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Hi guys!

Thought I'd share - Part 1 of our huge 2018 Training Contract Applications Guide is now out. You can find it here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/training-contract-applications-the-2018-guide/.

Happy Thursday

Hey guys,

You probably know by now how much we like fillable PDFs

Here's one we've designed for your vacation schemes. The table follows the same structure I used in mine to keep track of everything each day. It's also handy for the final TC interview because you'll often be asked questions about what work you did each week.

Here's the link: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/thecorporatelawacademy/CLA+-+Vacation+Scheme+Work+Log.pdf and you'll see a screenshot below.

Best,

Jaysen

Ashurst Vacation Scheme 2016

How did you find the Ashurst vacation scheme?

This vacation scheme was only a week long so it absolutely flew by! You only sit in one department. I actually think this is a good thing as vacation schemes can be really exhausting but it's easier to really throw yourself into it for just one week.

Your supervisor is instructed to set you a research task of some form so that they can give feedback on this to grad recruitment. I found my supervisor was pretty good at giving me work, but I also let trainees around the office know that I was available, and other people popped into the office to give me work. The workload wasn't unmanageable but I was always very busy.

There were quite a few presentations and sessions with people from the firm - a trainee panel, a CSR and diversity talk, etc. which are really just opportunities to ask lots of questions and find out more about the firm.
The people were lovely. I didn't meet one rude person. My supervisor was great, really hardworking but also very chatty which was nice. It think this is an important party of Ashurst's culture and is something that all the trainees talk about when you ask them why they chose the firm.

The socials were really fun! We went to Bounce one night which was really great. There was ice skating and drinks on the last day.

A final thing I want to mention is that this particular scheme was huge. There were a looot of people on it which I found a bit weird.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Ashurst?

There are none. There's a partner dinner which I suppose is an assessment. An annoying thing is that because it was only a week and there wasn't time for a TC interview during that, I interviewed for a TC in January. What's really annoying though is that you have to reapply for a TC after the vac scheme! However, I think it's pretty must guaranteed that you'll get an interview - I think you'd really have to screw up not to. Also they may have changed this structure since 2016.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Holman Fenwick Willan vacation scheme?

My biggest piece of advice is to get to know as many people as possible and make sure that you always come across as really friendly and approachable. Definitely wander around the office, introduce yourself, offer to help out, etc.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

9am and I left about 6pm most days.

How much were you paid for the Ashurst vacation scheme?

£400

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

4/5

Hey guys,

I think most of you have finished exams this year. A huge well done!

Here's what we've been working on at the moment and some recent site updates.

• We're in talks to partner with a few universities and organisations.
• We've been chatting to law firms/partners about the creation of courses.
• We spoke to the lovely Rosie Watterson (future HSF trainee) from Apply. Shine. Win. This was a lot of fun and she has some great advice for you guys - I'll be transcribing this very soon.
• We've updated the next part of our Vacation Scheme Guide.
• I've been working on a detailed 2018 training contract application guide - to come soon.
• If you haven't seen the guide already, Jessica Booker, a former magic circle graduate recruiter, shared her thoughts on the Watson Glaser Test. She really knows her stuff, so we hope to invite her to share her thoughts more often.
• We're building up our list of vacation scheme experiences.
• We had our first Brazilian law student join us - welcome Vinicius!
• We've had many SEO students join us (welcome guys) following my talk at Norton Rose Fulbright. One will be writing a regular column on political/economic/business news, I will share that with you soon!

On that last note, if any of you are interested in becoming a contributor for The Corporate Law Academy, we've got one slot left. if you want to apply or learn more, please get in touch at [email protected].

Happy Thursday/Friday!

Jaysen

(HFW) Holman Fenwick Willan Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the Holman Fenwick Willan vacation scheme?

The main thing I really enjoyed about this vacation scheme was that I found both weeks that my supervisors made an effort to find interesting work for me to do, and the work they gave me was genuinely useful. It wasn't "made up" work to keep me busy, but research which formed the basis of actual information which was sent to clients, which was pretty exciting but also pretty challenging. Also, I found that people in the department would often come into the office to give me work which was nice, it made me feel genuinely valued.

I'm a non-law student and sat in a litigation seat one week and was expected to use Westlaw etc. to research cases which was kind of confusing but the library staff were really helpful. My advice is that if you find the tasks challenging, make use of the resources available to you.

