Hearing Back from Law Firms, Assessment Centres & Interview Tips - 2019 - 2020

[Lawyerwithadream]

Has anyone heard back from Freshfields TC post-Watson glaser?? It’s been 3 weeks since I took my exam so a bit stressed

I'm waiting to hear back as well but only took mine on Sunday. Has your portal updated since you took the test?

 

[FutureCity]

I applied to Dentons Direct TC recently. However, I have just been offered a TC with a small / medium firm. Is it worth emailing Dentons to advise them of this and to ask for an expedited response?

Congratulations on the TC offer. Do you have a deadline to accept the other firm’s offer? If yes, and it’s close, then I would email Dentons something along the lines of:

“I like Dentons. But I received another offer and have to respond within x days. I would like to hear back from you. Thank you.”

 

[EJC]

I'm waiting to hear back as well but only took mine on Sunday. Has your portal updated since you took the test?

Sadly it’s been updated on the 24th of January and no change since

 

[KerC14]

would I be better off leaving out my most recent employment, which was a retail job at a ‘low ranking’ store (it’s not a designer or more ‘up-market’ brand)? I’m worried it might be looked down on or give a wrong impression of me, but also wondering if the gap left with taking it off would look worse, anyone have any advice?

 

[Olivia Graham]

would I be better off leaving out my most recent employment, which was a retail job at a ‘low ranking’ store (it’s not a designer or more ‘up-market’ brand)? I’m worried it might be looked down on or give a wrong impression of me, but also wondering if the gap left with taking it off would look worse, anyone have any advice?

I would definitely include it if you have the space!! In my opinion, working in retail can develop really valuable skills that are transferable to a career in law, just focus on drawing those out in your application!

 

[KerC14]

I’m in exactly the same position. Really can’t afford to self fund the GDL, don’t think il be eligible for any scholarships, and I was thinking about the MA in law too, but it’s still a huge investment without having security of a job at the end.
I think for now I am going to try and find a temp job (hopefully something legal), save up, re apply again and then go travelling in Feb/March time. But it’s still tricky because of all the timings

It’s such a tough decision isn’t it! The uncertainty of going through another bad cycle and being left with just the MA is a major worry. Yeah I think temp roles might be the way to go for a while, if there was more info on the SQE it might be easier

 

[KerC14]

I would definitely include it if you have the space!! In my opinion, working in retail can develop really valuable skills that are transferable to a career in law, just focus on drawing those out in your application!

Thanks! I always try and focus on the transferable skills but just wondering if certain brands can be looked down upon (even though I think most recruiters go through unconscious bias training)

 

[Jaysen]

would I be better off leaving out my most recent employment, which was a retail job at a ‘low ranking’ store (it’s not a designer or more ‘up-market’ brand)? I’m worried it might be looked down on or give a wrong impression of me, but also wondering if the gap left with taking it off would look worse, anyone have any advice?

Keep it in - don’t worry about the brand, that doesn’t matter.

 

[DavidJC]

I applied to Dentons Direct TC recently. However, I have just been offered a TC with a small / medium firm. Is it worth emailing Dentons to advise them of this and to ask for an expedited response?

I'm not sure if it's the same for London, but when I attended an insight evening at Dentons in Glasgow, grad rec told me that they do not review direct TC applications on a rolling basis

 

[Jenna]

Congratulations on the TC offer. Do you have a deadline to accept the other firm’s offer? If yes, and it’s close, then I would email Dentons something along the lines of:

“I like Dentons. But I received another offer and have to respond within x days. I would like to hear back from you. Thank you.”

Thank you!

I'm not sure if it's the same for London, but when I attended an insight evening at Dentons in Glasgow, grad rec told me that they do not review direct TC applications on a rolling basis

Thanks for letting me know! I might just send an email advising them and ask if they are able to tell me when I am likely to hear the outcome.

 

[M1999]

would I be better off leaving out my most recent employment, which was a retail job at a ‘low ranking’ store (it’s not a designer or more ‘up-market’ brand)? I’m worried it might be looked down on or give a wrong impression of me, but also wondering if the gap left with taking it off would look worse, anyone have any advice?

Retail jobs are very important! it doesn’t matter if it was at Chanel or your local charity shop it shows that you are committed and don’t look down on anything!!

