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I'm a penultimate year law student at a London university but got into a dual degree programme recently through which I'll be able to get a JD at Columbia Law School in NYC. Vac scheme applications are kind of a pain with all of the other stuff I have to do this year so I was wondering whether it really makes any sense to continue applying if I'm almost certainly not going to be a trainee in the UK.

Would vac schemes still be an advantage when I enter the US market? Are they a really nice experience and worth it on their own? Should I maybe just apply to fewer (i.e. like 5 in total rather than 10 or something)?

Thanks!

Hi there,

One of the questions on the CMS Academy application asks to focus on one or more of the firm's sectors and answer what challenges and opportunities for growth there will be in the future.

The word count for this question is only 200 words, so it is difficult to go into specific detail if I choose various sectors. Would it be ok to just focus on one sector for 200 words, even if the question states 'focusing on one or more of CMS's sectors'? I feel like if I talked about two different sectors my answer will become too vague.

Thank you.

Hi All,

This is my first time posting on here!

I am a Law Graduate, and recently made it to a final stage TC interview following a Vac Scheme, but I was unsuccessful. The feedback I received was that I performed well in all my tasks and I came across very well in all my meetings and discussions. However, for two tasks and the negotiation exercise, there were concerns about my analysis and my ability to orally communicate this (both task-wise and with commercial awareness). This is why, following quite a difficult TC interview, I was not offered the TC.

I was just wondering if anybody had any advice about improving these areas (deep analysis and communicating this, particularly when it comes to Commercial Awareness).

Also, if anybody has any tips on overcoming this rejection. This firm's policy means you can't reapply following rejection, but I'd hate to make the same mistakes with another firm! Unfortunately I had an overrunning medical appointment so I missed yesterday's webinar.

I'd appreciate any advice or insight anybody has.

Thank you

Hi all,
So I won’t pretend to know everything about financing deals, PE, SPACs, IPOs, direct listings etc, but I have done a bit of research over the months and I can’t shake this one thought....

Isn’t this just debt piling on debt?
I read this morning about 2 PE firms (Dyal and Owl Rock) merging and going public through Altimar Acquisition Corp (SPAC)....
So 2 PE’s (Who’s business model is to make a profit from geared investments) are merging and going through a SPAC which is also fuelled by investors money and subject to failure if the wrong steps are taken.

Is it me, or does all this seem financially weird and feels like it could end in tears? I would greatly appreciate all insight, cheers!

I am attending an online open day next week at a law firm I really like. But I am unsure what to expect, how to prepare, and what it involves overall?

Any advice would be really appreciated!

I just received an online interview invite for Kirkland & Ellis' 2021 vacation scheme. Looking back at my application, it was terrible. I have been rejected by firms where I have submitted far better applications. I was wondering if Kirkland, therefore, interview everyone (or almost everyone) for their vacation schemes, and then look at the application form with the interview holistically?

I am a non-law student & I am a bit confused about competition law.

Say if company A is acquiring company B. Company B's product has a lot of competition. Is it attractive or unattractive for company A to acquire company B knowing the product has competition in the market? And why? I am getting super confused, thanks so much in advance!

I recently completed a verbal reasoning test for a well known City firm. This test had ambiguously worded questions, which led to multiple potential answers. I have researched the definitions used for words in the questions, and consulted others - and I am confident in my evaluation. I would like to reiterate this is over the choice of words in the question - rather than the material itself.

I have probably completed 50+ of these verbal reasoning/Watson Glaser tests, and not had any issues with the wording of the questions previously. To my knowledge, this test appeared to be designed in-house rather than a company such as Pearson.

I am considering writing to HR, explaining with clear examples how the wording of the questions does not lead to an answer. However, equally – I don't want to have my application viewed negatively for raising these issues!

Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks.

Hi guys,

I've been thinking about the type of questions that I could be asked at an interview, and one that struck me was about the different type of professionals involved in an M&A transaction. For example, what would a lawyer do that is different from an investment banker or consultant?

In terms of sell-side investment bankers, as I understand, their role would be to take instruction from sellers by valuing their company and then pitching to potential buyers. However, a lot of what they do appears to be similar to lawyers (i.e. drafting a letter of intent/conducting due diligence/negotiating) - how does this differ from what a lawyer would do?

If someone could provide some clarity on this, I would be extremely grateful!

Ruby

this is the kind of question that I find particularly hard in situational interviews/tests. E.g. you've been working on a project and are almost done, but then your boss tells you that there's been a massive change and you need to start over again. Or, something like helping your client pay as low taxes as possible. Are these the kinds of things you should be vocally skeptical about?
If you're told to do something that may sound a bit suspect, are you supposed to inquire further as to the reason for that task or would that be considered as over-inflitrating? I know that you're not supposed to just leave your moral compass at the door when you work at a law firm but I also would've thought that partners might be weary about hiring someone who might be too quick to challenge their bosses.

Hi guys

I understand that a good skill lawyers should posses is the ability to relate current commercial trends/issues to the legal implications for their client. But do lawyers ever go beyond the legal sphere and advise from a business advisory perspective as well?

