[Clip]

(Original post by jacketpotato)
Honestly I would give you a job right there and then. I struggle to understand why large organisations like law firms (not only law firms) can be some incompetent when it comes to things like this. Don't know if HR will see it the same way though!!!!

My wife is an HR officer. She claims that firms very often delegate things to do like forms and new starter packs to interns and work experience people, which then gets proofread by the lowest authorised person (usually an HR assistant), who checks it for the minimum acceptable standard.

My understanding is that firms are generally not allowed to offer jobs before 1st September and have to keep offers open for at least 3 weeks. This mitigates the impact of the circumstances you describe by giving people enough time to determine which firms accepted them and which rejected them.

I took into account the SRA CoP on TCs. Nothing before 1st Sept, don't hold more than two offers, and a 4-week guideline. Thinking about this, it seems to make the situation worse, not better. The longer you can hold on to the offer (and 4 weeks sounds lengthy) the longer the process holds up. Really, they need a UCAS type organisation and formalised window for penultimate year grads.

[prettyprettygood]

(Original post by Clip)
Nothing before 1st Sept, don't hold more than two offers, and a 4-week guideline.

I know people who had more than two offers, before September 1st, and were given less than 4 weeks to decide. Firms don't always follow these rules (unfortunately?)

[Clip]

(Original post by prettyprettygood)
I know people who had more than two offers, before September 1st, and were given less than 4 weeks to decide. Firms don't always follow these rules (unfortunately?)

I don't doubt that - in fact I'd never actually thought about it, but there's absolutely no way of holding anyone to the CoP.

All the criteria are meaningless as they are all effectively individual private arrangements. Only the candidate knows how many offers they are holding, and the firms aren't really bound to keep the offers open for the "thinking period".

On the 1st Sept thing - yes, I suppose it's nothing more than an artificial guideline, if a firm desperately wants someone before then - who's to know?

[brownbear88]

regarding previous comments about applying to 20-30 firms, I didn't mean it seriously. I'm not from a law background so having to research a large number of firms in my interest areas but will only apply to a small number.

If anyone can point me in the direction of firms with specialisms in art/heritage law I would be very grateful. thanks

[Frances99]

(Original post by brownbear88)
regarding previous comments about applying to 20-30 firms, I didn't mean it seriously. I'm not from a law background so having to research a large number of firms in my interest areas but will only apply to a small number.

If anyone can point me in the direction of firms with specialisms in art/heritage law I would be very grateful. thanks

In your position I'd search on Google for profiles of solicitors (such as this one http://www.legal500.com/firms/3597/o.../lawyers/55401) and follow up my research by investigating the organisations/bodies they have joined (e.g. Institute of Art and Law). You may make a contact who is better able to advise you on your very niche interest than a bunch of students and trainees!

[peachmelba]

(Original post by brownbear88)
regarding previous comments about applying to 20-30 firms, I didn't mean it seriously. I'm not from a law background so having to research a large number of firms in my interest areas but will only apply to a small number.

If anyone can point me in the direction of firms with specialisms in art/heritage law I would be very grateful. thanks

following a link from the legal 500 link you get this:
http://www.legal500.com/c/london/pri...aragraph_11894


But a word of warning, heritage/art is likely to be a very small part of the revenue of those firms. If you apply on the basis that you want to qualify into that area, you are likely to be disappointed either at the application or qualification stage. Firms want flexible and willing trainees who will go wherever the commercial needs of the firm at that time demand.

Also some of those firms are quite blue-blooded and I suspect that those lawyers who deal with landed estates are even more so. I know you have a history of art background but I'd advise you to be very careful in your application strategy.

[brownbear88]

Thanks for the links Frances and Peach, this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I actually attended a seminar on probate at Withers recently, I didn't know they had a highly rated lawyer working in heritage there. Very interesting. Regarding application strategy, of course I would try to be as flexible as possible; it's just that it's easier for me to justify wanting to work in heritage than, say, corporate!

[jjarvis]

(Original post by brownbear88)
Thanks for the links Frances and Peach, this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I actually attended a seminar on probate at Withers recently, I didn't know they had a highly rated lawyer working in heritage there. Very interesting. Regarding application strategy, of course I would try to be as flexible as possible; it's just that it's easier for me to justify wanting to work in heritage than, say, corporate!

If you're interested in private client/estates work, there's probably broader scope/more training contracts available--with some potential scope for heritage/art-related work. Corporate TCs are not the only training contracts out there!

Also, have you considered looking outside the box? In-house TCs might offer more of that sort of work, though I don't know that there's many available in art/heritage work.

[richie123]

(Original post by Brevity)
Out of curiosity, does anyone know when the new Chambers and Partners Student Guide is released?

