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This is either a nice idea or a terrible one - would love to hear someone's thoughts:
I recently read an article in which a partner was interviewed about an area of law I'm really interested in. The partner shared this article on LinkedIn, saying they are happy to take questions on the area via DM.
Whilst their target audience was probably other lawyers/clients, would it be a good/bad idea to ask a genuine follow-up question to them?
Copying in @Jaysen @Jessica Booker as I would really appreciate your wisdom & anyone else's
Thank you

Hi,

I'm planning on applying to A&O Shearman's VC. Does anyone know where I can practice the specific test for A&O Shearman (not the Watson Glaser - although resources for those would be helpful too, even if they're paid).

Cheers

Hey everyone!

a little bit about me - I'm an international student and graduated from a non-Russell group university in London (can you guess?) with high merit in LLB Law honours. My current stage is studying the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1&2) starting this September, and I'm self-funding it.

I have never actually fully applied for vac schemes - don't get me wrong, I've tried to get myself to apply, and I've done a lot of research, but call it imposter syndrome - I just haven't been able to send in applications because I don't want to deal with rejection possibly

When talking about legal work experience - I actually have done a quiet 4 legal internships through the past three years of law school during my winter/summer breaks but in my home country - which is an international hub. Additionally I had volunteered all through second and third year of law school at a legal clinic - which technically does qualify as "qualifying work experience" but its too short of period to be considered. While I haven't applied for vac schemes, I have attended several open days and was a campus ambassador for a law-adjacent company and a brand ambassador for another. I have also just been selected for the Baker McKenzie and AS mentorship programme starting soon + I'm also currently on the ASPIRE programme to get ahead this year.

This is my last year to apply for vs/tc's before I have to leave the country + I'm also doing the sqe which adds even more pressure. I know that I can stay for two more years through the graduate visa but currently I'm not sure if that is something I would invest in, I do prefer staying in London so I'm for sure considering it but more so as a last option.

I was inspired to make a forum of my own so that I could hold myself accountable and actually apply. I've done a lot of research and the firms I'm interested in are big international law firms (Dentons, Baker Mckenzie, A&OShearman, Bird&Bird etc). I do have actually go into a deep dive and actually research firms but the goal is to apply for 5 firms a month so that's 20 firms in total over the course of 4 months (Sep-Dec) I know I'm being very ambitious in applying to so many - but hopefully it works out in the end. I will also be applying to their oversees offices as most firms have an office in my home country.

On my to do list :

1. RESEARCH FIRMS
2. Keep up to date with commercial news to get my commercial awareness up to date.
3. Apply for open days so that I get at least one foot in through firms.
4. REVISE REVISE REVISE all 7 core modules (for the sqe)

I'm just starting out and I'm a bit lost and I have loads of information in my head so this forum is very much gonna be a digital dump for my brain! Oh also I've never really done a Watson Glazer test before so any thoughts, starting tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated ( whether it's in general or regarding the test).

I know everyone asks this question, but I’m becoming relatively hopeless. I’m unsure what to do as I’ve got a few years experiencing as a paralegal under my belt. Now, I admit, my A-Levels and my LPC grades aren’t the best but I’m unsure how to improve at this point. I’m limited to extra curricular as I’m a part time carer and it’s exhausting me. I keep trying and I’m not getting anywhere. I even paid for mentorship as well and having free mentoring and I’m just not getting to any ACs.

Also for context, I’m really reluctant to do the SQE route. I appreciate I can self fund this, but the LPC really took its toll on me, and I genuinely can’t put myself through that again. I hope to do the LPC route although this route is running out.

Hi all! For the purposes of the skilled worker visa, are trainee solicitors regarded as “solicitors” or “legal professionals not elsewhere classified?” I presume being a trainee qualifies one for the lowered salary requirement of 70% of the going rate (please correct me if I’m wrong), but even so my TC salary will only clear this bar if trainees are considered legal professionals not elsewhere classified. Thanks!!

Are the questions a main deciding factor or do they not matter as much when looking at other factors such as grades, work experience etc?

Is end of November too late if the final deadline is early January?

Hi, I found this new resource for the Watson Glaser test called 'how2become.com'. Has anyone used this before that could vouch for the authenticity of the materials provided?

