2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Mxkry]

Have simmons + simmons already started thier ACs?

 

[kls]

First thing I am buying with my trainee salary (if I ever get a TC plz god be nice to me) is a cat and no one can stop me

edit: Actually I will adopt a cat and leave a donation at the cat rescue. Cats need homes.

I don’t think I’ve ever related to a post more than this one

 

[GK8997]

Does anyone know the period that Ropes& Grays ACs are happening? Is it just throughout the whole of March?

Heya, so Ropes & Gray just allocated me a date- mine is the 9th March but I heard someone else has theirs on the 5th and later so may just be in March?

 

[Dwight]

How long does NRF take to respond post-WG for summer scheme?

I did mine late last week and haven't heard anything - what about anyone else who got invited to take the WG and did it?

Would really appreciate a response.

 

[jcatherine]

Heya, so Ropes & Gray just allocated me a date- mine is the 9th March but I heard someone else has theirs on the 5th and later so may just be in March?

I got 8th!

 

[JoeyTr]

How long does NRF take to respond post-WG for summer scheme?

I did mine late last week and haven't heard anything - what about anyone else who got invited to take the WG and did it?

Would really appreciate a response.

they responded to me after 6 days so you should hear back soon

 

[ZaraB]

Has anyone heard from RPC post their email of 'we will get back to you at the end of February'?

 

[CorporateB3]

I've never done a vacation scheme before but I have done six open days, legal work experience in house, some more in a law firm in another country, a commercial mini pupillage and worked at a law clinic for the past two years. So although I haven't, I think my background experience has given me just enough context to make a few solid judgments about the kind of areas I'd like to explore. It hasn't stopped me getting interviews before, although for me, converting those into offers has been the problem, and something I've found a lot more challenging than I'd like to admit.

You are so deserving, I really hope something comes through soon. Thanks for sharing this btw, appreciate the honesty.

 

[Dwight]

they responded to me after 6 days so you should hear back soon

does Sat and Sun count as part of the days?

 

[zigzag84]

Heya, so Ropes & Gray just allocated me a date- mine is the 9th March but I heard someone else has theirs on the 5th and later so may just be in March?

I got 8th!

Okay thankyou! I read on chambers that they usually only hold 3 AC days but I’m thinking that might be different this year if there is more applications

 

[Andrew M]

i'm a second year law student and haven't yet managed to secure any legal experience/vs, what are my chances as a third year student applying for vs?

Don't worry about it - I didn't secure one in my second year either. I barely passed any applications, in fact. I've done much better this year (results still pending)

 

[Legallunchtime98]

Hi, does anyone know long HSF usually take to get back to people after the AC? I know in the past they’ve told people the same day but I’m curious about whether this is usually the case- thanks!

I found out the same day for HSF! But I think they said within a week x

 

[PositiveVibesOnly]

Just a special thanks to those who have posted rejections, awaiting and successful apps!

People always talk about their successes but this forum is very good at normalising rejection as sometimes I feel like I am the only one getting rejected especially at this time when I have a few firms that have been silent!

Hey, I really wish I had found this forum before now - I really want to be able to now bring hope to others who are feeling down. I finally have a TC offer accepted, but it’s my fourth year. In second year uni I thought I’d managed it, I had a summer vac scheme with a MC firm, I did well, I tried my best, my feedback was good but the interview went badly. It was a rejection. The next year I focused on uni, did about 7 applications, was rejected at app stage each time. The year after, I’d graduated, I got a job, I applied for more vac schemes, I did a winter vac scheme at a big international firm and my feedback was great but again, anxiety got the better of me and I was rejected at the end because of the interview. I tried applying for some direct TCs in the summer. rejected again. Then this year I applied for some vac schemes, some direct TCs, I made it past the app stage on all the applications, I had worked on commercial awareness, I entered the aspiring solicitors commercial awareness competition, I was doing a masters, I kept progressing through the competition, I managed to be chosen as a winner of the competition, a week after I had an AC with a MC firm, I passed the AC, I got the training contract. I accepted.

For three years I felt awful, I felt inadequate and not good enough and that I didn’t know how to change my luck, I felt like everyone I knew had already got TCs and I was the ‘last one’ from my uni cohort. I wish others could know that if you’re facing rejection you’re not alone, if you’ve cried and felt awful about yourself and felt like you’ll never get your TC offer, if you’ve been rejected by your ‘dream firm’ after spending hours on an application and attending events, I can entirely relate. I hope if you relate to any of those feelings currently your luck changes soon - mine did and I’m sure yours will too

 

[Lillith]

I found out the same day for HSF! But I think they said within a week x

Thanks! I’ve not heard back yet (had my ac this morning) but I’m trying not to read too much into it

 

[RNA]

Does anyone have any tips for a Taylor Wessing AC?
Ive been practicing the general competency Q's and sharpening up on commercial awareness - Big Tech, Retail, GDPR, BREXIT (any other good subject areas that you can recommend???)

