It is probably a terrible idea to bring this up to the firm during a vacation scheme, the last thing you want to do is put them on the defensive. But it's not something that can be ignored either. What would you do if you were in the running for Willkie @Jacob Miller ?
2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion
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It is probably a terrible idea to bring this up to the firm during a vacation scheme, the last thing you want to do is put them on the defensive. But it's not something that can be ignored either. What would you do if you were in the running for Willkie @Jacob Miller ?
A bullying partner in London. Fraud partner in the US (college scandals). RIP PR.
A way to gently see if you can get an answer would be to ask various lawyers questions such as: "how have you found your time at Wilkie? What makes you want to get up and work for the firm on a Monday morning?" My advice would be to broach the topic very gently and subtly. Obviously, this is just my experience but chances are on your scheme you'll be able to have very frank and 'off the record' conversations with your trainee buddy if you can build a good relationship with them (I was able to on the schemes I did) so that may be the time to do so but obviously use your judgement as to whether or not that would be appropriate.
"Tyranto"... I'd be laughing if the topic of the article wasn't so serious but that's appalling to read - will be interesting to see how the firm responds! Reckon it will need a bit more of a weighty statement than what Buckingham Palace gave last week...
Thank you for this. However, Willkie doesn't have any trainees at the moment so vacation schemers will probably have a junior associate mentor. I'm not sure you could be as frank with a junior associate as you could a trainee. Also, whenever you ask anyone about the culture of their firm, they always sing the firm's praises. I can't imagine a situation where someone at the firm will admit that their culture is toxic, or that there are partners to steer away from.
Has anyone STILL not heard back from Taylor Wessing (post-AC) ?? I got the email saying that they still haven't made a decision yet a few weeks ago and still no outcome despite a round of PFO's from them today. the wait is killing me 
also are all of their AC's finished now?
also are all of their AC's finished now?
Ah I see okay yeah it's a tricky one. Tbf I remember at my Kirkland AC somehow literally asked one of the partners what they would say to the negative press about the firm's perceived aggressive/highly-competitive culture and they got a very reasonable response and appreciated the question so if you were to phrase it delicately, asking a lawyer in a more private/1-1 basis may be an option?
If it were me, I'd probably gently say to my supervisor that I had seen a negative article about the firm in the legal press recently and wondered if he had any comment on it. If he declines to answer or doesn't feel comfortable then I think that probably tells you what you need to know but I would be amazed if that were to count against you and if it did, you probably wouldn't want to work there anyway! Firms are well aware that vac schemes are a two-way process for candidates so I'm sure they'd be expecting some tough questions if they were justified.
Perhaps @Jessica Booker would be able to share her insights from her experience as a recruiter?
I’ve not heard anything and I applied a few weeks before the deadline. I think they’ve already been running their recruitment for a while so I’m not holding out much hope.
I just read this and wonder why anyone can think it is okay or appropriate to treat anyone this way.
I hope the office has a serious intervention or some sort.
- Feb 17, 2018
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Agreed - once you're in the legal profession, I think it can feel like there is no-one to turn to at times (over fears of someone at the firm finding out). I'd like to think at TCLA we can have open/sensible discussions about stories like this
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This may depend on the person though (I may be biased because I’ve got a mentor at WF and we’ve built a great relationship so she’s been honest about the good and the bad). The news is horrible and I might actually bring this up with her in our next call 🤔
Please do and if you could, please let us know what she says!
So following your reply. I wanted to ask if you ask a partner this and they decline to answer will that mean the tc is gone and you should receive a rejection. It is just an observation.
It's not something I'd personally look to bring up at interview, but it's something I'd want to know about in advance of accepting any sort of offer there
That Willkie Partner must be making them an absolute shit tonne of $$$ to justify not doing anything, even after numerous resignations and bad press.
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