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You're interested in Reed Smith, but you want to know how to make the most of your application. How do you write your application in a way that stands out?

Join Jaysen and Reed Smith's Graduate Recruitment Manager, Rebecca Schrod, as they discuss everything that you need to know to make your application stand out this cycle.

Jaysen and Rebecca will cover each question on Reed Smith's application this year, including:

️ Why have you decided to pursue a career in Commercial Law?

️ Why Reed Smith in particular?

️ Focusing on one of Reed Smith’s sectors, what current issues do you think will impact this sector? What opportunities or challenges could this present Reed Smith or our clients?

They'll discuss what graduate recruitment looks for in a candidate's application, so that you can be sure you're hitting the mark in your own writing. Who better to learn from than the firm's graduate recruitment themselves!

This event is completely free and open to everyone, simply register here ahead of the event and you will receive your Zoom link via email.

Let's get you to that interview stage!

Hi all,

I dropped out of university undergraduate degrees after the first year twice. The first time was due to disliking the course and, in all honesty, not being ready for university, and the second time was because of a mental health breakdown.

As the title says, should i disclose these on vac scheme application forms? Last year I did not, but I am wondering if it is something I have to do? I have now completed an undergraduate degree so felt that completed the undergraduate section and that the previous attempts were not relevant but am worried I am somehow being disingenuous. There is also the fact that it would explain the gaps in my work history. Any advice on what to do please?

Many thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I accepted a direct TC offer last spring at a City law firm, and (in line with SRA good practice) withdrew from an upcoming vacation scheme with a U.S. firm. However, I have had some major wobbles with my decision since: particularly as my practice area interests have changed significantly during my LLM, and are now far better suited to the U.S. outfit than the City firm I opted for last year.

I know this is a long-shot, but would there be any chance that the U.S. firm would consider a second vac scheme application from me? Given my prior withdrawal, my gut instinct is that any application would automatically be discarded - but any thoughts/perspectives on this point would be really helpful.

Im currently applying for a vacation scheme at Mayer Brown and one of the questions asks about academic and non-academic achievements and interests. I was wondering whether a high LNAT score would be ok to include, or if this would be too outdated being from before university?

Also, as the question that mentions 'interests', how might one go about including this along with achievements? I'm not sure if the question is saying to just mention the interests that you're passionate about, or if there is more to it.

Thanks!

In the process of doing Taylor Wessing's VS application and I am completely lost at the following question:

"What motivates you for a career in Law at Taylor Wessing and what key skills would you bring?"

It's standard enough and know what I would put but they've only given 1000 characters or less for this (for my other answer, this was 165 words). How am I meant to write something substantial with that word count?

On another note, how would you approach structuring this question? Doing one paragraph for why Taylor Wessing and another on skills? Or try and integrate skills seamlessly when expressing motivation?

Thanks!

Hi

I am a 27 year old looking to change careers into law. I have started applying for some vac schemes and the first one I began yesterday asked for two referees, one academic and one professional.

The issue on the academic side is I didn’t go to a traditional uni rather I have obtained a degree equivalent (level 6 diploma) through part time study over a number of years. This was several years ago now, and the classes were virtual plus the teacher had so many students she for sure wouldn’t remember me. Then I did have a tutor but again this was so long ago and we had very little contact. The only person I could list who would probably remember me is my old head of sixth form. But I wasn’t a particularly stand out student, he focused on the Oxbridge and law/medicine applicants.

Then on professional referees I am currently at a firm and have been there for five years. I really really don’t want them to know I am looking to move industries so would rather not give anyone there as a referee (for a move to a similar job I probably wouldn’t mind giving them as a referee but I don’t want people to know at this point I want to go into law, particularly as it is so competitive I am not even get a job offer any time soon). I could always list a manager who used to work at my company but moved a few years ago but again I wouldn’t want word to get around I’m looking to change careers. So the only other option is my former boss at my last company and I think she would give a good reference but wanted to hear your thoughts in case you think I am being too sensitive re asking someone closer to where I work now.

Advice is welcome particularly if I will need to supply referees for future applications.

Thanks

Hey, I'm Cassius. I am a second year international student reading law at University of Liverpool. I plan to increase my commercial awareness through courses by TCLA.

I also applied to several firms for the current vacation scheme cycle. Hence this thread will also serve as a record of my progression through this cycle. It is my first time applying for vacation scheme opportunities as I just arrived in the UK on a student visa in Sept.

