General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[S87]

Guys, is anyone applying to Reed Smith?

The app looks a bit weird..there are only two questions!!

 

[futuretraineecity]

A&O rejection for summer VS

 

[Legal_rawn]

If an application asks for any prizes or awards is this the right place to put things like music qualifications? If they aren’t mentioned elsewhere on the application

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi, does anyone have experience with a holdup because of references not being submitted yet? Will the firm end up withdrawing/cancelling your application/offer if the situation drags on for too long? Is it advisable to write to the firm saying you will provide another referee if your referee cannot be reached after multiple attempts

very common in some firms. Unlikely the firm will withdraw your application - they will either just run out of time, find an alternative reference or decide on your application without it.

Can you not speak to your referee rather than providing a new one?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Was wondering if anyone could shed light on the Simmons & Simmons app - the work experience part only seems to let you write about 4 experiences and then there's a box for 'other relevant experiences'. How have people gone about this? Do you choose your four most relevant experiences then write about all the other experiences in the 'other experiences' box, and how many experiences are you allowed to write in the 'other experiences' box?

That’s how most people approach it.

Can be as many in the “other” section as you want.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

If an application asks for any prizes or awards is this the right place to put things like music qualifications? If they aren’t mentioned elsewhere on the application

yes

 

[orange32]

very common in some firms. Unlikely the firm will withdraw your application - they will either just run out of time, find an alternative reference or decide on your application without it.

Can you not speak to your referee rather than providing a new one?

does this apply to cases where they're making a final decision on whether to make a TC offer? I did an AC a while ago and am worried that they are going to not give me an offer / reject me just because of referee delays (which would be very frustrating considering how much work I put in...)

my referee isn't that responsive over email and because of covid-19 it's virtually impossible for me to meet him in person

 

[MarathonNotaSprint]

Guys, is anyone applying to Reed Smith?

The app looks a bit weird..there are only two questions!!

Hey, its 2 questions in the first stage (it is not the graded part, just used for reference if they invite you to an interview), then an SJT (which everyone pretty much gets) and if you pass that stage, its 2 other questions (which are graded) based on commercial awareness and 'why Reed Smith'.

They do it this way to ensure fairness in the process. Hope that helps

 

[S87]

Hey, its 2 questions in the first stage (it is not the graded part, just used for reference if they invite you to an interview), then an SJT (which everyone pretty much gets) and if you pass that stage, its 2 other questions (which are graded) based on commercial awareness and 'why Reed Smith'.

They do it this way to ensure fairness in the process. Hope that helps

Thank you so much for this

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

does this apply to cases where they're making a final decision on whether to make a TC offer? I did an AC a while ago and am worried that they are going to not give me an offer / reject me just because of referee delays (which would be very frustrating considering how much work I put in...)

my referee isn't that responsive over email and because of covid-19 it's virtually impossible for me to meet him in person

Any offer would be subject to the firm receiving appropriate references - that’s a standard term in any employment offer.

Because of that, they would just make you an offer and would speak to you if they weren’t getting appropriate references.

 

[WilliamsJef]

Does anyone know if A and O recruit mainly through VS? I'm tempted to apply for direct TC but not sure it's worth it as I haven't done a vac scheme anywhere else.

 

[Tintin06]

Have the Watson Glaser coming up for NRF and quite worried.

The most I got in a WG was 31/40 for Hogan Lovells and it wasn't enough to get an interview.

This is my third time applying for NRF so quite worried about not passing.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

Does anyone know if A and O recruit mainly through VS? I'm tempted to apply for direct TC but not sure it's worth it as I haven't done a vac scheme anywhere else.

If you haven't done a VS anywhere else, then A&O's VS/direct TC ratio doesn't matter to you. Rule of thumb is you need a VS under your belt first to apply for a TC.

 

[Lawgirl123]

Have the Watson Glaser coming up for NRF and quite worried.

The most I got in a WG was 31/40 for Hogan Lovells and it wasn't enough to get an interview.

This is my third time applying for NRF so quite worried about not passing.

