General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Guilherme Carvalho]

Not necessarily! There are a few firms that have vacation schemes for penultimate year non-law students, the first one that comes to mind is Baker McKenzie's summer vac scheme but I've definitely come across a few others that I can't quite remember at the moment. You're also eligible for most first-year schemes (which aren't the same obviously but still great for building legal experience on your CV) like CMS First Steps, DLA Piper's Insight Programme, BCLP's insight scheme (I think), etc. Some of these (like CMS and BCLP) also fast-track you to the first assessment centres of the year if you do well on their first-year programme so definitely work looking into!

Thank you! I was having a look at the insight/ fast track schemes and a lot of firms seem to accept penultimate year non-law (BCLP expressly state penultimate year non-law in a 4 year degree which is my position). Most of the deadlines I have seen are in January and non-rolling so that will keep me busy over the winter break. I was afraid the Scottish LLB would restrict my options but it seems like that's not the case at all!

 

[Guilherme Carvalho]

check out this thread about firms that accept applications from non-law penultimate year students: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....timate-year-non-law-students.2820/#post-43044

Thank you I will have a look!

 

[M1999]

For the question ‘anything else you would like to add to your application’ - can you use this space to talk about competencies that will make you a good commercial lawyer? Or is this really to talk about extra-curricular/non work experience activities?
I’m really stuck. I don’t want to repeat competencies that I can put in the work experience section, but I also find my extra-curricular to be quite bland and irrelevant to both commercial law and the firm.
Any insight would be great

 

[Helpme12345]

For the A&O application, the only options for a language level are "fluent/bilingual" or "understanding written and spoken". I have C1 in my second language and feel like my level is higher than "understanding written and spoken", but I also would only say I'm fluent in some business situations and definitely not law. Does anyone know which option I should pick?

 

[Daniel Boden]

For the question ‘anything else you would like to add to your application’ - can you use this space to talk about competencies that will make you a good commercial lawyer? Or is this really to talk about extra-curricular/non work experience activities?
I’m really stuck. I don’t want to repeat competencies that I can put in the work experience section, but I also find my extra-curricular to be quite bland and irrelevant to both commercial law and the firm.
Any insight would be great

@Jessica Booker tagging you in this as I reckon you're the best person for this one

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

For the question ‘anything else you would like to add to your application’ - can you use this space to talk about competencies that will make you a good commercial lawyer? Or is this really to talk about extra-curricular/non work experience activities?
I’m really stuck. I don’t want to repeat competencies that I can put in the work experience section, but I also find my extra-curricular to be quite bland and irrelevant to both commercial law and the firm.
Any insight would be great

your extra curriculars don’t need to be “relevant” to commercial law and the firm. I’ll bet money now they aren’t boring either.

It’s completely up to you what you want to put in the extra information section. It’s really there for anything that naturally won’t fit into other sections of the application form. If you think that should be highlighting competencies not mentioned elsewhere, then go for it.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I have had a few messages about what to do if you “just” miss a deadline due to technical issues.

I want to be frank about this - there isn’t much you can do. You can obviously ask the firm to allow you to apply post deadline, but I wouldn’t be surprised if in the vast majority of cases the answer is no.

My response to “what can I do” is pretty brutal - what you can do is learn from the experience and next time don’t leave it until less than an hour before the deadline to apply. If anything, my general advice is make sure you are applying, submitting tests or video interviews during working hours or at least one working day before the deadline. You have the responsibility to factor in things like potential technical issues and contingency plans for them.

 

[Deleted member 2707]

Does anyone know if it is okay to write PE instead of private equity in applications?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone know if it is okay to write PE instead of private equity in applications?

depends on the context of the sentence, but regularly see people use Private Equity (PE) in the first instance and then PE from then on. If you are trying to reduce word count, I’ll bet money other words can be cut before private equity.

 

[jan28]

Hi all,
if an application is asking 'Which other firms are you applying to?* do we have to specify why we are applying to said firms briefly or is it just wanting us to list the names of the firms?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi all,
if an application is asking 'Which other firms are you applying to?* do we have to specify why we are applying to said firms briefly or is it just wanting us to list the names of the firms?

Either is fine - the suitability of which tact you take will depend on who is included in that answer and whether you feel you need to justify them.

 

[Rene]

Has anyone got the link for the Vinson & Elkins introduction to our private equity webinar?

 

[A92167!8]

Just checking over my Pinsent masons vac scheme app form and just noticed 2/3 of the questions (the spare time q and non academic achievement q) say ‘max 4000 characters including spaces’ but then the last q on why commercial law and why pinsents just says ‘max 4000 characters’. Does this mean anything - are spaces not included in this last question? Thank you @Jessica Booker

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Just checking over my Pinsent masons vac scheme app form and just noticed 2/3 of the questions (the spare time q and non academic achievement q) say ‘max 4000 characters including spaces’ but then the last q on why commercial law and why pinsents just says ‘max 4000 characters’. Does this mean anything - are spaces not included in this last question? Thank you @Jessica Booker

As per my PM, it doesn’t mean anything - it’s 4,000 characters each answer

 

[jan28]

Either is fine - the suitability of which tact you take will depend on who is included in that answer and whether you feel you need to justify them.

Thank you! The firm asking is a US firm and the firms I'm largely applying to are also US and with similar practice focus, trainee intake etc. Do you think they would need justifying?

 

[Larry HC]

Has anyone got the link for the Vinson & Elkins introduction to our private equity webinar?

you will probably get it on Monday, I received the energy one that happened last Tuesday on a Monday evening.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you! The firm asking is a US firm and the firms I'm largely applying to are also US and with similar practice focus, trainee intake etc. Do you think they would need justifying?

No

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker Maybe a bit of a silly question, but I'm currently writing an answer to a question that simply states "What motivates you? (200 words)". No further guidance is given, so I'm kind of confused by how best to approach this.

Should I treat it as essentially asking what motivates me to work at a law firm, or what motivates me in my career in general, or what future plans I have which "motivate" me to keep pushing now? Am I even thinking in the right direction with this?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker Maybe a bit of a silly question, but I'm currently writing an answer to a question that simply states "What motivates you? (200 words)". No further guidance is given, so I'm kind of confused by how best to approach this.

Should I treat it as essentially asking what motivates me to work at a law firm, or what motivates me in my career in general, or what future plans I have which "motivate" me to keep pushing now? Am I even thinking in the right direction with this?

In general is the right approach here - it doesn’t have to be specific to law firms. It is just asking you to self reflect and self analysis what keeps your happy/motivated/driven. It isn’t necessary to talk about future of plans but if you think it helps define your answers, then it could work.

 

[NikkiT]

A question for anyone who has applied to Pinsent Masons - Did you use the full 4000 characters for your application answers? I am finding that using more words is making my answers sound waffly but I don't want my answers to be notably short.