However, first and foremost HFW is a shipping and industry firm. You're going to enjoy the firm and the work that they do a lot more if you're interested in these areas. I wasn't to be honest and so sometimes I found the work a bit dull.

The socials were fun but there weren't that many. I think we went to an escape room and then to dinner, and we also went for drinks another evening.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Holman Fenwick Willan?

I felt that there were a lot of assessments.

There was a negotiation exercise which is quite challenging. You're in a team of two and you're both given some time to read through a lot of information and to plan. You then negotiate against another team while someone from graduate recruitment and a partner sit in. It was a lot of information to work through so keep an eye on the clock when you're preparing. Also, make sure to speak out - even if you're working in a team, you're getting assessed individually so make sure your voice is heard.

There's also an assessed research task. You're given information and you have to write a briefing on your findings.

Based on this, you later prepare a presentation as part of a group with people who have had the same research task as you. This wasn't particularly challenging because you've already researched the task, although you've all probably approached the research slightly differently so it's important when you're planning to divide the research up based on what you've emphasised in your written research, e.g. if you're emphasised risks in your written task then you should try and present on this too rather than presenting on opportunities.

The two-partner interview was quite unusual I felt. It emphasised legal ethics quite a lot which I found strange. Other than that, it was a mixture of competency questions and quite a lot of questions about my degree.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Holman Fenwick Willan vacation scheme?

My advice would be to put a lot of emphasis on the assessments because they all seem to be very important in determining whether you get a TC offer.

The feedback they get from your supervisors on the written work that you do is also really important. It's better to spend a lot of time on a task and to do it to the best of your ability than to do it quickly but badly. Sometimes I felt like I was spending a lot of time doing something but then the feedback I got was really positive and didn't criticise me for spending too long on it.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

I arrived at 9am and left at about 6pm. The latest I stayed was until 7.30pm to finish a task.

How much were you paid for the Holman Fenwick Willan vacation scheme?

£350 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

3/5

Howes Percival Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the Howes Percival vacation scheme?

The people were really kind and took the time to answer any questions that I had. The workload was okay, I could finish everything with time to spare even if I had not studied it before. I sat in corporate, property, intellectual property and employment seats.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Howes Percival?

They were quite simple. Bullet point tasks which I had to complete. Feedback was given at the end of each day.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Howes Percival vacation scheme?

They want someone interesting. So be interesting. Have something to say.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

9-5

How much were you paid for the Howes Percival vacation scheme?

£0

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

3/5

Linklaters Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the Linklaters vacation scheme?

My supervisors were very relaxed. The workload consisted of mainly research tasks, correspondence drafting, updating client bibles, and shadowing. This was manageable. I enjoyed the exposure to high profile matters. I did not engage in the socials.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Linklaters?

There was an appraisal at the end of my time there.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Linklaters vacation scheme?

Ask constructive questions. Be proactive in seeking out work.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

6-6.30 Employment, irregular in Capital Markets (latest 11pm)

How much were you paid for the Linklaters vacation scheme?

400 p/w

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

4/5

DLA Piper Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the DLA Piper vacation scheme?

The friendliness of staff varied. The workload was manageable and consisted of mainly research and company administration work. I enjoyed the socials and felt they were a great way to bond with fellow vac scheme students. I enjoyed the interesting work but felt more under constant surveillance than in other vac schemes

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at DLA Piper?

Main assessment was a presentation at the end of the two weeks.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the DLA Piper vacation scheme?

Actively seek work. Ask engaging questions.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

8.30-7pm

How much were you paid for the DLA Piper vacation scheme?

£350 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

3/5

Reed Smith Vacation Scheme 2018

How did you find the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

Very packed schedule, first 1.5 days were just induction and various workshops. Sat in two departments (corporate and innovation). People were lovely, everyone was really friendly and encouraging. Ended up playing with the firm softball team. Socials included a crazy golf evening, dinner at burger & lobster, and drinks at Dirty Martini as well as an in-firm drink social. I would have preferred more times at our seats but we completed a lot of different useful exercises such as a mock employment tribunal and a negotiation workshop which was engaging and enjoyable.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Reed Smith?

