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

Just got offered a mini-pupillage at a medium set in London! :-p

I know this is vac schemes, but I thought I would still post here :P

Aww, congrats Optical_71, eve_22 and Lawstude!!!

I love how positive this thread has been lately

It does sound intense but actually really good as you should get a feel for what they're really like and I think it's fairer to be assessed in a few different ways. Do you have it before Christmas or do they start doing them in the new year? Good luck

I haven't heard anything from any firms in my new batch of post-rejection applications but I expect it might be January before they get to me so I'm not worried about the silence yet!

It should definitely get easier with practice but you're in a great position to go in with confidence anyway, knowing that you have at least have one scheme sorted already.

Btw do you know what the Ashurst procedure is for assessing VS students for TCs?

I applied for their TC and then decided to apply for the VS as well, as am starting to think a London VS would be useful and the application process is so handy (not having to fly in for interview etc). Now wondering if they'll think it's a bit strange that I already applied for both!

Thinking about applying for White & Case VS as well as I like them too (already applied for TC a couple of weeks ago). They also decide just based on the apps. I can really only scrape together enough holiday for one VS (and these probably clash) so I'm considering whether to wait to hear from Ashurst and only applying to W&C if I don't get it, or just getting the application in now anyway (as I would only have to slightly change the TC one I submitted) and seeing what happens.

I didn't explain why I applied for the TC before the VS, but just explained why I want to do the VS and mentioned that I am also applying for TC. They can see from my info that I work full-time so I suppose they will realise I had to sort out whether or not I'd be able to take two weeks off for the scheme.

Good to know about White & Case, thanks!

Hello, for those of you who have applied to Herbert Smith, did you have any problems with the online test? I have logged in to cvmail, but instead of a test link it simply says "TBA". I applied on Sunday morning so I think it should have been processed by now?

Simmons and Simmons offer!!!

Did the tests last Sat., verbal,inductive and judgement, no technical problems. Did u not follow the e-mail link after submit. appl. form?

Hey,

I've just been accepted onto an SJ BERWIN open day in January. I swear I applied for a vac scheme or a training contract with them (I dont remember, it was so long ago)- is this 'open day' just a euphemism for assessment centre? The schedule just seems like an ordinary open day:
coffee
talks
tour of office
interview tips
interactive element in the afternoon
farewell tea

Surely this is an open day right?

Ps having just done a vac scheme in the financial services department of a law firm (ie hedge funds) those of you who don't like the nitty gritty of finance (MIFID II, AIFM Directive etc) will really not enjoy your time in these departments, and should reconsider why you are applying to firms which are weighted so heavily towards finance/corporate. (hate to sound pessimistic, but I think it is a fair thing to say)

Hi all - wondering if you could help me. I got an email today inviting me to sj berwins open day in January. I applied to them for their VS and as there was a box for open day which I could pick as well, I did! Anyway - now i have this open day I was wondering if someone could tell me if I am now counted out of the vs as obviously haven't got an interview for it. OR because I applied for a summer vs, maybe this opportunity to "get to know me over a full day in the office" could potentially lead onto a VS if I impress? They are paying for me to come down from Edinburgh too.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have. X

It does indeed seem like an open day. Apparently, a lot of people who are invited to these ultimately get on the vac scheme, so it is definitely a good sign that you got asked to attend.

Where did you do your VS? I suspect this comment might have been partly directed at my post regarding finance (or it may have been a coincidence too)
I have to say that I disagree with your observation to an extent. City firms don't just specialise in finance (with an exception of A&O, which seems to be largely concentrated on finance) and there is plenty of other practice areas that one could end up qualifying into. For example, I find securitisation quite interesting, in the same way as I do financial regulatory matters, loan markets, banking litigation and etc., but I am not a huge fan of credit derivatives. However, this does not mean I should be deterred from applying to firms like Ashurst which does indeed specialise in corporate & finance - corporate law is definitely something that I am very interested in and there is plenty of specialisation options within it for me to avoid specialising in derivatives.

Eve- to understand many financial regulatory matters (especially one of the most important recent developments- MIFID II) you really need to understand the instruments they are regulating (eg derivatives, amongst others) but I completely understand and accept your point that there is a huge variety in most commercial firms, and that corporate is quite different!

I was offered an Sj Berwin open day couple of years ago (uni specific). From what I remember, their grad recruitment people said that you had a much better chance of getting a VS after an open day, and a much better chance of getting a TC after a VS.

So, it's good news but only the first step I think.