[..x Orchid x..]

(Original post by cocolestrange)
Hi all...just submitted a (March 2015) TC application to Ashurst. Do you know how long they normally take to get back to you? Also, is there any testing involved? Thaaanks! x

Not sure how long they take to get back to you, but there are No psychometric testing or presentations etc. involved.

I saw something mentioned in one of their videos online about a case study. I am not sure if you would partake in such, so check that out.

Best of luck!

[cocolestrange]

(Original post by ..x Orchid x..)
Not sure how long they take to get back to you, but there are No psychometric testing or presentations etc. involved.

I saw something mentioned in one of their videos online about a case study. I am not sure if you would partake in such, so check that out.

Best of luck!

Wow - that's a breath of fresh air. All the AC style testing is exhausting...do you know if any other firms adopt this more straightforward interview style? Thanks for that

[Miss Anna]

I hate it when you spend AGES writing out a particular page on an application form and you click next and its logged you out without saving anything!! arghhh

[systeric]

(Original post by Miss Anna)
I hate it when you spend AGES writing out a particular page on an application form and you click next and its logged you out without saving anything!! arghhh

So write your answers in word and then copy and paste.

[Med2Ky]

"Describe an unusual situation you have found yourself in, humorous or otherwise". Are these people kidding me?!?

[Tortious]

(Original post by Med2Ky)
"Describe an unusual situation you have found yourself in, humorous or otherwise". Are these people kidding me?!?

DLA Piper?

There was a piece around their form in the Guardian a while back...

[Mulberries]

(Original post by Med2Ky)
Just heard back from Sullivan & Cromwell- interested in application, and placing it on hold until after the deadline (July 31st).

Has anyone else received this email message?

Just received the same...! Wondering if this is sent out to nearly all applicants or if we have a reason to be at least a bit happy...

[Tortious]

(Original post by midlandsman)
Thanks, will take a look at that.

That 'unusual situation' question is the bane of my life. Spent hours last year trying to come up with something appropriate for a law firm application and then got PFO'd anyway.

Think I'll have another crack at applying there tomorrow but I'm not sure whether I should use a different scenario. If it's the same person reading it as before then it could go down like a sack of potatoes. Any thoughts on that?

Heh, I take it you posted before you repped me? Not sure that article's much help to you!

I'm in a similar position to you and suffocation1992 since I've got two identical VS/TC forms - I'm planning on rewriting my answers as far as possible so that I don't fall into the same traps as last time around. I think I've got a better sense of what firms are looking for now, so I don't want laziness in filling out the form to scupper my chances!

[Med2Ky]

(Original post by Mulberries)
Just received the same...! Wondering if this is sent out to nearly all applicants or if we have a reason to be at least a bit happy...

There was some discussion on this above- someone applied to Sullivan & Cromwell last year (on the last day of applications); received this same message; and then was invited to interview. While this does not tell us whether the email is generic, it is certainly better than a PFO at this stage.

Although- there is a glaring typo in my cover letter (quite peeved that it slipped in), so this would make me lean in favour of the email being generic.

[Tortious]

(Original post by midlandsman)
Well there's still one or two useful ideas in there. Profits-per lawyer for example. Never thought to consider that before!

That's a good effort rewriting the forms. I'll definitely try and improve on stuff I should have done better last time, but where possible I'll try and use my last application as a starting point. We did a lot of work on them, so it would be a shame to let that go completely to waste.

I can't help but feel some of this is just luck of the draw - I'm really not convinced that my successful applications have been much better than the ones that got insta-pfo'd or ignored. And it wouldn't surprise me that much if someone submitted exactly the same form twice and got two different results -provided it was somebody new reading the application.

How have you got on so far? Any assessment days, vac schemes, etc?

Yeah, I understand exactly what you mean about VS forms - as has been pointed out numerous times (but is worth repeating for the sake of morale!), training contracts are a little less competitive since people can only take up one. I'm planning to rewrite my forms without looking at past applications, then proof-read them and see if there's anything worth saving.

Things aren't going too badly at the moment, although I'm still waiting to hear. Thankfully it looks like my reasoning skills haven't deteriorated since January in time for the next wave of online tests!