For example, say a lawyer's client wanted to buy a target company. If, from a legal perspective, everything about the acquisition was sound, would the lawyer's input end there? Or do lawyers also tend to advise whether an acquisition is good from a business perspective i.e whether the deal will be profitable or viable for the client?

Is it statistically harder to get a VS/TC at say Clifford Chance or Slaughter and May than it is at the very best US firms in London, like Latham & Watkins or Weil?

Does one type of firm tend to attract more talented individuals?

Last year, I got a place on Slaughter and May's Open Day after submitting my CV and cover letter. Now I'm applying for their summer vac scheme and was wondering whether it would be acceptable to leave certain elements unchanged (the bit talking about why I'm interested in the profession and Slaughters in particular).

Thanks!

Hi!!!

First time posting a thread

I'm a final year History student at a Russell Group university and have had reasonable medical and family mitigating circumstances throughout my degree which has resulted in a couple of not-great module results (a third in second-year and a 2:2 in my first year). Overall, however, I am on track this year for an upper class 2:1 or first. I have no strong legal background in terms of work experience but have been working since sixteen in different roles and have been interested in commercial law since my A-Levels. As I am in my final year and the summer vacation scheme app period is around I feel as though due to my grades and my latecomer commercial awareness I am not in the greatest/strongest position to apply. My workload this term has been pretty heavy and I feel as though I am limited in the number of strong applications that I can honestly make. I wanted to know, if in the case of not getting a vac scheme in the summer, how would a year-out working post-grad look to firms? Am I at a disadvantage not getting a vac scheme in my final year, and reapply in a post-graduate position? I have also heard that doing the GDL without a training contract is not a good idea (I would not be able to self-fund but was thinking of applying to some scholarships)?

Any advice would be super helpful!!!!

Approximately how long does it take before candidates hear back from GR to be invited for an AC following a successful SJT.

Hi all,

I'm feeling really low, really rubbish and lost the slightest confidence I had.

Sat mocks for criminal and EU a few weeks ago. Results were in today. Shocking. My heart sank. I had a set structure, which obviously changed a bit here and there based on facts.

Just as a side note, my background is engineering, A+ grade student.

Feedback as follows:

CRIMINAL
This is a confusing submission. Poor in places and not currently demonstrating your effective application of the law/learning to the facts.
Review your writing style to facilitate a closer link between AR/MR and the facts. Remember to follow the flow of the question.

EU
Many problems with expression and presentation.
The structure (Direct Effect, Indirect Effect, State Liability) is fine but you do not articulate well all the relevant legal concepts and tests.
Your application of the law to the facts is often hesitant and unconvincing.
Clearly you have some knowledge but you need to develop a more assured writing style.


I don't even know what advice I'm asking for, so any help would be great. Just feel really rubbish!

Hi everyone,

Here's a list of firms I've found which accept vacation scheme applications from penultimate year non-law students:
Allen & Overy
Baker McKenzie
Freshfields
Herbert Smith Freehills
Slaughter and May

Does anyone know any other firms which do the same? I'm particularly wondering whether Mayer Brown does because it doesn't say on their website.

Thanks!

Hi! I was preparing for my White & Case video interview and I was wondering if anyone who has gone through the process has suggestions as to what type of questions I might be asked?
Thank you!!

Hi all,

Could someone give me feedback for my answer to: Based on your research, what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise? (Max:150)"

The UK government’s recent acceleration of the end date of for petrol and diesel cars to 2030 is representative of a wider focus on the decarbonisation of the automotive industry. Although some may see this as an obstacle in such a carbon-dependant industry, decarbonisation also presents significant opportunity for businesses at all stages of the automotive lifecycle, if they are able to innovate their products to meet the demands of this changing landscape. In particular, those original equipment manufacturers that are able to adopt technologies and develop the electric products needed to support this industry shift will stand to take a lead in this evolving market, both enabling and precipitating the wider transformation of automotive products. In turn, such a seismic shift in the industry will undoubtedly require Bird & Bird’s expertise across the sector to support the work of businesses at all stages of decarbonisation process, from investors to dealer networks.

Hi everyone,
I am currently applying to CRS and would appreciate some help.
I'm typing up my answer to "Why do you want to be a solicitor and what areas of law are you interested in", and struggling to keep to the limited word count (200 words).
I've only been able to accommodate one area of law (with my justification) into my response and I was wondering if that would be okay for the application.

Aside from practising, what would you say helped you improve at the Verbal Reasoning Test?

I’m struggling with VRT as I can’t tell what it’s after!

If company A acquires company B, and company B currently has a pension-fund-trust situation in place for its employees, will all these liabilities usually transfer to company A?

Am currently applying to Dechert and the two (easy) questions are making me think harder than usual.

Q1 Please explain why you want to pursue a career as a commercial solicitor and why you would like to practice at Dechert.

Q2: Dechert is frequently retained to work on the most challenging matters, and prides itself on its ability to deliver premium legal services and sound business judgment to its clients. In your opinion, other than the above, what are the three key reasons why our clients instruct us?

There's a fair bit of overlap between 1 and 2 - was wondering if anyone has done the application before?

I'm thinking more of answering culture + d&I + international experience for Q1 and for Q2 focus more on their business model. Thoughts?

Aside from practising, what would you say helped you improve your Verbal Reasoning Test scores?