Second last day of the scheme was a half day assessment day that involved a case study, group exercise, and competency-based interview.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

Read up on the firm's recent deals and new initiatives. Make sure to ask questions and always be enthusiastic and engaged, even for the boring workshops! Get involved in socials such as sports teams while you're at the firm if you have an interest in sports and make sure to be polite to everyone from Partners to support staff as everyone can relay feedback to graduate recruitment. Double and triple check all the work you submit and don't be afraid to take the initiative to introduce yourself to everyone on your floor.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

9:30-5:30PM

How much were you paid for the Reed Smith vacation scheme?

£330 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

5/5

Slaughter and May Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the Slaughter and May vacation scheme?

There were plenty of introductory talks on the firm/practice areas, and depending on your supervisor, the opportunity to sit in with trainees for a few of their training sessions, and cross-firm talks on current commercial affairs. The workload depends very much on the Associate you are assigned and on how busy they are, so accordingly there was an optional case-study work pack to keep vac. schemers who had less work equally occupied. The people were friendly, reserved, and notably very intellectual. The social on the last night provided a very good opportunity to talk with trainees/associates/partners and HR from across the firm. Overall an authentic insight into the work of a trainee, since it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Slaughter and May?

There were no vacation scheme assessments, being an Easter scheme. No guaranteed TC interview either.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Slaughter and May vacation scheme?

Have an eye for detail, and take the time to do your application properly. The covering letter if your only opportunity to properly express why you are a good fit, so give it your best shot. Read carefully, ask for the deadline as soon as you receive a task, don't be afraid to ask your Trainee buddy for assistance and see if you can lend them a hand too.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

9:30 - 17:30

How much were you paid for the Slaughter and May vacation scheme?

£400 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

5/5

Herbert Smith Freehills Vacation Scheme, Spring 2018

How did you find the Herbert Smith Freehills vacation scheme?

It was great - all I expected and more!

Schedule: Talks every morning and evening, and work in the middle with the occasional lunch event. We could leave for home right after the talks (about 5:30)

People: Friendly, approachable, capable. Everyone seemed deserving of a place on the vacation scheme and a training contract.

Workload: Varied by department but generally nothing too strenuous. There were days when I had nothing much to do and had to ask for work.

Socials: Dim sum making!! Other than that, there was a quiz night and some drinks nights.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Herbert Smith Freehills?

Just a training contract interview on the final day.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Herbert Smith Freehills vacation scheme?

Think through their application form and brush up on commercial awareness, but otherwise don't stress too much about it!

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

8:30-5:30

How much were you paid for the Herbert Smith Freehills vacation scheme?

£400 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

5/5

Allen & Overy Vacation Scheme 2017

How did you find the Allen & Overy vacation scheme?

There was an induction and icebreaker on the first day then the next 2 weeks were based on departmental work, social activities and workshops. You are given a trainee buddee and you will be sat with an associate or a partner in their office. The workload was not too heavy. I barely had any work to do in my first week as my first supervisor had just returned from holiday, although I had much more work in my second week as my second supervisor got me more involved in his transactions. The socials were great, there was: a pub quiz, a treasure hunt, and a dinner with some partners at a fancy hotel.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Allen & Overy?

There was a contract drafting task in the first week and a group presentation on aspects of the firm's CSR work for which you are given a detailed brief. There is no partner interview for a training contract, instead you are assessed on your performance on the scheme itself.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Allen & Overy vacation scheme?

Be yourself, be friendly, ask lots of questions both at the workshops and in the office with your supervisor as this shows you are interested. Try to get involved in the firm's activities outside work such as the choir or football, although this isn't compulsory. Use the gym, and the roof gardens. They are great! Try to keep a note of the tasks you do for your own records and for your CV.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

I arrived at 09:30 and left at around 17:45.

How much were you paid for the Allen & Overy vacation scheme?

£450 per week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience at Allen & Overy?

4/5

Sidley Austin Vacation Scheme 2018

How did you find the Sidley Austin vacation scheme?

The schedule wasn't too packed. The first day was the most busy, because of IT training and that kind of thing. There was a volunteering afternoon. There weren't too many social events - there was a breakfast one day and drinks on another evening, they were pretty casual and a good opportunity to talk to trainees. Most of the assessments were then towards the end of the second week, but this varied for each of us, some people had their partner interviews on the Wednesday of the second week.

