General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Sammy Watkins]

Does anyone mind sharing a successful open day cover letter?

 

[Jaysen]

Hey guys,

I know everything gets posted in this thread at the moment, but after speaking with Alice and Jess and taking on feedback from you guys, I've created three new threads:

• 2020-21 Open Days and Insight Events Applications Discussion
• 2020-21 Vacation Scheme Application Discussion
• 2020-21 Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion

Going forward, if your post relates to any of the above topics, please post in that thread instead. Hopefully, this will help to make discussions more structured and a little less overwhelming for newcomers.

You can still use this thread for general discussion that doesn't fall inside the above topics.

Thanks!

Jaysen

 

[George Rowe]

Should we address cover letter to "Graduate Recruitment Team"? Is anyone please willing to review my open day covering letter to Gibson Dunn?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Should we address cover letter to "Graduate Recruitment Team"? Is anyone please willing to review my open day covering letter to Gibson Dunn?

Name of who to address it to in the attached screenshot

 

[Tintin06]

If you know a firm has a 'tie-less “business casual” clothing policy' would you be able to attend an interview dressed this way?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

If you know a firm has a 'tie-less “business casual” clothing policy' would you be able to attend an interview dressed this way?

Yes - although I suspect the general advice would be that the firm probably still wears ties for client meetings, and this has the same formality as a client meeting, and so you may want to wear one anyway.

I suspect your interviewer won’t even be in a collared shirt though.

 

[Lisa Lowe]

I’m really keen to find out more about Covington and Burling. However they don’t have any open days and don’t seem to attend any virtual events/fairs.

Does anyone have any advice for generally networking with firms that have a smaller intake and don’t seem to market their TC?

 

[Manifesting]

I’m really keen to find out more about Covington and Burling. However they don’t have any open days and don’t seem to attend any virtual events/fairs.

Does anyone have any advice for generally networking with firms that have a smaller intake and don’t seem to market their TC?

I attended a session with them at AllAboutLaw’s career fair last week. I can type up and share my notes if you would like!

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker Jess, when it comes to CVs, do grad recruiters typically have a preference for bullet points over paragraphs (or vice versa) when describing work experiences?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker Jess, when it comes to CVs, do grad recruiters typically have a preference for bullet points over paragraphs (or vice versa) when describing work experiences?

Bullet points for a CV - you need your CV to be easily skim read and paragraphs won’t allow you to do that.

 

[Lisa Lowe]

I attended a session with them at AllAboutLaw’s career fair last week. I can type up and share my notes if you would like!

That would be great - thank you so much!!

 

[MarathonNotaSprint]

Anyone heard back from Reed Smith regarding the next stage (SJT)?

 

[XARA]

has anyone heard back from w&c, linklaters, ashurst for winter vac schemes?

 

[Staples]

has anyone heard back from w&c, linklaters, ashurst for winter vac schemes?

No - still waiting to hear from all three...

 

[202023r]

has anyone heard back from w&c, linklaters, ashurst for winter vac schemes?

Not heard anything from Links or Ashurst

 

[0603]

Wondering if anyone has heard back from BCLP? I submitted my application end September and haven't heard anything ever since. Anyone in a similar situation?

 

[OB]

Wondering if anyone has heard back from BCLP? I submitted my application end September and haven't heard anything ever since. Anyone in a similar situation?

I’m in the same position! From a virtual open day I went to for them in August they said they’d start reviewing applications at the start of November so hopefully we’ll hear soon!

 

[sp28]

has anyone heard back from w&c, linklaters, ashurst for winter vac schemes?

Still waiting to hear from w&c too...

 

[M1999]

Hi guys has anyone got any suggestions of how to get legal work experience aside from vac schemes? I’m lacking in that area & feel like it’ll really help my application

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Bullet points for a CV - you need your CV to be easily skim read and paragraphs won’t allow you to do that.

That makes sense, thank you. Would you also suggest using elliptical language as opposed to full sentences? E.g. "Sat on X Committee. Conducted Y and Z" instead of "I sat on the Committee of X, which gave me the chance to conduct Y and Z".

Also, unrelated matter, but I've been trying (to no success) to reach my academic references whom I usually list on my applications. They agreed to be my references for applications back in 2018/19, but I haven't been in touch with them since, and now I'm worried they wouldn't respond if a firm asked them for a reference since they're not answering my emails or calls.

When do firms typically check an applicant's references (if at all)? What if a referee doesn't respond? Do you reckon firms might be more forgiving with that now that it's hard to get in touch with our referees since we can't exactly just walk into their office and ask them in person?