New Threads

Hi everyone!
As most deadlines are in December or January and most firms recruit on a rolling basis, I have heard I should not leave my application until the last minute. I am a second year non law student.

However, at the moment my only extracurriculars are one sport, and I am a volunteer peer supporter. O I am currently waiting to hear back from pro bono volunteering and a part-time research internship I have applied for.

Otherwise, I think my CV looks good – I have attended a few open days, Barclays Legal Experience Week by Aspiring Solicitors. I was on a society committee last year, but I didn't really do anything impressive there. My work experience includes an internship over summer and customer-facing part-time jobs. I also speak 4 languages.

I was wondering if you would advise me to 1) apply now or 2) wait until I hear back from the pro bono/research internship I have applied for before applying, so that I can put that down on my application form and on my CV.

thanks in advance

Hi all!

Does anyone have experience completing the Fieldfisher online assessment (ideally this year as i think it may have changed).

I have recieved a link to complete the test within the next 5 days. I will report back what it is like once I have done it.

Hello everyone!
I hope your application cycle is going well.

I have just been invited to Burges Salmon's AC. I have read the thread created here about the AC experience at the firm. However, no one mentioned a written exercise which was explicitly indicated in my invitation email.
This is the task that I struggle the most in ACs, thus any information what I could expect would be highly appreciated.

Thank you so much in advance.

Hi everyone! I am applying for TCs and noticed quite a few firms ask for "academic references (undergraduate degree)". I graduated from my undergraduate institution a few years ago and have completed the LPC since - would it be okay to provide my LPC tutor's details instead of my undergraduate personal tutor's? I have asked graduate recruitment at one firm and they said it's fine but was unsure about this generally and wanted to ask.

Hi guys,

I’m going to be starting my LPC next year. I took a year out of graduation to gain some work experience. However, now I’m curious if it would make sense to apply for a vacation scheme first then a training contract for the next intake instead of this current intake.

My work experience is outside of the UK but in an international firm and I’m an international student

Hi

I am currently writing for an application of Baker Mckenzie

I face difficulties to understand what the firm wants to get from the first question;

Diversity and Inclusion are inseparable from a career at Baker McKenzie. Please outline how you would apply D & I in your role, drawing on any initiatives you may have been involved in.

I feel confused of "in your role".

Does the role mean your role as a trainee solicitor?

How can I approach to this question?

Hi everyone,

I'm doing an application where the question is:

Please highlight roles and positions of responsibility; this can include volunteering, employment, work experience, sports teams, interests and society positions. Please include what you have gained from each experience. (150 words)

I've recently started a new position but as it's so recent, I haven't gained anything substantial from it yet.

Is my new position worth mentioning still, and if so, how?

My initial idea was to just include it and say what I hope to gain from the position (i.e. teamwork etc) but that's not technically answering the question.

What do you think!?

Thanks!

Hello everyone, I am the Aspiring Solicitors Campus Ambassador for BPP Holborn and I am currently organising a vacation scheme and training contract applications workshop with AS.

The workshop will be focused on how to structure your applications, CV's and cover letters and how to answer commercial awareness questions on applications.

The workshop will be presented by a future Dechert trainee and will take place on Wednesday 20 November at BPP Waterloo between 6-7:30.

Please book your free place now at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aspi...shop-tickets-79413819873?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Thanks

Hi all!

Hope you’re all having a good start to the week.

I thought I’d start one of these threads for my TC journey, having been applying since 2016, as a way of documenting how I’m doing this year compared to previous cycles.

Bit about me, had a rough last few years (a job in admin that didn’t pan out due to health, health interrupting my time at university (and sixth form) and family problems that haven’t done too much good) but I’m keeping on keeping on. Been fortunate to have such a good support network behind me and after a low few months in the middle of the year, decided to get back on the TC applications.

So far, I’ve been successful in getting onto a Taylor Wessing open day after attending a mental health related talk hosted by Legal Cheek and I literally just had my telephone interview with Norton Rose Fulbright (who were absolutely lovely). Not been quite so lucky with Linklaters and Travers Smith but they’re all learning experiences.

Even getting to the phone interview has been a massive achievement for me, as very rarely in the past did I get past the application form. Having read a great many things on this forum, eventually I realised it was my technique in the application forms that let me down: too generic, too much focus on deals and not on WHY they interested me, and thinking that an overly complex answer was good.

