2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Jessica Booker]

could someone give me advice on an application question ''if you had £1,000 to invest in the stock market, what shares would you invest in and why''

You obviously want to try and find an organisation where the share price is only going to increase.

But what is your approach to investing? Are you going to pick something that may have slow and steady increases at a low risk, or go for something that is far more risky but you could make huge returns on (but that you could also lose your money on)?

Are you going to factor in dividend payments?

Are you going to invest in something you are more personally aligned to?

Are you going to invest in a company that you know more about?

Are you going to invest in an industry or market development you are genuinely interested in?

 

[Jacob Miller]

could someone give me advice on an application question ''if you had £1,000 to invest in the stock market, what shares would you invest in and why''

My wheelhouse is currency investment as opposed to stocks and shares per se but, with my very elementary knowledge of the stock market, I would personally buy into the companies that have been hit worst by COVID - think cruise lines, travel in general, etc. Buy at the lows now and sell at post-recovery normalisation.
Remember the rule with any sort of trading is buy low, sell high. Tesla etc might seem like an attractive buy, but you'd be buying massive highs which is always a bad idea because you don't know how long the bull run has left. If you were considering talking about Tesla, you'd probably want to mention waiting for the next dip as opposed to buying at current highs.

From a structure standpoint to answer this question, you want to ensure that you include your thought process and reasoning rather than just answer in the abstract.

Edit to add info which I should've included first time round : agree with everything Jessica mentions here - show reasoning across a variety of different planes is super important, considering ethical investing is also increasingly important.

 

[thewaythecookiecrumbles]

Hi Hana,

Here's a little excerpt from my next Monday Article which deals with this sort of question:

Talking about your weaknesses can be very intimidating, and understandably so: when we are interviewing with a law firm, we want to show the best version of ourselves and present as attractive a candidate as possible. Being asked about your biggest weakness is designed to test your emotional intelligence and self-insight, as well as how you grow from personal flaws. There are a few key dos and don’ts when considering your response to this question, for example:

Do:

• Choose to discuss a weakness which can be developed and improved with time
• Be genuine: don’t try and ‘invent’ a weakness here, transparency in answering questions such as this is extremely important, and it is obvious when a candidate is not being transparent
• Discuss how you have taken steps to identify and remedy this weakness, and what progress you have seen in yourself since taking those steps
• Show your desire to learn and develop as a person in your response

Don’t:

• Say that you don’t have weaknesses, or that you’ve ‘grown out’ of them: this comes over as conceited and displaying a lack of emotional intelligence and self-insight
• Try and frame a weakness as a positive: it is much more authentic to discuss a genuine weakness which you’ve recognised and worked on. It also displays a lack of insight
• Use the “I’m a perfectionist” response… unfortunately, this is massively over-used and is viewed as a ‘cop out’ response. Try and be more innovative in your response to provide a more nuanced and unique answer

Due to the fact that the structure to your response will vary considerably based on the example you choose to give, as such, it is extremely challenging to provide a useful mock answer. Just follow the above dos and don’ts and you’ll be in good stead!

Thanks a lot, Jacob! Will definitely try to follow this in my answer.

 

[Dwight]

Has anyone who applied to FF summer vs in Jan heard back?

Also @Jessica Booker how does grad rec give weighing to different sections of the app? What is the most looked at/given consideration? Grades, personal statement, work experience etc?

 

[Lily721]

I am in the same situation. I tried to stay positive but then I saw someone on TSR that already had an interview and got offered a place on the spring scheme. So I am not really hopeful at the moment. 😞

What, really? Do you have a link to the thread on TSR?

I saw that some people got interview invites, but I didn’t think they would be interviewing nor making offers until they have reviewed the majority of their applications. Like by the time they review all applications, they probably would have filled up all their vac scheme places

 

[Tamaranou]

Has anyone heard from Reed Smith post the research questions??

No not yet.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Has anyone who applied to FF summer vs in Jan heard back?

Also @Jessica Booker how does grad rec give weighing to different sections of the app? What is the most looked at/given consideration? Grades, personal statement, work experience etc?

Don’t know what it is now, but back in my day it was equal weighting on the following:

Written style
Academics
Work experience
Extra curriculars
Understanding on the firm

 

[Sekani Wraith]

Does anyone know or know how to work out Baker McKenzie's core sectors? I've got their core practice areas down, but I always find sectors more tricky.

