Law Firm Training Contract Milkrounds 2015

smeal

That time of year ago folks...

We can use this thread to keep updated on contact from firms

livelovelaugh

Great call, Smeal. Cheers for setting it up. Anyone heard anything yet? I got a rejection from EFC on Friday on the basis that I don't have confirmation of passing 8 FE1s yet (awaiting results for last two).

smeal

Nothing yet livelovelaugh! Yeah I didn't apply for EFC because I only have 6/8 done. Shame though, they might still have been impressed with your application?

livelovelaugh

smeal wrote: »

Nothing yet livelovelaugh! Yeah I didn't apply for EFC because I only have 6/8 done. Shame though, they might still have been impressed with your application?

I hope so, it was very time consuming and felt it should have been clearer on their application that you needed confirmation of all 8 Fe1s before being considered!! Perhaps, I was the only one...!

It will be a long few weeks, I think

Laura Steph

Excellent call setting this up.

I wonder will there ever come the day when I don't have to face into milk-rounds..

I think EFC had a trainee position advertised on the Law Society page stating all FE1s was a prerequisite

Mileyt

Thanks for setting up. Ronan Daly jermyn application due in tomorrow anyone know what their package is?

livelovelaugh

Mileyt wrote: »

Thanks for setting up. Ronan Daly jermyn application due in tomorrow anyone know what their package is?

As far as I know, it's 16.5k prior to Blackhall and jumps to 20k afterwards...not sure after that. They pay BH fees.

makemecrazy

So what TC job applications are still open?

Mileyt

Wow that's pretty low! Doubt il be going with them so!

smeal

Mileyt wrote: »

Wow that's pretty low! Doubt il be going with them so!

Yeah that's verrry low. I also heard that their interviews are pretty tough too?

Mileyt

Yeah it is a bit much considering their high standard applications, I would have been expecting a relatively fair package from them. I don't think I will be too interested now! Anyone know much of Byrne Wallace? I know they normally request a presentation for second round interviews haven't a clue on what topics ....getting a traineeship proves to be very hard in Ireland and a lot of solicitors taking advantage of hardworking trainees paying them little to nothing - its enough to turn you off

Laura Steph

Mileyt wrote: »

getting a traineeship proves to be very hard in Ireland and a lot of solicitors taking advantage of hardworking trainees paying them little to nothing - its enough to turn you off

Currently in that boat, only it's not a traineeship. Losing heart I have to admit. Anyone in the same boat or have any tips how to keep the chin up?

Laura Steph

livelovelaugh wrote: »

As far as I know, it's 16.5k prior to Blackhall and jumps to 20k afterwards...not sure after that. They pay BH fees.

Where did you find that out? Regretting I submitted the application now! 😳

livelovelaugh

Laura Steph wrote: »

Where did you find that out? Regretting I submitted the application now! 😳

Heard it through the grapevine! It is low in comparison to top 6 firms but so many smaller firms don't even pay your fees. Now that's bleak!

chops018

I am in PPC1 now and I do not get paid whilst there as I only got the traineeship with the firm in June and didn't start in the office with them before Blackhall. They didn't pay my fees either. The firm I'm with are not a small firm either but I passed the FE1's in March 2014 and didn't go in that September so I didn't want to turn down the chance to be on the road to qualification from this September, I'll be on a salary when I'm in the office next year so I said I'd just get through the few months hardship.

I got a loan off a family member to pay fees, have a bit of savings from my previous job, and I now work at the weekends during PPC.

I am shocked to say the least that people are putting their chins up at 16.5k pre Blackhall then 20k post Blackhall.

If they pay fees with that then it is an excellent package outside the top 10 or so firms.

I never got on well anywhere with my applications to the top 10 firms - never even an interview - so maybe you guys will fair better on that front. While my grades were always only middling I had near 2 years legal experience applying last year. Anyway my point is that I wouldn't turn my nose up at their package, you might not get an offer from one of the big firms, I would apply everywhere you can regarding getting a traineeship, you can always jump ship - especially if you start in the firm around now and you know you won't be going to Blackhall till at least next September.

Another point: most of the big firms trainees are in work until 7 or 8 pm most nights (even later if it's busy, and Saturdays too!). If you're in a small or medium firm you'll get out most nights between 5-6.30pm, and the training would probably be better - I know some trainees in the big firms who have never even been in a court room, and others who said they literally photocopied stuff and filed for 3 months straight - although it is not always like that, but it can be. So, if in the top 10 firms you're on €36k per year and doing 70 hours a week, and in the smaller firms you're on min wage and doing 45 hours a week and you break the salary down by hour then you're actually probably only on €1-2 more an hour in the big firms. So I suppose it's down to whether you do want to be a corporate lawyer, as it's supposed to be very hard to break out of it when qualified.

