[Official] Willkie, Farr & Gallagher Vacation Scheme Thread 2025/26

[TortillaTC]

Hi @WillkieGemma , I hope this message finds you well. When filling out the open day application form that closes on the 10th, do we need to elaborate on what we learned in each when we list Willkie and other firm events and Forage simulations or just a mere list is sufficient?

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @WillkieGemma , I hope this message finds you well. When filling out the open day application form that closes on the 10th, do we need to elaborate on what we learned in each when we list Willkie and other firm events and Forage simulations or just a mere list is sufficient?

Hi @TortillaTC no - you just need to list them. I would say if a question in any form says 'please list' or 'please detail' that these mean two different things. List means, just keep it brief, detail means tell us more about it.

thanks
Gemma

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi @TortillaTC no - you just need to list them. I would say if a question in any form says 'please list' or 'please detail' that these mean two different things. List means, just keep it brief, detail means tell us more about it.

thanks
Gemma

Thank you!

 

[Alturistic whale]

Hi @WillkieGemma how much information should we give when disclosing mitigating circumstances? Some graduate recruitment teams have said to keep it brief and only share what is essential e.g. the illness and any immediate affects on studies.

While another ex-graduate recruiter advised to be more detailed, e.g. Including dates of first noticing symptoms, what they were, dates of diagnosis and how the condition impacted results.

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi @WillkieGemma how much information should we give when disclosing mitigating circumstances? Some graduate recruitment teams have said to keep it brief and only share what is essential e.g. the illness and any immediate affects on studies.

While another ex-graduate recruiter advised to be more detailed, e.g. Including dates of first noticing symptoms, what they were, dates of diagnosis and how the condition impacted results.

Hi @Alturistic whale I would keep it brief: what happened and when, and the impact on studies/revision/attendance.

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

Hi everyone!

My name is Kirsty Wilkins, and I'll be on hand to answer any questions you may have about our Vacation Scheme application process for the next few weeks, and offer advice where needed. Good luck to you all!

 

[aleks.lata]

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

I hope you're doing well. My question is about providing information about modules done during the year abroad:

I did a compulsory year abroad as part of my LLB at Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada. The year abroad did not contribute to the final LLB classification and was simply recorded as pass/fail on the transcript (I achieved a high 2:1 in my LLB). I got alphabetical grades for each module done at Osgoode, but they were only used by my home university to see if I did not have any resits (and that they could record "year abroad passed"). As a result, I don't know % grade from my modules in Canada, as neither the host university provides it, nor my home university has a conversion table for Osgoode Hall Law School.

In addition, the grades at Osgoode are also ranked on a stricter system than in the UK university, as they use curved grading, meaning the grades are not ranked based on the number of correct answers on an exam, but are limited to a certain number of students who are permitted to get each letter grade (only x% of students can get A, x% B etc.), meaning many students receive average grades they are not accustomed to (like C/C+).

How would you go about that in the application form? Especially, where we have to list % grades for each module, and there is no additional box to further explain the university education?

 

[Amgrad]

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

I hope you're doing well. My question is about providing information about modules done during the year abroad:

I did a compulsory year abroad as part of my LLB at Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada. The year abroad did not contribute to the final LLB classification and was simply recorded as pass/fail on the transcript (I achieved a high 2:1 in my LLB). I got alphabetical grades for each module done at Osgoode, but they were only used by my home university to see if I did not have any resits (and that they could record "year abroad passed"). As a result, I don't know % grade from my modules in Canada, as neither the host university provides it, nor my home university has a conversion table for Osgoode Hall Law School.

In addition, the grades at Osgoode are also ranked on a stricter system than in the UK university, as they use curved grading, meaning the grades are not ranked based on the number of correct answers on an exam, but are limited to a certain number of students who are permitted to get each letter grade (only x% of students can get A, x% B etc.), meaning many students receive average grades they are not accustomed to (like C/C+).

How would you go about that in the application form? Especially, where we have to list % grades for each module, and there is no additional box to further explain the university education?

