General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you for the reply, Jessica

I had another question regarding the Macfarlanes application. The application asks questions like why I want to apply for the role and what skill do possess. However, it also asks for a cover letter. Should I be repeating myself about why I want to join the firm and how I developed my skills in my cover letter?

no - you shouldn’t be repeating yourself in the cover letter really. Maybe put another spin on your cover letter (eg cover different points about why you/why them) or just keep your cover letter short. I don’t know if anyone has any specific advice on their application though

 

[S87]

Guys I just got invited to a VI with AS for their Aspire scheme. Does anyone know what kind of questions do they tend to ask?
Thank you in advance

 

[Jen E C]

Guys I just got invited to a VI with AS for their Aspire scheme. Does anyone know what kind of questions do they tend to ask?
Thank you in advance

I was on the scheme this year and I wasn't asked to do a VI, I presume that was the case for everyone else too. But good luck! It's an incredible scheme.

 

[Jen E C]

Thank you for the reply, Jessica

I had another question regarding the Macfarlanes application. The application asks questions like why I want to apply for the role and what skill do possess. However, it also asks for a cover letter. Should I be repeating myself about why I want to join the firm and how I developed my skills in my cover letter?

Don't repeat but, rather, extend eg if you can only fit in 3 out of the 4 skills you want to talk about, put the fourth one in the cover letter. The cover letter is also a good place to explain 'why law' since that isn't asked anywhere else on the app.

 

[LS12]

Hi, has anyone applied to Goldman Sachs in-house legal analyst role before (and do you have any tips for application)? I'm really interested and currently writing the cover letter, but there's little information on that programme online. Thanks!

I'm currently a summer analyst for another large investment bank, I'm happy to private message you details about my experience and the role if it would provide you with any guidance?

 

[LS12]

Has anyone heard back from White & Case?

 

[LegalNim]

Guys I just got invited to a VI with AS for their Aspire scheme. Does anyone know what kind of questions do they tend to ask?
Thank you in advance

I was on Aspire for the first year it ran from 2018-19. I didn't have a VI but had a face-to-face interview at a firm. They asked me why law, why commercial law, why me, which firms I was interested in and why, which practice areas I was interested in and why, why I need Aspire to succeed, how I would benefit the scheme etc. They also asked for a news story I'd recently read and how it relates to firms/practice areas that I'm interested in. I also had to do a presentation on a topic that interests me and then respond to some questions on that. All of this may have completely changed though.
AS are honestly so incredible, even if you don't get onto Aspire there are so many ways to get involved with them. Congrats on getting this far and good luck!

 

[nymi]

Don't repeat but, rather, extend eg if you can only fit in 3 out of the 4 skills you want to talk about, put the fourth one in the cover letter. The cover letter is also a good place to explain 'why law' since that isn't asked anywhere else on the app.

Lovely, thank you so much. That helps a lot !

 

[nymi]

no - you shouldn’t be repeating yourself in the cover letter really. Maybe put another spin on your cover letter (eg cover different points about why you/why them) or just keep your cover letter short. I don’t know if anyone has any specific advice on their application though

Thank you so much Jessica !

 

[dosblancos7]

I'm currently a summer analyst for another large investment bank, I'm happy to private message you details about my experience and the role if it would provide you with any guidance?

Could you also PM me this, as I'm also (semi) interested in this too!?

Has anyone heard back from White & Case?

Re W&C, saw a few VS'ers get TC's on LinkedIn, so they may be focused on that! I believe that all their VS has ended however now, so they should reply to us within a few weeks hopefully

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Hi, has anyone applied to Goldman Sachs in-house legal analyst role before (and do you have any tips for application)? I'm really interested and currently writing the cover letter, but there's little information on that programme online. Thanks!

Hey, just to clarify, it's essentially an application for a New Analyst role, but you just specify you want it to be in the legal department?

 

[acceleratedlaw]

Hi , anyone on the Clyde and co vac scheme hear back yet on next steps? Last I heard from them was the survey

 

[student101]

Hi, I have applied to two (paid) part-time Campus Ambassador roles over the summer to maximise my chances of at least getting one.

In the off chance that I get both, is it possible to accept them and do them alongside each other? Or will firms be hesitant about me accepting other the responsibilities of another job that they believe might interfere with what they want me to do?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi, I have applied to two (paid) part-time Campus Ambassador roles over the summer to maximise my chances of at least getting one.

In the off chance that I get both, is it possible to accept them and do them alongside each other? Or will firms be hesitant about me accepting other the responsibilities of another job that they believe might interfere with what they want me to do?

Generally not - most firms will state you can’t do the same job for a competitor. Might be different if one of the roles is for one of media/marketing suppliers though

 

[LegalNim]

Hi, I have applied to two (paid) part-time Campus Ambassador roles over the summer to maximise my chances of at least getting one.

In the off chance that I get both, is it possible to accept them and do them alongside each other? Or will firms be hesitant about me accepting other the responsibilities of another job that they believe might interfere with what they want me to do?

I had two campus ambassador roles at the same time but one was for a firm and one was for a training provider so the same conflict doesn't apply. I'd be honest with them both and see what they say. Worst case scenario, you'll have to pick your favourite. Good luck!

 

[OB]

Hi, I have applied to two (paid) part-time Campus Ambassador roles over the summer to maximise my chances of at least getting one.

In the off chance that I get both, is it possible to accept them and do them alongside each other? Or will firms be hesitant about me accepting other the responsibilities of another job that they believe might interfere with what they want me to do?

If the two don't clash and you pursue both of them, definitely think about how much spare time you have and if you can give your all to both positions. Naturally you'll probably put more effort into one of the positions over the other. Also look to see how many hours of work is needed by both - I have done roles that I was generally paid for work over the year with no strict hours, and others where I had to account for what I had done for the company for 8 hours every month and had specific targets to hit! If you have any society commitments as well I'd recommend just going forward with one but depends on the roles and your time management!

 

[RSta]

Hey, just to clarify, it's essentially an application for a New Analyst role, but you just specify you want it to be in the legal department?

Yep.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi , anyone on the Clyde and co vac scheme hear back yet on next steps? Last I heard from them was the survey

Hey I heard just over a month ago saying they’d get back to us ‘in the coming weeks’ but nothing since then!

 

[acceleratedlaw]

hey guys, i just got rejected a training contract offer following a vac scheme. this was basically my last chance to get a training contract this year and i feel very down and low and i dont know how to go about starting this process all over again. this isn't my first or second cycle, and i know im not alone. does anyone have any tips or advice on how to move forward after continuous rejection? i am 24, and im doing an accelerated track and i just wonder what my options are given SQE and all that. thank you guys.

 

[tractor12]

hey guys, i just got rejected a training contract offer following a vac scheme. this was basically my last chance to get a training contract this year and i feel very down and low and i dont know how to go about starting this process all over again. this isn't my first or second cycle, and i know im not alone. does anyone have any tips or advice on how to move forward after continuous rejection? i am 24, and im doing an accelerated track and i just wonder what my options are given SQE and all that. thank you guys.

Really sorry to hear this. Personally, I think the fact you've come so close and got the Vac Scheme (which in itself is a huge achievement - you probably got further than hundreds if not thousands of applicants) means you definitely have what it takes and your biggest challenge now is to find the motivation to keep going.