Arthur Cox Traineeship

mbnxztp1qyevf9

Hey there,

So, Arthur Cox are now accepting applications for their 2012 intake. Can any AC trainees out there - current or former - share any insights on what they like to see on an application. What to be sure to include, what isn't that important, etc.!

Cheers!

Thirdfox

Be interesting, be different... Most people all have 2.1s, firsts...so what sets you apart from "the suit"?

So unfortunately the answer to your question is - I have no idea - I don't know if you're a fire-eater or a ballet dancer, if you're a professional swimmer or a stand up comedian... but I would put it in there to help them identify with the person behind the grades.

Arsenal1986

Thats mad that they are starting it so early, even though interviews arnt until November.

NOIMAGINATION

Does that mean that you start Blackhall Place in 2012? I graduate in the summer of 2012 and so would only be starting my FE1's in the Autumn - should I wait for the 2013 intake to apply?

Arsenal1986

I'm not an AC trainee but I did get to 2nd round interviews with them twice.

My 2c would be that they love any kind of Commercial/Corporate Experience. This need not neccesarily be in a legal position. Many of the ppl that I met in interviews there/ friends that got interviews have had some time working in some capacity in big companies e.g. as legal interns in an Aircraft leasing company, Various Banking roles.

These would all be fairlly entry level positions and its not like they are expecting you to be bringing in some banking expertise or anything but more that you have seen things from clients perspective and know what they want etc.

Aside from that from my experiences of group interviews, there seemed to be a good mixture of ppl from diff age groups, diff Universities etc. Basically I'm saying they seem less Dublin centric then some firms. There were ppl still in 4th year of college there aswell as ppl in their mid 20s who'd worked for a few years in addition to some postgrad students.

One final bit of advice, I can't emphasis enough the importance of emphasing again and again in your CV/APP form whatever that you are 'Commercially savy', that you love business etc. That, I believe, is where the majority of ppl with stellar grades that dont get to interview go wrong.

Anything else I can think of I'll let you know.

Arsenal1986

NOIMAGINATION wrote: »

Does that mean that you start Blackhall Place in 2012? I graduate in the summer of 2012 and so would only be starting my FE1's in the Autumn - should I wait for the 2013 intake to apply?

Yeah they'd be primarily recruiting for 2012. I'd say you may be a little young to apply (if you are only going into 3rd year?) You should apply for the summer internships next March instead. Although remember Mason, Hayes and Curran recruit for their summer internship in October/November.

NOIMAGINATION

Arsenal1986 wrote: »

Yeah they'd be primarily recruiting for 2012. I'd say you may be a little young to apply (if you are only going into 3rd year?) You should apply for the summer internships next March instead. Although remember Mason, Hayes and Curran recruit for their summer internship in October/November.

Well i'm 25, so young might be the wrong word!!! I study part time at a university in London. Thanks for getting back to me - I did apply for the internship for this year, but didn't get it - but I work full time and have a new more legal related job this year so I might have more success next year!!!

Arsenal1986

You should have alot of success then when you apply to the Big 5 when ur nearwer to completion of ur exams -degree from London and relevant work experience should def get you an interview!

NOIMAGINATION

Arsenal1986 wrote: »

You should have alot of success then when you apply to the Big 5 when ur nearwer to completion of ur exams -degree from London and relevant work experience should def get you an interview!

Thanks for the confidence boost!!!! The whole process of internships and traineeships has seemed daunting and depressing at times!!!!

NickDrake

Did you see the application form? Only asking for name, address and academic qualifications.

So all they are interested in is your college results?? Seems a very narrow view.

NOIMAGINATION

NickDrake wrote: »

Did you see the application form? Only asking for name, address and academic qualifications.

So all they are interested in is your college results?? Seems a very narrow view.

They also want a detailed CV and a cover letter - so I'd say a lot of emphasis is put on them - the Cover Letter will have to be good.

Arsenal1986

Cover Letter absolutly crucial for them IMO

hada

The recruiting over the summer thing is a carbon copy of what London firms do.

To me, it appears that they're trying to and entice those that are being enticed by such firms, by opening their application forms concurrently.

Arsenal1986

You reckon they are trying to attract some of the top English law grads too? Interesting, I'd say that could be a motivation.