 

[M1999]

It’s such a tough decision isn’t it! The uncertainty of going through another bad cycle and being left with just the MA is a major worry. Yeah I think temp roles might be the way to go for a while, if there was more info on the SQE it might be easier

The sqe confuses me, idk how much you know but this is what I know:
It’s a set of exams which cost around 4 grand altogether. You can take these any time but uoflaw etc are going to be doing courses to help you prepare (the cost is still up in the open). However I think it favours law students because a lot of sources I have read say that sqe1 has similar content to the LLB, and I’m assuming sqe2 has similar content to the LPC. Also, you don’t need a training contract to become a solicitor, you can do any legal work experience and qualify. I wonder how law firms will react to this? I feel like they’re kind of not addressing this big change even though it’s happening in a year. :s
Sorry if I just repeated everything you already know!

 

[Phoebe]

Congrats Phoebe!! Could I ask when you applied and when you found out?

Thank you! I applied on the 7th of Jan and heard back on Monday

 

[ACMW]

Has anyone heard back from Freshfields TC post-Watson glaser?? It’s been 3 weeks since I took my exam so a bit stressed

I took the WG 3 weeks ago too and haven't heard back as well

 

[Miki3999]

Hi guys, I'm facing a fairly difficult question. The thing is that I had an interview at Slaughters for direct TC in August and screwed up so badly (specially the article part). During the interview, I wasn't really myself due to the fact I had to sleep on the floor at my friends' flat because I am not from London and I just couldn't afford a hotel room before the interview. Anyway, I recently took part in the competition organised by Slaughters and they sent me an email saying that I have been shortlisted for the final award, which will be revealed during a formal even organised by SM to which they sent me an invitation.

My question is: do you think it would be ok for me to ask the partners during the "informal drinks" whether they would give me a second chance? I know it's not their policy to interview the same candidate twice, but I intended to show them that instead of simply asking for a second chance, I rather wanted to "earn" that chance.

Does it make any sense?

Sorry for the grammar I'm not super sober rn

 

[bethbristol]

The sqe confuses me, idk how much you know but this is what I know:
It’s a set of exams which cost around 4 grand altogether. You can take these any time but uoflaw etc are going to be doing courses to help you prepare (the cost is still up in the open). However I think it favours law students because a lot of sources I have read say that sqe1 has similar content to the LLB, and I’m assuming sqe2 has similar content to the LPC. Also, you don’t need a training contract to become a solicitor, you can do any legal work experience and qualify. I wonder how law firms will react to this? I feel like they’re kind of not addressing this big change even though it’s happening in a year. :s
Sorry if I just repeated everything you already know!

Also those two years work experience can be divided between firms/areas etc. May be beneficial to some but could potentially be problems if firms use this as an opportunity to give out unpaid work experience as an example

 

[Frank]

Hi guys, I'm facing a fairly difficult question. The thing is that I had an interview at Slaughters for direct TC in August and screwed up so badly (specially the article part). During the interview, I wasn't really myself due to the fact I had to sleep on the floor at my friends' flat because I am not from London and I just couldn't afford a hotel room before the interview. Anyway, I recently took part in the competition organised by Slaughters and they sent me an email saying that I have been shortlisted for the final award, which will be revealed during a formal even organised by SM to which they sent me an invitation.

My question is: do you think it would be ok for me to ask them whether they would give me a second chance? I know it's not their policy to interview the same candidate twice, but I intended to show them that instead of simply asking for a second chance, I rather wanted to "earn" that chance.

Does it make any sense?

Sorry for the grammar I'm not super sober rn

The worst thing is that they'll say no, so go for it (when you're sober)

 

[csyn]

Nothing from SH. Applied a day before the deadline.

Same - applied on 30th as well.

 

[Frank]

P.S. No word from Dechert or Milbank :/

Do not worry on Milbank, no decision has been made yet as far as I'm aware of.

 

[Frank]

Ropes & Gray Application rejection!!
Make that Simmons, Shearman, Sidley, Jones Day (post-Interview), Weil .. all rejections! My biggest barrier is the grades which were bad in 1st & 2nd year (mit circumstances).. Currently on the LLM so I’m on my last limb.. Sigh well I guess I’m going to have to start looking at paralegal positions. Hope everyone else’s applications go well !

Paralegal or try other legal positions at international institutions, dunno. Keep your ambitions as wide as possible Can help with international organisations if interested bcos I did/doing right now work experience