London New York Geneva Greenwich Hong Kong How to Make the Most of Your Legal Vacation Scheme Jaya Louvre Recruitment Manager Jennifer Morton Milan Trainee New Haven Withers LLP Why do a Vacation Scheme? • A chance to find out if law is the career for you • A practical way of getting a feel for the firm • A foot in the door – some firms recruit up to 50% of their trainees from their vacation schemes • Good experience for your CV How To Get One… Application Interview • Plan ahead – some firms have early deadlines • Do your research • Apply selectively Vacation Scheme The First Day… • Look the part • Have the right attitude – first impressions count • Research the firm • Know where and who you will be sitting with – research what they do • Don’t be afraid to ask questions Day to Day… • Show enthusiasm • Get involved • Be proactive – approach people if you are stuck for work • Give it your best shot, even if you think you’re wrong – your effort will not go unnoticed • Check your work – you don’t know who might see it! • Listen carefully and ask questions – make sure you know what is being asked of you Social Events… • Could be a lunch, dinner or drinks evening • Not a chance to ‘let your hair down’! • Get talking to people – show them your networking skills! • Ask questions – this is your chance to speak to people from other departments General Hints and Tips… • Be professional – no mobile phones or ipods • Read a quality newspaper – show your commercial awareness • Don’t view the scheme as a competition – it’s not about securing the most placements • Make the most of the time your there After the Scheme… Vacation Scheme Interview • Analyse • Keep in touch • Apply for a training contract Training Contract Interviews • Find out what is the firms’ interview process? • Withers interview process • 1st Stage - the first stage consists of a 40 minute interview with a Partner and a 50 minute written test. • 2nd Stage - at the 2nd stage, candidates undertake a 10 minute presentation followed by a 40 minute interview with two Partners. The presentation topics from which candidates can choose are based on current affairs. Hints and Tips for Interviews • Research as much as you can about the firm – surprise the interviewer! • Know your application form inside out and make sure dates are accurate • Know who is going to be interviewing you • Prepare answers for typical interview questions • Prepare questions for the interviewer • Make yourself stand out • Be yourself • Practice, practice, practice. Withers LLP • Offices in London, Geneva, Milan, Hong Kong, Greenwich, New York, New Haven,British Virgin Islands • Main Areas of work we specialise in: • Wealth Planning – Private Client • FITT – Funds, Investment, Tax and Trusts • INT – International team • FAB – Family and Business planning • EST – Estates, Succession and Trusts • Commercial • Charities • Intellectual Property • Corporate • Litigation • Commercial Litigation • Contentious Trusts • Employment • Family • Real Estate Vacation Schemes at Withers… • Five, two-week schemes • Easter and Summer • Chance to sit in two departments • Case study • Drinks evening • Trainee buddy • Deadline for applications 31 January 2011 Training Contracts at Withers • We recruit between 15 and 16 trainees each year • To apply visit our website and fill out an online application form http://graduatecareers.withersworldwide.com/eu/ • There is advice available on the website to help you • Interviews for training contracts start in April/May • Deadline for online applications 31st July 2011 • We receive approximately 800 applications a year for training contracts. London New York Geneva Greenwich Hong Kong Milan New Haven Any Questions?