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

I hope you're doing well. My question is about providing information about modules done during the year abroad:

I did a compulsory year abroad as part of my LLB at Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada. The year abroad did not contribute to the final LLB classification and was simply recorded as pass/fail on the transcript (I achieved a high 2:1 in my LLB). I got alphabetical grades for each module done at Osgoode, but they were only used by my home university to see if I did not have any resits (and that they could record "year abroad passed"). As a result, I don't know % grade from my modules in Canada, as neither the host university provides it, nor my home university has a conversion table for Osgoode Hall Law School.

In addition, the grades at Osgoode are also ranked on a stricter system than in the UK university, as they use curved grading, meaning the grades are not ranked based on the number of correct answers on an exam, but are limited to a certain number of students who are permitted to get each letter grade (only x% of students can get A, x% B etc.), meaning many students receive average grades they are not accustomed to (like C/C+).

How would you go about that in the application form? Especially, where we have to list % grades for each module, and there is no additional box to further explain the university education?

We're in the same boat as I graduated from an American University last year. We have alphabetical grades like Canadian system. Usually, I put them (the %grades) in the range, for instance if the transcript shows A I'll put 93 on the form (the % for each module is not listed on my transcripts but it's shown on my Moodle/Online Portal)

This is how the US grading system which is stated on my transcript:
A+= 98-100
A= 93-97
A-= 90-92
etc

And for graduation honors, First Class is 3.70-4.00 and for 2:1 is 3.30-3.69, this is based on the comprehensive conversion list by most RG universities, you can check on Warwick for the US and Canada https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/admissions/entry-requirements/canada

I don't know how Willkie respond this, but as US law firm they might be encountered it.

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

I hope you're doing well. My question is about providing information about modules done during the year abroad:

I did a compulsory year abroad as part of my LLB at Osgoode Hall Law School in Canada. The year abroad did not contribute to the final LLB classification and was simply recorded as pass/fail on the transcript (I achieved a high 2:1 in my LLB). I got alphabetical grades for each module done at Osgoode, but they were only used by my home university to see if I did not have any resits (and that they could record "year abroad passed"). As a result, I don't know % grade from my modules in Canada, as neither the host university provides it, nor my home university has a conversion table for Osgoode Hall Law School.

In addition, the grades at Osgoode are also ranked on a stricter system than in the UK university, as they use curved grading, meaning the grades are not ranked based on the number of correct answers on an exam, but are limited to a certain number of students who are permitted to get each letter grade (only x% of students can get A, x% B etc.), meaning many students receive average grades they are not accustomed to (like C/C+).

How would you go about that in the application form? Especially, where we have to list % grades for each module, and there is no additional box to further explain the university education?

Hi @aleks.lata

If you have not already done so, please tick the checkbox that states "I have graduated or will graduate from a university outside of the UK" which will convert the fields to a free text field thereby allowing you to freely input grades and results and explain your situation further.

Thanks,

Kirsty

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

We're in the same boat as I graduated from an American University last year. We have alphabetical grades like Canadian system. Usually, I put them (the %grades) in the range, for instance if the transcript shows A I'll put 93 on the form (the % for each module is not listed on my transcripts but it's shown on my Moodle/Online Portal)

This is how the US grading system which is stated on my transcript:
A+= 98-100
A= 93-97
A-= 90-92
etc

And for graduation honors, First Class is 3.70-4.00 and for 2:1 is 3.30-3.69, this is based on the comprehensive conversion list by the most RG universities, you can check on Warwick for the US and Canada https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/admissions/entry-requirements/canada

I don't know how Willkie respond this, but as US law firm they might be encountered it.

Hi @Amgrad

You can tick the checkbox in the application form that states "I have graduated or will graduate from a university outside of the UK" which will convert the fields to a free text field thereby allowing you to freely input grades and results.

Thanks,

Kirsty

 

[Bbhu19]

Hi Kirsty,
I just wanted to ask, does it matter if you write your work experience in bullet points or does Willkie prefer pros?