Just a few points for you all to take into account.

Maybe it's just me being a recession graduate (degree 2009, masters late 2011) and there literally being no work upon coming out of college (never-mind a traineeship) and if you wanted to gain experience in your field it was work months for free or very low paid internships that we are only delighted to be given a traineeship.

smeal

I do agree with Chops.

I've been working in a mid size general firm for the past year as a secretary after finishing college and even as a secretary, the experience I have gained has been huge. There are two trainees in our office at the moment- one post PPC1 and the other post PPC2 and they have been involved in so much since they started- they work 9- 5.30/6.00 and very rarely later unless they're working alongside a Solicitor involved in a big case that might be down in court the next day or something. One of the trainee's girlfriends is training in one of the Top 5 and he has said multiple times that he has been exposed to 10 times more than she has. A friend of mine is training in a top 5 and it's not unusual for him to be still in the office at 1am. Many trainees/interns in the top firms will also tell you that there is very little law actually involved in the work they do which is crazy!!

This is my last shot at the milkrounds because I do actually have an interest in commercial law and I am thankful that I have had this year's pre-trainee experience to give me a headstart. I've also gained a good bit of experience in Probate which apparently,Blackhall students coming from the top 10 struggle with greatly so at least if I do go commercial I will have the Probate experience behind me also. I didn't apply to a handful of the Top 10, the ones that I have heard horror stories on a first hand basis so I've been selective in the firms that I've applied to and have researched them well before applying.

I have been encouraged multiple times from solicitors working in my firm to train in a smaller firm. Although most of us are probably in our early twenties we do have to look to the future too, training in the top 5 corporate firms makes it extremely tough to find work after qualifying outside of those areas so you have to try and look away from the attractive package and make sure you are dedicated to that line work before applying because it's a definitely a matter of "selling your soul".

Anyways, Chops is right- don't turn down your nose at the smaller firms- there is much more opportunity despite the temporary poverty. Probably a healthier lifestyle also!!

RwB7

Rejection emails from AC out

Mileyt

Second that just got rejection e-mail from Arthur Cox too

Itchy Lot

I know that game

Mileyt

Itchy Lot wrote:

I know that game

Which is ...

Itchy Lot

Being rejected by AC!

Weber15

I got an invite to an AC group interview. I'm coming from a non-law background, so there are a couple of simple things I'm not entirely sure of after googling around:

How long are you a 'trainee' for, from start to finish, including time spent in blackhall?

Their start dates are all September. Does this mean you start in AC in Sept or Blackhall in Sept? I had the impression that Blackhall courses start in Sept, but unsure now due to AC start dates given.

Would be grateful for any help!

livelovelaugh

Any developments today?!

livelovelaugh

Weber15 wrote: »

I got an invite to an AC group interview. I'm coming from a non-law background, so there are a couple of simple things I'm not entirely sure of after googling around:

How long are you a 'trainee' for, from start to finish, including time spent in blackhall?

Their start dates are all September. Does this mean you start in AC in Sept or Blackhall in Sept? I had the impression that Blackhall courses start in Sept, but unsure now due to AC start dates given.

Would be grateful for any help!

The Law Society Guide re becoming a solicitor is on their website and is very helpful.
In relation to start dates, you can do 4 months in the office pre-PPC1 which would count towards your traineeship (i.e. you start earlier and qualify earlier). Hence the April start dates.

livelovelaugh

Matheson interview offers out!!!

smeal

livelovelaugh wrote: »

Matheson interview offers out!!!

email or call?

livelovelaugh

By email Smeal

smeal

livelovelaugh wrote: »

By email Smeal

*awaits PFO*

Well done livelovelaugh

Mileyt

Matheson successful replies are out, I didn't apply to them but a friend of mine got interview email today!

Orlando146

I haven't been working on Ireland for the last while but have an interview next week - any major current legal issues I should especially know of back home?

SATSUMA

Does anyone know what the packages are for AC and Matheson?

qwerty1991

Does anyone know if Matheson have offered interviews early (i.e. 8am) or in the evening (after 5pm). I think I'll have difficulty getting off work to attend at my scheduled time but an early of late time would be doable.