I found that the people in the firm were really nice. They were intelligent, friendly and genuinely took an interest in you and were willing to take the time to talk to you about things. There really wasn't a sense hierarchy - I felt completely comfortable going to talk to partners. Trainees are super eager to bring you out for lunch or coffee.

The workload was balanced. I found both weeks that my supervisors had work for me to do so I was always busy, but I also made sure to go around the office and seek work from other people too (although there wasn't so much time for this). HR would sometimes send around capacity emails if teams had work available, so there's scope to do work outside of the department you're in.

Overall, I really liked the people and the atmosphere of the firm. It was a positive experience.

I would've liked for there to be sessions on key departments in the firm so you could get a better feel of the kind of work that they do, but the idea is that you should go out and find out more about the departments you're interested in yourself. It would have been good if we'd been asked which departments we have a preference for beforehand.

What were the vacation scheme assessments like at Sidley Austin?

There was an associate interview on the first week. This was quite casual, more of a conversation about you. It was relaxed but still important to prepare for it like a normal interview.

There was a negotiation exercise on the second week. You're given information at the end of the first week and you're expected to prepare for the assessment beforehand by meeting with your "client" (a partner) to figure out their preferences. The actual exercise itself is all about testing teamwork. It's necessary to compromise. I got the impression that this exercise wasn't all that important and is just to filter out if you're overly stubborn or rubbish at teamwork.

The final partner interview is quite intense. They really grill you a lot on the work that you've done so make sure that you 100% understand it inside and out. It's important to ask questions to your supervisor so that you really get the full picture.

What advice would you give to future vacation schemers attending the Sidley Austin vacation scheme?

The final training contract partner interview is really important. To be honest I think it's pretty much make it or break it so make sure you really focus on this, they definitely put a big emphasis on it when it comes to making the final decision. This is a shame because it kind of defies the point of a vacation scheme (supposedly getting a more rounded picture of you) but it's understandable when the firm takes so few trainees. In terms of preparing, this is kind of difficult as you don't find out what departments you're in until the first day. So I think focus more on mentally preparing yourself for being in a professional environment.

On average, what time did you arrive and leave each day?

The scheduled hours are 9.30am-5.30pm. I arrived about 9.00am and left about 6.00pm, but this was just because I wanted to - my supervisors made it very clear that there was no expectation to.

How much were you paid for the Sidley Austin vacation scheme?

£350 a week.

How would you rate your overall vacation scheme experience?

4/5

Hey guys, I just sent this round via email. Thought I'd share it here too.


Hi everyone, I know some of you start your vacation schemes tomorrow. I wanted to send this over. It's a short extract from our upcoming vacation scheme guide.

Vacation schemes are intense. You’re in a new environment, with new people, working on tasks you probably don’t understand. You’ll feel you need to be switched on, even at the social events, because you want to impress. You’re constantly trying not to make mistakes because you really really want to convert your scheme into a training contract.

I’ve been there. It’s stressful. I made a lot of mistakes during mine, and I want to remind you that mistakes are normal. If anything, they’re to be expected.

Law firms aren’t expecting you to get everything right. You might find a task confusing. Include the wrong information. Forget your interviewer's name. Run late to an event. That’s ok. What matters is how you respond to and learn from those mistakes.

If you find yourself with too much work to do, ask if you can push back a deadline. Next time, ask when the work is due as soon as it’s set.

If you’re stuck on a task, that’s fine. But don’t just say you’re stuck. Explain what you’ve done so far and what you find confusing. If the work is for a partner, consider asking a trainee for help first. Get some pointers on how to produce something the partner will like.

If you make mistakes in your work, try to understand where you went wrong. Ask if you can run through the task when the lawyer is free. Then prepare some informed questions. Next time, make an effort not to repeat that mistake. Make a note. Print the document out and proof-read it. Check and re-check your work a few times.

These are the small things that impress. And when it’s time to give feedback, an associate will not say ‘she made mistakes in her report’, but instead, ‘she made mistakes in her report, but she was quick to learn from them’. That's the kind of person that makes a good trainee.

Ok, that's all for now. I'll have the guide out soon.

If you need advice during your scheme, feel free to ask me any questions in the vacation scheme forum. To gain access to the forum, drop me an email or PM with a screenshot confirming your scheme.

