Legal apprenticeship: any tips on trying to find a trainee solicitor job


What would you consider to be "a good app'ship"? I know quite a few looking at present for "any" apprenticeship and some of them are willing to work for nothing which makes it harder for the competition.
 
I think a year ago I would've taken the "any" app'ship at all in any area of law and in any place in Ireland. Now though, i've decided that I just want to do corporate (doesn't have to be top 10 or anything) because I've done everything imaginable to get my CV up to scratch - all Fe1's, two diplomas in the law soc (came in v. high in one of them), working as a paralegal in one of the top four firms (which is such hard work - but I love it) and i'm doing more study on top of all this for another qualification - so at this stage, I know what kind of law I want to do, I think i've more than proved my ability (and I don't mean that to be sound arrogant when I say that but some people secure great app'ships while not even having all the fe1's or any experience) so I think i'm going for an all or nothing approach at the moment. Sometimes there's a problem when you know exactly what you want! The thoughts of being paid minimum wage, paying for b'hall, and not doing the law I've been working with for over a year now is not good! I'd rather choose an entirely different career at this stage.
 
It's very difficult to change from one area of law to another e.g. if you want to be a commercial lawyer there is no point in starting in a General Practice because it is very hard to transfer over. So if you are sure you want to do commercial work then your right to hold out for that type of apprenticeship. Hope all works out for you.
 
yeh...same boat as yourself...had a.cox group interview..v.hard to know what they're looking for/how i did. Got McCannFitz pfo yesturday...disgusted...that was my first rejection.. (the first of many im sure...by the looks of it) because this is my first year applying...what do they want??!! (i dont want to sound arrogant..im not...but i think if you have a first you should at least get a chance at an interview...i know another guy with a first who got a pfo from them...and ill be in college tomorrow to find out who else did...because if they dont even want to interview people with firsts...then they must not be taking anyone on at all--ie--credit crunch has bit them....things are not looking good)...im getting very depressed/stressed out over the whole apprenticeship thing and ive only been applying for a month!!! its just that i have all my hopes on getting into a corporate firm....ive worked soooo hard for it...and corporate is ALL i want to do.....but couldnt really be entering market at a worse time!!!...things suck at the mo......; and to be honest...expecting pfo from a.cox too....aaah well...maybe ill just be a bus driver...always liked buses!!! does anyone know when the other firms are supposed to start getting to people??
 


yeh...same boat as yourself...had a.cox group interview..v.hard to know what they're looking for/how i did. Got McCannFitz pfo yesturday...disgusted...that was my first rejection.. (the first of many im sure...by the looks of it) because this is my first year applying...what do they want??!! (i dont want to sound arrogant..im not...but i think if you have a first you should at least get a chance at an interview...i know another guy with a first who got a pfo from them...and ill be in college tomorrow to find out who else did...because if they dont even want to interview people with firsts...then they must not be taking anyone on at all--ie--credit crunch has bit them....things are not looking good)...im getting very depressed/stressed out over the whole apprenticeship thing and ive only been applying for a month!!! its just that i have all my hopes on getting into a corporate firm....ive worked soooo hard for it...and corporate is ALL i want to do.....but couldnt really be entering market at a worse time!!!...things suck at the mo......; and to be honest...expecting pfo from a.cox too....aaah well...maybe ill just be a bus driver...always liked buses!!! does anyone know when the other firms are supposed to start getting to people??
 
And I thought I was alone! Got a first in corporate law and top place in my year and have loads of extra cirricular activities yet I got pfo from mccann fitz........seriously what are they looking for??????? please tell me! also had group interview from arthur cox but it seems like everyone I know got one of these so it just adds to stress of waiting to see if il get a individual interview for any firm! nervous times
 

yeh---did corp law too-got the 1st--plenty of extra-cirricular stuff---dont know what they want--they must not be taking anybody on at all---good to know theres more like me out there!! group interview for a.cox---i thought they invited loads of people to that--but only 250--and inviting 100 to individual interiew---hope the 250 makes you feel better...cuz i thought it was around 400
 
only 250 to A Cox interviews..??? Nah, I'd honestly say there were much more - they went on for ... was it 6 or 7 days? seeing 10 people at a time, and there around 4/5 slots of times to pick from - Just tormenting myself here doing the odds!

As for all of ye above having 1st's ! I'd be raging! (don't have one myself) but have an amount of experience in a top four, other qualifications and I wasn't called - love to know what kind of person they have called!

As for hearing back from the other firms - haven't heard a thing - they really should detail it on their website when they will get back to people.

The A C group interviews are gruelling I think - and I think it really depends on who else is in your group - i'd complete chatterboxes!
 
Been reading this thread for awhile but only registered now to post. With regard to the A.Cox interviews, there were only 5 days of interviews so at [10x5] a day x 5 days, that's 250.

I also got a group interview with A.Cox, seemed to go fine and everyone seemed to do pretty well. I assuming they have a rough idea of who they're taking prior to the group interview as it'd be extremely hard to decide on the basis of the interview, from what I experienced anyways...