Ive never done a group exercise or commercial awareness excercise before so any tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys!

 

[Celestie]

Hey, I really wish I had found this forum before now - I really want to be able to now bring hope to others who are feeling down. I finally have a TC offer accepted, but it’s my fourth year. In second year uni I thought I’d managed it, I had a summer vac scheme with a MC firm, I did well, I tried my best, my feedback was good but the interview went badly. It was a rejection. The next year I focused on uni, did about 7 applications, was rejected at app stage each time. The year after, I’d graduated, I got a job, I applied for more vac schemes, I did a winter vac scheme at a big international firm and my feedback was great but again, anxiety got the better of me and I was rejected at the end because of the interview. I tried applying for some direct TCs in the summer. rejected again. Then this year I applied for some vac schemes, some direct TCs, I made it past the app stage on all the applications, I had worked on commercial awareness, I entered the aspiring solicitors commercial awareness competition, I was doing a masters, I kept progressing through the competition, I managed to be chosen as a winner of the competition, a week after I had an AC with a MC firm, I passed the AC, I got the training contract. I accepted.

For three years I felt awful, I felt inadequate and not good enough and that I didn’t know how to change my luck, I felt like everyone I knew had already got TCs and I was the ‘last one’ from my uni cohort. I wish others could know that if you’re facing rejection you’re not alone, if you’ve cried and felt awful about yourself and felt like you’ll never get your TC offer, if you’ve been rejected by your ‘dream firm’ after spending hours on an application and attending events, I can entirely relate. I hope if you relate to any of those feelings currently your luck changes soon - mine did and I’m sure yours will too

You are incredible, keep being you. Congrats on your TC!

Nice doggo by the way, whats its name?

 

[els124]

Cleary PFO

Does anyone know if the criteria are significantly different for US firms over UK firms?
I've applied for a lot of UK firms this year and passed the application stage for every single one. But I also applied to two US firms (Cleary and W&C), and got rejected straight from the application form. Can anyone think of any reason why this might be?

I'm at a top uni that I know will appeal to US firms, and I got a 1st last year so it can't be my grades. And I've got past the application stage on other applications that require cover letters, so I don't think it's that...

Maybe I'm reading way too much into this but it does feel weird that I've had such a difference in success between UK and US firms

 

[PositiveVibesOnly]

You are incredible, keep being you. Congrats on your TC!

Nice doggo by the way, whats its name?

Thank you so much lovely! He’s my little (not so little) cockapoo called Woody, he’s nearly 11 and been a complete lifesaver during the last year with lockdown as he’s been my daily walking buddy!

 

[ZaraB]

Hey, I really wish I had found this forum before now - I really want to be able to now bring hope to others who are feeling down. I finally have a TC offer accepted, but it’s my fourth year. In second year uni I thought I’d managed it, I had a summer vac scheme with a MC firm, I did well, I tried my best, my feedback was good but the interview went badly. It was a rejection. The next year I focused on uni, did about 7 applications, was rejected at app stage each time. The year after, I’d graduated, I got a job, I applied for more vac schemes, I did a winter vac scheme at a big international firm and my feedback was great but again, anxiety got the better of me and I was rejected at the end because of the interview. I tried applying for some direct TCs in the summer. rejected again. Then this year I applied for some vac schemes, some direct TCs, I made it past the app stage on all the applications, I had worked on commercial awareness, I entered the aspiring solicitors commercial awareness competition, I was doing a masters, I kept progressing through the competition, I managed to be chosen as a winner of the competition, a week after I had an AC with a MC firm, I passed the AC, I got the training contract. I accepted.

For three years I felt awful, I felt inadequate and not good enough and that I didn’t know how to change my luck, I felt like everyone I knew had already got TCs and I was the ‘last one’ from my uni cohort. I wish others could know that if you’re facing rejection you’re not alone, if you’ve cried and felt awful about yourself and felt like you’ll never get your TC offer, if you’ve been rejected by your ‘dream firm’ after spending hours on an application and attending events, I can entirely relate. I hope if you relate to any of those feelings currently your luck changes soon - mine did and I’m sure yours will too

Thank you so much for your kind message, I have been feeling super down lately because I expected this cycle to be a lot better but your message has really lifted me up

I hope you celebrated your TC thoroughly after 3 tough years and if not then bring on 21st June!!

 

[PositiveVibesOnly]

Thank you so much for your kind message, I have been feeling super down lately because I expected this cycle to be a lot better but your message has really lifted me up

I hope you celebrated your TC thoroughly after 3 tough years and if not then bring on 21st June!!

I’m glad it’s even remotely helped, I just really want you to not feel hopeless - I promise if you keep going you will get there (and I’m not saying in any way that the keeping going isn’t immensely hard at times!) Your good news day will come and it will be worth it (even if you’d have preferred a faster and easier journey there!)

thank you so much lovely, it was a champagne and takeaway affair due to lockdown but looking forward to finally celebrating with some friends - bring on June 21st indeed!!