Law Firm Milkrounds 2019

Pasterwords123

Paraeagle wrote: »

Wondering this too! I’ve had a few offers but for the September 2022 intake and ideally wanted to get in earlier. Does anyone have an insight on whether any of the firms take on people prior to completion of their FE-1s? In a pre-trainee, paralegal, legal assistant etc capacity?

Yes they do! You typically have to ask whether they can take pre-trainees, which they usually do.

starfishxxo

Nothing yet

jus_me wrote: »

any words from Hayes?

Coleman101

Does anyone have exp with RDJ interviews any help appreciated

rightytighty

Does anyone know what the Matheson salary is?

amusicalfrog

Anybody know if McCann's (or firms generally) are receptive to pushing contracts back a year? On my application form I said 2021 would suit but since then I've applied for masters programmes and was hoping that I could maybe push it back a bit - don't quite fancy juggling masters and FE1s at the same time!

BemusedKettle

Had two first round interviews, neither of which panned out unfortunately.

oh well! I was wondering if anybody has any insight into how the firms view masters degrees? Do they have any tangible impact on your Big Firm prospects or are they a waste of time?

I have an itching to spend a year abroad and there seems to be some good degree programmes out there

rightytighty

BemusedKettle wrote: »

Had two first round interviews, neither of which panned out unfortunately.

oh well! I was wondering if anybody has any insight into how the firms view masters degrees? Do they have any tangible impact on your Big Firm prospects or are they a waste of time?

I have an itching to spend a year abroad and there seems to be some good degree programmes out there

It seems to really be your preference whether you do a masters or not. I haven’t heard of any firms preferring you to have one.

I actually finally secured a contract this time around after four years of applying and so will share my thoughts on the process in case it is of use to anyone. I had interviews with 6 firms which was up from 2 last year and never being called beforehand.

I think most important is to respect how competitive the process is. Firms will give training contracts to people after summer internships following two years of their degree programme so it is in my opinion it is just about the overall strength of your application.

There are loads of initial criteria by which everyone is assessed ie leaving cert, college grades, and personal hobbies/achievements. If you are lacking in some or all of these areas it is best to build yourself up in others. I think what swung it for me was my work experience.

I had just under 500 LC points, a 2.1, and some good work experience pre-graduation but my first and second year grades weren’t great. Anyone with a top end leaving and consistent college grades would have beaten me until I strengthened elsewhere.

I held two full time roles after graduating which gave me plenty to talk about on applications. It allowed me to identify practice areas which interested me and to learn about different firms’ activities in those areas. This is an easy way to show you have researched the firm and to explain why you’re a good fit for them.

If I had any advice it would be not to take any rejection personally and to try and use your self-belief to motivate yourself to persist. If you keep gaining experience and plug away with the FE1s eventually your applications will show dedication and resilience and the interviews will come.

I don’t know if this is even helpful but I remember feeling terribly disheartened and wanting to throw the towel in when I had no success last year. I didn’t even want to apply this year. You owe it to yourself and all you’ve done to date to keep at it so don’t give up!!

starfishxxo

I don't think they're overly concerned whether you have a Masters per se - in fact, I would think relevant work experience would rank higher.
However, your choice of masters programme or dissertation topic might make you stand out to firms specialising in that area. This was definitely the case for me anyway.

BemusedKettle wrote: »

Had two first round interviews, neither of which panned out unfortunately.

oh well! I was wondering if anybody has any insight into how the firms view masters degrees? Do they have any tangible impact on your Big Firm prospects or are they a waste of time?

I have an itching to spend a year abroad and there seems to be some good degree programmes out there

HG48

Has anyone heard back from dechert from assessment?

Pasterwords123

rightytighty wrote: »

It seems to really be your preference whether you do a masters or not. I haven’t heard of any firms preferring you to have one.

I actually finally secured a contract this time around after four years of applying and so will share my thoughts on the process in case it is of use to anyone. I had interviews with 6 firms which was up from 2 last year and never being called beforehand.

I think most important is to respect how competitive the process is. Firms will give training contracts to people after summer internships following two years of their degree programme so it is in my opinion it is just about the overall strength of your application.