Also got a rejection e-mail from McCanns, fairly annoyed until I spoke to people in college today and no one I know got an interview. The form was fairly short though, at least in comparison to other firms, so if they haven't based their choices results, I don't know what criteria they used?! The only undergrads I know that got interviews were interns from last year

Haven't heard from other firms but most said it would be December before informing people of their decision. Am fairly bricking it now thinking of what if I don't even get one or two interviews!
 
ha! At least i'm not trying to be an accountant - my number skills may fall short! but think the interviews went on for 6 days. Either way, doesn't matter how many they interviewed, think you're right in that they've a pretty good idea who they want before the group interviews. I think all the big firms are cutting down this year - most firms last year took 30, AC I think took 40, but I wouldn't be surprised if they went back to taking 20-25 ! This is such a bad time of the year. Saying that, when I was applying last year, people said the exact same as it was all "sub-prime" crisis worries back then. There's no "we want LOADS of trainees" time but this has got to be the WORST year in a while for trying for an app'ship. I've only really this last shot in me at this stage - it's really a great way to go into interviews - nervous as hell as EVERYTHING depends on it! Ha! Let the good times roll on I guess!
 

same here bud...i only reg yestruday!!..if they're one of the top 5 and are only interiewing people who interned there, disregarding people with firsts, lots of work experience like irishlawgirl etc...it really doesnt look good...who's to say other firms have'nt adopted a similar approach for this recruitment period?? im v.worried....thought after my results id get an interview at least...and McCanns, with their form being very academics-centred and not much else, neglecting to interview people with top academics is pretty disheartening, considering they're the first firm (after coxes) people are getting substantial replies from.....AAAAAARGHHH! nervous, nervous times..
yeh i thought so too re. coxes interview...at least i hope they have a fair idea of who to invite to individual stage prior to the group process....cuz i dont think you get a fair chance to show your personality (which is what it really is all about i think...) in 30 mins of talking about stuff that may not even interest you...ah well...guess we're about to find our
 
Second round interview letters should be sent today from Cox's and either arrive tomor or Mon/Tues as first date for interviews is 27 Dec... so getting the letter on Monday 24 is tight tight tight! (as if anyone would care - only too happy to be called at this stage!!!).

As for McCann's not interviewing 1st class degree candidates or "relevant experience" - the mind boggles!

When is the best time to start sending cv's to the rest of the world?
 
When is the best time to start sending cv's to the rest of the world?[/quote]


lol!! i was going to ask you the same thing!!??
yeh thats pretty tight....thanks for the info...now i wont be able to sleep...!!
 
well i'm about as useful as a chocolate tea pot! I've had all my fe1's since 2006! Soooo clearlyl i'm doing something wrong!! I think it's case of luck! Isn't it dreadful, all this hard work and it comes down to timing and luck! And spamming... think i'll spam as of next February if nothing has come to fruition and I haven't left the legal world and jumped on a plane!
 
Hi everyone,
Just joined this thing and to be honest it is such a relief to discover that Im not the only one who is finding the whole legal career thing an absolute disaster. My friends and fellow law students left for Australia a few weeks ago in an attempt to ride out the recession but I thinking I was being sensible decided to stay at home for the time being to try and get an apprenticeship.Think iv made a huge mistake though considering that apprenticeships are few and far between!Last year i got to the single interview stage with arthur cox and following the group interview this year I am waiting with bated breath to see if i will get a single interview again this year.What are the chances of them wanting to interview me again tho?? The only thing I will say to those of you waiting to hear back from Arthur Cox is that they tend to hire ppl who are genuinely down to earth-atthis stage i think that that is all ive got going for me!!Hahaha!!
The whole thing is so disheartening and an ol PFO from Mcann fitz was like kicking a dog when its down!I should be panned out on Bondi beach-grr!!

Best of luck to anyone waiting to hear back from Arthur Cox
 
I've never been so anxious to see if there's post for me in my life!!

Kiki - think you were right not to go to Oz - when you're friends come back, be it a year or two later - the recession will be it's aftermath (hopefully) and everyone between now and then will be making themselves more marketable and employable by gaining experience or extra qualifications - we'd all love to jump on a plane but reality is - what's for them when they come back? Competition is just so hard for app'ships - having exams, experience and dedication mightn't even cut it anymore (however I would love to know of one person who got into McCann's just to know WHAT DOES CUT IT??!!).

That's really bugging me! Not just for my own sake, but for the sake of curiosity as i've read that people with 1st's didn't get called for an interview.

Soooo who's thinking of a career change?!?!?
 

i was the same...waitin for the post like theres no tomorrow! got it.........but now even more anxious/scared!!! dont worry...whatever is meant to be is meant to be!!....and re Mccann Fitz...i would also love to know who got inteviews..good luck
 
Got the second interview as well. Nervous stuff. Anyone got any advice on this one. How many do they interview? Supposedly I heard there are between 35-40 positions. That migth be a few less this year I would imagine.

Also is there actually anyone who got an interview with McCann's????

I don't know a single individual.
 
 
Agh, I'm in college but that letter is probably at home at I'm not finished here till 3!
 
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