Training Contract 2020

Hi,

Well done on your applications! For somebody with no legal-related experience, it is pretty impressive to be successful with Sidley Austin and to get an interview with Slaughter and May. I graduated with a 2:1 Law LLB with honours this year from a RG uni and have quite a bit of legal work experience, but still didn't manage to get a training contract, but that was partially due to me applying so late (in some cases right before the deadline haha) and my lack of vacation scheme experience.

My advice would be not to make the same mistake as me and apply as soon as places open. Most firms open applications for vacation schemes on 1st of October so be prepared because I think the majority of firms look at the earliest applications to come through first. I would also recommend you do some shadowing at a small, boutique firm. They usually just want your CV and it is not that difficult to get experience at such a firm provided you talk to a lot of them. Just call them up, or better yet, go to them in person. It's what I did. Also, make sure you do a vac scheme; from personal experience it is really difficult to get a TC at a MC or US firm without a vac scheme..most don't even leave many places open to non-vac scheme applicants.

Another area which I think may have failed me is my applications themselves; I suck at them . So, can't offer you advice there; you'd probably need to give me a bit of advice on that yourself because you seem a lot better at it hahaha.

Good Luck

Hey,

Thanks so much and I apologise for getting back to you this late! Strangely enough, one of the S&M partners that interviewed me told me not to worry if I didn't get a VS place because they have, and I quote, "way more places for training contracts". Might I ask if you have reapplied for this year?

Hmm, I never applied to S&M and am surprised to read that. They are certainly in the minority; most law firms I have researched into make it clear that they take in the bulk of their trainees via vacation schemes.

I am planning to apply to vacation schemes this year, though it is taking longer than I expected since I am working for my dad full-time at the moment. It will be my first time applying to vacation schemes; I certainly should have done this last year, whilst still at uni. Have you started applying to vac schemes?

Yeah, so S&M is the only firm I'm applying for a training contract at directly. I have applied only for winter vac schemes as they're exclusive to finalists. The firms I have chosen to apply to and that I am still waiting on are: Sidley Austin, Shearman & Sterling, Squire Patton Boggs, Cleary Gottlieb, and I have been rejected by Jones Day and Ashurst.

Which firms are you thinking of applying to?

There's a bit of overlap between us; I'm planning on applying to Sidley Austin, Shearman & Sterling, Paul Hastings, Reed Smith so far. Possibly White & Case too, but that would definitely be the most competitive and difficult position to get.

Have you already been rejected this year? For vacation schemes? I didn't know they started reviewing them this early.

Yeah by Ashurst and Jones Day. I think they recruit on a rolling basis for winter schemes and training contracts thereafter, which is why I have applied so early. Were you at the Sidley Austin Open Day in June this year?

No, I wasn't; I thought Sidley Austin Open Day is only available to first years, or at least students only. How are your applications going; I'm currently sending off Open Day applications because I want to get to know the firms better before doing my vacation scheme applications.

You're right, they are technically for first years, but I applied for a vac scheme during my second year and I wasn't eligible then. But, they were impressed by my application and so they wanted to meet me; as such they offered me an Open Day invitation.

Apps are not too bad atm, I haven't heard anything since my Ashurst rejection which was over a month ago, so hopefully this is a good sign. Most recently, I've applied to Slaughters and they say they are currently considering my application.

How about you?

I've been so busy with work, I'm neglecting applications; the only thing I've sent so far is an Open Day application to Shearman and Sterling.

I am wondering whether to send Open Day applications and go to them first, or send Vacation Scheme applications now. The issue being, I don't want to leave the Vacation Scheme applications late, but at the same time, I want to include as much Open Day experience as possible in my applications for Vac Schemes.

Maybe try striking a balance between the two?

Yeah, I'm going to start applying as much as possible this week. I've decided to focus on Open Days for now. Honestly, doing such applications whislt at university is far, far easier than when you're actually working in the real world.

Does anyone know if the DLA tests are within the application online or after?

Thanks!

Hi, I was just wondering whether you did any prep for the Herbert Smith Freehills verbal reasoning test? Was it law related text as well please? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!