[CareerinLaw]

Hi Jess,

I was wondering how Freshfields viewed applicants who had spent a couple of years in a different career?

Obviously, you would not discriminate against age, but would you offer any specific advice to training contract candidates aged 23-25, rather than those aged 20/21.

Many thanks

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by CareerinLaw)
Hi Jess,

I was wondering how Freshfields viewed applicants who had spent a couple of years in a different career?

Obviously, you would not discriminate against age, but would you offer any specific advice to training contract candidates aged 23-25, rather than those aged 20/21.

Many thanks

Last night we were in Manchester with the Lawyer2B who ran an event designed for mature students and career changers to give them some advice/guidance about applying to law firms. We will be at the same event in London that takes place in early 2012. If the event is of interest I think you can still apply, so visit http://www.l2bnottoolateforlaw.co.uk.

This is the second year we have been involved with these events with the Lawyer2B as we recognise there are not the same campus recruitment activities for someone who might be a career changer. Where we have a number of people at various different levels within the firm, who did come to the career at a slightly later stage or via a different route, we see it as important to reach out to those candidates to ensure we recruit the best talent for the firm.

My advice wouldn't really be any different to someone who is straight out of their first degree at the age of 20/21. You have to demonstrate the same skills, qualities and motivations. If anything, someone who is applying at a later stage in their academic career or already having started a career in another sector might have more things to talk about to demonstrate these skills and qualities. Therefore, the difficulty can often be about how you condense your experiences on to an application form or CV - but a lot of other candidates would be jealous of those who can be more selective in what they put down!

I do think you have to demonstrate clear rationale for your decision to move across from a different career, without being too negative about why your previous career was not for you. I think if you have had significant experience and responsibility in previous roles you also need to recognise that you will be starting in an entry level role but show that you know what you are letting yourself in for and why you think you will be interested/motivated to do the work at this level.

One final tip - don't go into too much detail of your previous work experience on an application form. I have seen candidates spend too much of their word count explaining the day to day workings of their job and neglect the other things we want to see (extra-curricular activities/outside interests/positions of responsibility).

I hope this is of help.

Regards

Jess

[uktrainees@freshfields]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick reminder that applications for our 2 day non-law workshop and our general open day for law students will close this Friday (9 December).

I do recommend getting your application in as soon as possible. To apply, please send a CV and covering email to recruitmentevents@freshfields.co m.

Kind Regards

Jess

[slowdowngandhi]

Hi Jess

When it says the covering email has to be less than one page of A4, what margins are you using? It's just that for work we use custom (1cm all round), for university we get told to use narrow and then there's a "normal" setting in Word too. I know it's a silly question but it makes a couple of paragraphs difference on my covering email and I wouldn't want it to get cut off if you're using wider ones than I'm used to.

Thanks!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by slowdowngandhi)
Hi Jess

When it says the covering email has to be less than one page of A4, what margins are you using? It's just that for work we use custom (1cm all round), for university we get told to use narrow and then there's a "normal" setting in Word too. I know it's a silly question but it makes a couple of paragraphs difference on my covering email and I wouldn't want it to get cut off if you're using wider ones than I'm used to.

Thanks!

Hi there,

To be honest I wouldn't worry too much about the paragraph margins. The more important part is to make sure your written communication style in your covering letter is clear and concise and focuses on what your CV doesn't cover (e.g. your career motivation/what you are hoping to get out of the open day or workshop).

My advice to people in often to approach structuring the letter as how a lawyer might approach a letter to a client. Writing more is not necessarily better. Make sure it focuses on the most important areas and let your CV talk for itself in terms of your experiences. Sometimes the most persuasive writing is that which is to the point and in a logical structure.

I hope that is of help.

Regards

Jess

[slowdowngandhi]

Perfect, thank you!

[Young Pretender]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)
x

Dear Jess,

I wondering if you would be able to say how many places are available for the non law workshop?

Also, on your website it mentioned on the workshop you talk to trainees and partners, is this more of a general chat about the profession or do you actively shadow a trainee or partner in a particular practice?

Kind regards,

YP

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by Young Pretender)
Dear Jess,

I wondering if you would be able to say how many places are available for the non law workshop?

Also, on your website it mentioned on the workshop you talk to trainees and partners, is this more of a general chat about the profession or do you actively shadow a trainee or partner in a particular practice?

Kind regards,

YP

Hi there,

The first day of the workshop will consist of talks and practical exercises. This will include an opportunity to meet with lawyers at all different levels from different practice areas.

The second day will consist of a case study and work shadowing with a current trainee.

We are currently finalising the timetable for the event, so if you think there is anything we should include, we would like to hear your (or anyone else's) thoughts.

Kind Regards

Jess

[Young Pretender]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)
Hi there,

The first day of the workshop will consist of talks and practical exercises. This will include an opportunity to meet with lawyers at all different levels from different practice areas.

The second day will consist of a case study and work shadowing with a current trainee.

We are currently finalising the timetable for the event, so if you think there is anything we should include, we would like to hear your (or anyone else's) thoughts.

Kind Regards

Jess

Thank you for the reply. I am afraid I don't have any input, the workshop seems very comprehensive as it is.