There are loads of initial criteria by which everyone is assessed ie leaving cert, college grades, and personal hobbies/achievements. If you are lacking in some or all of these areas it is best to build yourself up in others. I think what swung it for me was my work experience.

I had just under 500 LC points, a 2.1, and some good work experience pre-graduation but my first and second year grades weren’t great. Anyone with a top end leaving and consistent college grades would have beaten me until I strengthened elsewhere.

I held two full time roles after graduating which gave me plenty to talk about on applications. It allowed me to identify practice areas which interested me and to learn about different firms’ activities in those areas. This is an easy way to show you have researched the firm and to explain why you’re a good fit for them.

If I had any advice it would be not to take any rejection personally and to try and use your self-belief to motivate yourself to persist. If you keep gaining experience and plug away with the FE1s eventually your applications will show dedication and resilience and the interviews will come.

I don’t know if this is even helpful but I remember feeling terribly disheartened and wanting to throw the towel in when I had no success last year. I didn’t even want to apply this year. You owe it to yourself and all you’ve done to date to keep at it so don’t give up!!

I think people definitely underestimate just how competitive these processes are and how important it is to be able to stand out.

When I was at TCD I knew someone who really didn't have impressive experiences or extra-curriculars, but he was basically ranked first out of the class. Without question he got at least an interview with every single firm he applied to. If you can stand out from the hundreds of other applicants (in a very good way!) you're halfway there.

Gomzu

Has anyone heard anything from Hayes?

Bradymagic

Gomzu wrote: »

Has anyone heard anything from Hayes?

Nope! I’m thinking a PFO is on the horizon.

Fe1hayes

Anyone know how long rdj take to respond interviewed Tuesday.

jus_me

Bradymagic wrote: »

Nope! I’m thinking a PFO is on the horizon.

Anyone heard from Hayes

ciarocxcc

Anyone interview with Beauchamps?

jus_me

Have Hayes sent PFOs?

rightytighty

jus_me wrote: »

Have Hayes sent PFOs?

Yep I got one on Monday last week I think

Gomzu

rightytighty wrote: »

Yep I got one on Monday last week I think

I still haven’t heard anything? Can’t tell if this is a good thing or if they just forgot to send my rejection email!

rightytighty

You’d be within your rights to call or at least email, we were to hear the week after second round

jus_me

Gomzu wrote: »

I still haven’t heard anything? Can’t tell if this is a good thing or if they just forgot to send my rejection email!

Haven't heard anything either and no PFO...

Gomzu

jus_me wrote: »

Haven't heard anything either and no PFO...

This must surely be the longest wait for an offer/ rejection in milkrounds history...

Gomzu

Gomzu wrote: »

This must surely be the longest wait for an offer/ rejection in milkrounds history...

Has anyone heard anything at all? I imagine this is the last day before Christmas we could expect an answer.

jus_me

Gomzu wrote: »

Has anyone heard anything at all? I imagine this is the last day before Christmas we could expect an answer.

Nothing! Still no Pfo

Gomzu

jus_me wrote: »

Nothing! Still no Pfo

A little birdie has told me that everyone involved in the trainee hiring process in Hayes is finished for Christmas.... won’t be hearing till new year

T.Chunter164

Does anyone have any experience with assessment centres for law firms?

Specifically freshfields, what kind of stuff are we expected to be asked?

T.Chunter164

Gomzu wrote: »

A little birdie has told me that everyone involved in the trainee hiring process in Hayes is finished for Christmas.... won’t be hearing till new year

It's the same with LK Shields, I know people who are still waiting to hear back... they left it very late, would rather have peace of mind over Christmas instead of worrying about it.

MNUG19

T.Chunter164 wrote: »

It's the same with LK Shields, I know people who are still waiting to hear back... they left it very late, would rather have peace of mind over Christmas instead of worrying about it.

Haven't hear back from LK Shields after second interview either. Presume it won't be until the new year at this stage...

rightytighty

T.Chunter164 wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience with assessment centres for law firms?

Specifically freshfields, what kind of stuff are we expected to be asked?

I would go to Reddit if I were you. r/uklawstudents is crazy active and you’ll get any information you need and more there.

T.Chunter164

Anyone interviewing with AMOSS in mid January?

MNUG19

Just curious has anyone received an offer from LK Shields as of yet?

