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The Official Vacation Scheme Thread 2017!

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Original post by lawgrad21212121
Hello guys!

I've been invited for an interview at Jones Day for a vac scheme. I received the email yesterday and was told that I should book in as soon as possible. Every time I log in to the booking system it is empty (no slots)... I tried yesterday and I've tried this morning and still nothing. I don't know if they have started interviews yet but I'm a bit confused as to what I'm supposed to do. Do I wait? Or do I ring grad rec and ask whether this is normal? It does say I have until the 28th of October to book my slot which is a long time.

Has anyone been through a Jones Day process before that could help? Anyones comments or suggestions would be appreciated :smile:


wow, congratulations! can I ask when you applied?
Original post by lawgrad21212121
Hello guys!

I've been invited for an interview at Jones Day for a vac scheme. I received the email yesterday and was told that I should book in as soon as possible. Every time I log in to the booking system it is empty (no slots)... I tried yesterday and I've tried this morning and still nothing. I don't know if they have started interviews yet but I'm a bit confused as to what I'm supposed to do. Do I wait? Or do I ring grad rec and ask whether this is normal? It does say I have until the 28th of October to book my slot which is a long time.

Has anyone been through a Jones Day process before that could help? Anyones comments or suggestions would be appreciated :smile:


I received the same email and have my interview soon. From what I've seen in other posts and online I think it's questions such as why Jones Day? Why commercial law? And more getting to know you and your application.
I would ring grad rec if you're having problems with the system.
Original post by kaybone93
Hey guys, I managed to secure a TC for the 2018 cycle having applied to mid tier firms rather than the big hitters, after being realistic with myself. Feel free to message me for advice, as I did last year, which was very helpful to me.*


Which firms did you apply to?
Original post by aspriringlawyer
wow, congratulations! can I ask when you applied?

Spoiler

Original post by pumpkin717
I received the same email and have my interview soon. From what I've seen in other posts and online I think it's questions such as why Jones Day? Why commercial law? And more getting to know you and your application.
I would ring grad rec if you're having problems with the system.


Ah thank you! Yes I've had a look at other threads also and got the impression that they are probably trying to get to know you as a person and whether you have potential. I assume you managed to book in an interview slot then? I shall have to ring grad rec then...
Reply 125
Original post by lawgrad21212121
Hello guys!

I've been invited for an interview at Jones Day for a vac scheme. I received the email yesterday and was told that I should book in as soon as possible. Every time I log in to the booking system it is empty (no slots)... I tried yesterday and I've tried this morning and still nothing. I don't know if they have started interviews yet but I'm a bit confused as to what I'm supposed to do. Do I wait? Or do I ring grad rec and ask whether this is normal? It does say I have until the 28th of October to book my slot which is a long time.

Has anyone been through a Jones Day process before that could help? Anyones comments or suggestions would be appreciated :smile:


Hey congrats on your interview! I got an email about an interview yesterday too!! 😊

I did manage to book a slot but there were only 3 left I think, so they may have been taken. I don't know how the system works but maybe they will add some more slots of these have been filled? Or, as you mentioned, it may be worth giving grad recruitment a ring. *
Original post by alexbev
Hey congrats on your interview! I got an email about an interview yesterday too!! 😊

I did manage to book a slot but there were only 3 left I think, so they may have been taken. I don't know how the system works but maybe they will add some more slots of these have been filled? Or, as you mentioned, it may be worth giving grad recruitment a ring. *


Hello! Congrats to you too! It seems people snapped up the slots pretty fast. I checked literally after 40 minutes that I got the email and there were no slots left. But yes, will probably ring grad rec and will keep checking for the rest of the day.
wow its good that you guys have interviews already :smile: I haven't even applied to jones day lol
Original post by putrihut
Which firms did you apply to?


DLA PIPER, Squires, AG, KWM, Nabarro, Kennedys
Got an email from Jones Day saying they're contacting my academic referee before they can invite me to interview? Is that normal?
Original post by hodgey111
Got an email from Jones Day saying they're contacting my academic referee before they can invite me to interview? Is that normal?


Yeah it's normal.

It means they have pre screened you and moved you onto next stage.


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Original post by iano101
Yeah it's normal.

It means they have pre screened you and moved you onto next stage.


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Encouraging then, even though seen lots of people above already getting interview slots!
Reply 132
Original post by lawgrad21212121
Hello! Congrats to you too! It seems people snapped up the slots pretty fast. I checked literally after 40 minutes that I got the email and there were no slots left. But yes, will probably ring grad rec and will keep checking for the rest of the day.


Did you guys apply for winter, spring or summer? Thanks!


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Original post by Radical Fish
Congrats! Could I ask why you opted for Slaughters instead of Links or Hogan Lovells? Were you on their vac scheme as well?


I completed a vac scheme at Slaughters and Links. I chose Slaughters for a number of reasons but the main ones were probably:

1. The multi-specialism approach. I love the idea of being a generalist lawyer, who can deal with pretty much any request from a client and I think a TC at Slaughers would give me the fantastic training required and opportunity to do so. I also think the career would be interesting for longer being a more general lawyer opposed to working in a very niche department.

2. I loved the people. The firm was full of very individual and scarily intelligent people. If I compare Slaughters to every other firm I've had dealings with I found that the whole feel of the firm felt 'less corporate', as showing personality seemed to be more encouraged. People weren't necessarily extroverts, but everyone was interesting.

3. The size, e.g. being much smaller compared to Links, also suits me much more I think.

4. I see myself as a corporate lawyer, and I don't think any firm can offer better corporate work than Slaughters.

I chose to not complete a scheme with Hogan Lovells as the reputation isn't as strong as Slaughters or Links, and I didn't really enjoy my AC.
Original post by J-SP
You can work on your student visa if the vacation scheme is in your university holidays (assuming your studying in the U.K.). Otherwise the firm will need to get you a tier 5 visa for your internship.

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Perfect! However does my visa not only allow me to work 20 Hours per week? How many hours a week do you usually work for a vacation schemes? Sorry for all of the questions!
Original post by J-SP
It is more likely to happen now if you have mitigating circumstances or if there is any question around academic performance.

With some candidates getting an academic reference at this stage isn't necessary if they have a very strong performance. They will get one in time purely to verify someone's results.


Nah for Jones Day they do the academic reference as a standard process between looking at app and then calling you for interview, it's not about mitigating circumstances.


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Original post by hodgey111
Encouraging then, even though seen lots of people above already getting interview slots!


Don't worry Jones Day interview so many people and it's still early in he process so they will have lots of slots. Last year they had slots running from end of September all the way through Feb and early March.


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Original post by J-SP
It is more likely to happen now if you have mitigating circumstances or if there is any question around academic performance.

With some candidates getting an academic reference at this stage isn't necessary if they have a very strong performance. They will get one in time purely to verify someone's results.


Not sure I entirely understand what you mean here. I've got no extenuating circumstances and graduated with a first this year, so don't know whether there would be any question around my academics?
Original post by J-SP
It allows you to work 20 hours during term time, but you can work any hours outside of term time.

Vacation schemes are usually contracted at either 35, 37.5 or 40 hour weeks. Reality is your hours will be slightly longer than that, mainly down to social events.


Thank you so much for this! This was really helpful!
Hi All,

For those who've already sent off/working on the Jones day app, did you start off the cover letter as Dear Diana.... Or did you just dive straight into your answer (bearing in mind you have a 300 word limit)

Thanks in advance

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