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Vac Schemes 2011: Because when you're a lawyer it's never too early!

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Reply 80

trey

billybob13

Do you by any chance remember how long they took to get back to you after you applied?

It took exactly two weeks

Reply 81

billybob13

trey

It took exactly two weeks

Thanks

Reply 82

passenger17a

how much does it make a difference to mention my attendance at a law fair/uni presentation?
i know i worry too much but the application process opens on 1 October. The campus representation is around the beginning of November. should i wait a month before sending off my application? or is it enough to hint my future attendance? you see, everybody says you should apply early. but how do you define "early"?

Reply 83

eve_22

passenger17a

It's always good to mention you have attended a presentation or met representatives of the firm at a law fair. In so far as I am concerned, it seems to add a more personal touch to your application. This is why I applied for open days and attended presentations in my first year. However, if you feel like you can justify your choice of firm without attending the law fair or the presentation, you can choose to apply in October.

However, I don't think that applying in November can actually be defined as 'late', so if you want to wait until the presentation/law fair time, by all means do so without fear of being rejected for applying too late.

Reply 84

Lawstude

God, not long to go now. I cant wait to start the application process, no really, I cant wait :P

Reply 85

eve_22

Lawstude

God, not long to go now. I cant wait to start the application process, no really, I cant wait :P

Believe it or not, I'm quite excited about it too :smile:

Reply 86

icysquall

eve_22

Believe it or not, I'm quite excited about it too :smile:

Me three. There's a part of my mind that's really quite scared about the whole thing and is kind of 'your entire future rests on getting vac schemes' but mostly I'm very excited. Of course I'll be eating my words come December when I still have a pile of applications to finish.

(edited 13 years ago)

I am excited too!

icysquall

Have you decided where do you want to apply yet?

I think I am going to try and take the risky approach of applying only to firms that I really want to be training at in the future. I will send out five or so applications to begin with and see how they go. If I get interviews, I will refrain from sending out any more, at least for the time being. If I dont, I will continue pursuing a VS elsewhere. I am currently most interested in SC firms (think Ashurst, Herbies, Hogan Lovells, CMS Cameron and Norton Rose) and Freshfields.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 89

Lawstude

eve_22

Believe it or not, I'm quite excited about it too :smile:

;=)

It's nice to see a fellow mature student about to enter the process. Have you applied to the lawyer2b mature student "not too late for law" event? =)

Reply 90

Lawstude

iheartlaw

I am excited too!

:-)

Reply 91

Lell

eve_22

I think this is wise as you will be putting more effort in and will be more enthusiastic about the firms :smile:

I'm taking a similar strategy-I've made a list of firms I'm applying to, going to apply to my favourite ones first and continue down the list as time passes on. That way I get the applications in for the firms I really want to work for, won't be rushed and can do some more if I have time towards the deadline.

Reply 92

hingus2000

Considering a lot of firms open applications on Oct 1st, many are very slow at updating their websites with deadlines etc. Most Grad Rec pages still refer to 2009 deadlines for 2010 VC's.

Logged into Cvmail just, Kennedy's (regional firm) seems like the first legitimately open for 2011 schemes.

Reply 93

angelmxxx

hingus2000

The ones I've seen are opening on the 1st Nov I think...I've looked up magic circle and a couple more that take 2nd year non-law students.

Reply 94

eve_22

What do people think of the US firms? I am kind of undecided.... Although I might try to submit a few applications for vac schemes at firms such as Latham & Watkins, Dewey & LeBoeuf and Jones Day. I thought about applying to Skadden, but it seems like they don't offer the most well-rounded training available out there... and I am not sure that corporate is something I want to end up doing for the rest of my career. What are people's thoughts on Skadden and American firms in general?

Reply 95

sandy81

eve_22

Believe it or not, I'm quite excited about it too :smile:

Eve are you going to the event "Not to late for law".

Reply 96

Festina lente

eve_22

The stereotype of US firms is "very well paid, but very hard work": anecdotally the hours are even worse than in other City firms because by the time you've done a UK working day the US has woken up and started badgering you :wink:

I'd think it would be well-respected vac scheme experience though, even if you don't end up applying there for a TC; would seem quite reassuring to a law firm if you already have a decent idea of what it's like to be in corporate, because even if you don't specialise in pure corporate going forward, you will almost certainly be doing some element of corporate support work.

Reply 97

Who'd_Have_Known

eve_22

As far as I know, Skadden only take two trainees a year at their London office, so I had kind of discounted them on that basis- I considered the chances of me ever getting something like this are approximately zero. As has been said, the reputation with the US firms is that the hours are ridiculous... although I suppose they'd need to be to justify the around £90,000 for NQs which some pay.