Best of luck,

Jaysen

Hi guys,

Welcome to all the new vac schemers that have joined these forums this week. I know many of you start tomorrow.

I am currently working on a vacation scheme guide which will cover everything from preparation to the workload to converting your scheme into a TC. I will try to get this out tonight or latest tomorrow, so keep an eye out.

Please post if you have any questions/tough situations/want some advice on your scheme and we'll be happy to help you out.

Good luck!

Jaysen

I have a training contract interview coming at a firm called Weightmans. They are a top 45 Uk firm that has their roots mostly in the insurance sector.

Their application form was in March so I ended up giving in and got an interview. Here comes the tricky part

The HR has stated that the interview will consist of a

1) Written Exercise
2) Group Exercise ( she advised general preparation for group exercises)
3) Presentation leading to an interview


I have no idea how to prepare because they are not a corporate heavy firm so my knowledge on private equity or M/A will probably not be very useful - Am I right in thinking this?

Secondly - the presentation leading to interview aspect - does this mean I won't be asked questions like Why Weightmans - Why you - etc. I thought because it is a presentation etc so the focus will be on my presentation and then they will ask questions surrounding the presentation

The information available about the firm itself is severely limited and only the firm's profile seems like the only go to position. I am unsure how to prepare for this all

Any advice would be great.

Hi there,

With vacation scheme season coming up soon I'll be posting a lot more material in this section. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions if you need help preparing for your schemes.

Best,

Jaysen

General tips:

• Be interested/enthusiastic about the work and ask thoughtful questions when it’s appropriate.
• Be sincere and a nice person to the other interns (even if others are trying to be competitive)/secretaries/trainees etc.
• Show you’ve taken feedback on board.
• Manage expectations if you’ve been given too much work; it’s much better to do less work of a higher quality than trying to work for everyone.

In answer to a question about legal drafting:

It’s important to think about the purpose of legal drafting to do well in this exercise. You're meant to be recording what the parties have agreed, or if it’s the first draft, your client’s instructions. There are consequences if a lawyer doesn't capture the points correctly.

Some of the most important points:

• Spend a lot of time planning: think about the type of agreement, what has been agreed and how best you can set this out on paper.
• Make sure the language is simple, relevant, clear and can’t be misconstrued.
• Omit unnecessary words.
• Have a clear layout, use headings and sub-headings if they help; it should be easy to read. Be consistent with your language and structure.

In answer to a question about structuring legal research:

It’s difficult to offer general advice because firms have different formatting styles, partners have different preferences and the task may require a particular style, but, a few tips I can suggest.

First, you should be getting IT training during the first day or two. This is a question worth asking in terms of the numbering format for your firm – ours is 1/1.1/1.2 etc.

Second, check with the person who sets you the task whether they have are particular style they prefer. If it’s a senior then I’d suggest asking your trainee buddy or a secretary for suggestions.

Third, try to understand what the task requires. It’s not usually so rigid – unless the person has asked for a particular format. I can’t say I’ve ever included purpose and rarely an intro/conclusion. Typically, I’ll do a summary of my findings (sometimes in bullet points) and then provide more detail in the body of the report. The key is that the partner/supervisor can get to the important points quickly. Then, if they want more guidance on how you got there, they’ll read the main body.

If you’re confused, make a start and then check in with the supervisor/partner to see if you're doing it right. Trainees do that a lot in practice - it stops you wasting time and it shows you're proactive when you're not sure.

Hi All,

Hope applications are going well! Anyone able to provide tips/experience of telephone interviews? Especially when HR mention in their email that it will centre around why law and commercial awareness?

Thanks in advance!

I wanted to share a recent report by Allen & Overy, some very interesting conclusions.

The Future for Legal Talent
A major study into how lawyers view their careers in a new world

http://www.allenovery.com/news/en-gb/articles/Pages/The-Future-for-Legal-Talent-Report.aspx.

Here's a summary; I've highlighted some of the points I found interesting.

• Whilst 55% of law students said they have a clear vision on the direction of their legal career, that figure fell to 23% in the first five years of practice.

• 81% of current lawyers think many young lawyers won't feel the path to partnership is worth it, although students disagreed with this.

• 83% lawyers interviewed think that lawyers starting out now will have a different career experience compared to 5/10 years ago.