Would anybody think it would be cheeky to ask would it be possible to change times due to work?

flymetothemoon

qwerty1991 I have an interview at 9.00 am. I don't think it would be too unreasonable to ask, no.

Yellow_Snacks

Hi folks,

Any news yet from any of the other firms?

Redhighking

A&L interview offers out by email!

Yellow_Snacks

Considering their early deadline are DE not very slow in contacting people, or am I mistaken?

Any idea when we can expect to hear?

flymetothemoon

PFO's also out from A&L.

Claregal11

Anyone know around how many The top 5 interview and how many places they offer?

Yellow_Snacks

The waiting is torture

Orlando146

Any word on Phillip Lee PFO yet?

j80ezgvc3p92xu

Hi All

I remember reading other people's experiences of the milkrounds and they often helped me with my preparations so I'd like to give my 2c. I have a TC with a top 5 from last year's milkrounds.

Firstly, don't be discouraged and don't set yourself up for a fallstart. The law firms seem to take on people of all sorts. I did not shine academically (some years I bearly scraped a 2.1), although I did do a year abroad and was completing my masters at the time. But I was very average result-wise.

You also don't need a huge list of extra curriculars, although these allow you to carve out some sort of USP for yourself. Again, I did not have a huge list, looking back on it these were mostly things I have done by myself or was in a way pressured to do by my parents when I was a kid. But some sort of a niche or USP is important as it may be the difference between getting the interview or not. For example, I have strong language skills so I made sure to accentuate that on my application forms.

Interview: a couple of quick pointers. A recruiter once told me that they look for people who not only are career motivated but it also shows that they want to work for the firm in question. The questions you will be asked vary but you will likely be asked about subjects you have done in college, why law, why the firm and (this is important) why you want to work for the particular firm. Sometimes things will take an unexpected turn so you have to keep your cool. I remember having a brief chat about Machiavelli in one of the interviews, in another I was asked tough taxation/business strategy questions (from what I remember). Always have a question to ask at the end. At the risk of shooting myself in the foot in future interviews, my question was usually "what is a day in the life of a partner at x/y/z...?" or something along those lines.

Confidence: I was flat out told that the reason I did not get one of the postitions was because I was too reserved and passive in the interview. You have to be confident enaugh to have a good chat with the partners and not be afraid to expand on your points. I usually started the interview with the same old joke (at my expense) but, well, the partners laughed a little and the ice was broken. It worked well because it allowed me to build up a bit of a rapport soon enaugh.

Confidence can also be gained by looking your best (as far as possible), and having a positive attitude. Sometimes before tests and interviews I am able to talk or think myself into looking forward to them as a chance to show off my knowledge/skills ect. I find it works well for me in such situations. So hold your head high. Be energised. Believe you can do it because all you need is a chance.

Finally, you can pray for intercession to St Jude Thaddaeus. He is the patron saint of desperate causes, desperate situations and even lost causes. Worked for me.:)

PS If anyone needs some extra info feel free to PM me. All the best!!

LordDennys

DE interview offers out, phone calls

Laura Steph

Got a DE interview next week. AC and A&L's loss may be DE's gain!

Anyone know what their interviews are like? First time applying and being offered an interview with them.

Does anyone know what their trainee package entails?

Dublad2012

Laura Steph wrote: »

Got a DE interview next week. AC and A&L's loss may be DE's gain!

Anyone know what their interviews are like? First time applying and being offered an interview with them.

Does anyone know what they're trainee package entails?

Interviewed with them last year; very short and sweet. Saying that I didn't get through to the second round but there was nothing too tricky in the interview. The questions I had were very direct like why DE and when do you plan on doing the FE1's.

Good luck!

oraghabd

Have an interview with DE and A&L. The A&L interview involves some document you read for 15 minutes and they question you on this. Has anyone gone through this?

Not from a legal background and not really sure what to expect so any advice would be great!

Mileyt

Mhc interview offers out

livelovelaugh

Mileyt wrote: »

Mhc interview offers out

By phone or email?!

livelovelaugh

livelovelaugh wrote: »

By phone or email?!

Congrats by the way!!

Mileyt

Not me my friend got a voicemail so it could be tomorrow before you receive a call thanks anyway

livelovelaugh

Mileyt wrote: »

Not me my friend got a voicemail so it could be tomorrow before you receive a call thanks anyway

Will live in hope!! Cheers!

Billetdoux

Walkers interviews are out for anyone that applied.

Any word on Maples get? Anyone get an offer or PFO?