TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

mulan0

Star Member
Oct 7, 2023
43
57
Hi all sorry I know this isn’t related to vac schemes but I had a paralegal interview on the 30th (Thursday) and they said they would get back to me the following week (which was last week). They haven’t so should I send a follow up email today or wait a little longer?
 

aphelion

Distinguished Member
Premium Member
Apr 4, 2023
60
252
Does anyone know if Taylor Wessing still has a group exercise in their ACs? They don't mention any group elements in the briefing they've given us, just a commercial exercise and a competency interview, and the commercial exercise doesn't sound like it's a group task.

I'm really anxious at the prospect of a group task so confirmation either way would be so so helpful!!
 
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Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,377
21,474
How to answer 'tell us about a time you worked in a team'. Any tips would be much appreciated. Is it necessary that I mention a challenge or is it okay to simply state my role and how I communicated with the team?
There doesn’t need to be a challenge as such but I do think you need to show the following:

- the team’s achievement/success
- what made the team work well together (even if that wasn’t from the start, what changed to make it successful)
- your individual contribution to that team’s achievement
- what you learned about successful team working
 
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latome19

Star Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Nov 13, 2023
33
49
How to answer 'tell us about a time you worked in a team'. Any tips would be much appreciated. Is it necessary that I mention a challenge or is it okay to simply state my role and how I communicated with the team?
I received feedback from grad rec for my answer to this question during an AC, and it conveyed that you need to walk them through either 1) a time you contributed to one bigger project, and how you essentially were a team player 2) a time you successfully acted on a superior’s instructions and, you know, were responsive to ongoing feedback etc. Maybe you also communicated with different stakeholders etc.

Basically you can’t really answer this question by referencing a major leadership role, or where you actively led a team—that’s a different question. Or at least that approach cost me a Latham VS. You need to show them that if you get an email at 1am asking you to ‘fix something’, you will deliver a perfect specimen of work by the morning, being thankful and taking it as a learning opportunity.
 

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
268
596
I received feedback from grad rec for my answer to this question during an AC, and it conveyed that you need to walk them through either 1) a time you contributed to one bigger project, and how you essentially were a team player 2) a time you successfully acted on a superior’s instructions and, you know, were responsive to ongoing feedback etc. Maybe you also communicated with different stakeholders etc.

Basically you can’t really answer this question by referencing a major leadership role, or where you actively led a team—that’s a different question. Or at least that approach cost me a Latham VS. You need to show them that if you get an email at 1am asking you to ‘fix something’, you will deliver a perfect specimen of work by the morning, being thankful and taking it as a learning opportunity.

That's interesting feedback. My answer to this question goes something along the lines of: "I started a project which then expanded to a team with me leading the team, and I encouraged team members to work together; I also worked with other members of the business to improve the project"

But maybe it makes sense to rephrase it a little to remove the leadership element, considering that it's a junior role we're applying for, and talk about all the times I helped other team members solve problems unprompted
 

pleasepleaseplease

Legendary Member
Oct 14, 2024
151
140
There doesn’t need to be a challenge as such but I do think you need to show the following:

- the team’s achievement/success
- what made the team work well together (even if that wasn’t from the start, what changed to make it successful)
- your individual contribution to that team’s achievement
- what you learned about successful team working
I received feedback from grad rec for my answer to this question during an AC, and it conveyed that you need to walk them through either 1) a time you contributed to one bigger project, and how you essentially were a team player 2) a time you successfully acted on a superior’s instructions and, you know, were responsive to ongoing feedback etc. Maybe you also communicated with different stakeholders etc.

Basically you can’t really answer this question by referencing a major leadership role, or where you actively led a team—that’s a different question. Or at least that approach cost me a Latham VS. You need to show them that if you get an email at 1am asking you to ‘fix something’, you will deliver a perfect specimen of work by the morning, being thankful and taking it as a learning opportunity.
Thank you both, that is really insightful!
 

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