Farrer &amp; Co &quot;open day&quot;

im in the same position... no idea what this 'open day' is all about!!!

Reply 2

OP

you got one from farrer & co too? or an open day somewhere else?

Reply 3

Happy1

14

I have no idea about Farrer, but open days are generally worth it just to get your face known and to have it to write on your training contract application in the "why farrer and Co" section.

If youre not fussed about that firm, it might not be worth bothering, but if you really lik ethe look of them and want to apply for a TC, go. Theyll pay your train fare and youll get free food if nothing else.

Reply 4

OP

Happy1

I have no idea about Farrer, but open days are generally worth it just to get your face known and to have it to write on your training contract application in the "why farrer and Co" section.

If youre not fussed about that firm, it might not be worth bothering, but if you really lik ethe look of them and want to apply for a TC, go. Theyll pay your train fare and youll get free food if nothing else.

I've been wondering this for quite a while actually, happy1...

If you get a VS at a firm, do you still have to apply formally for a TC? Or can you indicate during your VS that you'd like to be considered for a TC?

thanks for your help :smile:

Reply 5

Happy1

14

Onearmedbandit

I've been wondering this for quite a while actually, happy1...

If you get a VS at a firm, do you still have to apply formally for a TC? Or can you indicate during your VS that you'd like to be considered for a TC?

thanks for your help :smile:

It depends on the firm, i think. A lot of people dont apply for a TC until summer anyway, and so it's probably acceptable at most firms to just indicate on your VS that you'd like to be considered. You might have to give them an updated CV though.
There are some weird firms that want you to fill out a separate bit of an application though (e.g. Charles Russell) even if youre on the vac scheme. People can do it whilst they're on the scheme if that's the case.

Personally, I'd suggest waiting to see which Vac schemes you decide to do, then asking HR what they'd recommend.

Reply 6

Onearmedbandit

you got one from farrer & co too? or an open day somewhere else?

i got the one from farrer- does anyone have any idea what the group exercise is about? did anyone do it last year who can give me a bit of advice?

Reply 7

OP

shirchu

i got the one from farrer- does anyone have any idea what the group exercise is about? did anyone do it last year who can give me a bit of advice?

Yeah I'd like to know about this too!

And is there an interview for each candidate?? It doesn't say anything about an interview in the e-mail...

Reply 8

what date u got onearmbandit?

Reply 9

OP

shirchu

what date u got onearmbandit?

Mine's on Thursday :-/

Any tips? Anyone?

Reply 10

mr_lawyer

3

Onearmedbandit

Mine's on Thursday :-/

Any tips? Anyone?

http://www.farrer.co.uk/Default.aspx?sID=743

Farrer Recruitment site

Approximately 100 of the best placement scheme applicants are invited to Open Days in early March to enable them to discover more about the firm – and for us to meet them face-to-face.

The day involves informative talks about some of our spheres of expertise, a “no-holds-barred” Q&A session with current trainees, a light-hearted group exercise to assess teamwork and communication skills and an opportunity throughout the day, including over a buffet lunch, to ask us any questions.

Between 40 and 50 of the Open Day attendees are invited to attend a group assessment morning as the final stage of selection for a placement.

Tips -

* You need a complete battery of questions.
* Trainees are likely to be asked who impressed them, and you do need to impress in light of the high competition for places. Don't be too informal around them; they should come away with a clearer impression of you as a prospective trainee than prospective drinking buddy. Some people can straddle the two simultaneously. If you don't know this already, you can't.
* Farrer are (based on the one person I know there, I happen to think unfairly) known as a very public school type outfit. Wear your smartest suit, and give your shoes a very thorough polish.
* In the lunch time Q&A, think before you pick your food - this is an essential etiquette pointer. It looks unnatural to eat nothing, so the safest route is to take items which are minimal risk. Avoid crips, or items which requires cutlery.
* In the group exercise, use points such as 'I think X had a good point', or 'I think we're in substantial agreement because... however how about Z', 'Have you considered' (as long as people havent already!), and always add a 'that's a really good point' (preferably early on). If you tend to dominate the task (mea culpa), make sure people are involved. Basically, think of the group exercise as a conversational equivalent of cricket - I found that guided my ethical principles away from uber-controlfreakery.

Good luck!

Reply 11

OP

mr_lawyer

Tips -

* You need a complete battery of questions.
* Trainees are likely to be asked who impressed them, and you do need to impress in light of the high competition for places. Don't be too informal around them; they should come away with a clearer impression of you as a prospective trainee than prospective drinking buddy. Some people can straddle the two simultaneously. If you don't know this already, you can't.
* Farrer are (based on the one person I know there, I happen to think unfairly) known as a very public school type outfit. Wear your smartest suit, and give your shoes a very thorough polish.
* In the lunch time Q&A, think before you pick your food - this is an essential etiquette pointer. It looks unnatural to eat nothing, so the safest route is to take items which are minimal risk. Avoid crips, or items which requires cutlery.
* In the group exercise, use points such as 'I think X had a good point', or 'I think we're in substantial agreement because... however how about Z', 'Have you considered' (as long as people havent already!), and always add a 'that's a really good point' (preferably early on). If you tend to dominate the task (mea culpa), make sure people are involved. Basically, think of the group exercise as a conversational equivalent of cricket - I found that guided my ethical principles away from uber-controlfreakery.

Thanks for your help! Let's see...

* I don't really have any questions :s-smilie:

At least, no genuine ones.... just questions that I'd ask for the purpose of having something to say. What are good types of questions to ask? I don't want to ask a stupid question!

* Being pretty un-public-schooly, I only have one suit and I don't have any shoe polish... I'll do my best though.

