Fresh blow for trainees as A&O shuts up shop early
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Prospects for aspiring trainees have taken a turn for the worse with Allen & Overy (A&O) becoming the latest firm to close its applications before the traditional July deadline.
A&O, like most major firms, would have ordinarily recruited law undergraduates this September for training contracts due to start in September 2011 and March 2012.
This year A&O expects to fill vacancies through the combination of non-law students who have already accepted offers, future trainees who apply to defer, and offers made to summer vacation students.
A&O is also only planning to hire around 105 trainees a year from September 2011 - a drop from the 120 it currently recruits across its September and March intakes.
Meanwhile, Clifford Chance and Linklaters are reviewing training contract vacancies after both asked trainees to push back their start dates.
A Linklaters’ spokesperson said: “The numbers we look to hire this year for the 2011-12 intake are still under review, but we would anticipate there being a limited reduction, at least to accommodate the effect of the deferrals.”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is also reviewing vacancy numbers, though it is the only magic circle firm not to have deferred future joiners.
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Readers' comments (40)
Anonymous | 19-May-2009 12:29 pm
Everyone knows that law firms would rather have people with a wide range of experience. So If you have done a law degree you are effectively worse off. Sadly not everyone has parents to pay for a random undergrad and then the GDL.
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Anonymous | 19-May-2009 1:03 pm
Bap, I agree with you, I call that 'mickey mouse degree', hence it explains the poor quality of UK lawyers compared to the others european laywers
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Bap | 19-May-2009 2:08 pm
Metallica, A&O did not open their law graduate recruitment. This was to be opened from June to August but obviously has now been cancelled.
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SC | 19-May-2009 3:07 pm
If A&O had felt that the quality of the non-law grad applicants was insufficient to fill the number of places they expect to have in 2011-12 then they would have continued to run the application process.
Having done a “Mickey mouse degree” (thanks for the insult Anonymous) as well as having paid for both my undergrad and GDL courses myself (thanks also to the other Anonymous) I’m glad that magic circle firms are acknowledging the high standard of non-law graduates in the market place by accepting so many that law-grads don’t even get a look-in. Your narrow-minded comments have proven their actions correct...
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Anonymous | 19-May-2009 3:12 pm
Bap - Law graduates that were good enough would have been recruited through the vacation scheme.
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Metallica | 19-May-2009 3:47 pm
I have a science degree. I would hardly call that a "Mickey Mouse" degree!! As a result, I understand IP and more often than not, better than law grads. So why wouldn't firms like A&O recruit candidates like me. Also, in my experience a lot of law grads are like a lighthouse in the middle of a desert - very bright but no use.
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Thoughts | 19-May-2009 3:47 pm
Bap if its not clear to you I hope this helps. Law students had their chance at these positions in December/January by applying for Vacation Schemes. As someone pointed out, most TC's are given to these people. It's just those law students who never got/applied in December that are out of luck here.
Law grads can be offered a TC before Sept 1, unlike law students. Point being if you are a law grad you should be applying earlier than now.
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Ash Man | 19-May-2009 3:51 pm
When things boom, big law firms work you to the bone. Trainees put in hugely long hours to impress their superiors. But when things get tough - they don't think twice about giving you the boot. This is why at my firm, people are paid a fair salary and have a great time with us. Our employees stay with us through thick and thin, as we do with them. Our firm is young and loyal. We compete on mid level rates, but our service exceeds those of the larger firms. Gone are the days, when law firms could charge anything they wanted to. Many of their clients are now State owned, with angry tax payers demanding to know how things went wrong. Gone are the days when law firms "never competed on price". This is why, one of the effects of their greed, is showing through by trainee deferrals and intake reductions. Our firm is proud to compete on rates. Our clients are happy that the rates they pay are for the provision of top quality legal advice, rather than to finance partners' sports card, mansions and mistresses. Let this be a lesson to trainees and future lawyers - the debacle of the last 10 years will not be repeated, so don't give your greedy law firms your unwavering support. They'll simply screw you in return.
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Sausage Roll | 19-May-2009 5:40 pm
Not all law graduates are, due to study commitments (which will not trouble the likes of Basket Weavers too much) or work commitments if they have since left uni, able to go on vacation placements and by not even giving people like this the chance to apply, A&O have effectively left them discriminated against. I couldn't care less about A&O and nobody I know would even apply to them but it's completely ridiculous that a supposed law firm has so blatantly shown its disinterest in law graduates.
Oh well, A&O can fill their boots with Mickey Mouse graduates if they want, maybe next year they can have Donald Duck and Goofy too.
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Lesser of 2 Weavles | 19-May-2009 9:36 pm
The standard of weave in the UK basket market has really suffered due to the number of unemployed law graduates entering the industry. Everyone knows that continental Europe has the best baskets because ALL of their weavers have PHDs in Basket Weaving.
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