New Threads

Hi all- would anyone have any tips on the Clyde & Co 2021 AC? Some shared experiences would be great!!

Hi,

Long story short, I've been spending the last few years building up my work experiences since the completion of the LPC in 2018. I recently secured a job as a paralegal in a legal-tech company which I am due to start in March - has anyone had experiences of working in legal-tech? If so, what is it like and how can it help towards securing a TC at a commercial law firm later down the line?

Advice from anyone is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I'm currently applying to Taylor Vinters for their 2021 vacation scheme and have come to the following question.

If you were asked to advise our management team on one key area for Taylor Vinters to focus on in the next three years, what would that be and why? (250)

Should I mention an area they specialise in and explain the key factors why I think they should focus on it that could result in increased growth for the firm?

In short I'm finding it hard assessing all the areas they specialise in and deciding which one would be best to focus on.

Can I ask what style of questions there is for the Bakers VI? Like competency, motivational, commercial? Also is it 90s time limit?

Thank you!

I've got an AC at HFW next week and just wondering whether anyone has any idea what it involves?

Hey, has anyone applied to A&O's internship in Singapore? Have you heard anything post application/SJT and/or know when we will hear anything?

Hi, I'm in the second year of my LLB and unfortunately didn't manage to get any vacation schemes this year. Can you apply for vacation schemes in your third year or do you have to apply for a direct TC? Secondly, if I don't get a TC at all, what do you recommend I do after graduation? I cannot self-fund the LPC so should I look for paralegal work? I've been looking at firm websites and haven't seen any paralegal roles advertised. I have good grades (2:1 in my first year) but unfortunately, I am in a non-Russel group university (UWE) as I am an international student and couldn't afford Russell group. I would ideally like to work at a city firm hopefully magic circle. Thank you!

As mentioned in the VS thread, thought it would be a great idea to organise a virtual social/drinks/pub quiz type affair in the next couple weeks once applications are done with.

Can also use this thread for general social chit chat/memes/gifs.

@cmaj @hannahs @eveh1784 @LS12 @Jon Neo @Emily K @ek125712 @RyanM1 @Manifesting @SouffléSouffléSoufflé @pbyrne @Joyce_ @FM302989 @Daniel Boden @Celestie @Melissa2196

Hi all,

I've just been invited to a Weil VI. If anyone has done it before this cycle, I would really appreciate it if you had any tips or advice!

Feel free to comment here or PM me, I'd be really grateful!

Hi everyone

So major learning curve post failed ACs is commercial awareness is really where I need to improve. I've realised I loove watching short documentaries (think random Wendover Productions videos about airports and planes lool) and would love to use these as a good intro into deeper CA topics. Does anyone else watch videos like this and have favourite channels/video makers etc they would recommend?

Weightmans direct tc application form question:

Taking just one, explain in your own words how having our lawyers demonstrate that value would help deliver excellent client care. (500 words)

does anyone have any tips on approaching this application form question? Thank you

Are we meant to include our address, and email, and phone number like a normal Cover letter? As it is a 750-word paste into the box cover letter?

This is for the Norton Rose First Steps Application!


Mohamed xxxxa

Flat x xxxxxe, 12 xxxxxxxx Road

xxxx8232010

[email protected]

Dear Graduate Recruitment,

Norton Rose Fulbright,

3 More London Riverside, London

SE1 2AQ,

Is this how it's meant to be done or because it's a 750-word paste into the box we just write dear grad recruitment and go on...

---

[FA1]Check the application form to see how your covering letter should be formatted and follow that style. If this is how it’s supposed to be then ignore this!

Hi everyone! Really random question... Does anyone who is or has studied the LPC at ULaw have a soft copy of the Real Estate module guide? I need to submit a copy of it to an exam board in Hong Kong and I can't find it anywhere on my laptop or on ELITE. Would be so so grateful if anyone has it and is able to send it to me!

Hey everyone!

Making a separate post re this, so it's easier to spot-

Hope you guys are all coping well! I've applied to Latham & Watkins and worked super hard on my application - wanted to check pre-emptively if anybody has any video interview experience with them? I've just received a video interview offer and any advice on the questions asked would be great, thanks in advance!

Feel free to drop me a PM

Hi team,

Does anybody have any info/experience relating to the Milbank AC? I can't seem to find any info about what kinds of exercises come up or what the interviews are like... I can't even find out how long the day is meant to go on for! The invite says 9-5 but that can't be right...

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi all,

Apologies for banging a drum that may already have been heard and answered many times before - but I am also aware of the individuality of everyone's route to becoming a solicitor, including my own, and hoping you wonderful people might be able to provide me with some advice and clarity regarding the following...

I am a London-based media and entertainment professional working internationally as a live entertainment producer and I am from a non-law background (AAA at A-Level and 2.1 English degree from King's College London). I made the decision 6 months ago to pursue a career change into the law as an aspiring solicitor working towards securing a 2021 vac scheme and 2023 training contract.

