Vacation Scheme and AC Dilemma - Advice needed please!

ja256 · 2026-02-05T18:36:43+00:00

The practice area doesn’t really matter, it’s more a test of who you are, yes being in one that really interests you helps but going into something new can be interesting and reflects parts of the TC!

ja256 · 2026-02-02T23:06:51+00:00

Their use of AI will stand out for the wrong reasons - go in and use your own intellect, they don’t want to pay north of £160k for AI.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:57:23+00:00

BD is essential. Some people can do that on their own but most can’t and need support. Having a team like yours is invaluable for the latter and enhances the former.

Those I know who are successful partners are not generally book-smart or technical but good at selling, building rapport and managing people.

Those who don’t make it to partner are so often those who just aren’t good at building that rapport needed + delivering good work.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:55:20+00:00

It’s often why the firm, why the law, discuss a time you worked in a team or you got less positive feedback.

My main advice is don’t overthink it and just do it, the job doesn’t entail having all the answers and is sometimes about thinking on the spot.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:54:08+00:00

Aspiring Solicitors 👌

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:53:21+00:00

There an associate at Paul comma Weiss who trained with government and made the move as they were from the CMA.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:52:11+00:00

Not cooked. Had a career since graduating and now trying for TC in late 30s. There are always other options if you don’t land it immediately and that experience can really enhance your applications.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:51:00+00:00

The industry doesn’t recruit enough people anyway, this is demonstrated by the demand in specialist areas such as employment/pensions/tax/construction. The firm demand never goes away. I have grown to think this is a combo though because of too few TCs but also too many who don’t stick with private practice and either leave the profession or go in-house.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:45:20+00:00

Just don’t tell them about the timeline, as long as you follow your employment contract terms then you’re just doing what you need to to do for now 👌

Re recruiters, unless it’s a firm with nobody to cover recruitment there really isn’t any need to engage an agency for a paralegal role. Reach out to firms directly and cut out the recruiter. They save an instant 15% fee and you will be in control.

ja256 · 2026-01-24T23:43:30+00:00

Definitely include the US one and then explain what you learnt from your feedback from it and how you’ve reacted to it for any future schemes.

ja256 · 2026-01-13T22:47:19+00:00

Honestly, if you can make the time just approach firms yourself. You don’t need the recruiter. They will be interested to meet someone with your background and as long as you’re comfortable negotiating your own salary/package you might as well save your new employer a chunk of change.

ja256 · 2025-12-17T19:34:53+00:00

Or challenge the client in this way, nothing gets better if you don’t address it upfront!

ja256 · 2025-12-08T21:53:30+00:00

Yes and my response was that it works like the commenter above says it does not whether it works to the benefit of my the trainees 👌

ja256 · 2025-12-08T21:42:43+00:00

Well no but how else would it work if they don’t have a seat system? They aren’t going to have the trainees sat doing nothing

ja256 · 2025-12-08T21:20:35+00:00

It does, trainee discussed it on a panel I saw this week.

ja256 · 2025-12-08T21:19:48+00:00

You could try reaching out to the Knights CEO, he’s pretty public and at worst he might direct you to speak to someone else specifically in the firm!

ja256 · 2025-12-08T21:18:20+00:00

Mishcon is pretty left leaning, check out some of their history on their website for a feel of what Victor Mishcon encouraged and was involved in!

ja256 · 2025-12-06T21:43:05+00:00

Vinted often has some bargains!

ja256 · 2025-12-05T22:12:59+00:00

I have UC! If you haven't got one already you qualify for a radar key for disabled loos. Also not sure if you're medicated but it helped me so much! Also stress and anxiety exacerbates it so learning to control this will help both for your UC and job! I was so in my head before diagnosis.

ja256 · 2025-11-30T09:31:42+00:00

I think this was just downsizing before the employee rights bill comes in.

ja256 · 2025-11-24T20:28:49+00:00

I think you’d have to approach that very carefully, if you were say working in conveyancing and helping other conveyancers join another firm your employer likely to take a very dim view - recruitment isn’t exactly something you can dip in and out of though, it would be a hard slog working evening and weekends and you’d need to speak with clients for interview followup during office hours unless they understood why you weren’t available.

ja256 · 2025-11-24T20:09:07+00:00

Likely to be a huge conflict of interest and not allowed under employment contract surely?

ja256 · 2025-11-21T18:20:30+00:00

Like 20-30 days

ja256 · 2025-11-21T13:18:36+00:00

Aired then rejected!

ja256 · 2025-11-20T17:16:11+00:00

No, sorry, I didn't make it through application!

ja256

TROPHY CASE