General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Charles]

I initially applied to the vac scheme in late December but later requested to change to TC. Got WG late feb and VI last week. They did say all candidates will find out if they’re successful on VI by May 4th so presumably you’ll hear back before then!

Ahh thank u very much you are a star

 

[Charles]

Nope, nothing yet. When did you apply?

March 08 2020 lol
What about you?

 

[FutureCity]

March 08 2020 lol
What about you?

around the same time, 11

 

[Charles]

around the same time, 11

Okay please let me know if you get some update

 

[yahyee96]

I am really curious to see what will happen to those who have already secured VS’ if firms decide to cancel all schemes this year. Will people be made TC offers based on their VS AC performance? Will we have to interview virtually for direct TC spaces? What about firms that don’t offer direct TC’s? So many questions, my anxiety is at its peak today. Anyway just praying that everyone is safe!

I imagine they would require an additional interview for those with VS offers, probably virtual if the current measures stay in place. I have an offer for Mishcon in the summer and I'm wondering how they will do it given that they only hire through VS in normal circumstances.

 

[W]

I imagine they would require an additional interview for those with VS offers, probably virtual if the current measures stay in place. I have an offer for Mishcon in the summer and I'm wondering how they will do it given that they only hire through VS in normal circumstances.

I assume they would have to either prolong the VS to a later period to make it like a winter VS depending on how corona fares or do direct TCs instead.

 

[Helena]

Hi everyone - had my first round of treatment and feel pretty lousy! Tired mainly. Not sure how the rest will go as this whole awful situation is affecting anyone receiving therapy - I think they may try to turn it to oral medication to be administered at home to avoid any hospital admittance.

I thought I had seen on here a video interview sheet of advice? I may be wrong but any help as to where I can locate this would be marvellous as I'm not having much success. I found @Jessica Booker's jpg file which is great. Thank you. Any other pointers gratefully received.

 

[yahyee96]

I assume they would have to either prolong the VS to a later period to make it like a winter VS depending on how corona fares or do direct TCs instead.

Good point. Now that I think about it, if the TC would be starting in 2022 anyway, they are probably happy to just postpone the VS intake to the next cycle and run alongside VS' for 2023 candidates.

 

[Naomi98]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst post phone interview for direct tc?

 

[Alice G]

Hi everyone - had my first round of treatment and feel pretty lousy! Tired mainly. Not sure how the rest will go as this whole awful situation is affecting anyone receiving therapy - I think they may try to turn it to oral medication to be administered at home to avoid any hospital admittance.

I thought I had seen on here a video interview sheet of advice? I may be wrong but any help as to where I can locate this would be marvellous as I'm not having much success. I found @Jessica Booker's jpg file which is great. Thank you. Any other pointers gratefully received.

Hi Helena, so lovely to hear from you though I’m so sorry to hear of the impact your treatment is having. I have been thinking of you as I’m sure many others on the forum have been too.

I’m really sorry but I can’t quite remember a sheet on VIs, was it a recent post or something from a while back?

 

[Helena]

Hi Helena, so lovely to hear from you though I’m so sorry to hear of the impact your treatment is having. I have been thinking of you as I’m sure many others on the forum have been too.

I’m really sorry but I can’t quite remember a sheet on VIs, was it a recent post or something from a while back?

Alice thank you for your kind words. I wish I could remember, but I think from a while back. Just cannot locate it .
I know there are sheets on potential TC questions etc. Thought there was one on VI?

 

[Alice G]

Alice thank you for your kind words. I wish I could remember, but I think from a while back. Just can not locate it .
I know there are sheets on potential TC questions etc. Thought there was one on VI?

Don’t worry - I often struggle to find the things I know I’ve written! Let me try and see if I can locate it or I wonder if @Daniel Boden or @Jaysen might remember? It does sound like something we would have!

 

[Jaysen]

Hi everyone - had my first round of treatment and feel pretty lousy! Tired mainly. Not sure how the rest will go as this whole awful situation is affecting anyone receiving therapy - I think they may try to turn it to oral medication to be administered at home to avoid any hospital admittance.

I thought I had seen on here a video interview sheet of advice? I may be wrong but any help as to where I can locate this would be marvellous as I'm not having much success. I found @Jessica Booker's jpg file which is great. Thank you. Any other pointers gratefully received.

Have PM'd you!

 

[Camilla]

Hey Camilla, was just wondering what questions were on your VI for Mishcon and was wondering how long they gave you to answer the questions?

Hey Senai

I will PM you now.

Thanks

 

[Ravenclaw]

Internal source has mentioned A&O have frozen associate pay and pausing half their bonus.

A commenter on here was worrying about COVID's impact on firms and I thought they really really didnt need to. I hate to say this but I am starting to change my mind. For a MC firm to freeze pay is surely hinting at a 2008 all over again?

 

[W]

Internal source has mentioned A&O have frozen associate pay and pausing half their bonus.

A commenter on here was worrying about COVID's impact on firms and I thought they really really didnt need to. I hate to say this but I am starting to change my mind. For a MC firm to freeze pay is surely hinting at a 2008 all over again?

That just came out in one of the law publications. What does that actually entail? Does it just mean they are not getting their discretionary bonus or they’ve lowered their salary for a temporary period?

 

[Andre]

Completed Dentons Telephone interview yesterday.

Does anyone know how long it takes to hear back?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Internal source has mentioned A&O have frozen associate pay and pausing half their bonus.

A commenter on here was worrying about COVID's impact on firms and I thought they really really didnt need to. I hate to say this but I am starting to change my mind. For a MC firm to freeze pay is surely hinting at a 2008 all over again?

This means that no one is getting a pay rise or bonus. In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing to worry about. Worry about when people are made redundant...

I want to be frank with people, this is a lot worse that 2008. 2008 may have been the collapse of the financial system, but everything kept running.

This will hit us harder and faster than it did in 2008. But that's likely to mean that things will recover quicker too.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

That just came out in one of the law publications. What does that actually entail? Does it just mean they are not getting their discretionary bonus or they’ve lowered their salary for a temporary period?

Just means they won't get a discretionary bonus that they typically would have received in May/June. They also won't receive a pay rise, that they also would have received around that time too...

This is not something to panic about - discretionary bonuses and pay rises are just that - discretionary.

Of all the things to panic about, this shouldn't be it.

 

[Alice G]

Internal source has mentioned A&O have frozen associate pay and pausing half their bonus.

A commenter on here was worrying about COVID's impact on firms and I thought they really really didnt need to. I hate to say this but I am starting to change my mind. For a MC firm to freeze pay is surely hinting at a 2008 all over again?

That just came out in one of the law publications. What does that actually entail? Does it just mean they are not getting their discretionary bonus or they’ve lowered their salary for a temporary period?

I cannot access the publication but reading the short snippet that I can see, I get the impression the publication is saying that A&O is not increasing associate pay this year and keeping it as it is. Law firms have salary reviews, I think annually, where they appraise their financials and the salaries paid within the firm. That is why there was a hike in NQ pay last year across the MC - it was part of these standard reviews I think. I cannot comment beyond this and it is only based on what I have been able to read, i.e. two sentences. However, I would probably entreat everyone not to worry too much at this stage - firms may well decide to be conservative with their funds given the current situation as it is the best thing to do to hedge against this uncertainty, but I would not say that this is a huge cause for concern at this stage.

I am absolutely no expert or authority on this but these are just my thoughts and I think we should try not to speculate and worry ourselves too much. Law firms are complex businesses with equally complex financials and they will just be taking the steps they need to in order to safeguard against this downturn since we do not know how long it will last or what the lasting effects will be.