Training contracts 2018

I don't understand why english people are so stupid and they show that everytime they are involved in something, like the english people who run the london law firms.

How many big law firms are there in London? 100?
All of them have the same practice more or less. Some may have more banking, others more commercial, other more technology. But they practise in mostly the same areas.
All of them have received some kind of award. Best litigation team in 2013, best commercial firm in 2015, etc.
All of them have some offices abroad.
All of them say they have prestigious clients and important cases.
All of them say they have something unique, eg they are the most innovative, they are the most client-focus etc. But all of them would say they have all these features.
ALL of them are pretty much THE SAME.
Yet they want you to answer why them!

In 99% of the cases, the reply to why them is 'because I am a fkin law grad and I need to fkin train and I applied to a fkin whole lot of the large firms to train and tbh I dont care if it is White&Chase or Slaughter&May because THEY ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE FKIN SAME!!!!

If I was an automotive engineer, I would apply to Nissan, Volksvagen, Toyota, etc. Excluding exotic brands like Ferrari or Hummer, they are all the fkin same! You cannot ask that candidate why he applied to VW and not Toyota!!!! IT'S EXTREME HYPOCRISY and IDIOCY! You just want him to highlight your strengths, but they are not really any different than others strengths.

Unless you want to go into something really special like medical devices IP, it doesn't really matter yet these stupid people keep asking that question!

Just received a rejection from Linklaters and Clifford Chance post application.

Freshfields: post-app rejection
Macfarlanes: post-app rejection
Linklaters: post-app rejection
Clifford Chance: post-app rejection
Ashurst: post-interview rejection
Travers Smith: post-final round interview rejection
Hogan Lovells: post-telephone interview rejection
Baker & Mckenzie: post-video interview rejection
Sullivan & Cromwell: Put "on hold"
Shearman & Sterling: No response
BLP: No response
Weil: No response
White & Case: No response

I recently graduated with a first, top 10 in my year group. I have been trying to get a training contract for two years now. Is it possible that I am just not cut for it? I feel passionate about it. I feel I know it's what I want to do but I must be doing something seriously wrong...

If someone has some free time, would they be willing to read my "What are you most proud of?" answer for the Herbert Smith app and provide some feedback? Would really appreciate it! Thanks.

Oh really? Give me an example

If you really can't point out the subtle differences between firms then that's simply your problem and it's no one elses responsibility to provide you with examples because you've got pissy about it.

Aren't you also the same person who couldn't find any cases for the IM BLS stream? I'd suggest you need to spend a little more time researching. People on here are by all means willing to help, but they won't do it for you.

The post interview rejections are concerning. I would assume something is up with your career motivations and/or your justification for that particular firm. There may also be something up with your understanding of what city lawyers actually do.

Have you got feedback?

Ps, I'm also a recent graduate and know how you feel. I've realised that ability is half the story for a career in law. I'm personally not sure that I've got the endurance, stamina, or commitment for it.

I also think its the same person who used to post on both threads under another name , people tried to help them but they would get very angry and annoyed - lets not get drawn in

Just received a rejection from Linklaters and Clifford Chance post application.

Freshfields: post-app rejection
Macfarlanes: post-app rejection
Linklaters: post-app rejection
Clifford Chance: post-app rejection
Ashurst: post-interview rejection
Travers Smith: post-final round interview rejection
Hogan Lovells: post-telephone interview rejection
Baker & Mckenzie: post-video interview rejection
Sullivan & Cromwell: Put "on hold"
Shearman & Sterling: No response
BLP: No response
Weil: No response
White & Case: No response

I recently graduated with a first, top 10 in my year group. I have been trying to get a training contract for two years now. Is it possible that I am just not cut for it? I feel passionate about it. I feel I know it's what I want to do but I must be doing something seriously wrong...

Sorry to hear this. Rejections can be so disheartening especially when you invest so much time into it.

Was the Freshfields rejection for a TC or Vac Scheme?

Also, try and compare your Travers, Bakers and Hogan Lovells applications with others you have done and see if you can see why you made it further in that round.

Did you recieve feedback post interviews ? If not, you could kindly request it !

Sure


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When I did it a year ago it was a call with some outsourced recruitment agency. Expect a very boring, wooden interview. My interviewer was extremely aloof and very robotic. Standard questions like why law, why Hogan Lovells.

However, I am not sure how they can assess the why Hogan Lovells question as when I was asked at the end if I have any questions they were unable to give me any extra information about working at Hogan Lovells or the training contract (and made me feel insolent for even asking). Very strange interview.

Hope they've changed it since, or changed recruitment agencies, as it did not give a very good impression of the firm. But moral of the story is there is no need to feel intimidated, just prepare the standard questions and as long as you sound confident with what you're saying you should be ok.

Just received a rejection from Linklaters and Clifford Chance post application.

Freshfields: post-app rejection
Macfarlanes: post-app rejection
Linklaters: post-app rejection
Clifford Chance: post-app rejection
Ashurst: post-interview rejection
Travers Smith: post-final round interview rejection
Hogan Lovells: post-telephone interview rejection
Baker & Mckenzie: post-video interview rejection
Sullivan & Cromwell: Put "on hold"
Shearman & Sterling: No response
BLP: No response
Weil: No response
White & Case: No response

I recently graduated with a first, top 10 in my year group. I have been trying to get a training contract for two years now. Is it possible that I am just not cut for it? I feel passionate about it. I feel I know it's what I want to do but I must be doing something seriously wrong...

Hi Mowgli5, I was just wondering what sort of questions you got asked in your Hogan Lovells interview? Many thanks.

Hey,

That's a good point. I am going through my applications right now and trying to see the differences.

The Freshfields, and all others, were for a TC.

Ah that's really annoying. Do you mind me asking when you submitted your app for Freshfields. I put one in but have not heard anything back yet

Ah that's really annoying. Do you mind me asking when you submitted your app for Freshfields. I put one in but have not heard anything back yet

There's plenty of subtle differences out there as I mentioned, how the structure their firm, how they remunerate, how they structure their training contract, how they develop their trainees, the type of clients they target etc etc etc.

I'll be frank with you. If you can't differentiate on these fine details then law isn't for you. If you can't spot the differences and use them to your advantage, I can't see how you'd do this same process with a set of similar client documents successfully. And considering that is the day job, are you really going to 1) enjoy it and 2) be cut out for it?


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