Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

AspiringLawyer

Active Member
Dec 30, 2019
13
1
Have a read over the voluntary code of best recruitment practice to see what “moral obligations” everyone has:

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/to...ry-code-of-recruitment-for-trainee-solicitors

However, as it is voluntary, many firms don’t stick to it. If they don’t, my advice is you don’t either.

Beyond this, the only time you will find an issue with reneging on an offer is if you have received some form of financial support from them. That could include enrolment into the GDL/LPC, any maintenance fees or awards (eg some firms will give future trainees an extra amount of money for achieving a first in their degree).

Unfortunately people renege graduate programme offers all the time (although less so in law given the upfront need to study). It isn’t great, and don’t expect to work for the company again in the near future, but plenty do it with no issues whatsoever.

Hi Jessica,

Many thanks for sending that through, it was very helpful.

Based on the voluntary code, and in your experience, is it worth asking the employer for an extension to to the time limit of an offer to September 15 rather than accept and potentially renege on the offer in the future or is this rarely granted?

LPC funding is also being provided, however because of the TC being for September 2022, I won't be enrolled until 2021 so hopefully the receipt of financial support should not be an added issue as this will be supplied closer to the time.
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,342
19,157
Hi Jessica,

Many thanks for sending that through, it was very helpful.

Based on the voluntary code, and in your experience, is it worth asking the employer for an extension to to the time limit of an offer to September 15 rather than accept and potentially renege on the offer in the future or is this rarely granted?

LPC funding is also being provided, however because of the TC being for September 2022, I won't be enrolled until 2021 so hopefully the receipt of financial support should not be an added issue as this will be supplied closer to the time.

if you are a penultimate year student, yes. You can use the code as your basis for this request. If they say no, then it’s up to you what to do, but as I said, if they don’t abide by the code there is no reason you should.
 

Pallatablelawyer

Legendary Member
Jun 12, 2019
257
642
Hi Jessica,

I was wondering what much legal experience firms expect when a candidate applies for direct training contract? I only decided to pursue a career in Commercial Law earlier this year and I desperately tried to get legal experience with local firms but then the lockdown happened. I didn't study law, I did a couple of virtual internships with Inside Sherpa, attended university talks,w about Commercial Law and Bright Network Virtual Internship. I wonder whether I have any chance of getting direct training contract if I have a good explanation of why law ?

I would apply for vac scheme but I am working full time in hospitality in getting two weeks off at certain time period is quite hard especially in December and Summer time.
personally i would say you have as good a chance as anyone. You already have why law from virtual internships. Hopefully you have good academics too.. make sure your application questions are great then you stand a great chancd
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 4851

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,342
19,157
Hi Jessica,

I was wondering what much legal experience firms expect when a candidate applies for direct training contract? I only decided to pursue a career in Commercial Law earlier this year and I desperately tried to get legal experience with local firms but then the lockdown happened. I didn't study law, I did a couple of virtual internships with Inside Sherpa, attended university talks,w about Commercial Law and Bright Network Virtual Internship. I wonder whether I have any chance of getting direct training contract if I have a good explanation of why law ?

I would apply for vac scheme but I am working full time in hospitality in getting two weeks off at certain time period is quite hard especially in December and Summer time.

There is no set answer to this. It will vary from firm to firm, it will even vary candidate for candidate - if their non legal work experience demonstrates transferable skills/knowledge and they nail any motivational questions, they might not need any legal work experience. I have seen it happen anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 4851

acceleratedlaw

Legendary Member
Jan 27, 2020
132
295
hi jessica, i wanted to ask abt following up after a vac scheme regarding TC. i know that some people have already heard back last week with offers from the firm, and i was wondering if i should be a bit more patient and give it time, or reach out and ask for an update? not sure how much reaching out actually is, but admittedly it's more for my peace of mind i suppose. for context, the vac scheme ended on the 26th of June
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,342
19,157
If people only heard back last week, then unfortunately you will need to wait. If you haven’t heard anything by the end of next week, give them a call.
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,342
19,157
@Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. Wanted to ask you that during a contract review task at a VS, is the firm seeking only grammatical inputs or are they also checking how suggestive we are in terms of what can make the contract more effective and less ambiguous?
Thanks.