StargirlLaw

Has anyone heard from RDJ about their offer?

Coleman101

Any word from HOMS?

T.Chunter164

Anyone still active haha? Any tips for amoss

amusicalfrog

Has anybody with a McCann's offer received a contract yet?

Paraeagle

Hi all, I have a summer internship secured that’s due to begin in July (haven’t heard anything to the contrary as of yet). I’m just wondering if anyone in a similar situation has heard from their respective firm as to whether the internship will go ahead/be pushed out?

lawgrad15

Paraeagle wrote: »

Hi all, I have a summer internship secured that’s due to begin in July (haven’t heard anything to the contrary as of yet). I’m just wondering if anyone in a similar situation has heard from their respective firm as to whether the internship will go ahead/be pushed out?

A few people have discussed their stories on this forum - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058053870&page=8

Coulter97

Paraeagle wrote: »

Hi all, I have a summer internship secured that’s due to begin in July (haven’t heard anything to the contrary as of yet). I’m just wondering if anyone in a similar situation has heard from their respective firm as to whether the internship will go ahead/be pushed out?

McCann Fitzgerald are moving their internship online and shortening it.

Paraeagle

lawgrad15 wrote: »

A few people have discussed their stories on this forum - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058053870&page=8

Thanks!

channing90

Anyone have opinions on my chances of getting into the big firms, I have a 2:1 law degree and 7 fe1s passed and good experience in a general practice firm but none in commercial, just wondering if I have any hope of getting into the big firms.

rightytighty

channing90 wrote: »

Anyone have opinions on my chances of getting into the big firms, I have a 2:1 law degree and 7 fe1s passed and good experience in a general practice firm but none in commercial, just wondering if I have any hope of getting into the big firms.

Definitely

Bayb12

channing90 wrote: »

Anyone have opinions on my chances of getting into the big firms, I have a 2:1 law degree and 7 fe1s passed and good experience in a general practice firm but none in commercial, just wondering if I have any hope of getting into the big firms.

honest answer, unless you have a contact or something which makes your CV stand out enough to get you an interview, or have a good explanation as to why you arent in a commercial firm, it can be very tough. Even getting an interview, you would be offered a contract for 2 or 3 years time if you were successful.

rightytighty

Bayb12 wrote: »

honest answer, unless you have a contact or something which makes your CV stand out enough to get you an interview, or have a good explanation as to why you arent in a commercial firm, it can be very tough. Even getting an interview, you would be offered a contract for 2 or 3 years time if you were successful.

No offence but this is rubbish. Training contracts are regularly offered to 3rd and 4th year undergraduates with no FE1s and at best a summer internship under their belts. Having the FE1s will be hugely advantageous, especially as I’d imagine this particular milkround will be very competitive.

Lack of commercial experience can be offset with good reasons for wanting such a career, a good explanation of how your skills can transfer into the corporate sphere, and strong answers in your application.

Bayb12

rightytighty wrote: »

No offence but this is rubbish. Training contracts are regularly offered to 3rd and 4th year undergraduates with no FE1s and at best a summer internship under their belts. Having the FE1s will be hugely advantageous, especially as I’d imagine this particular milkround will be hugely competitive.

Lack of commercial experience can be offset with good reasons for wanting such a career, a good explanation of how your skills can transfer into the corporate sphere, and strong answers in your application.

In my own personal experience, the big firms do exactly as you've said, hire candidates in college from summer internship round etc without FE1s and spaces go fast. They will definitely question why you hadn't secured a TC in college before starting FE1s. It is not necessarily an advantage when it comes to the big 5 in my own experience.

Of course lack of experience can be off set, but you need to have something that will set you apart from other candidates along the lines of you volunteered for a year etc or have a really niche extra curricular, not that you went into general practice.

channing90

Bayb12 wrote: »

In my own personal experience, the big firms do exactly as you've said, hire candidates in college from summer internship round etc without FE1s and spaces go fast. They will definitely question why you hadn't secured a TC in college before starting FE1s. It is not necessarily an advantage when it comes to the big 5 in my own experience.

Of course lack of experience can be off set, but you need to have something that will set you apart from other candidates along the lines of you volunteered for a year etc or have a really niche extra curricular, not that you went into general practice.

