Law Vac Scheme

[Maggiethecat]

Has anyone’s DC done one this year and how have they found it?

Dd did one - was very intense and didn’t get the practice areas she was interested in but she thought it was good experience anyway.

Will wait to see if she gets an offer which sounds very scarce these days.

Which law firm?

One of the silver circles.

DS did a US firm one. Brutal.

They’ve done very well to secure a vacation scheme and it’s a good opportunity for both them and employer to see if it’s a good fit.

My DD did 2 last year and accepted a TC with one of the magic circle firms. They are meant to be intense and they also give them insight to the culture of the firm. My DD had a vac scheme with a magic circle, a US and turned down a silver circle one as she had received TC offers before she was due to start at the latter. It was an opportunity for her to choose too. She felt that she was a better fit at the magic circle one for example. Whatever happens though, the experience is invaluable. All the very best of luck!

That probably reflects the culture of the US firms.
Dd said her VS was an opportunity to get information about other firms too. One former US firm lawyer said the expectation to work very long hours is greater at the US firms and that he was expected to take his laptop on holidays which wasn’t the case at the SC firm.

The US ones pay more so expect more.

@Braveheart35 - sorry that it sounds it was rough for your Ds.
Did he come away with any positives?

I agree, it works both ways.
Her first day was awful apparently especially when compared to the reception by vac schemers in
other departments but she said things got better for her by the end.

She’s supposed to hear by end of this week so fingers crossed.

Thanks! She’ll find out soon.

Do you know what your Dd preferred about the MC firm?

If Dd doesn’t get an offer she’ll apply for VS for next year. She only applied to 5 firms this year
and no US ones and may consider them in the next round if needed.

She felt she gelled with her cohort more. She liked the people in both and the work in both, but she felt she was more similar to the other vac schemers at the MC firm. In terms of receiving a TC offer it’s also a matter of luck. Whether they have a good rapport with their supervisor etc. My DD only applied to one US firm too. She may have been influenced by me as I am of the generation that look(ed) down on US firms in London (I’m a solicitor too, but no longer practise in the City). I had noticed that she was coming home more stressed out and worked longer hours when she was at the US firm, but this could have also been because it was a 2 week vacation scheme, whereas the MC one 3 weeks. Does your DD want to work at that firm? Could she see herself there? Did she like the team, the other vac schemers? I know that at their age, they get what they are offered, but trust me it’s important to be somewhere you’ll enjoy and not be miserable for 2 years. Things tend to work out in the end.

Similar to your Dd she got on well with the other VS people and said the work was interesting.

Sounds she liked the people, culture and work and would like to work there so would accept if offered.

My DD has a couple of lawyer friends who work for USA law firms. They absolutely work like shit! Come up for air occasionally. Pay - top drawer!

Yeah, grab the money then run! Very few can sustain that pace.

Dd was told that the US firms’ training aren’t as good as MC, SC so the advice is to train with one of those and then make lateral move US at some point if you want to but better not to do it the other way round.

@MaggiethecatOne went on a training contract and the other had qualified elsewhere. Not sure where but money was an incentive. Both great guys though and very bright.

Thankfully she’s now learned that she has an offer!

Excellent news very well done to her.

Dd was told that the US firms’ training aren’t as good as MC, SC so the advice is to train with one of those and then make lateral move US at some point if you want to but better not to do it the other way round

This is good advice.

Congratulations! Welcome to the club! 🥳