2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Ricky]

Can’t knock you down though Ricky, I remember you still got that Macfarlanes vs Congrats again btw!

Cheers. Still waiting to hear MB AC outcome as well!

 

[AAA_a]

Sorry to hear about all the Dechert PFOs. Just wondering are they for spring or summer though?

 

[Han.louise]

Has anyone done a Burges Salmon AC recently?

 

[Ricky]

Sorry to hear about all the Dechert PFOs. Just wondering are they for spring or summer though?

Spring.

 

[lozza_2]

Can't quite believe it but been invited to an AC for Ashurst VS! applied literally 5 mins before the deadline (29th Jan) and did not perform very well on revelian assessment test so am very shocked right now

 

[Tangle]

Hi! When were you invited to do the tests/VI and did you apply to the London office?

Hey I received them on Tuesday and no it was for Bristol

 

[aaron_atde]

Anyone else got a Mills & Reeve AC next week?

 

[losinghope]

Can't quite believe it but been invited to an AC for Ashurst VS! applied literally 5 mins before the deadline (29th Jan) and did not perform very well on revelian assessment test so am very shocked right now

Congrats! By chance when did you receive the AC invite

 

[lozza_2]

Congrats! By chance when did you receive the AC invite

Thank you! I received the invite just after 8pm tonight

 

[21wajsz]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

 

[Tavistocksfinest]

How did the AC gO?

Got the vac scheme offer a week after my AC!

 

[Kola]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

Depends on the firm. Certain firms care more about grades e.g. Slaughter 'and' May whereas others just care about the 2:1. For reference, I have a 54 in contract law but that hasn't stopped me from getting ACs because I have a 2:1 overall.

 

[21wajsz]

Depends on the firm. Certain firms care more about grades e.g. Slaughter 'and' May whereas others just care about the 2:1. For reference, I have a 54 in contract law but that hasn't stopped me from getting ACs because I have a 2:1 overall.

Thank you! I was just worried because even though I have consistently scored 2:1 (albeit on the lower end), I barely have any firsts in my module! Just thought that will be a concern. But thank you so much for the clarification, definitely eases my worries.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

hi everyone! I was just wondering if law firms look at grades really strictly. I've consistently been getting 2:1s but at the lower range so 62-65 and I wonder if that will affect me negatively or are grades just viewed in a way I'll be fine as long as I meet the 2:1 benchmark?

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

 

[AA99]

Has anyone done a Burges Salmon AC recently?

I did a Burges Salmon AC for the winter vac scheme back in November so feel free to drop me a message with any questions

 

[LEL]

Can anyone give suggestions/advice as to how to tell tutors you'll be missing uni because of a vac scheme?

 

[Lawgirl123]

Finimize is a godsend but christ the emails give me a heart attack every day

Is it free??

 

[Legal_rawn]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

I have such a range of grades (49% to 84%, however a 2.1 in both years) and have had ACs with MC and US firms whilst also having a VS last year! So it really depends more on the individual firm rather than the group!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

Grades are definitely looked at closely.

A overall 2.2 in your second or third year will not be ideal. Occasional module is fine, but a 2.2 average in a year will be a concern for many firms, even if you did average a 2.1 by the end of your degree.

 

[MikSoroko]

I wanted an opinion on this also like if you have a 2.2 in second or third year and you average a 2.1 overall in your degree will you be a weaker candidate and lead to rejection mainly for US and MC firms I think @Jessica Booker will be the best to answer this if possible.

I don't necessarily agree - I lean towards the view that firms look at your applications holistically.

For instance - I didn't do too well in one of my public law modules last year, and it dragged my grade down to a low 2.1, whereas I did well on the rest of them, namely contract, criminal and tort which I presume are the more important ones for some firms. I don't feel like it has hindered me, and I seem to be doing better with US firms which tend to have more stringent academic requirements.

So I think firstly, sometimes it depends on which module you have done poorly in, but also the quality of the rest of your application, how well you score on the tests/WG etc.