Winter Vacation Scheme 2018 Thread

Jaysen

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  • Feb 17, 2018
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    The question is:

    ‘have you applied to us before? If yes, please state the year and stage you reached.’

    I would just answer the question without further detail.

    It is a fair point to raise though. If I read you had reached the AC last year I'd immediately wonder why I should give you another chance. To answer this, you may want to see if there's scope to add that information in elsewhere.
     

    Salma

    Legendary Member
    Feb 28, 2018
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    I would just answer the question without further detail.

    It is a fair point to raise though. If I read you had reached the AC last year I'd immediately wonder why I should give you another chance. To answer this, you may want to see if there's scope to add that information in elsewhere.

    hm, thanks Jaysen, I think I won’t mention any further detail. I am sure once I declare that I applied last year, they’ll investigate further on their own accord.

    Also, my app answers are completely different to last year (which they should be) so I guess that in itself shows what else I have been involved in since my last AC!
     
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    Hazal

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    Future Trainee
    Sep 25, 2018
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    A question for anyone who's heard of this happening before:

    If you know you can no longer attend a winter vac scheme, but you'd be available for another scheme, do you let them know before you accept an assessment centre invitation or at the interview, or even after that when you get an offer? I'm guessing early communication is advised but I'm free for assessment centres happening now and not later so this invitation is perfectly timed for me...
     
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    Daniel Boden

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  • Sep 6, 2018
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    A question for anyone who's heard of this happening before:

    If you know you can no longer attend a winter vac scheme, but you'd be available for another scheme, do you let them know before you accept an assessment centre invitation or at the interview, or even after that when you get an offer? I'm guessing early communication is advised but I'm free for assessment centres happening now and not later so this invitation is perfectly timed for me...

    I would explain to the Graduate Recruitment exactly what you just told us here. I am sure they would let you sit an AC now and then do a vac scheme in the spring or summer.
     
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    Sandrou

    Esteemed Member
    Feb 28, 2018
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    Is this your current situation or are you jumping the bridge?

    Are you currently sitting on 2 winter vat scheme offers?

    In any case, you should be honest with the Grad team and try to leverage your vat scheme offer with either a direct training contract interview or, like you said, enquire about the spring/summer schemes.

    If none of the above applies, just wait and see if you get an actual offer post assessment centre, you’ll be in a stronger position to bargain then.
     
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    Bugsy Malone

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    Junior Lawyer
    Jun 24, 2018
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    For the chosen firm that I am re-applying to, I have to mention in my app that I applied last year and reached the assessment centre stage, in the same sentence, should I also add what I have been doing since the AC? For example completing a vac scheme and taking part in the AS CAC competition? Or just simply answer the question with the year and stage I reached?

    Would love to hear what others think!


    Hey are you doing the AS CAC this year?
     

    Salma

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    Feb 28, 2018
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    One and two seemed quite similar but found three a LOT harder, really wasn’t expecting to get through that one! Trying to decide how to prepare for the next round in London, do you have any tips? :)

    I know the feeling trust me!

    In terms of prep, just go through any recent commercial stories you have been following and think about how it affects law firms and clients.

    Also try and research the law firms sponsoring the competition’s practice areas and try and link the commercial stories to their expertise, for example the employment practice at Travers Smith. I think that link you make between the law firm’s specialised sectors and the commercial story will differentiate you from the other candidates.
     

    Bugsy Malone

    Legendary Member
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    Junior Lawyer
    Jun 24, 2018
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    I know the feeling trust me!

    In terms of prep, just go through any recent commercial stories you have been following and think about how it affects law firms and clients.

    Also try and research the law firms sponsoring the competition’s practice areas and try and link the commercial stories to their expertise, for example the employment practice at Travers Smith. I think that link you make between the law firm’s specialised sectors and the commercial story will differentiate you from the other candidates.

    Thank you great advice :)
     
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