TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[marisachr]

Hill Dickinson test invite

 

[lawyersum]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker @anyone else (sorry if you're not supposed to tag multiple Forum helpers),

I recently received feedback from LL post-AC. Please can you advise on how you would implement the following advice, based on your experiences? It was explained clearly but as a non-law student from a first-generation background, I want to check that I'm not missing anything 😅

For context, there was a HR competency-based interview and a technical interview with Partners. I didn't perform quite well enough in either of them to progress.

1. Succinctness - an issue in both. In the Hr interview, I used the STAR technique but gave too much backstory and the interviewer didn't have enough time/was unable to ask follow up questions and build a rapport. The content itself was strong though and they could tell I prepared/put effort in.
2. Technical interview - evidence of ability to interpret (the legal points) of a term sheet - there were points I didn't pick up on/this was the weaker point even though I had high-level commercial thinking. This is what I REALLY am unsure of how to develop as a non-law student - beyond the (v helpful) case studies the TCLA subscription provides, what else would you advise?
3. Building a rapport - honestly I am such an introverted person (and I think I may be a masking autistic!) but feedback emphasised that they could see I was nervous but wanted a genuine conversation with me.

Honestly that's all there is, I'm still a bit confused on what else to do, because nothing explicit on my answers to motivational questions was given or how well I did do at picking up legal concepts, just that it wasn't good enough. Is it worth messaging them again to ask or should I not?

LL was really nice though in terms of the feedback

The weird thing is that I know someone who got a LL scheme (not the VS) who is very detached/not personable at all, certainly less than me. I don't want to sound gossipy but I'm not sure how they got it and I didn't...

Hey, as someone who studied law I found that the Forage internships are really useful to get yourself familiar with legal documents such as term sheets, SPAs, employment contracts etc. The Slaughter and May programme literally provides you with an exemplar term sheet and goes through each section with an explanation. If you do enough of them, you’ll see that the exercises are very similar to what you get in ACs and you’ll be familiar with the documents involved in a transaction or shareholder agreement so it won’t be so foreign to you. Even though I studied law, of course we aren’t exposed to practical documents during our degrees, so Forage has really been helping me in that sense. Hope this helps and be kind to yourself, you got to a Linklaters AC which is defo something to be proud of

 

[MT1]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

Grad rec said last week that they still had a few places left on the spring vac scheme, so I wouldn’t lose hope just yet!

 

[bluescarf]

Hill Dickinson test invite

Same! Congrats Does anyone know where I can get help/practice for Amberjack tests?

 

[Mug Fan]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

 

[User5678]

Hill Dickinson test invite! Is this automatic?

 

[legallyells]

Hill Dickinson test invite! Is this automatic?

apparently it isnt, well done!! 🎉

 

[Chris Brown]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

Whoever decided that VI’s were a good thing to add to the graduate recruit process needs to seriously go outside and touch some f****ng grass imo. Worst idea to have ever been thought of smh. 🤦🏽‍♂️😂​

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

Same. How can I pass an AC and literally do embarrassingly bad in VI with one of my favourite firms in the same cycle? It really takes a different skillset

 

[thecuriouslawyer]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

I DO! I feeeeel you!! I'm practicing for the Mishcon VI right now and I literally can't wait for it to be over but also i'm so nervous that I'll mess it all up bc it holds so much weight.

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

Grad rec said last week that they still had a few places left on the spring vac scheme, so I wouldn’t lose hope just yet!

Thank you so much! I was starting to haha

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

In the same position. This is very likely to be a PFO I’m afraid.

They’ve already completed their first stage interviews, ACs and made offers for the Spring Vac Scheme as far as I’m aware.

That’s what I thought too

 

[👩🎓]

Hi all, does anyone have any advice regarding Hill Dickinson's VI and test? Any tips would be highly appreciated, thank you.

 

[SeniorJunior]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

I had my AC today for the SVS

 

[FCL25]

Hill Dickinson PFO 😭 still stings even though they’re not my main target. Still waiting to hear back from AG which I assume at this point is most likely PFO. Leaving WBD as my last hope!

 

[Chill_solicitor]

Any Ropes and Gray AC invites?

 

[floral.tcla]

Hey, as someone who studied law I found that the Forage internships are really useful to get yourself familiar with legal documents such as term sheets, SPAs, employment contracts etc. The Slaughter and May programme literally provides you with an exemplar term sheet and goes through each section with an explanation. If you do enough of them, you’ll see that the exercises are very similar to what you get in ACs and you’ll be familiar with the documents involved in a transaction or shareholder agreement so it won’t be so foreign to you. Even though I studied law, of course we aren’t exposed to practical documents during our degrees, so Forage has really been helping me in that sense. Hope this helps and be kind to yourself, you got to a Linklaters AC which is defo something to be proud of

hi! thank you so much for this ))

 

[jojo23]

Add Stephenson Harwood and their 1800 words (3 600 word questions) to that

I tried to erase this one from memory 🤣🤣

 

[Tiffanychan4]

Kennedys final Partner interview!!! anyone has this too or knows anything about it too please reach out as I'm not sure what to expect.

 

[Katy12345]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

They have done VI’s, AC’s and given out offers but people are still getting invites to all stages. I believe they only send out rejections once all places are filled up so they can have everyone in reserve until then