Best wishes

Hi everyone, so I received my a level grades and I got ABC. This is better than what I was expecting considering I was suffering the loss of my grandad throughout my exams which was extremely difficult for me.
I was unaware that I would be able to apply for mitigating circumstances until the end of my exams and so I then filled in the application that my school sent me to be given special consideration by my examboards. This was around June 21st. My school said that they would shortly check this however I did not hear back from them. I was unsure of whether or not my application had been successful.
My question is, when it comes to applying for firms and I fill in the section of mitigating circumstances, what proof will they ask for? If lets say my mitigating circumstances application was denied for whatever reason (they can be quite stingy giving these out), however I still tell them what had happened showing proof of my grandad's death will firms not accept it if it wasn't accepted by exam boards?
Please let me know I appreciate it .

Hi there. I am super new to this page, and more specifically new to pursuing this career path. I am a UK non law student with no legal work experience, but with work experience in strategy and finance, and I have decided to pivot to focus on law. I know that due to my lack of experience, my strengths lie in my personality, innovation, and entrepreneurship - I have gained lots of transferable skills from different unique opportunities. I know that I need to apply strategically to firms, focussing on ones who prioritise this in their applicants. I was wondering if anyone knew of any top firms who look for this more so over technical expertise and experience? Sorry - I don't know whether this is the kind of question people would ask on here, but figured the answers would also be helpful for other students in my position. Thank you.

_

Hi all,

I'm a future trainee solicitor at a US firm due to start my training contract in March 2026. My firm doesn't require me to sit the GDL exams and I start my SQE course in February 2025. However, I am slightly worried going into the SQE without completing the GDL for a multitude of reasons, and wanting some advice:

- Could I have legal knowledge gaps without completing the GDL?
- Will having the GDL make me more employable, or having JUST the SQE make me less desirable post-qualification?

I found a full-time GDL course with the College of Legal Practice that runs for 20 weeks. Has anyone completed it before, and if so, what are your opinions? If I can find the money/time to do the course, would you recommend I complete it?

Thank you!

I'm a final year non-law undergrad, looking to apply to TCs and vac schemes this academic year. I have pending military service obligation (1.5 years) to complete after I graduate. Now, practically speaking, I was wondering if it's possible to take leave to complete my military service during my TC? Perhaps something like the period between the GDL and the SQE? I feel nervous thinking of going into do my military service without any job in the pipeline and securing a TC initially would give me some comfort. Practically speaking, I just have to do the military service at some point and not restricted to a certain time period, so it is flexible to a certain extent in terms of when I can start it.

I would be most grateful for any insight on this tricky matter.

Has anyone got a timetable of the part time course at ULAW for doing the LLM SQE 1 and 2? Just wondering how much work is required each week and the order of study.

Hi,

I intend to create a bank of application questions for the firm I intend to apply for this cycle. I strongly believe this will help with my firm research as their questions illustrate the value they seek in their applicants. Additionally, I think this will help with the upcoming application questions where many of them will be quite similar to their previous recruitment cycles. If anyone has applied before and has a log of their responses, or they just simply know, could you please list the questions used by firms for their vac scheme recruitment cycles?

I'm only interested in Hogan Lovells, Mishcon de Reya, Addleshaw, and Bates Wells at the min (particularly in the last 3 years as I applied for these firms last year so I know the questions already). However, I recognise many of you might interested in other firms so I thought would be good to have this thread so people can list the questions for other firms if they can!

Below is a list of ones I have so far

Mishcon (2023/24)
1) Aside from wanting a challenging career, why do you want to be a commercial lawyer, and why do you want to train at Mishcon de Reya? (300 words max)
2) We believe that successful lawyers are great Shapers: individuals with interests, hobbies, passions or visions; and the drive and motivation to develop these in order to shape the world around them. We're looking for people who can shape the information they are given; shape arguments; shape relationships; shape solutions (see https://www.mishcon.com/graduates/mishcon-shapers). Tell us about a time that you have demonstrated being a Shaper. (300 words max)
3) If we were to invite you to interview, what issue would you most like to talk about and why? This can be a non-legal issue and should be something you genuinely feel passionate about. (300 words max)

Addleshaw (2023/24)
1) What attracts you to a career in commercial law and why specifically at Addleshaw Goddard?
2) Is technology and AI an opportunity or a threat for Addleshaw Goddard and why?
3) Choose one of Addleshaw Goddard's practice areas or sectors and tell us about a major change in law or government policy that clients in that sector/practice area are facing and what opportunities that creates for us?
4) If you were in government what one thing would you change to make it easier for UK businesses to succeed and why?