 

[Legal_rawn]

Has anyone got any tips for the Willkie app? I know I’m late applying for this one!

 

[Peterrr1]

Why do I have a premonition that Davis Polk rejections are coming tomorrow 😂 does anyone know if they’re done handing out interview invites? Thank you.

 

[Jacob Miller]

Does anyone know or know how to work out Baker McKenzie's core sectors? I've got their core practice areas down, but I always find sectors more tricky.

@Dheepa might be best placed to advise on this!

 

[Phoebe]

Congratulations! Would you mind sharing whether you applied for spring or summer?

Thank you! I applied for spring

 

[JayC]

For Simmons written exercise, I didn't click 'Finish' but let the timer run out as I checked over my answer. Afterwards I suddenly panicked and wondered if I needed to click 'Finish' to actually submit my answer or whether it will just take what I had in the answer box when the timer ran out?

 

[Deleted member 3795]

Ah I see! I did the SST too, but not sure what to think about my feedback report displaying my strengths.

I'm the same. Though, I can't imagine seeing your lowest scoring strength is ever going to make someone confident. Hopefully, they come back soon as I suspect it's relatively easy for the firm to identify the applicants who align with their strengths from the SSTs.

 

[Lilz]

I'm the same. Though, I can't imagine seeing your lowest scoring strength is ever going to make someone confident. Hopefully, they come back soon as I suspect it's relatively easy for the firm to identify the applicants who align with their strengths from the SSTs.

I know I am unsure what to think as my lowest scoring one was a team one and I know they value that. But, I know with SST’s your lowest scoring strength doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lower than other people’s strength in that area.

 

[cmaj]

Okay I know nobody asked for a list this detailed but I went through my playlists and realised I couldn't just pick one or two artists or songs so here I am giving you a full breakdown of every pick me up/hype me up/motivational/inspirational song I love. I also love the thread idea and it's been an idea I've been sitting on myself for quite some time. I've got some motivational podcast and TedTalk recommendations too so will definitely look into making a huge thread with everyone's recommendations

Disclaimer: Most of these are rap/trap/hip-hop because that's what I listen to predominantly so if anyone looks at this and thinks I have trash music taste, I probably do but it's my trash and I love it anyway

1. Live your Life, T.I ft Rihanna - Rihanna telling you you’re going to be a shining star? How can you disagree with that?!

2. The Show Goes On, Lupe Fiasco - This whole song is filled with some of the most motivational stuff I’ve ever heard. My personal favourite: “I was once that little boy terrified of the world now I’m on a world tour" (Me imagining myself on secondment 😅 )

3. American Boy, Kanye - For all of you chasing that American firm private equity bag

4. Vivr Mi Vida, Marc Antony - Wish I understood all the lyrics but this was my go to hype song before interviews

5. Forever, Drake - Another go to pre-interview hype song. “Last name ever, first name greatest" = The energy we all need walking into interviews.

6. Written in the Stars, Tinnie Tempah - “Used to be the little kid that no one cared about, so you gotta keep screaming till they hear you out” (Me applying to the same firms after being rejected 9999 times before )

7. Better Now, Post Malone - He’s singing about an ex but I’ve had law firm rejections that sting worse (only semi-joking here 😶)

8. Congratulations, Post Malone

9. Stronger, Kanye

10. All of the Lights, Kanye

11. Dancing in the Moonlight, Toploader - The ultimate feel good song, change my mind I dare you.

LOVE IT!!!!! We definitely need a TCLA playlist of these!!!!

I would like to add:

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams Come True

 

[Jessica Booker]

loving the playlist suggestion! TCLA members have a good taste in music so far 😉

 

[C]

if a VI question asks to discuss a recent story I've been following / opportunities and challenges currently affecting the legal industry, is it good practice to always link it back to the firm and how it can affect them/their clients?

 

[GK8997]

Does anyone know or know how to work out Baker McKenzie's core sectors? I've got their core practice areas down, but I always find sectors more tricky.

I would suggest having a look at the firm's annual factsheet (it's in the same place the firm's annual report is)- it has standout sectors listed on it. I think 2019 it was energy, healthcare and tech and 2020 it was healthcare and tech?

 

[mch16]

Just did the Eversheds VI - feeling nervous as I may have come across as a bumbling idiot haha!
The scenarios are standard scenarios you'd expect but I'd warn you not to prepare too much as the questions require tailored answers to the situation.