(1) HSF - met benchmark & under review
(2) DLA Piper - VI stage
(3) Goodwin Procter - submitted application
(4) Milbank - submitted application

Hi all
I just received my first year law (3 year course) marks. They are 70, 62, 61.5 and 57.33. The average is 62.7. Have I achieved 2:1 as per definition of law firm applications? Or does one need above 60 in each module ?
Thanks .

Question: Some application questions look specific to University students. How can one answer as a career changer?

Some context: After I completed the LPC and failed to secure a training contract (a heartbreaking event after attending 7 assessment centres that year), I have been working full-time in Financial Services Regulatory Compliance for just over a year now. I feel ready to tackle the whole training contract application process again, having settled into a relatively calm in-house role. My job prevents me from gaining any vacation scheme experience (due to lack of holidays and having to book them in advance), but I have worked as a paralegal previously.

The issue: Now that I return to doing applications, I realise some questions are very specific to University students. A specific one is around "extracurricular activities", which I used to have many examples for in terms of student societies, but that was at least 3-4 years ago at this point.

Taking this specific question as an example, around extracurricular activites, what would graduate recruitment teams consider an "extracurricular activity" for a full-time employee? For example, would business development proposals at work be extracurricular, or would you only accept examples that are strictly outside of working hours?

Hi all,

I am currently a Trainee Solicitor at a high street law firm. I started out as a paralegal in 2022 within residential property and secured the Training Contract in March 2023. I have been working in residential property for a year now and I have come to the realisation that it really is not for me. I am dissatisfied with the work and the management, as well as the training and supervision. It has been quite a stressful environment and I won't divulge into the details, but I was recently told I can't move seats just yet as they require me in the department.

I decided to explore my options as I understand qualifying in Conveyancing and a high street firm limits my future possibilities if I want to change practice areas. For context, I graduated from a Russell Group University with a high 2:1 and went on to achieve the LPC in 2021. I am now considering leaving the TC to explore property in a commercial setting. I have an interview lined up for a Paralegal Real Estate Role at a global law firm that is highly regarded. The only issue is that I would need to do the SQE 2, but potentially qualify sooner as I can count my previous paralegal work as QWE. I've also done the PSC. I am having a hard time trying to decide what is best for me and was wondering if anyone had some advice?

Thank you!

if a firm asks you for UCAS points which grades do we need to calculate? AS and A levels, GCSES or all of them?

I'm currently in the process of filling in the work experience section for a firm, and they give a 250 max word limit for each one.

I have 9 experiences. Most of them are around the 120-150 word count, while others are in the 75-100 range. Will firms look negatively on not using up as much of the word count as possible? I want to try and be concise and not waffle unnecessarily but am also conscious of potentially selling myself short.

Moreover, I'm leaving out extracurriculars from this section as don't think it classifies as work experience, but what would the position be on networking events? For instance, I was selected to attend Bright Network's Top 100 Year Lawyers event a few years back; is this something to include in this section or better to link later on with "why commercial law?" or similar application questions?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Please post any questions or updates about your Stephenson Harwood VS application.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to post a new thread since I am struggling with the question, "why do you want to study commercial law?" As a non-law student, this question is much harder than expected. I do not have any legal experience that could have sparked the interest. I am struggling to answer the "why" without being too generic, such as "I enjoy the intellectually stimulating aspect of commercial law." My degree background is in Psychology, so should I find ways to link them together? I also thought of finding ways to link my work experience of working as a cafe assistant, shop floor assistant, charity volunteer, and tutoring into this answer. However, it was too generic of an answer that had no relevance to commercial law. I have tried to find some books to widen my understanding and use them as part of my application, but I did not find any unique commercial law books.

I would be very grateful for ANY advice on how to tackle this question, coming from a psychology background and as someone who is working to widen their commercial awareness.

Hi!

I'm trying to submit an application, but the Apply4Law portal seems to be down! Anyone else getting this problem?

I've emailed the help email, but it being a Sunday evening, I don't think anyone will reply.

Any advice appreciated!

H

Hi guys!

I was rejected after the video interview stage at Bristows last year and I'm struggling to decide whether I should keep certain aspects of last year's application since it was accepted (not copying it in whole of course), or whether it would be best to discuss different things this time? Would a firm compare both applications?

Thanks!

A.