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

Hi Kirsty,
I just wanted to ask, does it matter if you write your work experience in bullet points or does Willkie prefer pros?

Hi @Bbhu19,

It's entirely up to you. Just make sure, whichever choice you make, you keep it consistent throughout all the examples you provide.

Thanks!

Kirsty

 

[Bread]

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

Hope you're well. I have a few questions regarding the Willkie application form.

1. Please list below all Open-access virtual internships (such as Forage or similar), open days and insight events. Does this mean that we should literally just list them, or should we briefly describe what they involved? Also, should this include only Willkie events/forage experiences, or should we list then ones for any firm?

2. Is it advisable to avoid overlap between the question above and the one that asks about achievements and positions of responsibility?

Thank you!

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

Hi @Kirsty Wilkins

Hope you're well. I have a few questions regarding the Willkie application form.

1. Please list below all Open-access virtual internships (such as Forage or similar), open days and insight events. Does this mean that we should literally just list them, or should we briefly describe what they involved? Also, should this include only Willkie events/forage experiences, or should we list then ones for any firm?

2. Is it advisable to avoid overlap between the question above and the one that asks about achievements and positions of responsibility?

Thank you!

Hi @Bread

Thanks for your questions.

1. You just need to list them. You may notice in a reply to a similar question raised earlier in this thread, Gemma advised that if a question in any form says 'please list' or 'please detail' they generally mean two different things. List means just keep it brief, whereas detail means tell us more about it.

2. Yes, I would suggest that in any applications with word count limits you make the most of the limits you have by avoiding including any overlapping in answer to any questions.

Hope that helps!

Kirsty

 

[WillKitchen]

At the Willkie London Open Day a few weeks back, Gemma gave us the advice to not over-use written notes when answering video interviews.

Unfortunately, I have been a university lecturer for nearly 8 years! So I have a habit of speaking from detailed notes when teaching, recording presentations, guest lectures, conference papers, podcasts, interviews, etc.

Natural delivery, I hope! But nevertheless carefully written, structured, and well-prepared.

I hope this preference will be taken into account by video assessors.

Thank you!

 

[Kirsty Wilkins]

At the Willkie London Open Day a few weeks back, Gemma gave us the advice to not over-use written notes when answering video interviews.

Unfortunately, I have been a university lecturer for nearly 8 years! So I have a habit of speaking from detailed notes when teaching, recording presentations, guest lectures, conference papers, podcasts, interviews, etc.

Natural delivery, I hope! But nevertheless carefully written, structured, and well-prepared.

I hope this preference will be taken into account by video assessors.

Thank you!

Hi @WillKitchen ,

Thanks for explaining. We assess every video interview on an individual basis so we will look at how well you have answered the questions set and dealt with the video interview format. However, it's worth remembering that at partner interview you would not be able to take in a set of detailed notes as you would not know what questions they were going to ask, and it will be important for you to be able to show how you deal with questions where you do not get any preparation time (something that happens a lot in the life of a working lawyer!).

Thanks,

Kirsty

 

[WillKitchen]

Hi @WillKitchen ,

Thanks for explaining. We assess every video interview on an individual basis so we will look at how well you have answered the questions set and dealt with the video interview format. However, it's worth remembering that at partner interview you would not be able to take in a set of detailed notes as you would not know what questions they were going to ask, and it will be important for you to be able to show how you deal with questions where you do not get any preparation time (something that happens a lot in the life of a working lawyer!).

Thanks,

Kirsty

Thanks, Kirsty,

Yes, a conversation with another person is a very different thing, of course.

The most high-stakes interview I ever had was for a senior Lecturer role at a Scottish university a few years ago. That was virtual, but I was assessed by 15 faculty members including the Dean and Head of School. I prepared lots of notes for the Q&A that goes alongside the standard lecture delivery format; but, in the event, I didn't have to use the extra notes all. I ended up being their second choice.

Every interview has to be played by ear, depending on context. And by how we feel on the day, of course!

Many thanks,

Will