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Hi All,

On Thursday I'll be recording a second interview with Lewis Malkin, a trainee at Baker McKenzie. The last time we spoke, Lewis was yet to begin his training contract, and so in this interview we'll be talking about what life at a law firm is like, how he adjusted as a trainee, how he handles the pressure, and more.

In the meantime, if anyone has any questions they'd like me to ask in that interview, please post in this thread. Feel free to ask anything about law firms/Bakers/training contracts-- you'll find Lewis speaks very openly!

If you missed our first conversation, you can find it here. The last time we spoke, we discussed how to write a successful application, how to deal with rejection and how to stand out during a vacation scheme (as he managed to secure six!).

Thanks,

Jaysen

In general, why do firms ask if you have previously applied to them? Do you diminish your chances by applying to the same firm if you failed at the application stage the previous year? How should you approach these questions - do you need to touch on how your application has improved over the last year or do you just need to state when did you apply and the stage reached?

Hi all,

I can never seem to write anything for applications where the purpose it is to provide a scheme/award 'to encourage able students from disadvantaged and/or underrepresented backgrounds'

How in the world do you answer 1. Why you're applying? (because I'm underrepresented!) 2. What qualities you'd bring?

Any help with this would be much appreciated!

Thank you

I was doing the Macfarlanes app and as part of the pretty standard why us question they add "Please explain why you are applying to Macfarlanes and what your career ambitions are."

What do you think this adds to the question/ how should it change the answer from the standard why us format?

Hi everyone,

hopefully someone will have some advice on this(?)

1. How in the world do you place a tick in the box on a .docx in Google Docs? why can't these forms just be simple to edit! *argh!* The tick box disappears when I attempt to insert a symbol to suggest a tick.

2. The application form has a question:
Please explain why you are;
a) applying for an Access to the Bar Award
b) your interest in law
c) what qualities you would bring to the programme if selected.

My queries:
a) look into the differences between the other Inns and compare to Middle Temple, also refer to the requirements of the Access Award. Anything else?
b) I have four areas of interest, is that a bad thing? Do I write about all four?
c) I'm not sure about my qualities. Surely, this is a question of strengths?

Any help much appreciated

Hi guys,

This I think is the type of application question I struggle the most with! I'm not sure what the firms are trying to get out of me from this kind of question, is it a competency-based or motivation-based? Are they trying to find out what values I deem to be important? Do I need to provide concrete examples, i.e. successful leadership of a student society, or can I provide a more abstract answer, i.e. overcome my fear in public speaking and secured a place in a mooting competition's quarter-final? Does it need to be something huge and incredibly impactful or small achievements are okay?

Will really appreciate any advice or sharing of examples of how you have successfully approached this sort of question in the past. Thank you!

Sorry to be posting yet another thread but I've been mulling this one over for a little while.

I'm a recent graduate so I've left the bubble of societies, volunteering opportunities and sports clubs back at university. Ever since then, I've been stuck in a rut of part-time work (looking to go into a full-time role soon) and application writing and haven't done much in the way of extra-curricular activities apart from reading and video gaming - quite anti-social activities.

When answering questions about extra-curriculars and positions of responsibility, do we strictly have to stick to present-day examples? I don't want to talk about the past too much but my wealth of experiences are, pretty much, in my past. For example, while in the present I attend a coding course, my previous passion was writing journalistically and where I divested a lot of time and energy

So:
1) does anyone have any tips for getting involved with extra-curriculars while in part-time/full-time work? I don't want to join the gym just for the sake of it? And volunteering opportunities often restrict in terms of volunteering during weekdays only. What does everyone else do beyond uni?
2) does anyone know any news channels that accept amateur writing so I can continue writing journalistically as a hobby, as I did at uni?
3) in terms of a quick solution (I want to send applications before I'll probably have the opportunity to start anything new) should I mention some of my past activities/positions of responsibility?

The stock market in Saudi Arabia plunged as the nation prepare for sanctions over the 'disappearance' of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In fact, stocks have dropped more than 9% since Khashoggi 'disappeared' almost three weeks ago. Further impact on the nation include:

1. The stock market tumbling has impacted the nation's 2030 vision which aims to increase foreign investment, boost tourism and grow the private sector.

2. Richard Branson has pulled back from two projects to develop red sea tourism and allegedly suspended talks with Saudi government about a $1 billion investment in his space companies.

3. Finally, a huge investment conference named 'Davos in the Desert' scheduled next week has seen some prominent speakers and participants drop out. The drop outs include CEO of JPMorgan (Jamie Dimon), executive chairman of Ford (Bill Ford) and CEO of Blackrock (Larry Fink and Stephen Schwarzman)

Anyone up for a paragraph on impact on law firms?

Looking at the questions Norton Rose Fulbright ask on their application form, I was a little thrown by this additional bit:

Please use this section to provide additional information about yourself and/or your experience that is relevant to this application. (100 words max)*

It seems like it's a required section due to the star, but I know I can always put N/A and skip it. But does anyone reckon it is crucial to add something here? And if so, what could that be? Do I have to expand on my work experience/sell myself? Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated.

I just wanted to find out the likelihood of places filling up on vac schemes at certain firms. Earlier I saw mentioned that Jones Day's Winter vac scheme fills up by mid-October. I've also experienced Shearman & Sterling fill up their training contracts (and therefore stopped recruiting for their vacation schemes) by April/May.

Does anyone have a similar experience? I understand what a rolling basis process means but sometimes you don't trust it to truly fill up right till the last moment.

