2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Celestie]

"Please provide details of your activities and interests."
Is this a bullet point situation or am I expected to give little blurbs?

 

[Jacob Miller]

"Please provide details of your activities and interests."
Is this a bullet point situation or am I expected to give little blurbs?

I typically give little blurbs depending on the word count. My perception was that short blurbs are a bit more involved, so read better on the application, but also leave plenty to be discussed at interview. @Jessica Booker will probably be able to add more here!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I typically give little blurbs depending on the word count. My perception was that short blurbs are a bit more involved, so read better on the application, but also leave plenty to be discussed at interview. @Jessica Booker will probably be able to add more here!

Think it really depends on word count and what you have to say. Can also be a hybrid - certain things that have more content could be blurbs, while factual activities with little to talk about (eg membership of societies, attending conferences) can just be listed as bullet points.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

For the new BCLP test, is the SJT section a whole new test from the critical thinking part? So do you complete the SJT section and go to a new link for the critical thinking section or is it all in one go?

 

[OB]

For the new BCLP test, is the SJT section a whole new test from the critical thinking part? So do you complete the SJT section and go to a new link for the critical thinking section or is it all in one go?

It’s similar to the Linklaters test as there’s different sections within tiles that you click on from the Home Screen. So it is somewhat separate as you click a separate section to do it, but it’s not like you have two separate test links and can do them completely separately if that makes sense!

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

It’s similar to the Linklaters test as there’s different sections within tiles that you click on from the Home Screen. So it is somewhat separate as you click a separate section to do it, but it’s not like you have two separate test links and can do them completely separately if that makes sense!

Ok thank you for letting me know. But since they are in different tiles as you mentioned, I can do them at different times if I wish right?

 

[OB]

Ok thank you for letting me know. But since they are in different tiles as you mentioned, I can do them at different times if I wish right?

I'm pretty sure you can't click off the test and complete it in separate sessions. So you could maybe take a few mins between finishing the SJT questions and reading the instructions for the critical thinking, but not clicking off and doing it at a different time completely.

 

[M1999]

rejection from NRF post WG test. Really do not know what I am doing wrong with these tests, I practice lots on assessment day, have a critical thinking book and do well in practice tests but can't seem to replicate this in the real thing!

For the WG, you shouldn’t overthink it and I honestly don’t think you should resort to cheat sheets because these really confused me more. Some general tips that really helped me:
1) for the inferences section, true is still beyond a reasonable doubt & probably true is where you can bring in other knowledge that was slightly alluded to but cannot say for certain.
2) for the interpretations, the conclusion must follow beyond a reasonable doubt. All this means is that there is no other reasonable explanation you can draw from the passage. However it’s not absolutely or necessarily.
3) for deductions, what really helped me is writing it down. Usually deductions is like All girls eat on Saturday. Only pizza is ate on Saturday. Therefore: all girls eat pizza on Saturday. Then does this make sense? If all girls eat on a Saturday, but they only have pizza on the Saturday, then it can be concluded that this statements true
4) for assumptions, I always look at it as if ‘does this piece of information rely on this other piece of information?’ Or ‘do I need this piece of information to get to that conclusion?’
5) arguments: cannot be just a statement; usually will weigh up a benefit or a risk associated with it and it has to answer the most relevant part of the question


I know I kind of contradicted myself there; but I would simplify each of the rules in a line or two like I’ve just done and then start doing the practice questions (Clifford Chance, BCAT) and see if your grade improves! I would recommmend sticking to the Pearson questions as well

 

[Legal_rawn]

Do Jones day tell you if your referees responded?

 

[dosblancos7]

Do Jones day tell you if your referees responded?

I second this! My referee is on leave, so I'm quite worried!

 

[KerC14]

I just applied for the DLA Piper summer internship, do they only send the Watson Glaser link after reviewing the application form or does everyone get to do it?

 

[Ryan B]

Do Jones day tell you if your referees responded?

I confirmed with my referee that they had responded. Didn't get anything from Jones Day.

 

[IzzyAn_na]

I just applied for the DLA Piper summer internship, do they only send the Watson Glaser link after reviewing the application form or does everyone get to do it?

They told me they send them out every Friday to whoever applied to week before! (Because I applied late on Friday and waited a full week before being sent one!)

 

[AM17]

Hi, for the Addleshaw Goddard application do you break down your grades in the qualification section?

 

[Haz]

I just applied for the DLA Piper summer internship, do they only send the Watson Glaser link after reviewing the application form or does everyone get to do it?

Everyone gets sent the WG! If you meet the benchmark, they then go through your application. So if you don't reach the WG benchmark, your application isn't checked.

 

[H48]

In their VS application form, Dentons asks if you've ever applied to them before and "if unsuccessful please include details of how you have developed since." I was unsuccessful for the 2022 direct training contract application, which was obviously quite recent so I haven't had much time to "develop." I've made a big effort to improve my standard of applications through TCLA, attending commercial awareness webinars etc, but is that appropriate to put on the form?

 

[Bukayo Saka]

I have a quick question. For Bird & Bird, are you allowed to include virtual internships undertaken with Forage/InsideSherpa?

 

[R1a01]

Has anyone completed the VI for Gowling and have any tips?

 

[collie_121]

I have a quick question. For Bird & Bird, are you allowed to include virtual internships undertaken with Forage/InsideSherpa?

I included all of my virtual internships with Inside Sherpa/Legal Cheek/Bright Network etc. under the same post. Not sure if this is right though!

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Is anyone else having problems accessing cvmail? Trying to submit an app but it won't load?