* I'm worried about the lunch :tongue:

I might have a big-ish breakfast to make sure I'm not too hungry during the lunch (though I'll still eat a bit, obviously).

* Any idea what the group exercise covers? I know they don't expect any legal knowledge. Will they give us some kind of problem to solve? And how big are the groups?

Reply 12

mr_lawyer

3

Onearmedbandit

Thanks for your help! Let's see...

* I don't really have any questions :s-smilie:

At least, no genuine ones.... just questions that I'd ask for the purpose of having something to say. What are good types of questions to ask? I don't want to ask a stupid question!

* Being pretty un-public-schooly, I only have one suit and I don't have any shoe polish... I'll do my best though.

* I'm worried about the lunch :tongue:

I might have a big-ish breakfast to make sure I'm not too hungry during the lunch (though I'll still eat a bit, obviously).

* Any idea what the group exercise covers? I know they don't expect any legal knowledge. Will they give us some kind of problem to solve? And how big are the groups?

Thing with good questions is they have to be your own. I have a couple of pearls which I wouldn't dream of revealing on here [quote in an interview at an MC firm; 'thats an amazing question, do you mind if we write it down?'] which could probably work for most people, but you need to have a loop; e.g. 'Who is your favourite client' is great if speaking to a partner who, having studied his firm bio (having a blackberry is great in this respect, lord I am sad!) has half a dozen trophy clients, but pretty pointless to a tax partner (whose main 'client' will often be corporate partners within the firm).

I only emphasise the quote because I don't think people appreciate the impact well thought out questions can have. A couple of lines to think about:-

(i) Areas of the firm; Farrer has a relatively traditional mix. Does it think Legal Services Act reforms will threaten this, or alter the way it delivers its business?
(ii) What would you say is the biggest strength of the firm's training compared to other firms?
(iii) What can I do now, as a law / French / music / golf management and reflexogy student, to best prepare myself for being a trainee solicitor?
(iv) If you were 20-2 again, would you choose a career as a solictor, and if so, at this firm? (some very interesting answers to this, often with 'wasn't what I said to the wife on Tuesday)
(v) How, and when, do you think the market will pick up?
(vi) Do you make sure trainees / associates avoid becoming too narrowly specialised?
(vii) I was interested to read about (there should be at least half a dozen USPs in the brochure; e.g. if I recall, Farrer does not have a 4 seat structure); can you tell me more?

As regards the group exercise, they can vary. I went on one open day it was in groups of 15. Which was interesting to say the least. Normally 4-6. The ones I've done have all involved caucus 'teamwork', following with negotiating with the other side. I've never done one without some legal issue, although it is obviously 'pub law' (so non-lawyers can do it too; although the A&O Vac Scheme case study had security interests in it - so I massively respected the non-lawyers who got through that!). And yawn, normally something really tedious like 'Oh we have an office there' (for no evident reason)!

Reply 13

Onearmedbandit

Mine's on Thursday :-/

Any tips? Anyone?

how was your open day?
any tips? what elements of the day were you assessed on?
was there a case study? what was it about if so??
hhheeelllppp!!! :eek3:

Reply 14

sugarplumc

1

mine is this thursday - is anyone else coming?

Reply 15

OP

sugarplumc

mine is this thursday - is anyone else coming?

No mine was last week - good luck!!!

Reply 16

OP

shirchu

how was your open day?
any tips? what elements of the day were you assessed on?
was there a case study? what was it about if so??
hhheeelllppp!!! :eek3:

It was OK but I very much doubt I'll get a placement. That said, I have no qualms about helping you and sugarplumc in advance. They've rolled the open day and the assessment day into 1 so you'll be getting your vac scheme (or not) based on just that day. As such, there's an individual written exercise as well as the group exercise.

The group exercise was to devise and present (to our financial backers) a new reality TV show. This was difficult for me, having absolutely no interest in reality TV. Not that they were judging that, but I found it hard to make useful suggestions...

The individual exercise was to write a letter to a client. I thought I did fine, but I seemed to finish a lot quicker than everyone else! Either I did it really well or really badly!

After that it was just lunch with informal chatter, some trainee talks, a quick tour and some questions. Nothing too strenuous after lunch. I wish they'd done it the other way around to be honest... I felt much more awake after lunch!! But never mind.

When I got home I got an email from Clintons offering me a vac scheme, so that made me feel better :smile:

But like I said I think I failed at Farrers (we'll find out next week). Good luck to the rest of you!

Reply 17

Onearmedbandit

It was OK but I very much doubt I'll get a placement. That said, I have no qualms about helping you and sugarplumc in advance. They've rolled the open day and the assessment day into 1 so you'll be getting your vac scheme (or not) based on just that day. As such, there's an individual written exercise as well as the group exercise.

The group exercise was to devise and present (to our financial backers) a new reality TV show. This was difficult for me, having absolutely no interest in reality TV. Not that they were judging that, but I found it hard to make useful suggestions...

The individual exercise was to write a letter to a client. I thought I did fine, but I seemed to finish a lot quicker than everyone else! Either I did it really well or really badly!

After that it was just lunch with informal chatter, some trainee talks, a quick tour and some questions. Nothing too strenuous after lunch. I wish they'd done it the other way around to be honest... I felt much more awake after lunch!! But never mind.

When I got home I got an email from Clintons offering me a vac scheme, so that made me feel better :smile:

But like I said I think I failed at Farrers (we'll find out next week). Good luck to the rest of you!

thanks a lot- that is very helpful. do you remember what you had to write to the client about?
im sure you did ok--its often the ones you think went badly that you do well in..
btw well done on clintons!!

Reply 18