Hi, just wondering how you guys would suggest answering "Why did you not attend a higher ranked university? (eg: Oxbridge)" during an interview?

My LLB is from Cardiff University but I suppose this question could still be asked even if I am from LSE etc. Truth be told, I didn't apply to Oxbridge because my A Levels grades did not meet the requirements. But telling this to the interviewer is probably not a wise choice?
(Source of rankings: QS rankings and Shanghai rankings)

I'm inclined to answer the following:
1) University rankings are not everything. Skills and extra-curricular activities play important roles too in determining someone's ability to perform at work.

• Follow up: An interviewer who is from Oxbridge or another higher ranked university himself might not agree with my answer and thus have an unfavourable impression of me?

2) Financial reasons

• Follow up: Various financial aids are available. Why didn't you apply?
  • This again boils down to academic results...

3) Cardiff Uni is pretty great and it's in the Russell Group.

Any thoughts on my approach and/or any suggestions? And how would you feel if you were asked this question?

What do you guys think it will be? Can you suggest any reading on it?

I'm guessing blockchain technology (for smart contract etc.) are not developed enough to be in use by law firms in five years?

I’ve come across a few weird questions. Thought I’d put them out there to get views:

1. What motivates you.

2. How would you add value during a vacation scheme to the office.

3. If you could go back in time for a historical event, what would it be and why.

4. What rewards do you expect.

''Please type your cover letter below to be read by the Graduate Recruitment Manager. You do not need to address it to a person or to include your/our address.'' The word limit is 300 words.

Would anyone be able to shed some light on how to structure the Jones Day Cover Letter? In particular what questions I should be answering e.g. why law, why commercial law etc.

Any advice on this will be greatly appreciated.

I recently stumbled upon this question from a Sidley Austin application. "Why does a career in a city law firm interest you?" I know it is a straight forward question, but it as almost too straight forward, I was at a loss for words. A few things I can think of are a wide breadth of legal work, international clients due to London's reputation as a financial etc. But I felt that my answers are too generic and I was wondering if there are ways if I can tailor it better to Sidley Austin (they have an extensive expertise in finance, but I'm not sure what to mention to tie it to the question). Please let me know what I can do to make my answers better !

Here's a draft list of the law firms that do and don't recruit on a rolling basis. I say draft because some of them I will need to confirm with the law firm. The links in blue should be confirmed (although sometimes it's unclear whether it's a rolling basis for both vacation schemes and training contracts).

Law firms which recruit on a rolling basis:

Addleshaw Goddard (Facebook 2015)
Allen & Overy (website)
Ashurst (website)
Baker McKenzie (website)
BCLP (recruitment brochure 2015)
Bird & Bird (website)
Burges Salmon (website)
Cleary Gottlieb (2016-17 recruitment brochure)
Clyde & Co (lawcareers.net)
CMS (2017 twitter)
Dentons (website)
DLA Piper (lawcareers.net)
Eversheds (Wikijob)
Hogan Lovells (website)
Jones Day (Apply4Law)
Macfarlanes (website)
Mayer Brown - vacation schemes (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
MoFo (confirmed by a HR rep)
Mischon de Reya (website)
Norton Rose Fulbright (website)
Reed Smith (website)
Simmons & Simmons (website)
Slaughter and May (yes for training contracts)
Sidley Austin (website)
Travers Smith (website)
Weil Gotshal & Manges (website)
White & Case (rolling only for vacation schemes)
Withers (confirmed by graduate recruitment)

Law firms which do not recruit on a rolling basis

Clifford Chance (website)
Cooley (lawcareers.net)
Covington & Burling (website)
Davis Polk (job listing 2017)
Fried Frank (confirmed by HR rep)
Herbert Smith Freehills (confirmed by HSF brand ambassador)
Trowers and Hamlins (Twitter 2016)
Latham & Watkins (website)
Linklaters (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Mayer Brown - training contracts (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Osborne Clarke (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Taylor Wessing (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Kirkland & Ellis (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Freshfields (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Shearman & Sterling (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Skadden (confirmed by graduate recruitment)
Watson Farley & Williams (confirmed by graduate recruitment)

Unconfirmed

K&L Gates
Pinsent Masons (possibly not rolling basis)

Do people have any advice or insight?

Just a blank box to write about yourself - positions of responsibility, employment/work experience, achievements, interests, personal qualities

Hi All,

Today is the last day to sign up to our fourth class on the financial crisis. You can find below a sample of our preparatory material for this session. You can book the class here.

Hi All,

I thought you might find it useful if I posted one story a week from our commercial awareness section in the TCLA Premium forum. Closer to law firm interview time, you can then scroll back through this thread and catch up with some of the important stories for each month.

Feel free to post your own stories/share links in this thread also.

Thanks,

Jaysen

I've spoken to a few people over the last days and I was advised not to apply to certain firms (Macfarlanes, Clifford Chance, Slaughter May, ...) are those firms are mostly interested in Oxbridge students and I would simply be wasting my time. (I am a law student at non RG university)

How do you guys feel about the advice I got?

Hey guys,

Just a new member here.

I have to to join an organisation which helps law students get training contracts etc as you all know there are a few out there.

I have to write an answer to Why do I genuinely want a Training contract?


I am really confused - is this asking me why I want to be a solictor? Or is it asking me why I am choosing a career in commerical law?

Any opinions on this please be so helpful.

Just wanted to get some other views or comments on this.

How would you go about answering: what skills can you bring?

I think this is getting at transferable skills ... teamwork, communication, time management, etc.

Before I write up the wrong answer wanted to double check.

How would you weight the answer between skills and examples?