2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

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WannabeSolicitor24

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  • Apr 14, 2020
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    Can any of the successful BM applicants share their secret with those who spent countless of hours on their application and weren’t successful please? I am so confused lol
    I agree with this anyone who WG invite can you reach out to me please if you don't mind.
    Without knowing any specifics, there are so many things that can be used to assess an application - the university you attend, your university and school grades, extra-curricular, work experience, quality of written English, whether they feel you have answered the question - even who reads the application can alter how it is perceived

    When applications are reviewed holistically, it is really small things that can mean you just miss out (I would know!) -- I hope you have better luck with any remaining/future applications :)
     

    Asil Ahmad

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  • Mar 29, 2020
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    Without knowing any specifics, there are so many things that can be used to assess an application - the university you attend, your university and school grades, extra-curricular, work experience, quality of written English, whether they feel you have answered the question - even who reads the application can alter how it is perceived

    When applications are reviewed holistically, it is really small things that can mean you just miss out (I would know!) -- I hope you have better luck with any remaining/future applications :)
    I know what you mean but it is really annoying as my application was really strong but who knows and we move on.
     
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    Sonia_Kawaii

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  • Jan 12, 2021
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    Without knowing any specifics, there are so many things that can be used to assess an application - the university you attend, your university and school grades, extra-curricular, work experience, quality of written English, whether they feel you have answered the question - even who reads the application can alter how it is perceived

    When applications are reviewed holistically, it is really small things that can mean you just miss out (I would know!) -- I hope you have better luck with any remaining/future applications :)
    I don’t agree that candidates should be judged based on which uni they attend. I am a First Class law student and also a barrister in Mauritius and I am not an Oxbridge or RG student. I couldn’t afford to attend those universities but I still made the most of what my parents could offer me. Anyway it is what it is...life goes on and another application cycle will come 🙂
     

    WannabeSolicitor24

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    Junior Lawyer 26
  • Apr 14, 2020
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    I don’t agree that candidates should be judged based on which uni they attend. I am a First Class law student and also a barrister in Mauritius and I am not an Oxbridge or RG student. I couldn’t afford to attend those universities but I still made the most of what my parents could offer me. Anyway it is what it is...life goes on and another application cycle will come 🙂
    Nadine, to be clear, I wasn't making a judgment on the rights or wrongs of using these criteria when assessing applicants or even you as a candidate - I was just saying that these are probably taken into consideration (but @Jessica Booker is probably the best person to ask)

    From what you have said, it seems as if you have a really interesting background to leverage into applications - I really hope you find success :)
    Best of luck
     
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    Anon 11031

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    I don’t agree that candidates should be judged based on which uni they attend. I am a First Class law student and also a barrister in Mauritius and I am not an Oxbridge or RG student. I couldn’t afford to attend those universities but I still made the most of what my parents could offer me. Anyway it is what it is...life goes on and another application cycle will come 🙂
    I don't agree that they should be, but I think it's a sad reality that for *some* firms...they definitely are 😒. There are definitely factors that are a much better indicator of someone's ability to become a lawyer than the university they attended.

    For some employers though, I imagine they just see Oxbridge or RG as being indicative of continuously good academic performance. Although when I started university (RG), I was told the standard of education between different institutions can vary so that might hold some weight too. Could also be absolute BS.

    It's just so unfortunate that a system exists where some candidates are judged on things which may not necessarily reflect their individual ability. 😒
     

    LS12

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  • Apr 22, 2020
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    I don’t agree that candidates should be judged based on which uni they attend. I am a First Class law student and also a barrister in Mauritius and I am not an Oxbridge or RG student. I couldn’t afford to attend those universities but I still made the most of what my parents could offer me. Anyway it is what it is...life goes on and another application cycle will come 🙂
    i don’t think the poster was suggesting they should I think they were saying there are so many variables, it’s hard for candidates who got the WG to share their magic ingredient. For reference I didn’t go to a Russell group and have got to VI for Bakers twice so I don’t think uni is a major factor
     

    WannabeSolicitor24

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    Junior Lawyer 26
  • Apr 14, 2020
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    i don’t think the poster was suggesting they should I think they were saying there are so many variables, it’s hard for candidates who got the WG to share their magic ingredient. For reference I didn’t go to a Russell group and have got to VI for Bakers twice so I don’t think uni is a major factor
    Yep - this is precisely what I was saying - sorry if I was unclear :)
     
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    Sonia_Kawaii

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  • Jan 12, 2021
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    Nadine, to be clear, I wasn't making a judgment on the rights or wrongs of using these criteria when assessing applicants - I was just saying that these are probably taken into consideration (but @Jessica Booker is probably the best person to ask)

    From what you have said, it seems as if you have a really interesting background to leverage into applications - I really hope you find success :)
    Best of luck
    I wasn’t implying anything either just stating how I feel as someone who was not very privileged. Not everyone’s journey is smooth and I know that firms are are more welcoming to that now, but there is still room for improvement.

    Thank you. Best of luck to you on your journey too!
     
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