The answer is here.

[beepbeeprichie]

Anyone else wish that more firms put their opening date for VCs on LCN?

[Clip]

(Original post by beepbeeprichie)
Anyone else wish that more firms put their opening date for VCs on LCN?

It won't be until they've cleared out fallout from 2013 TCs. 1st Oct or 1st Nov I would guess for most of them.

[scribble_girl]

Hey everyone - how are we all doing? Finally back on after a ridiculously hectic week...

I've spoken to my boss about the prospect of my applying to the firm I'm at - he's agreed to a meeting and asked for a copy of my CV. Eeek.

I suppose it does no harm to be updating the CV at the moment (although given the tales of application forms I can't imagine it'll see the light of day all that much). I also dug out my degree transcript over the weekend so I feel pretty well prepared for when things open...

It struck me yesterday - only a week until the first firms open up their applications cycle and we can start the moaning/trepidation/development of alcoholism to cope with the drama of it all...

[Frances99]

This might be of interest to some of you.

(Original post by CLICK@careers.cam.ac.uk)
We don't normally advertise vacancies or training contracts directly using CLICK. These can be found on our site in Vacancies and Opportunities and in the law sector site respectively. I thought I would draw to your attention one rather unusual opportunity. It's a trainee post with a FTSE100 major corporate, rather than in private practice. The firm is BT and they are recruiting three trainees this academic year and offer a programme that includes the LPC. Details are here: http://www.btgraduates.com/pick-a-programme/legal.aspx

A couple of things you need to know about the programme. First of all this is a part of their overall graduate management programme and they will be looking for evidence in the selection process of their core competencies: Integrity, Leadership, Team spirit, Communication, Multitasking, Creativity and Enthusiasm. These are all explained on their website. If you can't convince them on these in your application, then don't expect the Cambridge name to do it instead. Most Cambridge grads don't get beyond their application form, because most don't look closely enough at the process and what is required.

Second, the closing date for applications to this programme is 31st December, but talking to the firm they already have 500 applications in for these three positions, so chances are they will close down applications very soon now - so if you are interested, get moving.

[Frances99]

Again, possibly of use to some of you.

(Original post by University of Cambridge Careers Service)
Becoming A Solicitor - Organisations Offering In-House Legal Training Contracts
There is no single source of information about training contracts being offered this year outside of private practice. However there will be a number of organisations which will offer these, possibly via advertisements on their own web sites. Using a list of organisations who have offered these in the past can help you to search for current opportunities.

This link will take you to the latest list (2010) provided to us by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of organisations outside of private practice who had training contracts in place - although this does not mean that firms on this list will offer training contracts every year. Some may only do so occasionally.

[Tanya_Dzirigorova]

(Original post by Frances99)
Again, possibly of use to some of you.

Thank you ! That’s really brilliant! May I ask where did you find it (as this is from 2010).
How do law firms see applicants who just completed in house training, wishing to join their practices as NQ? Is it easier to move from there to a City firm, than from a small regional firm ?

[chalks]

(Original post by Tanya_Dzirigorova)
Thank you ! That’s really brilliant! May I ask where did you find it (as this is from 2010).
How do law firms see applicants who just completed in house training, wishing to join their practices as NQ? Is it easier to move from there to a City firm, than from a small regional firm ?

I would be very wary of training in-house.

There are a number of areas where an in-house TC (and, indeed newly qualified experience) just can't compete with private practice. For example, the breadth of practice areas, the experience of dealing with multiple clients and different partners, exposure to client care/development and billing.

[bevans4]

Dear all, I have just signed up to the forum but have been following it throughout the application cycle (i thought if i joined then it would take up my time and stop me working).

The one thing which helped me to get a TC last year it was going to interviews in the right mindset. I found that I had to persuade myself that I was good enough and the one interview where I felt confident about my abilities was the only one I was successful in. It is definitely worth working out what you think makes a good candidate before starting the applications and then trying to portray that person on the firm.

Also if anybody wants any advice on the process, and in particular applying from not a top uni feel free to PM me or post

[Clip]

Medium sizer full service firm

TC Applications opened 00.01 on 1st Oct 2011

Application submitted 2 hours 59 mins later.

CAN ANYONE BEAT THAT?

[cocacola2]

(Original post by Clip)
Medium sizer full service firm

TC Applications opened 00.01 on 1st Oct 2011

Application submitted 2 hours 59 mins later.

CAN ANYONE BEAT THAT?

AAaaaaaah... 1st Oct is here already.

Thats it - applications starting on Monday.. just going to enjoy the weather for a couple more days

[bevans4]

Good luck with applications everyone