Orrick update! Apparently they're finalising the short list and will be releasing the outcome of the written assessment within the next week
Hey @georgiejg,Hello all - this might not be the right thread to post this is so if there is somewhere/someone more appropriate I should direct this to, please do let me know.
I have 3 vacation schemes coming up this summer. I'm really excited but feel quite underprepared in terms of knowledge. I haven't done my LPC yet, my paralegal experience is not commercial and I didn't really study commercial law modules at university.
I'm hoping we are not expected to have too much knowledge but I would like to have a more general understanding before starting than I do now. I'm worried I will miss out on being able to participate fully if not.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to read etc for a good background / or overviews of helpful concepts / terminology. I guess it could be LPC / uni type textbooks but again, recommendations / suggestions would be really appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Hey @georgiejg,
Congratulations on your three schemes! 💪 This is awesome news and a huge achievement.
I agree with @thirdtimelucky about Watson's Daily and Jake Schogger's book. Jake's Training Contract Handbook is invaluable in my experience. @AvniD's point about non-commercial/legal experience still being relevant and important is also spot on.
One thing that I would say is that the expectation of legal knowledge in vacation schemes varies between firms. For example, at White & Case we were all given standardised tasks (in addition to some work given directly by our supervisors), whereas at HSF and Akin there was one standardised task that everyone did, but the majority was supervisor-led. So if you can, try to gain an idea of how you are likely to be assessed. If you are being assessed alongside other non-law students for some of the vacation scheme, I think @thirdtimelucky is right that you will not be expected to be extremely hot on your legal knowledge for those parts (although this will help either way).
I was a non-law student (pre-PGDL) when I did my vacation schemes, so I can only really speculate on what was expected of law students. I would guess that firms are likely to see some evidence of legal knowledge from you. My advice would be to have a look on LinkedIn and see whether there are any other students/trainees who did the scheme and ask them about the firm's expectations. If you can find out from someone who did the scheme as a pre-LPC law student, even better.
Listening to a commercial news podcast daily/every other day, reading Watson's Daily (if you can afford it) and having a look through the resources mentioned above will set you in good stead.
As a more generic piece of advice for anyone doing vacation schemes, my advice is always to use an executive summary (as far as possible) in your written tasks.
Please do reach out any time if you would like any further thoughts or advice! Excited to hear how they go 🚀
Honestly, you should be able to arrange a short interview before the work day starts or after it ends, and if not, you can claim something university-related (e.g. a compulsory debrief with your advisor)!Does anyone know what to do if a TC interview clashes with a vacation scheme for another firm? I am already taking a day off from my VS for graduation so I cannot take any more days off, however, there is only one slot left for the training contract interview of another firm. I am not sure what to do?!
This is really inspiring - congratulations!!Finally today received my MDR rejection, this was my first application in December 2021. This ends my application season!
9 applications:
5 post application rejections
1 post second stage rejection (TW arctic shores)
3 VS offers!
I am so glad I found this forum, it provided some sanity when I was feeling hopeless!
Hi Georgie! I thought I'd share a really useful piece of advice my mam was told by someone in charge of recruitment at a firm who she met on a train (long story I know). While you're going to be doing loads of group activities and networking, make sure the firm has some concrete work from you to assess you on at the end of the VS- apparently a lot of candidates stumble here by devoting too much time to networking, meeting people etc. so make sure you're really utilising your time the best you canMany thanks @thirdtimelucky, @AvniD and George! All super helpful and reassuring !
Your screen name (it might be where I am reading it as Pasta rather than Past A....) 🤣Hi Georgie! I thought I'd share a really useful piece of advice my mam was told by someone in charge of recruitment at a firm who she met on a train (long story I know). While you're going to be doing loads of group activities and networking, make sure the firm has some concrete work from you to assess you on at the end of the VS- apparently a lot of candidates stumble here by devoting too much time to networking, meeting people etc. so make sure you're really utilising your time the best you can
Congrats on getting three VS!
The scheme is running this year but the advert has not been posted yet. Keep an eye out for it onlineDoes anyone know if the BBC Level 7 Graduate Legal Apprenticeship is running this year? Can't find anything about applying, only the advert from last year.
I'd ask the firm who has invited you to interview whether they have any flexibility first and explain you are completing a vacation scheme on the date they have provided.I've got a vac scheme in the summer, and just received an invite for an assessment day for a TC from another firm which is during the scheme. My question is, does anyone know whether a firm will allow you to take a day off during a vac scheme for a good reason?
Hey @PastaPointOfNoReturn (fantastic name by the way!),Hi Georgie! I thought I'd share a really useful piece of advice my mam was told by someone in charge of recruitment at a firm who she met on a train (long story I know). While you're going to be doing loads of group activities and networking, make sure the firm has some concrete work from you to assess you on at the end of the VS- apparently a lot of candidates stumble here by devoting too much time to networking, meeting people etc. so make sure you're really utilising your time the best you can
Congrats on getting three VS!
Hi Jessica, thanks for your response.I'd ask the firm who has invited you to interview whether they have any flexibility first and explain you are completing a vacation scheme on the date they have provided.
If they do not provide any flexibility, then ask the GR team at your VS firm whether it would be possible to take a day off. Be ready to explain why you need the time off though and potentially for them to say no if it conflicts with important elements of their vacation scheme.
You should be honest about it - I think there is more risk in saying it is for something else and then being found out.Hi Jessica, thanks for your response.
So I asked the firm who has invited me, and they have no flexibility. In your opinion, will asking the firm I have a VS with if it is possible to take a day off hurt my chances when they assess me for a TC? Also, when asking, should I be honest and say I've been invited to an assessment day with another firm?
Thank you
Hey! I am also doing the vac scheme in June this year and it's my first time too, are you in the London office?Hi all, Just wanted to know if anyone has done the CRS vacation scheme recently. I would be so grateful for a rundown on what the scheme entails and involves and how they found it personally? I'm doing mine in June and am nervous as it is my first vac scheme. Any advice and help related to CRS will be greatly appreciated!
There is no truth in this whatsoever - any form would state to write it in block capitals if it was required.I was just watching this documentary about life on benefits and one person mentioned that forms to potential employers are supposed to be written in block capitals. I submitted my vac scheme documents in lower case and am wondering if it's a bad look?
Brilliant, thanks!There is no truth in this whatsoever - any form would state to write it in block capitals if it was required.
I haven't received an email either so I am assuming that they don't send themDid anyone who applied for Pinsent Masons TC get a confirmation that their application had been submitted. I submitted on Friday and still haven't received a confirmation email. Also is there some kind of application portal?