Anyone have any advice?

Hi

congrats on getting the invite. Can i ask when you applied and when you got the invite?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 4851]

If you haven't done a VS anywhere else, then A&O's VS/direct TC ratio doesn't matter to you. Rule of thumb is you need a VS under your belt first to apply for a TC.

What about applying to Freshfields or Slaughter and May? I have already graduated and I can only apply for a direct TC with them. Does this mean that I have zero chance of getting a training contract as I have never done a vac scheme?

P. S. Sorry for jumping into this conversation, I am just interest as well.

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

Anyone got a Grad Rec email address for the Akin Gump? Please could you PM me with one if you have one (thanks in advance)

Just sending out emails to firms for our vacation scheme/insight programme download and already stumbled at A (going alphabetically!)

Edit - firms don't make it easy for you to contact them do they

I know this post was from an absolute age ago, but this law fair brochure from 2019 has a lot of law firm grad rec email addresses, on the off-chance you are still looking https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/files/law-fair-digital-booklet-2019pdf

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

What about applying to Freshfields or Slaughter and May? I have already graduated and I can only apply for a direct TC with them. Does this mean that I have zero chance of getting a training contract as I have never done a vac scheme?

P. S. Sorry for jumping into this conversation, I am just interest as well.

Not impossible at all, but it really makes it a lot harder to do. It isn't impossible, as - for example - Shearman & Sterling stress: https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/2016/05/11/help-i-didnt-vacation-scheme-insiders-guide-direct-training-contract-applications/

 

[Las123]

What about applying to Freshfields or Slaughter and May? I have already graduated and I can only apply for a direct TC with them. Does this mean that I have zero chance of getting a training contract as I have never done a vac scheme?

P. S. Sorry for jumping into this conversation, I am just interest as well.

Hi,

Not at all! So just a little background story, because when I was going through my application process, I was very conscious of not having a VS on my CV.
I applied over two application cycles to get a TC. In my first cycle, I applied for VSs and didn’t get any after a few interviews, and then in the second, I made what in hindsight seems like a plucky move, and applied for only direct TCs- and got one without a VS! So, there is no hard and fast rule about having a VS. It is a pro to have one, but there is no harm in not having one either- in my experience.

Just a couple of points to consider so you’re making best use of your time-

1) Speak to grad rec and find out their position on previous legal work experience and vacation schemes. Firms approach to this varies; and you’re best placed applying for direct TCs at firms, like the MC, where they have a lot more places for that route.

2) Really think about your experience and construct a story for why commercial law. This can be an asset over the usual legal work experience to VS to TC-app story grad rec usually get.

3) Confidence in your experience is really important. Remember that how you feel about your experience is how your app reviewer/interviewer is going to feel.

Good luck with your app!

 

[Deleted member 4851]

Hi,

Not at all! So just a little background story, because when I was going through my application process, I was very conscious of not having a VS on my CV.
I applied over two application cycles to get a TC. In my first cycle, I applied for VSs and didn’t get any after a few interviews, and then in the second, I made what in hindsight seems like a plucky move, and applied for only direct TCs- and got one without a VS! So, there is no hard and fast rule about having a VS. It is a pro to have one, but there is no harm in not having one either- in my experience.

Just a couple of points to consider so you’re making best use of your time-

1) Speak to grad rec and find out their position on previous legal work experience and vacation schemes. Firms approach to this varies; and you’re best placed applying for direct TCs at firms, like the MC, where they have a lot more places for that route.

2) Really think about your experience and construct a story for why commercial law. This can be an asset over the usual legal work experience to VS to TC-app story grad rec usually get.

3) Confidence in your experience is really important. Remember that how you feel about your experience is how your app reviewer/interviewer is going to feel.

Good luck with your app!

Thank you! Very useful .

 

[WannabeSolicitor24]

If you have done a MC VS, but are applying to US firms this cycle, do you really have to draw out why you would prefer a US over a MC firm in the written part of your application, or just mention it at interview?

(For context, as I am non-law I was not eligible to apply for US firms last year)