[glittergulch]

(Original post by uktrainees@freshfields)
The online verbal reasoning test scores do not work on a percentage basis nor a "X out of Y" score.

You result is ranked against 1000's of other people who have taken the test who have applied for a similar role to you and educated to a similar level, and this results in a percentile score. Ultimately the higher the percentile score the better (on a scale of 1-99).

There are example questions and a practice test on the SHL website: http://www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html. I do recommend having a look at the tests so you can become more familiar and hopefully more confident with the type of questions you may get during the test. Alternatively your careers service may have some paper based versions of similar tests.

I hope this is of help

Regards

Jess

Thanks for your reply.

I was also wondering what percentage of applicants is interviewed?

[Phantom_X]

Hi, you guys rejected me from your vac scheme. How do I find out why ?

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by Phantom_X)
Hi, you guys rejected me from your vac scheme. How do I find out why ?

Hi there,

If you were interviewed then we do provide feedback and you would be more than welcome to call us to get this feedback over the phone.

We cannot provide feedback if you were unsuccessful at the application stage, due to the number of applications we receive.

Kind Regards

Jess

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by glittergulch)
Thanks for your reply.

I was also wondering what percentage of applicants is interviewed?

Hi there,

We do not go on a percentage basis of interviews. It does tend to vary depending on the number of applications received/the quality etc.

We tend to run approximately 200-220 interviews for our vacation schemes and around 380-400 interviews for our training contracts each year though.

Regards

Jess

[alibaba03]

Hi,

I've recently completed the online application for Freshfields and am just waiting to do my verbal reasoning test which I'm aiming to finish today. I was wondering firstly, whether the results of the test are viewed alongside other aspects of the application or whether there is a cut off point at which if one is ranked X out of Y number of applicants that year, they automatically get rejected?

Secondly, how long roughly after completion of the verbal reasoning test do you send out information about interviews?

Thank you!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by alibaba03)
Hi,

I've recently completed the online application for Freshfields and am just waiting to do my verbal reasoning test which I'm aiming to finish today. I was wondering firstly, whether the results of the test are viewed alongside other aspects of the application or whether there is a cut off point at which if one is ranked X out of Y number of applicants that year, they automatically get rejected?

Secondly, how long roughly after completion of the verbal reasoning test do you send out information about interviews?

Thank you!

Hi there,

The verbal reasoning test score is assessed alongside other aspects of the application form, predominantly academics and the written style of the form.

We try to get back to candidates within 2 working weeks of them completing the online verbal reasoning test.

Regards

Jess

[tkend]

Hi there,

I was just wondering, as a first year non-law student there doesn't seem to be many opportunities to obtain work experience from firms such as Freshfields. What would you recommend I should start doing now in order to make sure I have a strong application 2 years down the line when it comes to training contract applications.

Thanks very much for your help!

[uktrainees@freshfields]

(Original post by tkend)
Hi there,

I was just wondering, as a first year non-law student there doesn't seem to be many opportunities to obtain work experience from firms such as Freshfields. What would you recommend I should start doing now in order to make sure I have a strong application 2 years down the line when it comes to training contract applications.

Thanks very much for your help!

Hi there,

Many firms will offer first year open days, workshops or insight programmes. These tend to run in the Spring holidays or the early part of the summer. I do recommend keeping an eye out for them as they can be great addition to your CV/application form when you then think about applying for vacation schemes or training contracts.

We will be running a first year workshop in April. Applications will open in mid-late January, so do visit our website then (www.freshfields.com/uktrainees) for further information

Added to this, do look out for events on campus that might give you an insight into life as a lawyer in a commercial firm. Many firms will run case studies or networking events in the spring term and the start of your second year. These are usually run through the university law societies or alternatively the career service.

Do also look out for any other opportunities to develop your skills through your extra-curricular activities. Putting your hand up for further responsibility in the clubs, teams or societies you are involved in will also look good on future application forms if you can balance them with your studies.

Kind Regards

Jess

[uktrainees@freshfields]

Hi everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed the festive break.

Just a quick reminder that applications for our summer vacation scheme close at 23.59 on Monday 9 January. However, I would recommend completing your application form as soon as possible as for the last two years we have filled our remaining interview slots by the time the last application forms and online verbal reasoning tests have been completed.

To apply for a vacation scheme, please visit, http://careers.freshfields.com/globa...n-schemes.aspx.

In the next couple of weeks we will also be announcing our international placements which will be available to anyone who accepts a place on our London programme.

Kind Regards

Jess

Trainee Recruitment Manager
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

[uktrainees@freshfields]

Hi everyone,

We have just announced the international placements opportunities for our 2012 vacation schemes.

Anyone who accepts a place on our London programme can apply for an extra week in any of the following offices: Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Madrid, New York, Paris and Washington.

Regards

Jess

[Med2Ky]

Hello,

Just wanted your to seek your opinion as a recruiter on the following Traininc Contract application matter.

I currently have a lot of US non-legal work experience on my CV (every summer), as well as a US LL.M, and intend to sit the New York Bar exam this coming summer. I have no intention to practice in the US, but these opportunities came to me and were of course too good to turn down.

How would you suggest demonstrating my commitment to practicing English law/practicing in the UK, and do you think that as a recruiter it would look suspicuous that my CV and experience if very US-centric?