• 81% students believe tech will let them focus on the more creative aspects of the legal role. Conversely, 5% believe it'll increase the risk of redundancy.

• 84% think they'll need different skills today compared to 5/10 years ago, 30% felt the existing training adequately prepared them for it.

• Some of the most important skill sets they're looking for include technological expertise, commercial awareness, building a personal brand and a network of contacts and peers.

• There's a big interest in further learning and training from students as many feel ill-prepared. Many students expect to return to study at some point.

• Work/life balance was identified as the most important criterion for career success and almost half said they expect to work less than five days a week.

• Allen & Overy's research show - alongside legal expertise - increased interpersonal skills, adaptability and emotional intelligence will be the most important skills for lawyers considering a move into legal consultancy.

Allen & Overy pose some very interesting conclusions:

• "What development opportunities do law schools, firms and legal departments need to offer all lawyers – from students to the very experienced – to ensure they are ready for the challenges of tomorrow?".

• Their research also shows that "existing structures are no longer fit for purpose" in terms of what lawyers expect in their future careers.

When was your Ince & Co interview?

January 2018

What was it for?

Training Contract

Please describe the interview process at Ince & Co.

First up on the agenda for the Ince & Co assessment day are two tests designed to test your writing abilities and soft skills. You will take a spelling and grammar quiz, and undertake a letter writing exercise. Then you will do an in-tray exercise. The in-tray exercise is a paper based exercise. You have 15 minutes to prepare before this Ince & Co interview with a partner begins. You are given a list of six emails in your inbox which you are asked to prioritise while explaining your ordering to the Ince & Co staff member. The interviewer will ask you to justify your decisions, and will give you additional information, which may change your opinions.

The in-tray exercise is followed by a partner interview. There are either two partners in the interview, or a partner and a member of the recruitment team. The interview opens with the discussion about the in-tray exercise outlined above, designed to examine how you cope under pressure. There are also the more expected interview questions about your CV and motivations for choosing law and Ince & Co in particular. The day ends with a tour of the Ince & Co offices given by a current trainee. Be sure to engage with the trainee, ask for information and in turn ask them questions about their experiences with the firm, and the law they are practising.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Ince & Co interview?

Take the spelling and grammar test slowly and consider your answers. If you know that you have weaknesses in your spelling and grammar try to revise the correct formats ahead of the session. Practice for the letter writing test is more focused on how to write an effective letter. See how JobTestPrep can help you prepare for the writing tests here. Practice in advance. This will will mean that you are prepared for the type of task you will have to carry out. You are notified in advance who the partner or partners in your interview are, so take advantage of this knowledge to research them, their area of practice, and prepare questions to ask them in the interview.

When was your Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) interview?

December 2017

What was it for?

Training Contract

Please describe the interview process at Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV).

The assessment day includes a presentation, group activity and a written exercise. Core values to think about is that clients are always at the centre of the firm, teamwork and collaboration, and the importance of a commercial approach. One of the questions is that they ask you to provide an example of a time you have gone the extra mile.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) interview?

Firms are generally looking for candidates who can tackle difficult situations head on, and to do this you need to maintain confidence and a clear head, even if you feel very nervous. Speaking up, remaining calm and ensuring your thoughts and opinions are heard by those assessing you is the best way to secure a follow up interview. This is especially effective when combined with preparation, you should know a lot about the firm and its work, and be able to pepper this into your answers as much as possible whether in a debate, presentation or group exercise.

When was your Shoosmiths interview?

March 2018

What was it for?

Vacation scheme

Please describe the interview process at Shoosmiths.

The assessment day has four key elements: a role play, which is similar to a client meeting; a group exercise, where candidates discuss information they have gained from the role play; a written exercise, in which candidates will have to use information they have been given throughout the day to create a persuasive written argument; and a competency-based interview.

What advice would you give to future applicants for the Shoosmiths interview?

You are expected to work competently as an individual and in group. It is competitive and everybody wants to show off their best attributes, but you should remember to be respectful of others and not their competitive side get the better of them. You need to display motivation, encouragement of others, inclusiveness, note taking skills and the ability to move the group towards a decision. I advice is to speak because if you do not speak, you will not be assessed. However, this does not mean that you should speak for the sake of speaking, but if you have something good to add. Think about how the firm differentiates itself from others. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?