[Med2Ky]

"If we found you day-dreaming at work, what would you be day-dreaming about?". I think this may be my favourite.

[Tortious]

(Original post by Med2Ky)
"If we found you day-dreaming at work, what would you be day-dreaming about?". I think this may be my favourite.

Lewis Silkin. I dunno, I quite liked "What do you think are the 3 biggest downsides to a career as a solicitor - and why do you still want to do it?"

It's tough, but in the right kind of way!

[Med2Ky]

(Original post by Tortious)
Lewis Silkin. I dunno, I quite liked "What do you think are the 3 biggest downsides to a career as a solicitor - and why do you still want to do it?"

It's tough, but in the right kind of way!

I'm not applying to Lewis Silkin (I'm done with apps - I think- and just flicking through the ones I didnt complete), but I definitely think that the Lewis Silkin app may be the most interesting one I have seen this cycle.

[Clip]

(Original post by Med2Ky)
I'm not applying to Lewis Silkin (I'm done with apps - I think- and just flicking through the ones I didnt complete), but I definitely think that the Lewis Silkin app may be the most interesting one I have seen this cycle.

I went through the LS application line by line, word by word for two weeks. I cannot tell you how much I worried about some really small details in the qualitative questions. Firstly, the phrase "..right for each other," is different from the usual wording. Second, the day dream question - I wasn't sure if this warranted a deadpan answer - it seems to me that it's just one of those where they want to see what someone will write. Finally, in the last question, there is an exclamation mark "!", and this also (to me) suggests that they'd accept some jocular responses.

"3 Biggest Downsides" was the hardest, though.

[Tortious]

(Original post by Clip)
I went through the LS application line by line, word by word for two weeks. I cannot tell you how much I worried about some really small details in the qualitative questions. Firstly, the phrase "..right for each other," is different from the usual wording. Second, the day dream question - I wasn't sure if this warranted a deadpan answer - it seems to me that it's just one of those where they want to see what someone will write. Finally, in the last question, there is an exclamation mark "!", and this also (to me) suggests that they'd accept some jocular responses.

"3 Biggest Downsides" was the hardest, though.

How do you think that differs from: "What skills and qualities make you suitable for a career at ____?" ? I thought it was just them being more informal in keeping with their image.

I'm just interested to hear your thoughts, but it won't help me that much - I sent my form off a while ago!

[Med2Ky]

(Original post by Clip)
Finally, in the last question, there is an exclamation mark "!", and this also (to me) suggests that they'd accept some jocular responses.

I also picked up on the "!"- I thought it really stood out compared to the formality I got so used to in all the other apps. Found your perception of why LS used it interesting.

[Clip]

That's it. Done. Now waiting for either the good email (long with attachments) or the bad email (short without attachments).

[London2013]

Just had a final interview with the firm I really want to train with last week... now waiting to hear a response. They said they will let us know sometime next week. How do firms usually go about giving an offer? By phone or email or does it depend?

Feeling very nervous about it at the moment, hope everyone else is having luck with their applications!

[Rosey2]

(Original post by London2013)
Just had a final interview with the firm I really want to train with last week... now waiting to hear a response. They said they will let us know sometime next week. How do firms usually go about giving an offer? By phone or email or does it depend?

Feeling very nervous about it at the moment, hope everyone else is having luck with their applications!

In my experience, phone calls = offers, emails = rejection

Good luck!!

[suffocation1992]

(Original post by Tortious)
Heh, I take it you posted before you repped me? Not sure that article's much help to you!

I'm in a similar position to you and suffocation1992 since I've got two identical VS/TC forms - I'm planning on rewriting my answers as far as possible so that I don't fall into the same traps as last time around. I think I've got a better sense of what firms are looking for now, so I don't want laziness in filling out the form to scupper my chances!

I've decided to keep some of the questions the same, albeit with minor tweaks. E.g. instead of saying 'In March' I now have to change it to 'In March 2011' to reflect the passage of time. I looked at my old B&M VS application and cringed a lot - it's terribly obsequious. Going to have to change it, but it means researching what they have been up to recently. I have found a few Firms (e.g. HS) that have fairly short application forms (but a lot of psychometric tests) so that should be okay. Otherwise I am praying the interview I had during my vac scheme went well as I'd love to work there.