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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I would be surprised if any winter vacation schemes are held in-person.
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I believe DLA Piper recruit exclusively from their vacation schemes. So the next available opportunity would be their summer 2021 internship, which will be the recruitment pipeline for 2023 TCs.
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    Which firms recruit predominantly from VS and which ones from TC?

    I strongly suspect DWF have reduced their trainee intake as they seem to be in a bit of turmoil at the moment, so I wouldn’t necessarily assume that this year is representative.
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    Clifford Chance TC

    It’s not just a case of other students not getting priority though- if they fill all their places with penultimate year students, those applications won’t even be looked at. Many firms recruit predominantly from VSs, but most (barring small intake US firms) will still review direct TC apps and a...
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    Clifford Chance TC

    From their perspective, I guess it effectively ‘locks in’ the best students at an early stage as they can get ahead of other law firms. I suppose it also gives them more time to mould a student into the type of trainee they want, as they have three years to run training and events etc.
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    Hi Jessica, When applying for internships and other short-term roles in advance of commencing a training contract, would you advise always mentioning the fact that I will be starting a training contract on x date or will this put some employers off?
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I believe there are some (particularly U.S.) firms that technically accept direct TC applications even though they don’t recruit anyone via this route or haven’t done so for a number of years. This is rarely made explicit though. It would be better if these firms made this policy/practice clear...
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    Clifford Chance TC

    The impression I get from that is that they’re basically telling people who don’t fit into the priority groups not to bother applying as they have a tiny chance of progressing, without actually saying those words. To be frank, I suspect the time and effort would be better spent on other apps.
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I know it’s hard, but try not to get too disheartened. I truly believe that the opportunity that is right for you will not pass you by. I had a similar experience at a VS last year where all the feedback I had throughout the scheme was excellent and I even had a feedback meeting with the...
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I suspect what has happened is that DWF have cut their trainee intake for the next few years given their current cost-cutting programme. Disappointing that they couldn’t have told applicants earlier but I guess they may only have finalised their numbers recently.
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I suspect DWF’s graduate recruitment may have been affected by their cost-cutting programme and wouldn’t be surprised if they reduced or even cancelled it this year.
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    Hi Jessica, I’m applying for training contracts commencing in 2022. I’m graduating this summer and planning to work for a year before doing the LPC/SQE in 2021. I have secured a non-law position starting in August- should I add this to the work experience section of applications or leave it...
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    I was at a CMS presentation last year and they said very clearly that they have a TC available for every VS participant and they said that something like 95% were offered one last year. They also don’t seem to recruit at all from direct TC applications, so I guess they may not be sure how many...
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    I believe CMS do not take more people on the VS than they have TCs available for so it could be a case of offering one to everyone who attends the online week so long as they still have that number of TCs available?
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    Interview/Open Day/Vacation Scheme Updates- Coronavirus

    I think there’s absolutely no chance of any physical vacation schemes or internships taking place in the foreseeable future unfortunately. A large part of a VS is the presentations and networking which requires lots of people to be in a room together- that won’t be happening anytime soon. I...
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    General Discussion Thread 2020-21

    I think as long as a policy is applied equally to all students at a particular university, as it has been, no one’s grade is being inflated or undermined, and it is not encouraging laziness. The idea behind a no detriment policy is that your degree mark should not fall below the average you...
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    This is the wording they used in the offer email "For candidates who are successful following the vacation scheme, we will be holding a final networking day... As part of your acceptance, please could you also confirm that you would be available to attend the event if invited?"
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    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    Hi Jess, I've got a bit of a dilemma- I've been offered two VSs. The dates don't clash but one of the firms has a 'networking day' a few weeks after the scheme itself as part of the TC application process. My issue is that this day clashes with my other VS. You have to state that you are free...
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    Hearing Back from Law Firms, Assessment Centres & Interview Tips - 2019 - 2020

    I wouldn't worry about it yet, but if you're in the position of getting the TC offer, I'd take it without a second thought. The fact you've applied for that firm shows you must at least have some interest in working there. A vacation scheme is not guaranteed to lead to a TC- often through no...

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