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I was picked out to do a vac scheme for a large international firm based on my excellent performance in a university class. (This opportunity was given by someone who came in to the uni from the firm).

I received the offer to undertake the vac scheme, and I was able to skip all the application and interview stages. The organiser gave me the contact of an intermediary who I should talk to about the details of the scheme, which is due to start in less than 7 days now.

This intermediary (I believe it's a legal assistant or receptionist) has been periodically forgetting to reply to my emails. I've been enquiring about whether the scheme is taking place online or offline (covid issue) for months, but I did not receive any confirmation. This is made more difficult as the scheme is overseas. So I asked if i could do the scheme fully online. The assistant agreed.

After having to send several reminder emails, she sent me the contract which I signed and sent back. I was told I'd receive a laptop and a call from someone to explain a bit about how the vac scheme will be organised, but with a few working days to go until the scheme, I still haven't heard back or received the laptop.

I'm feeling confused and ignored. Should I continue sending reminder emails? Should I contact someone in a higher position? Should I just wait until the day of, and hope for the best?

I’m sure that this is covered elsewhere but wondered who else might be starting at Moorgate in the next couple of weeks?

I'm applying to a first year scheme, and am yet to start my LLB (I start in a few weeks). One of the questions i was asked is what skills does a lawyer need to succeed. Apart from extremely broad points like to be a critical thinker, be able to deal with and develop client relationships, which I imagine wouldn't be viewed as sufficient answers, i have absolutely no idea what to put. I have essentially no actual understanding of the profession or law, am i supposed to at this point?

As someone just beginning a new full-time job, attending the sessions is extremely difficult and, having to continually take time off, is not leaving a great impression at work (IMO a diversity scheme should cater for those not available working hours if it is actually trying to increase diversity) . Can someone who's previously been on the Aspire programme tell me that it is actually worth it?

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Hi all, I'm heading into my final year studying Law in London. For the last 2 years, I've been fortunate enough to live in central London but this year I'll be living about a 1 hour commute away from uni. I'm pretty worried as I don't want to exhaust myself to the point I can't study esp as it is my final year, but given lectures are online and I'll only have to attend maximum 4 days per week (probably 3 tbh) for a one hour tutorial I'm feeling slightly more positive about it. But I do want to still see friends who are all living more centrally which makes it easier for them to go out!

Is anyone in a similar situation, or has been? How did you find the commuting and did you ever feel very detached from uni friends etc by doing so?

Hi everyone!

I am an international student and a recent law graduate. I am currently working on securing a TC but my visa is going to expire soon so I won't be able to do vac schemes. I am worried because I heard that some firms recruit predominantly through vac schemes and was wondering if this would put me at a disadvantage? I hope to do work experience in my home country to build my CV so will that help my direct TC application?

I was also wondering if firms that only recruit through vac schemes would accommodate me? If anyone has experience with this, I'd really appreciate your input.

Is writing pro-bono instead of pro bono on an application a big / noticeable mistake?

Thanks

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well.
I am back again on the forum after a long break (1.5 year) and kind of missed the vibe of this forum. I became a mother 6months ago and did a masters degree juggling with my part-time job to self-fund it. I had received lots of help from TCLA (was given a TCLA premium scholarship) and from several other legal charity organisations in my previous cycle of applications but I could not get any TC or VS offer. Now I am coming back fresh but feeling ashamed to ask for help again from the same people. If you had a similar experience, how did you get around that? did you look for different people for help with your apps?

I am really keen on firms like Skadden, Sidley, White & Case, but I'm concerned about my chances at a few of these because I only have a 2:1 at undergraduate level (Oxbridge, if that makes any difference).

I'm also worried that throughout my degree, I got a few 2:2 module marks, though I also got some high first class marks too, and a good 2:1 average in the second and final year, and a first overall in first year, then a Distinction in a Masters (London, not Oxbridge).

I'm just worried I won't be good enough for the paper sift at firms like Skadden, both/either because of the 2:1 or those few 2:2 module marks, and especially given I don't have any very exciting professional experiences either.


Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

Hi everyone. I'm just wondering if it's typical for firms to reimburse travel costs for open days? I attend university up in the north and, while I was checking out train tickets to London for the coming November, it costs over £200 for a return ticket. Now, I'm thinking this isn't feasible if I want to attend multiple open days on different days - it seems that my only option is to apply for offices nearer to where I live unless ticket costs can be reimbursed. Has anyone else ran into this issue (not that I mind too much applying for more northern offices, a TC is a TC at the end of a day if an open day gets the ball rolling).

Hello,

Is it ok to just have ‘Freshfields’ on CV etc instead of the full FBD?

Thanks

I was just wondering if anyone dyslexic has done either or both of these tests and passed them?

This is now my 4th cycle of applications and despite practicing tests before taking them, they always seem to let me down. I tend to get through the application process but then get rejected as my score wasn't enough. Also at that stage firms don't give feedback so I don't know what score I got.

I do get extra time for these assessments but even then I can't seem to pass them.

Is there anything I can do to improve or is there any technique ? I am really desperate now and am wondering if my dyslexia will be holding me back forever or whether this career may just not be for me.

Thank you in advance for any answers.

Hi everyone.
I am sorry if this has been asked before but here goes: My question is based on my future career choice of wanting to qualify as a lawyer in UK.

I have been offered PGDL at Ulaw and I ended up deferring it to January 2022. Course start date shows as 31st Jan 2022. While I intend to qualify as a Lawyer in the United Kingdom, I am confused whether PGDL is the way to go especially in 2022 since the arrival of SQE.

Is PGDL a valid option for a Lawyer with 5 years experience in India who want to qualify as a lawyer in UK? Or Shall I just wait for SQE courses to be more clear?

I am hoping to sort my Visa and be able to qualify. So, PGDL in 2022 is a yay or nay for an Indian Lawyer?

Going UCL in september. If i was to get a first, would an LLM from Oxford make me much more of a competitive applicant? I'm not doing this solely for job prospects, rather an academic/personal endeavour, but if firms would favour it, then that would be a very nice plus.

Hi there! I'm starting a TC soon at a MC, but have been thinking a lot about future options and how to best keep possibilities open in the future. I've always liked the idea of moving outside of London to the regions (in particular Bristol area) before starting a family, and was wondering if anyone had any insight into what practice areas were in highest demand by regional firms? I was assuming real estate construction and maybe corporate? Any insight would be appreciated. Much love x

I'm going into my third year and I've not done any vacation schemes this summer. I'd like to become a solicitor in the fields of personal injury, medical negligence or anything surrounding insurance really. I'm wondering what my next step should be? Do I apply for vacations schemes or risk it with direct training contract applications? I've read that that vacation schemes are intended for penultimate year students (which I am no longer). I've also contemplated applying for paralegal positions before my degree ends next year and maybe getting a training contract through that route, yet I've heard that some firms want paralegals to have completed the LPC beforehand?

I did secure myself a part-time job waiting tables over the summer and have been in committee positions for numerous law-related societies (doing all sorts really, editing for a paper, events manager, organising moot courts etc). My second year degree average is 65% (which I'm guessing is average). I've also learnt German to a high-intermediate level. I don't know if any of this will ultimately help my situation, but I just thought it would be useful to give you a picture of any kind of 'experiences' I've acquired. I'd be very grateful for any advice, I'm really not sure what I should do next.

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