We caught up with Lewis LinkedIn one month before he began his training contract to talk about how to write successful law firm applications, how to deal with rejection, and how to stand out during a vacation scheme. It was run by two future trainees at Pinsent Masons, and it was a well-designed competition because the firm have put a lot of investment into running it at Bristol University.
You had to go away and research what the law was in this area and then respond to an email from a client. They would mark the quality of your answer based on whether the answer was correct; how you structured your advice; and whether you factored commercial issues into your answer.
That was at Hogan Lovells. It was my first-ever vacation scheme interview and it was an absolute car crash. So, I went in there. I think we had a Watson Glaser Test, and then the second part of the day was an interview with an associate, which was just asking me about who I am and why I was interested in law. And all that was fine. And I think they saw from the variety of firms that I had applied to, that there was no consistency whatsoever.
But I think, firstly, it came from applying to different firms. You start to pick up those kind of things. Secondly, it came from going to law fairs. When you start to speak to people from the firm, they are very willing to give you information, and they are very willing to be quite direct with you about what makes their firm unique. I learned a lot in that situation. And then in the summer of , I did four vacation schemes.
I was determined to not end that summer without a training contract. What do you think it was about your applications that converted very well to interview? And whether I met them at a law fair: that was really key. I think that would automatically stand you out.
So, by that point, you were getting lots of interviews. Did you start getting offers shortly after that? Well, Hogan Lovells happened in So, it has been quite a long process. And — what changed that day? I started looking on The Student Room to see if there have been any set questions. I think my research just started to ramp up a bit more. I put in a lot more effort into preparing for these interviews, and I found that with preparation, you can prepare in enough detail to pretty much guess 45 minutes of an hour interview.
I already knew what the questions were. I think what I started to realise was that you can start to navigate that interview process a bit more.
And then it allows you to steer control over a lot of the interview. Can I take a minute just to sit down just to think about my response? And I think that radiated across the table to the person interviewing me, because they could see: This guy is confident. How about the commercial awareness or case study-type questions? How did you stay on top of commercial awareness to answer those questions? It was just reading up the F. Fortunately, when I was going into the KWM interview, there were loads of transatlantic deals going on, and there were some agreements taking place between China and Australia at that time, and, obviously, for a firm that is still headquartered in in China, I had an interest in those kinds of stories.
That helps. And when they asked me in an interview about something like that, it related automatically back to them. But I would say, going back to the original question, I think it is just about finding something you find interesting. I feel that was probably one of my lowest points in the whole process. I pretty much put my eggs in one basket. And we fully understand your questions because, to be honest, it's not hugely clear or obvious.
So, to help make sense of the whole thing we've pulled together this quick guide with the seven things to know about the what, when, how and why of law vacation schemes.
A law vacation scheme is a one or two week internship or work experience placement with a law firm, usually taking place in either the Spring, Summer or Winter. Vacation schemes are used by law firms to seek out new talent. So, if you're interested in applying to a particular firm, completing a vacation scheme is a great way to test them out as well as to get yourself noticed and fast tracked onto a training contract.
On all vacation schemes you can expect to shadow a solicitor in their working day and to support with a number of different activities. You'll be given on the job training and guidance to try and help you get a feel for the role, as well as to demonstrate your potential. You'll also likely have some group work with your vacation scheme peers - usually a project designed to develop and test your research and presentation skills, as well as your ability to work in a team.
So, whether you are dead set on a career in law or just beginning to consider it - a vacation scheme is a great way to assess your fit for law and also for a specific firm. Just don't forget - the firm are assessing you too! Vacation schemes are open to both law and non-law students.
Each firm's policy varies slightly, however, in general, summer schemes tend to prioritise applications from law students whilst winter schemes are open to law and non-law students alike.
Law students should ideally aim to complete a vacation scheme in the summer of their penultimate year, i. However, many firms also accept law students in their final year. Successful vacation scheme applicants are typically offered a training contract for two years' time, so final year law students may find they have a year off in between completing their LPC a one year course following a university law degree. This is not always the case though and it is worth checking an individual firm's website for details of their offering.
Non-law students can complete a vacation scheme in their final year. While this may not provide you with specific legal skills, it will build your soft skills, demonstrate your proactive, determined nature to recruiters and give you real life examples to use in interviews.
With the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions some schemes are operating as normal in office while others will continue to be run virtually. When choosing a scheme it's important to do your research to ensure it meets your needs. If you require more information about a programme before making an application particularly surrounding COVID-restrictions contact the firm directly. This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you're interested in a particular firm check on their website to see if they run vacation schemes or legal placements.
Placements with the biggest firms are usually at Easter, Christmas or during the summer of law undergraduates' penultimate year or the final year for non-law students. Many of the larger firms open for applications in the autumn, and may have pre-Christmas closing dates for Easter and summer vacation work.
An increasing number of firms are also providing vacation schemes or virtual work experience for first-year students. Deadlines for summer legal placements tend to fall between January and April, several months ahead of training contract applications.
However, the best advice is to research early, as increased competition for places means that vacation schemes may be brought forward. Firms may be quite specific about what sort of applications they want and when, such as final-year non-law students at Easter and penultimate-year law students in the summer. There isn't a magic number in regard to placements - the more experience you get the better. If you're unsure what you want to do, complete vacation schemes in different-sized firms and in those that offer a variety of specialisms to help you decide which practice area is right for you.
Make sure that the schemes you're applying to are worthwhile and will add something to your development - don't just do them to fill up your CV. To see what's on offer, search law vacation schemes. Law firms receive hundreds of applications, and because of this not all will wait until the deadline to shortlist applicants. Starting early and getting help with your application gives you the best chance.
Draw up a list of firms you'd like to apply to and schedule time to research the organisation. Most large and mid-sized firms have multi-stage application processes, which start with registration and an online application form. Smaller firms require a completed online application form or a CV accompanied by a cover letter.
Whatever documents you send, this is your opportunity to explain why you want the vacation scheme and what you'll be bringing to the firm. Get help and advice on writing your legal CV and cover letter. You may also need to attend a one-to-one or panel interview where you could be asked questions including:. You should prepare responses beforehand and ensure you have examples to draw upon. Take a look at the 9 questions you might be asked in a law interview. Most firms pay something, even if it's just expenses.
The amount that firms pay varies so check with them before applying.
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