It will be any critical analysis. Accuracy, ambiguity, style, grammar, conciseness, content, necessity, contradictions, non grammatical mistakes.
 
  • ℹ️
Reactions: futuretraineesolicitor

BiancaR

Star Member
Future Trainee
Junior Lawyer 12
  • Jun 8, 2020
    40
    177
    Hi Jessica- hope you're staying well! I was hoping to ask you if firms consider applicants who haven't attended Open Days? Since I'm an international student, most of my engagement with firms has been through online webinars/law fairs/open evenings at my university. Will this hurt my application?
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Hi Jessica- hope you're staying well! I was hoping to ask you if firms consider applicants who haven't attended Open Days? Since I'm an international student, most of my engagement with firms has been through online webinars/law fairs/open evenings at my university. Will this hurt my application?

    yes - plenty of people apply having not attended a face to face open day, and that’s only going to be even more so the case. Don’t worry about it
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BiancaR and Daniel Boden

    dosblancos7

    Legendary Member
    Feb 16, 2019
    267
    434
    Hi Jessica

    I have a query about emails(I hope this isn't too pedantic). In the last VS cycle, I often used my uni email address to apply to firms, though since March, my browser keeps showing a 404 error, meaning I can't log onto the email unless I do so through incognito, or if I wipe my cookies. As a result, I now use my gmail to apply to firms.

    Will this be an issue as I don't want firms to think I'm sending duplicate apps! If it helps, for Freshfields & W/C I also said how I applied earlier to their VS/First Insight Schemes, where in the "have you applied to us before" box.

    Thanks!
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Hi Jessica

    I have a query about emails(I hope this isn't too pedantic). In the last VS cycle, I often used my uni email address to apply to firms, though since March, my browser keeps showing a 404 error, meaning I can't log onto the email unless I do so through incognito, or if I wipe my cookies. As a result, I now use my gmail to apply to firms.

    Will this be an issue as I don't want firms to think I'm sending duplicate apps! If it helps, for Freshfields & W/C I also said how I applied earlier to their VS/First Insight Schemes, where in the "have you applied to us before" box.

    Thanks!

    no it’s not an issue. The only time it would be an issue is if you applied with different emails to the same vacancy in the same cycle or if the firm only allows one application per cycle and you have exceeded that.
     
    • ℹ️
    Reactions: dosblancos7

    RS Sinatra

    Active Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    M&A Bootcamp
    May 29, 2020
    10
    4
    Hi Jessica

    Are we supposed to repeat what we wrote in our applications during the interview? Specially the repetitive questions like Why law? and Why X firm? or are we supposed to give different answers?

    Thank you
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Hi Jessica

    Are we supposed to repeat what we wrote in our applications during the interview? Specially the repetitive questions like Why law? and Why X firm? or are we supposed to give different answers?

    Thank you

    no - I’d expect questions in an interview to be more specific and therefore your answers tailored to that and more detailed/thorough
     
    • ℹ️
    Reactions: RS Sinatra

    hh567

    New Member
    Jul 17, 2020
    1
    0
    Hi Jessica. What is a reasonable explanation for asking for an extension to a training contract offer deadline?

    I have further vacation schemes and assessment centres in the next few weeks but have only been given two weeks to accept.
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Hi Jessica. What is a reasonable explanation for asking for an extension to a training contract offer deadline?

    I have further vacation schemes and assessment centres in the next few weeks but have only been given two weeks to accept.

    unfortunately only another 2 weeks if you are a final year student/graduate or until mid September if you are a penultimate year student.

    As I have said before though, if the firm isn’t abiding by the code of best practice (which they aren’t if they are only giving you two weeks) then you don’t have to either. You could accept and then renege
     

    futuretraineesolicitor

    Legendary Member
    Forum Winner
    Dec 14, 2019
    951
    398
    @Jessica Booker Hope you are doing well. Wanted to ask you, how much sense does interning at a law firm's best friend firm make? Linklaters has an Indian best friend by the name of Talwar Thakore Associates- so is it a good idea to intern at the Indian firm? If yes then are there any key skills that we can pull out of the experience as opposed to interning at just any Tier-1 law firm in India. Basically, what else can we add to the work ex section in case we have interned at the Best Friend firm as opposed to an internship done at a firm of a similar level (ranking wise) but not a best friend.
     

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.