Bates Wells (2023/24)
1) Tell us what has attracted you to a career in the legal industry. Please address why you want to qualify as a solicitor, and why you believe Bates Wells is the right place for you to train.
2) We are incredibly proud to be the first UK law firm to be awarded B Corp status back in 2015. Making a profit is core to all businesses but our goal is to combine this with a real social purpose. What do you predict to be the major commercial trends over the next five years which will create purpose and impact in our society?
3) Describe a recent experience which presented you with a challenge which required you to do something differently, or find a new innovative approach. You may draw on experiences from your work, voluntary experience or educational history.
4) Please tell us about an outstanding personal achievement which added value to either your academic or working environment. When answering the question, please consider the Bates Wells values.

Hi

Is it worth including something i have done if there is not yet a defined result (ie. no way of measuring the impact of what I have done)? Is there anything else I could include instead that would be appropriate for that section?

Thanks!

Hi, opening my answer up to anyone on the forum for advice - would really appreciate some help with my answer to this Sidley Austin VS question:

My interest in commercial law stems from its unique position at the axis of business and law. Whilst consulting for a startup, I enjoyed providing tailored advice on fundraising strategies after researching the fast-evolving industry of AI-based healthcare. Yet my work lacked the legal aspect of analysing and applying complex laws which I had enjoyed throughout my degree. Seeking a combination of both elements, I completed vacation schemes with commercial departments at large regional law firms. After participating in a buyer’s-side due diligence meeting, I was drawn by the work of a private equity lawyer. I found it exciting to assist transactions occurring at crucial moments of businesses’ development, which create new value and innovation.

Sidley Austin’s stellar reputation in private equity attracts me. Their high-profile work, such as representing Ryan Specialty in its $1.1bn acquisition of US Assure, is distinguished by their ability to incorporate lateral thinking across disciplines and jurisdictions. The firm’s international presence, highly rated departments, and attraction of excellence – such as recent lateral hire Ramy Wahbeh – provide a strong footing to secure the most engaging and complex transactions in this area, as demonstrated by ten years of revenue growth in the London sector.

Alongside the draw of working on complex, high-value deals, is that of a smaller trainee intake, which will accelerate my learning by allowing me to take on responsibility earlier.
Finally, as an enthusiastic volunteer with the Oxford Hub, I was impressed by the breadth of Sidley Austin’s pro bono work, which ranges from obtaining disability benefits to representing death-row prisoners.

I have just graduated with a 2:1 and can’t seem to find any entry-level roles at the moment.

Is self-funding something that I will have to do or is where I am (a small-ish town) holding me back?

Hi there!

I have completed a handful of Forage internships in law but each time I find that the tasks take me 2-3x longer than the time estimate given.

I'm a bit concerned that this suggests I would struggle to do actual trainee tasks effectively and on time. Maybe this is an overreaction - it is an entry-level simulation - but at the same time I'm surprised at how tricky it is.

I'm possibly struggling because I'm not a law student. I notice that I can find legal documents novel and overwhelming to research.

Anyway, I would otherwise have hoped I'm up for the job of commercial law - I do well academically and I pass psychometric tests. Despite this, there's a part of me that worries I'm not built for being a trainee if I'm so challenged by something like an open internship.

Can anyone shed some perspective on the relative difficulty of Forage law internships?

Hello,

I have recently received my first year grades and I’m concerned about applying to vac schemes next year. I got a low 2:2 in Criminal Law, which has dragged my overall grade down to 63%.

I got one 1:1 and two 2:1s in my other modules, but will having a low 2:1 overall and a 2:2 in Criminal Law be an issue when applying to vac schemes at top firms next year?

Has anybody applied to the HMRC Legal apprentice (Graduate) scheme? It seems to be a brand new graduate (and non-graduate) Solicitor apprenticeship. I'm currently practising the Civil Service Verbal and Jugement tests as I haven't applied for a civil service role since leaving university.

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An opportunity to undertake a vacation scheme at the firm, commencing in 2024.

Scheme dates: 2nd Dec 2024 - 13th Dec 2024

Apply here by 13th September 2024.

An opportunity to undertake a vacation scheme at the firm, commencing in 2024.

Scheme dates: 2nd Dec '24 - 13th Dec '24

Apply here by 31st October 2024.

An opportunity to undertake a vacation scheme at the firm, commencing in 2024.

Scheme dates: 2nd Dec '24 - 6th Dec '24

Apply here by 16th September February 2024.

An opportunity to undertake a vacation scheme at the firm, commencing in 2024.

Scheme dates: 9th Dec '24 - 13th Dec '24

Apply here by 13th September 2024.