Now, as it stands, I applied to 4 firms for 2021 summer vac schemes and have advanced to the next stages for 2 of those. 1 rejection. 1 yet to hear from. I hope it works out and I secure the summer vac schemes and subsequent training contracts - with the belief that, if successful in my attempts, I will commence a firm-sponsored GDL in Sept 2021, LPC in Sept 2022 before commencing the training contract in 2023. But if it doesn't, I hate the idea of waiting another year to secure anything or potentially face more rejections and delays. I'm already working to secure more legal work experience between now and the summer coming as a contingency for future applications and am due to start at the Citizen's Advice Bureau next week.

However, I also have the following idea which I'm proposing for your opinion... if I don't get on a vac scheme and secure a TC this summer... What if I were to self-fund a GDL to start in Sept 2021? I would potentially do it part-time so that I will be able to continue working commercially and hopefully have a bit of time to get some more work experience in throughout my studies to strengthen my applications for the following year (as well as the GDL showing my commitment to the cause and giving me the legal understanding to write better applications etc)? I'm thinking - and correct me if I'm wrong - that this would mean that if I were to secure a TC from a vac scheme in summer 2022 to start in Sept 2024, because I would be doing the GDL part-time, I would just continue my 2nd year of GDL studies in Sept 2022 then do the sponsored LPC with the other incoming trainees in Sept 2023, in time for commencing the TC in Sept 2024. Does this make sense for feasibility as well as something that would allow me to keep the momentum up and not waste time whilst gaining the knowledge and skills required from the GDL?

Apologies for the length and complexity of this question. It took me a long time to work this out myself but I think it could be a really clever way to utilise my time in my TC journey whilst gaining the appropriate knowledge and appearing as a committed candidate? I could be totally wrong and perhaps my time would be better spent continuing to work commercially and gain legal work experience alongside my current job whilst applying in the next cycles... And then this also brings in the issue of the SQE and what that could mean for me if I start a GDL and secure a TC etc... Ideally, I will be successful in my vac scheme apps this summer and all will be merry - but I always need to have a backup plan!

I would love to hear from any of you who would be kind enough to advise me on my plan or a better one! Thank you for taking the time to read this.

@Jessica Booker @Jaysen

Note: This list is no longer being maintained since all firms have started sending out invites.

I'm trying to keep track of the US firms which have sent out ACs for their 2021 spring and summer vacation schemes. Let me know if anything is incorrect/there are updates!

No news
(none)

Video interviews or assessment centres sent
Debevoise
Gibson Dunn
Latham & Watkins
Morgan Lewis
Morrison & Foerster
Ropes & Gray
Weil
White & Case
Willkie Farr

Application process concluded
(Note: This means no new VIs/ACs are expected, but those who are already in the pipeline may still be having interviews.)
Akin Gump
Cleary Gottlieb
Cooley
Covington
Davis Polk
Kirkland & Ellis
Milbank
Sidley Austin
Skadden

Are any members interested in or involved in Art Law?

Hi all,

I'm new here so apologies if this is the wrong etiquette or place to post such a discussion!!

I've been browsing the forum for the last week or so and read a few similar discussions but feel like my situation is slightly different and, as I perhaps am not as knowledgable in law applications etc, wanted some other people's advice.

A bit about me, I have very strong A-Levels and graduated with a high 2:1 in Economics from Nottingham University last summer (2020). Since, I have been contemplating a career in the law, amongst other industries. I undertook a brief work experience in an in-house law firm a few years ago but the employees there, as well as a number of family friends, essentially warned me off entering the profession so I hadn't given it a second thought since until last summer. As a result I have no open days or vacation schemes to mention so am currently applying to these (Spring/Summer) to bolster my CV and chances of securing a TC hopefully next year (for a 2024 start) or potentially even later if I am not successful first time round. However, I think it is important to note I am in a rather fortuitous position with strong legal contacts in both the solicitor and barrister world through family friends and work so think once lockdown ends and restrictions are eased, I could get decent experience to strengthen my CV and reaffirm my interest in the profession.

My issue is that I am currently on furlough for the foreseeable future from my job as a personal trainer/swim instructor at the local leisure centre and so recently decided it might be beneficial to self-fund the GDL starting January 2021 at UoL Guildford and finish in September where I could hopefully do the aforementioned experiences. Realising they had a 14 day cooling off period from the day you accept I booked a place on the course relatively last minute (9 days ago) and in the meantime thought I would consult people more 'in the know' about what they think is best. Indeed, having spoken to my old uni law careers advisor, as well as my a friend who secured a TC at Slaughter & May, they have advised me against self-funding and rather throw all my energy into VS applications in the hope of securing a TC. My fear is that I don't think my CV is particularly strong as it stands, mainly lacking a bit of strong professional experience, and so I won't gain much from these applications and my year would essentially have been 'wasted.