On an aside, Where would the Irish Big 5 be in the London hierarchy if they were over there? Clearly not Magic Circle I suppose.

Silver Circle?

hada

Arsenal1986 wrote: »

You reckon they are trying to attract some of the top English law grads too? Interesting, I'd say that could be a motivation.

On an aside, Where would the Irish Big 5 be in the London hierarchy if they were over there? Clearly not Magic Circle I suppose.

Silver Circle?

Nope, just trying to persuade some Irish ones. For example, a number of friends, from various Irish Unis, have turned down/not applied to Irish firms and been taken on by English firms. Me being one of them.

On the second point.. Nope, not MC. It's kind of hard to say to be honest, things operate on a completely different scale in the City. It's all relative. Any interview I did, I always brought up how I completed a summer internship at one of the bigger Dublin firms, and this won major points with them. Had the firm been somehow magically transported to London, then it might not be as impressive....if you get what I mean?

mbnxztp1qyevf9

Wow, that's a lot of good advice.

It all seems like common sense really, but when so much is riding on creating a good impression on paper, you really need to be spot on!

I know so many really capable people, with great grades, who never got even as far as the interview stage with many Big 5-type firms. It just shows how tricky the applications can be!

Thanks everyone!

hada

Clay Few Roundworm wrote: »

Wow, that's a lot of good advice.

It all seems like common sense really, but when so much is riding on creating a good impression on paper, you really need to be spot on!

I know so many really capable people, with great grades, who never got even as far as the interview stage with many Big 5-type firms. It just shows how tricky the applications can be!

Thanks everyone!

Especially with Arthur Cox - make sure you show that you are so much more than grades. If you have passion for something, then explain why. More importantly, relate this passion to becoming a commercial lawyer.

Best of luck.

green909

This might be a stupid question but say you are heading into your final year of college and you are offered a TC for 2012 , does that pretty much mean you have to pass all 8 Fe1's in the period between finals and the commencement of the TC?

So you could be finishing your finals and heading straight into a summer of study?

mbnxztp1qyevf9

green909 wrote: »

This might be a stupid question but say you are heading into your final year of college and you are offered a TC for 2012 , does that pretty much mean you have to pass all 8 Fe1's in the period between finals and the commencement of the TC?

So you could be finishing your finals and heading straight into a summer of study?

That's exactly the situation I (and most of my classmates) am in. Most of the Big 5 give you a year to do them, so if you finish your finals in May 2011, you'd have to get all 8 between the following Sept. and April sittings in order to start Blackhall in 2012.

Its definitely doable though!

Arsenal1986

Most of the Big firms are very flexible with start dates if you wanted to start the year after that, they wouldnt mind at all

green909

Clay Few Roundworm wrote: »

That's exactly the situation I (and most of my classmates) am in. Most of the Big 5 give you a year to do them, so if you finish your finals in May 2011, you'd have to get all 8 between the following Sept. and April sittings in order to start Blackhall in 2012.

Its definitely doable though!

wow thats a lot of work but best to get them done asap I suppose and if you have a TC its a really big motivation to get the head down

Thirdfox

Indeed I'm surprised that people are getting offered 2012 (for those graduating 2011).

In my year (2010) - most firms are offering 2012. There'll be an awful clash of trainees when the 2010 and 2011 crowd go into the firm at the same time I imagine. Or maybe less people accepted so no clash?

Otherwise, I suspect people might get offers pushed out to 2013?

Edit: And right now I'm in that exact position - graduated this year and need to have my FE-1s done by next March.

green909

Edit: And right now I'm in that exact position - graduated this year and need to have my FE-1s done by next March.[/QUOTE]

How are you finding them so far? Did many people in your class get offers?

Thirdfox

green909 wrote: »

Edit: And right now I'm in that exact position - graduated this year and need to have my FE-1s done by next March.

How are you finding them so far? Did many people in your class get offers?[/QUOTE]

Not too bad - I'm doing a course just to make sure I get all 8 first time round.

Most of my friends have emigrated - whether to find work abroad or to undertake further education. Places such as Germany, UK, Hong Kong etc.

As for the general class - I think some have found work but it's been a tough year I believe.

The main problem of course, is that these talented pools of people will be coming out next year with even more qualifications and the subsequent lots will be competing against larger and larger groups of people.

I wish everyone best of luck!