General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[M1999]

Hi! I attended a Freshfields Virtual Event today. It was a substitute for the Afternoon Tea session they were going to have last academic year. I did submit an application and the event was originally by invite. However, it turned into a virtual event and so I assumed it was open to everybody. Only 16 people turned up in the call so I was wondering if it did end up being selective and if I could include this under work experience or would it be considered a general, open to all firm presentation?

Not all virtual events are open to everyone and you have to apply for most open days and get accepted despite them being virtual!

 

[TC2020]

Hey

Does anyone know if there is a virtual vacation scheme thread? Or just generally a thread on how to prepare for one?

 

[nisadee]

I spoke to the Graduate Recruitment team at Travers Smith yesterday. They said they are still interviewing some people this week and that the remaining places on the Winter vacation scheme will almost surely go to those people.

Glad I saw this just now, guess I'll apply to the summer vac scheme instead then

 

[jam1999]

I'm doing the LLM Law and Legal Practice at BPP but it is literally the PGDL with a project at the end to make it a masters - and everyone doing it including myself pretty much only did so because we needed postgrad funding.

When I apply to firms, should I write that my course is LLM Law and Legal Practice or should i just write PGDL - as i am doing all the same PGDL modules and exams etc

I am worried if i write LLM Law and Legal Practice that, as it is a new course, firms may not realise this is just a replica of the PGDL as the name is so similar to masters versions of the LPC run by BPP and ULaw / will it be obvious that this is an SRA approved law conversion. Do i need to explain it further?

 

[anulciak7]

I emailed them about this and unfortunately it means you can only apply twice in total

Hi! Could you pls share with me an email to Hogan's grad recruitment please? Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi! I attended a Freshfields Virtual Event today. It was a substitute for the Afternoon Tea session they were going to have last academic year. I did submit an application and the event was originally by invite. However, it turned into a virtual event and so I assumed it was open to everybody. Only 16 people turned up in the call so I was wondering if it did end up being selective and if I could include this under work experience or would it be considered a general, open to all firm presentation?

to me it isn’t work experience, but definitely something to include on your application elsewhere

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I'm doing the LLM Law and Legal Practice at BPP but it is literally the PGDL with a project at the end to make it a masters - and everyone doing it including myself pretty much only did so because we needed postgrad funding.

When I apply to firms, should I write that my course is LLM Law and Legal Practice or should i just write PGDL - as i am doing all the same PGDL modules and exams etc

I am worried if i write LLM Law and Legal Practice that, as it is a new course, firms may not realise this is just a replica of the PGDL as the name is so similar to masters versions of the LPC run by BPP and ULaw / will it be obvious that this is an SRA approved law conversion. Do i need to explain it further?

firms will know what it is - don’t worry about that

 

[Velikilawyer123]

@Jessica Booker I applied for a VS with HSF and completed the online test portion a few days ago, after which I got a report regarding my competencies which really didn't seem promising (out of the 4 they said they look for, I had 1 excellent, 1 good, and 2 average / poor). However I received an email today saying I meet the benchmark and my application is now under review.

Do you think they will now review the application together with my score on the online test, or was the online test just a cut-off step that is no longer relevant to further application stages?

 

[Deleted member 2707]

to me it isn’t work experience, but definitely something to include on your application elsewhere

Thank you Jessica!

Not all virtual events are open to everyone and you have to apply for most open days and get accepted despite them being virtual!

Oh I see thank you!

 

[Deleted member 2707]

Anyone having trouble loading Hogan Lovell's apply page? I've been having problems recently.

Edit: This is the error message I got. "We are sorry but there has been a problem processing your request. Please try again."

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker I applied for a VS with HSF and completed the online test portion a few days ago, after which I got a report regarding my competencies which really didn't seem promising (out of the 4 they said they look for, I had 1 excellent, 1 good, and 2 average / poor). However I received an email today saying I meet the benchmark and my application is now under review.

Do you think they will now review the application together with my score on the online test, or was the online test just a cut-off step that is no longer relevant to further application stages?

Difficult to say - could easily be either, it really depends on the firm.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

This seems to be the new "mistake" to make....

Before logging into a Zoom meeting, whether for an open day, seminar or interview - check your log in name.

Had my first very questionable name come up on Zoom this week - came up with something like "XXKovidcutieXX" is in the waiting room at the start of an interview.

But I am also seeing lots of people log in, probably on computers/devices that are shared, and so they are logging in on their families/housemates Zoom account. Probably best to log into Zoom ahead of the meeting and ensure the screen name is something appropriate!

 

[traineehopeful29]

@Jessica Booker

Is not fully completing a written case study the make it or break it for getting a VS offer? The written case study was the last round of assessments

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker

Is not fully completing a written case study the make it or break it for getting a VS offer? The written case study was the last round of assessments

not at all - exercises like this are typically designed to not be finished by a fair proportion of candidates. It doesn’t mean they are unsuccessful - it is just putting time pressure on it makes the exercise more challenging and realistic of the type of scenarios you may face as a trainee. I wouldn’t have recruited probably more than a third of the trainees I did if it was a make or break matter.

 

[traineehopeful29]

not at all - exercises like this are typically designed to not be finished by a fair proportion of candidates. It doesn’t mean they are unsuccessful - it is just putting time pressure on it makes the exercise more challenging and realistic of the type of scenarios you may face as a trainee. I wouldn’t have recruited probably more than a third of the trainees I did if it was a make or break matter.

thank you, thats quite reassuring!

 

[Jaysen]

This seems to be the new "mistake" to make....

Before logging into a Zoom meeting, whether for an open day, seminar or interview - check your log in name.

Had my first very questionable name come up on Zoom this week - came up with something like "XXKovidcutieXX" is in the waiting room at the start of an interview.

But I am also seeing lots of people log in, probably on computers/devices that are shared, and so they are logging in on their families/housemates Zoom account. Probably best to log into Zoom ahead of the meeting and ensure the screen name is something appropriate!

This made me laugh - we noticed this a lot when we used to do our virtual training sessions. It then makes it confusing to address that candidate in a group setting, especially if you haven't met them before!

 

[Rene]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows any firms strong in PE? I have applied to the obvious ones:

- Kirkland & Ellis
- Weil
- Latham & Watkins
- Ropes & Gray
- Sidley Austin (not sure if they’re strong on PE yet or if the PE practice is growing)
- Travers Smith (I think)

I want to apply to more vac schemes than the above but cannot find anymore firms that are strong on PE.

 

[JW]

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[WannabeSolicitor24]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows any firms strong in PE? I have applied to the obvious ones:

- Kirkland & Ellis
- Weil
- Latham & Watkins
- Ropes & Gray
- Sidley Austin (not sure if they’re strong on PE yet or if the PE practice is growing)
- Travers Smith (I think)

I want to apply to more vac schemes than the above but cannot find anymore firms that are strong on PE.

The whole Magic Circle minus Slaughters are ranked in the top two Bands on Chambers UK for PE Buyouts; alongside those White & Case, Macfarlanes

 

[futuretraineecity]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows any firms strong in PE? I have applied to the obvious ones:

- Kirkland & Ellis
- Weil
- Latham & Watkins
- Ropes & Gray
- Sidley Austin (not sure if they’re strong on PE yet or if the PE practice is growing)
- Travers Smith (I think)

I want to apply to more vac schemes than the above but cannot find anymore firms that are strong on PE.

I believe that Debevoise also has a good practice!