I’m hoping to either end this year or start next year on a high; it only takes one!

Hi, I have been invited to an assessment day at NRF and was wondering if any past applicants had any advice/insight? This year they have also introduced a negotiation exercise as part of their vac scheme assessment (previously only for TC), so it would be really useful if any future trainees could shed light on what this entails. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I am drafting my Stephenson Harwood application, however, I am unsure of how to approach the following questions.

1.)Tell us about your greatest achievements in your work and/or study.

• What challenges did you experience?
• How did you respond to those challenges?
• What was the outcome?

2.)What activities do you pursue outside of work and/or study? Outline any individual and team outstanding achievements.

• What responsibilities have you taken on?
• Why did you take on the responsibility?
• How did you motivate yourself to achieve it?
• What team activities have you taken part in?
• What did you do to work together with the team?
• What was your role in the team?

My initial approach was to give two examples per question since the question specifically asks for 'achievements' and 'activities'. However, whilst drafting I found it difficult to talk about any achievement or activity in depth given the 250-word count and the many sub-questions I have to answer. Should I use only one example per question? Any ideas on how to approach this?

Does anyone have any tips/ information on the simmons video interview for winter vac scheme?

All help appreciated. Thanks!

Hi All,

Please can you confirm how I am supposed to go about sending you all my application. I sent my draft application yesterday to admin email address for it to be reviewed by the TCLA team. Please can you confirm if that is the correct way to do it.

Thank you all for your assistance. I am indeed grateful

Hi all,

@Jaysen has asked me to update the list of firms that accept applications on a rolling and non-rolling basis for the 2019-20 cycle.

If anyone has anything to update or add to the list, please feel free to leave a comment. Otherwise, I hope you all find this useful and good luck with your applications!

Law firms which recruit on a rolling basis:

Addleshaw Goddard (Facebook 2015)
Allen & Overy (website)
Ashurst (Facebook 2015)
Baker McKenzie (website)
BCLP (Rolling for all VS and TCs except Manchester and Hong Kong TCs) (website)
Bird & Bird (website)
Burges Salmon (website)
Cleary Gottlieb (VS rolling, TC non-rolling) (2019/20 recruitment brochure)
Clyde & Co (website "the sooner you apply the better")
CMS (website under FAQ "What is the deadline for applications?")
Dechert (TCLA member, 2018)
Dentons (website)
DLA Piper (lawcareers.net)
Eversheds (Wikijob)
Gibson Dunn (website under "Summer Vacation Scheme" tab)
Hogan Lovells (website)
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF discussion board)
Jones Day (Apply4Law)
Macfarlanes (website)
Mayer Brown (Open Days, VS and TC all rolling basis) (website "When is the deadline for applications")
Morrison Foerster (website, under "London" tab)
Mishcon de Reya (website)
Norton Rose Fulbright (website)
Pennington Manches (confirmed by graduate recruitment, 2019/20)
Reed Smith (website)
Ropes & Gray (website)
Slaughter and May (TCs on rolling basis, VS unconfirmed) (website)
Sidley Austin (VS rolling, TC non-rolling) (website)
Skadden (Graduate recruitment brochure, download here)
Shoosmiths (confirmed by graduate recruitment, 2019/20)
Stephenson Harwood (confirmed by graduate recruitment, 2019/20)
Travers Smith (website)
White & Case (VS rolling, TC non-rolling) (Graduate recruitment brochure, download here)


Law firms which do not recruit on a rolling basis

Bristows (website suggests non-rolling "we begin considering applications in January")
Charles Russell Speechlys (The Lawyer Portal)
Cleary Gottlieb (VS rolling, TC non-rolling) (2019-20 recruitment brochure)
Clifford Chance (website)
Cooley (lawcareers.net)
Covington & Burling (website)
Davis Polk (job listing 2017)
Fried Frank (confirmed by HR rep)
Trowers and Hamlins (Twitter 2016)
Linklaters (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Osborne Clarke (website)
Pinsent Masons (website "After the deadline, we'll review all applications...")
Taylor Wessing (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Kirkland & Ellis (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Latham & Watkins (confirmed by graduate recruitment, 2019/20)
Freshfields (website)
Shearman & Sterling (website) (UPDATE: Shearman may review and interview before the deadline, but will not offer spaces until after the deadline; see thread here)
Watson Farley & Williams (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Withers (website suggests non-rolling "we start to review applications approximately one month prior to the deadline”)


