE1 and SQE2. By completing the SQE/QWE route, you become ineligible for TC’s and VS because you don’t need to do them. 🙂Once you qualify as a solicitor, you will immediately become ineglible for TC and VS. Then your job options will be restricted to paralegal roles.
As an international student, the firms automatically consider you probably have little to zero knowledge of English law (undergrad level). Further, the odds are lower if you have no significant PQE practising law overseas (particularly in civil law countries).
The firms' job advertisements say they look for someone "trained in the UK". Unfortunately, except if you are a paralegal at an elite firm offering NQ roles for trainees, you would be at a disadvantage when competing against trainees from other firms in any lateral recruitment for the reasons mentioned by Jessica.
For example, my LLM colleagues struggled to find associate jobs after passing the SQE. They have been working as paralegals or locum solicitors for the past 2 years.
I know just two graduates qualified as solicitors via SQE with +10 PQE who received offers to work as associates (corporate at a US elite firm and financial services at a global firm).
Check this post where someone shared the hurdle after qualifying via SQE without a TC: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....lkie-farr-gallagher-anything.4439/post-190218
had their online assessment the other dayHas anyone heard back from Ashurst yet? I applied for their summer vac scheme and haven't heard anything back yet![]()
Nothing here from either firm yet. Congratulations on the Gibson Dunn VI.Milbank PFO post-app. Applied October.
Gibson Dunn VI, applied late September
I banged out the CC practice test and also FF practice test and then focused on areas I scored the lowest in by doing assessment day practice tests! Good luck!!Received a FF WG for their summer vac scheme.
I would appreciate any last minute prep advice since I have 2 days to complete it and haven’t practiced any tests!
When did you apply, if you don't mind me asking?had their online assessment the other day
After countless applications, I continue to be rejected.
I know rejection is something everything goes through, but honestly, and without sounding overly cocky, I’m quite shocked I’ve not had a single Vac Scheme offer, ever.
Quick summary:
- Corporate paralegal in London for 2 years
- 1st class degree at undergraduate from Russell group.
- Distinction in GDL
- fluent in multiple languages
- Multiple post grad degrees both from LSE in Corporate Law and in M&A. Bear in mind, these gave me the academic knowledge necessary to bridge the gap between theoretical academic law from the GDL to real work in a commercial law firm.
- pro bono advisor at a legal clinic for a year, and still do.
- Other legal roles including for trusts and for barristers
I sometimes wonder what else I can even do!
If they said bad grades, I would say fine, but I couldn’t have done better at undergraduate and GDL.
If they said, no work experience, I would say fine, but I have 3 different ongoing legal roles, including my paralegal role in a London city law firm, which clearly shows my experience - quite frankly, my paralegal role has given me some experience that even being a trainee would not.
I got to 2 AC’s last year. But got rejected after both.
This year, I still have a couple applications in the pipeline, but I’m honestly not hopeful at all. I will mention that an American firm which I attended their AC last year, this year failed me on the first round. Which, tbh, I don’t see how that makes any sense. With 1 year extra experience, suddenly I can’t get past the first stage, but last year I reached the last stage ? That to me makes no sense. I don’t mean to be rude, but I think that is BS!
What’s stopping me from giving up, after spending years studying and working in law?
If I did any other profession, I’d be so much further along, but I made the terrible mistake of wasting my time with law.
@Jessica Booker
@Jaysen
To add to @Ram Sabaratnam's excellent answer, I think you should conceive of 'competitors' and 'the market' in two distinct ways. Firstly, you have the broad sense of the terms, where we look at firms as a whole and compare them. Looking at a firm holistically will entail considering revenue and profitability, headcount, international offices and strategy, practice area/sector expertise, client base, history, growth model, patterns in type of deals/cases/matters the firm works on, various market recognition and so. Fortunately enough, over time an informal classification system of firms based on shared attributes has emerged - the legal press places firms in categories such as: the Magic Circle, the Silver Circle, more recently the 'Global Elite', the US firms, the large international firms, the regional firms, the high street firms etc. Then, to differentiate a given firm from other members in the category and to pinpoint its market position further, you can use the resources Ram mentioned for more in depth research.How to best research how a firm differentiates from its competitors and its position in the market? Would appreciate any insights@Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker
I mean, for elite firms. If you qualify as a solicitor via SQE without a TC, you cannot apply for VS and TC at elite firms. Therefore, you will be restricted to paralegal roles or lateral hiring as NQ or associate at these elite firms.This simply is not true. You are not restricted to paralegal roles.
Nonsense I know someone who has done just that. You are over generalising and it isn't helpful.I mean, for elite firms. If you qualify as a solicitor via SQE without a TC, you cannot apply for VS and TC at elite firms. Therefore, you will be restricted to paralegal roles or lateral hiring as NQ or associate at these elite firms.
It is very unlikely to get a NQ or associate role at elite firms without a TC and just with two years of paralegal experience.
I am stressing elite firms because the question asked about elite firms. However, I imagine that high street firms and boutique firms hires NQ and associates without a TC.