Hi

Hogan Lovells Summer VS 2024 (Vantage) application has the following sections :

1. Unlimited boxes for work experience
2. We set our standards high, and we trust our people to hold themselves accountable for meeting other people's expectations. Describe a time when you had to drop everything and really 'raise your game' in order to keep a promise you had made to someone else. How did you manage both this and your other commitments? Max 250 words
3. Sustaining a successful and profitable practice requires both commercial awareness and innovative thinking. Tell us about something that you have done that shows you have a strong innovative or entrepreneurial spirit. Max 250 words
4. Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector Max 250 words
5. Please detail below any further information that you would like us to consider when reviewing your application.Optional Max 250 words

I have already done sections 1,2,3 & 4 above. For section 5 (further information....), my options are : a) Combo of Why commercial law/why Hogan Lovells , b) Exclusively Why
Hogan Lovells, c ) Only Extra curriculars, Or d) Combo of why HL+Extra curriculars

The reason I am confused is "Why HL" is NOT one of their main questions (2,3 & 4 above), so is it ok to put this in 5 or are they NOT asking that question and expecting extra curriculars in 5
since it is positioned as "further information" (in which case why HL will go unanswered !).

Please advise
Thanks

Hi

Sorry for this basic and dumb question, but can someone tell me what qualification means (apart from the obvious advantage of officially being able to practice law) and its professional implications? Specifically, I hear folks talk about how I qualified in this and that area... what does that even mean? Say I am lucky to get a TC and do 4 seats in Corporate, Finance, Competition and Tax and enjoy all of them, what will I "qualify" as? Does my qualification document specify that I qualified in the x or y area as a specialisation? Or do we just qualify as general solicitors? If so, why do even folks talk about how I qualified as a finance lawyer? Isn't that technically incorrect, since after 2 years I could switch my interest to competition?

Sorry, I am coming across as an idiot.

Thanks

Hello there everyone!

I'm a final year LLB Law student and I'm the first in my family to go to university. I'm struggling with TC applications and I'm finding it extremely difficult to access any kind of help (most being geared towards first and second years). If anyone knows of any TC resources accessible for third years, please let me know! Any guidance at all would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Hey everyone!

I just graduated from UCL a while back. Due to certain circumstances beynd my control, I was unable to apply for the graduate visa to replace my student visa on time. I understand that this might be an issue in applying for vacation schemes. Would employers still be willing to consider me for VS schemes? And if not, is there a way for me to make up for this disadvantage?

Best,
Paul

Hey there,

Currently in the process of filling out the work experience section for a VS application and wanted to clarify the scope of “work experience”.

Other than of course paid employment and voluntary work, what else would I include here? I’ve been a part of my university’s pro bono clinic and have completed a few Forage programmes, but not sure if these would be relevant as work experience?

Also, how do you go about mentioning talks with firms, virtual law fairs or networking events you’ve been to if there is no dedicated extracurricular or other activities section on the form? I don’t imagine these would come under work experience, so do you just have to fit them in strategically in the application questions?

Thanks!

Hi All,

I have a question regarding my application strategy:

About my profile: I have relatively poor A levels (roughly BBB converted). I completed my undergraduate studies in my home county with a first. After that, I gained about practical experience as a trainee at a very renowned law firm (partner firm of an MC Law firm) and at an MC law firm. Actually I pursuing a LL.M at a top RG uni.

I would like to know what you think about the chances of success if I apply for a Vac Scheme at different City Law firms. I already understand that some have A-level minimum requirements and Vac Schemes tend to be aimed at younger students, so I thought the chances of an offer might be low. Do you have any tips on how I should go about this? Do you think it would be possible to secure an Vac Scheme?

I would really appreciate a reply and thank you in advance for your time.

What is the commercial awareness page here?, Should I wait and prepare before attempting the same.
Kindly Help.

Hi All - I have recently qualified via the SQE route. I worked as a paralegal for over 4 years at an International firm and the firm is ranked as tier 1 in the area I want to qualify into and I also had the opportunity to complete a client secondment.

After qualifying my firm have not been able to offer me a job due to business needs but I have received an offer from a regional firm. I’m debating whether it would be good to move to a regional firm for a while in an Associate role or whether I should stay at my current firm as a paralegal with the possibility of an Associate job being there in another 6 months?

Any thoughts welcome

Hi

For the interview question "tell me about a time where you have shown dedication to the law" - is it asking about our dedication towards studying law OR an example from life / work when we were law abiding citizens ?

Thanks