Unconfirmed

K&L Gates (no information on website)
Simmons & Simmons (no information on website this year)
Weil Gotshal & Manges (no information on website this year)

In July of this year, I was invited down to the Clifford Chance office in London to meet with a partner in the M&A department for a 1-on-1 chat and a tour of the London office. It wasn't part of any formal open day or vac scheme process, I had obtained this connection through a CFO I interviewed for my undergraduate dissertation who wanted to set me up with his legal contact at Clifford Chance.

The meeting lasted roughly an hour, I got a tour of the office, he asked me some quite detailed questions about my work experience and my desire to be a commercial lawyer and, in turn, I asked him about the inner workings of M&A, the firm, and about how to succeed in the application process.

At the end of the meeting, he said that I can e-mail him anytime if I have any application questions and that he would copy me into an e-mail with the graduate recruitment team so that I could aim any questions I had to them also. Obviously, having a major partner contact with the firm is a huge upper hand in the application process which I don't want to waste.

My questions are:
How should I make the most of this contact within the firm?
What kind of questions can I ask which will give me an upper hand in the application process?

I look forward to hearing any wisdom which anyone can offer.

Hi,
Have got an interview for Slaughter and May and also for Allen and Overy but am feeling rather unprepared.
Wondered what general advice people had for the days and whether anyone who had attended might be able to shed some light.
I was also hoping people might have recommendations on good introductory material for information on M& and other corporate law terms, as a non-law student I feel rather clueless about these issues.
Thanks in advance

Hello,

I am currently drafting a structure for the two questions below. At first glance, they seem relatively straightforward. However, after reading over the questions several times, I think I am starting to overcomplicate things.

To avoid doubt, I would be really grateful if someone could share their approach/interpretation in answering these questions!

1. How is Osborne Clarke different from the other firms you have applied to? (250 words)

Plan: Outline OC's key USPs and link them to my decision to apply (etc sector focus, innovation and training)

2. Please outline your reasons for pursuing a career in commercial law at Osborne Clarke. You should include details on how you developed your skills through your hobbies and interests. (500 words)

Plan: Most of the word count (maybe 300) would be dedicated to why commercial law. But with the wording of 'at Osborne Clarke' I suppose I would need to make it clear as to why a career in commercial law with OC would be different? Though, the confusion here is whether this would be overlapping with the first question?

For the second half of the question, I would outline skills developed from hobbies/interests and briefly explain how these skills would assist me as a commercial lawyer at OC.


Many thanks in advance!

I have mine for winter VS tomorrow ! Anyone else have or had one for VS or TC? Thanks x x

Hi guys,

I have a telephone interview coming up for NRF's winter vacation scheme.

Has anyone gone through the process before and can offer some insight?

Many thanks!!

Hi All,
The question on the Reed Smith application asks for "Details and explanation of how you feel you have benefited from this experience under the work experience section". (250 words)
Do I need to link it back to the firm and if so, how much of my work experience should be linked back to the firm ?

Could someone who's recently done Simmons & Simmons' video interview tell me a little bit about what it entails? The email that I received says that it consists of 'competency, motivational and scenario questions', however threads I've found from a few years ago say that it also includes commercial awareness questions. Any advice?

P.S. Is anyone's server being v temperamental?

Thanks.

Hi,

Was wondering for this question for Dechert:
If applicable please state any additional information which you think is relevant to your application or which you think has not been covered adequately in this form. (250)

Would it be okay to put 'why commercial law'? or what else are they asking for?

Thanks

I have recently come across an application form that asks for extra curricular activities and positions of responsibility (and why they are important) in two different sections.

In particular, one question asks to 'detail positions of responsibility and why they are important to you', while another asks you to highlight 'extra-curricular activities, interests and level of involvement'.

I am finding it difficult to differentiate between the two as in other application forms both questions tend to fall under one heading.

Would anybody be able to recommend which approach I would take for each?

Thanks in advance!

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I'm currently preparing answers to common law firm interview questions and was wondering what would be the best approach/structure to answering "Why should we hire you"? if anyone has any tips?

Thanks