Fair enough, tbh I wasn’t arsed trying to get a Tc until I’d had 4 fe1s done at first then covid struck, I am currently just at home waiting to do the final exam, wondering what I could do to make myself more employable for a Tc.

Bayb12

channing90 wrote: »

Fair enough, tbh I wasn’t arsed trying to get a Tc until I’d had 4 fe1s done at first then covid struck, I am currently just at home waiting to do the final exam, wondering what I could do to make myself more employable for a Tc.

You are still hugely employable, just in my experience the big 5s are very competitive and that was my experience of it when the market was "good" 2/3 years ago.

rightytighty

channing90 wrote: »

Fair enough, tbh I wasn’t arsed trying to get a Tc until I’d had 4 fe1s done at first then covid struck, I am currently just at home waiting to do the final exam, wondering what I could do to make myself more employable for a Tc.

Go on insidesherpa. Matheson are the first Irish firm to have launched a virtual work experience programme that anyone can sign upto. I remember having a look at it and also seeing that Kennedy’s in the UK had similar. They’re only a few hours I think but you could put them on your CV.

Coursera is another good resource. Lots of universities offer certificates through it in different areas of law. They’re longer to complete (Maybe 20-30 hours) but it’s definitely another good way to enhance your CV especially with things being the way they are at the moment. You can complete the courses for free but they charge a fee if you actually want to be issued a certificate on completion. There’s no real need as what you’re essentially paying for is a link that allows you to make a LinkedIn post out of it at the end. Would be upto you.

(Edit: just as an aside I agree with poster above that you’re hugely employable. I got my tc last year with no FE1s, but did have commercial experience. You’re vice versa but I would definitely go at the applications with confidence, especially if you can add any of the above. Good luck!)

IgoPAP

In my experience the top firms seems to hire a certain type of person: high, consistent academics from the Leaving Cert, high 2.1 or 1.1 (preferably from UCD/Trinity/UCC), young, gets on with other people. This seems to account for like 90% of students they take on as trainees. Same with the magic/silver circle in London.

Having FE-1's completed doesn't give you any special advantages. They usually hire years in advance.

LawBoy2018

Bayb12 wrote: »

In my own personal experience, the big firms do exactly as you've said, hire candidates in college from summer internship round etc without FE1s and spaces go fast. They will definitely question why you hadn't secured a TC in college before starting FE1s. It is not necessarily an advantage when it comes to the big 5 in my own experience.

Of course lack of experience can be off set, but you need to have something that will set you apart from other candidates along the lines of you volunteered for a year etc or have a really niche extra curricular, not that you went into general practice.

Firms don't care about your extra curricular activities or volunteer work tbh, things like that are seen as the cherry on top.

If you're not getting interviews, you need paralegal/legal executive experience + potentially a master's, if you'd like to do one. Connections are key though! If you can get friendly with a partner, you're sorted. Harsh but true! Exhaust LinkedIn and any connections you have with the big firms.

LawBoy2018

IgoPAP wrote: »

In my experience the top firms seems to hire a certain type of person: high, consistent academics from the Leaving Cert, high 2.1 or 1.1 (preferably from UCD/Trinity/UCC), young, gets on with other people. This seems to account for like 90% of students they take on as trainees. Same with the magic/silver circle in London.

Having FE-1's completed doesn't give you any special advantages. They usually hire years in advance.

This couldn't be further from the truth, imo. Grades are essential as an undergrad but become almost irrelevant once you start gaining quality experience. Once they see that you're commercially aware and that you can get the job done, you'll get a traineeship 85% of the time after a stint as a paralegal/legal exec. I scraped a 2.1 and I will be training in one of the top 5.

IgoPAP

LawBoy2018 wrote: »

This couldn't be further from the truth, imo. Grades are essential as an undergrad but become almost irrelevant once you start gaining quality experience. Once they see that you're commercially aware and that you can get the job done, you'll get a traineeship 85% of the time after a stint as a paralegal/legal exec. I scraped a 2.1 and I will be training in one of the top 5.

I was speaking specifically about the types of students that manage to pick up TC's. Obviously the further you are out college, the less that grades might matter, and the more that experiences and jobs you've had since will be essential.