I just wondered what others thought/what advice they would give?

Would they agree with my careers advisor and say delay see how your first round of applications go, there is no rush.
Or is there nothing to lose by doing the GDL now?

Apologies again if I've posted this in the wrong place!!

Thank you very much in advance.

Best regards,

Conor Maloney

Hi all

I am keen on applying to a law firm but the firm asks for resits. How would you set out an answer to this question? Thank you.

Hey everyone,

I've recently had a few issues and was wondering what documents/background checks firms do? I'm currently adopting a child and it's caused major issues that I lived abroad and cannot get police checks from two of those countries (one country requires you to either be a national of that country or to have been there on a visa - I could reside there visa free because of my other nationality, and the other only permits you to request a police check if you were resident for a continuous period of one year or more, which I wasn't). I was also really shocked when they contacted my employer for my employment reference, which I assumed would just be whether I actually work there in that capacity and simple questions about any concerns etc, but it was actually many pages of questions about my personality and my work interactions and my honesty and trustworthiness etc etc etc.

It's got me thinking, what do law firms actually check and how do I find proof?

I have all my academic documents, I have some payslips, P60s and P45s but I've worked for the last 12 years so definitely don't have all of them. I have a DBS for the UK, and obviously have my references. I have a bunch of volunteer work that I don't really know how I'd prove without contacting each individual charity - and even then, charities have such high turnover that who knows what record they'd have of work done 10 years ago. In my application I've said I ran a half-marathon but I lost the medal and ran under someone else's name (they'd already paid the fee and then sprained their ankle, and the fee to change the name was almost the same amount as the entry fee) but I do have the medal and finishing record to show I ran a full marathon two years later...

Essentially, I'm curious whether firms just do a pretty standard job of contacting references and getting a criminal record check or whether they need a big portfolio of evidence of everything you've said. My employment reference is not from a legal industry so I'm wondering whether I need to give them a heads up that they'll need to do a hefty reference for me. I'm also in a job where they don't know I'll leave for my TC and if a firm contacted them for a reference and they found out that I was leaving then I would absolutely be unemployed.

Anyone who's secured a training contract had any issues with checks or anything crop up that they hadn't considered to have documented already?

How will greater regulation of big tech affect law firms? Will they have to advise on the patchwork of regulations as warned by the EU? Also, advisory work on supply chains as particular suppliers are prioritised by Amazon?

Hi everyone,

A brief bit of background - I'm an early-30s ... who still works within the ... sector in a commercial role. I've completed the GDL and have a 2.1 degree (with a big range of marks - some thirds/2.2s, mainly 2.1s to some firsts) from a good Russell group uni. I did get a Distinction on the GDL if that makes any difference.

I've been applying for vacation schemes and although I've a few still to hear from, it has not gone as well as I wanted. I'm planning next steps - I need to review my applications of course and see where I've gone wrong but I wanted to get some opinions on what I should do next. Although I enjoy my current role, I fear that my relative lack of legal experience (have only done week's placement and some pro bono through my GDL provider) is holding me back/shows a lack of commitment. I'm thinking of looking for a paralegal role or at least something within the field. I realise these roles are also very competitive. I guess the risk is leaving a relatively well-paid job for potentially not ending up with a TC but maybe it's a risk I've got to take. I'll try out some direct TC apps in this cycle and potentially hold out to apply for some more in the next cycle but I feel being within the industry I want to end up in will make a difference.

Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated!

I posted earlier about applying Direct TC to Ashurst in December 2019 and getting an invite to AC December 2020. Seemed random but I took it, and it seems the other candidates in the AC were also 2019 applicants. Normally, Ashurst does an AC with a case study, HR interview, and partner interview on the same day. This time, they did the case study and HR interview on the same day, and only let some people through - I passed, and now my partner interview is Friday. I am just wondering if anyone else has applied this round and has gone through the partner interview already? I know the vacation scheme applicants already did their entire process, so any insight from those folks would be helpful.

I am wondering whether there will be a commercial case study that is discussed in the interview (they haven't said, I've emailed but no response), or if anyone has any previous experience/knows what questions they might ask. I've trawled the internet for past experiences and it seems some people found it quite relaxed, while others found it confrontational and unpleasant - guess it depends on the partners. This may lead to nothing, but better to ask than not, anything to be better prepared! I got some very useful advice for the HR interview from some other members here last I posted.

This will be the fourth time I will have gone to the final stage of the TC process, and the 12th (I think??) time I have gotten past application stage. I am starting to get a bit concerned about my abilities and I really want to nab this one, so any advice would be appreciated. My hope is that this will be the one, because in the past I have fallen down on other parts of the AC (like the group exercise, more difficult case studies, or the vac scheme itself), but never the interview, so...fingers crossed. Whenever I have posted here in the past I've gotten helpful information, so I thought it was worth asking.