General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker, one of the reasons why I applying to a firm is because of its strength in a certain sector. It is not its main practice area but is something it is ranked for. I potentially have a job lined up which would be in this field, however because of Corona I don't have an immediate start date. In my application could I talk about "my interests lie in X sector and why I'm applying for X firm shown through gaining a position at X." Would you advise focusing on a certain sector you genuinely have an interest in or all of their departments?

your application should always be genuine.

don’t make stuff up just to try and impress.

it is fine to focus on one department/practice area - but remember to not go too over the top about it. You might only spend 6 months in that department and if everything in your application screams “I’m interested in X department” there could be a question as to whether you would be interested in other areas.

it’s just about balance

 

[Changes]

Hi @Jessica Booker, one of the reasons why I applying to a firm is because of its strength in a certain sector. It is not its main practice area but is something it is ranked for. I potentially have a job lined up which would be in this field, however because of Corona I don't have an immediate start date. In my application could I talk about "my interests lie in X sector and why I'm applying for X firm shown through gaining a position at X." Would you advise focusing on a certain sector you genuinely have an interest in or all of their departments?

I’ve done this with a couple of practices areas for certain firms, one I’ve semi-experienced (though not as a lawyer) and referenced that experience. But I’ve gone on to point out that I’m open minded about practice area ultimately (linked it with them being a full service firm and why that’s important to me).

 

[Popal]

Hi all, I just got an email from a firm saying that the assessment centre that was postponed from March which I was due to attend has now been cancelled. All places for training contracts have been given to people who completed assessment centres before Coronavirus hit. Therefore, my application has been rejected.

I was told I should reconsider applying earlier as applications are assessed on a rolling basis. I applied 9 weeks after the applications opened - it was my first application of this cycle and I was taking my time but perhaps was naive in thinking I'd applied early enough.

Do you think there would be merit in asking the firm whether they would consider putting candidates in the same boat straight through to the assessment centre for the next cohort in 2023? I'm just so disappointed, and feel like I have been rather unfortunate, especially given this was my first choice firm. Also, they would just have to read pretty much the same application again, and otherwise they wasted time telephone interviewing us all, but also I don't want to sound like I'm complaining as I definitely want to re-apply next year.

Any advice welcome!

Many thanks in advance

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi all, I just got an email from a firm saying that the assessment centre that was postponed from March which I was due to attend has now been cancelled. All places for training contracts have been given to people who completed assessment centres before Coronavirus hit. Therefore, my application has been rejected.

I was told I should reconsider applying earlier as applications are assessed on a rolling basis. I applied 9 weeks after the applications opened - it was my first application of this cycle and I was taking my time but perhaps was naive in thinking I'd applied early enough.

Do you think there would be merit in asking the firm whether they would consider putting candidates in the same boat straight through to the assessment centre for the next cohort in 2023? I'm just so disappointed, and feel like I have been rather unfortunate, especially given this was my first choice firm. Also, they would just have to read pretty much the same application again, and otherwise they wasted time telephone interviewing us all, but also I don't want to sound like I'm complaining as I definitely want to re-apply next year.

Any advice welcome!

Many thanks in advance

If they wanted to take that approach, that’s what they would have offered you.

This cycle will be strange given the extra ordinary set of circumstances. I wouldn’t let this affect how you apply for the rest of this cycle, or even the next cycle though.

 

[Alice G]

Hi all, I just got an email from a firm saying that the assessment centre that was postponed from March which I was due to attend has now been cancelled. All places for training contracts have been given to people who completed assessment centres before Coronavirus hit. Therefore, my application has been rejected.

I was told I should reconsider applying earlier as applications are assessed on a rolling basis. I applied 9 weeks after the applications opened - it was my first application of this cycle and I was taking my time but perhaps was naive in thinking I'd applied early enough.

Do you think there would be merit in asking the firm whether they would consider putting candidates in the same boat straight through to the assessment centre for the next cohort in 2023? I'm just so disappointed, and feel like I have been rather unfortunate, especially given this was my first choice firm. Also, they would just have to read pretty much the same application again, and otherwise they wasted time telephone interviewing us all, but also I don't want to sound like I'm complaining as I definitely want to re-apply next year.

Any advice welcome!

Many thanks in advance

I really feel for you reading this and totally get how you feel and there is nothing wrong in feeling down and disappointed. I do agree with @Jessica Booker in that, if they have said this now and taken this decision, then I doubt they will be able to offer a fast-track for 2023. What I think I would do is possibly email them back (a very very brief email - a sentence or two!) and just say a courteous thank you for getting in touch, that you appreciate the decision and you are looking forward to reapplying next cycle. Then, when that time comes, I would meet with the firm if possible and maybe ask whether it would be worth expressing how far you got this cycle in your 2023 app. Most firms ask if you have applied before in their forms so I wonder if you could do this in here? Always worth asking I think but this success this cycle with the firm will hopefully stand you in good stead for next year! Really best of luck with any further apps

 

[AY]

Has anyone heard back from Ward Hadaway yet??

 

[Popal]

If they wanted to take that approach, that’s what they would have offered you.

This cycle will be strange given the extra ordinary set of circumstances. I wouldn’t let this affect how you apply for the rest of this cycle, or even the next cycle though.

Thanks for this Jessica. I think I asked this without thinking about the fact they would have offered it if they were going to - perhaps my heart typing, rather than my head!

Thank you, and I will try not to let this get me down. I need to cut everyone, including myself, a bit of slack I think! Thank you for your work on this forum - we all really appreciate it.

 

[Popal]

I really feel for you reading this and totally get how you feel and there is nothing wrong in feeling down and disappointed. I do agree with @Jessica Booker in that, if they have said this now and taken this decision, then I doubt they will be able to offer a fast-track for 2023. What I think I would do is possibly email them back (a very very brief email - a sentence or two!) and just say a courteous thank you for getting in touch, that you appreciate the decision and you are looking forward to reapplying next cycle. Then, when that time comes, I would meet with the firm if possible and maybe ask whether it would be worth expressing how far you got this cycle in your 2023 app. Most firms ask if you have applied before in their forms so I wonder if you could do this in here? Always worth asking I think but this success this cycle with the firm will hopefully stand you in good stead for next year! Really best of luck with any further apps

Thanks for this Alice - that's such a helpful suggestion! And I hadn't even thought about the fact that I can mention how far I got on the application form - hopefully that would be taken into consideration I was definitely spiralling earlier, and you and Jessica have made me feel miles better- so thank you both!

 

[Alice G]

Thanks for this Alice - that's such a helpful suggestion! And I hadn't even thought about the fact that I can mention how far I got on the application form - hopefully that would be taken into consideration I was definitely spiralling earlier, and you and Jessica have made me feel miles better- so thank you both!

Absolutely no worries! I totally understand the initial panic and worry that sets in and it can be hard to process things as you would do ordinarily. I am really glad this has helped and absolutely take confidence in your abilities and strengths that you got so far with the firm this cycle - I hope you can harness that self-belief and let it power you forwards

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thanks for this Jessica. I think I asked this without thinking about the fact they would have offered it if they were going to - perhaps my heart typing, rather than my head!

Thank you, and I will try not to let this get me down. I need to cut everyone, including myself, a bit of slack I think! Thank you for your work on this forum - we all really appreciate it.

the difficulty with deferrals this year (which is basically what you are asking for) is it is the first year of the SQE intakes for many firms. They don’t necessary want to rush into the process of 2023 offers until both Covid stuff is over and also once SQE matters are a little more defined (and that’s not necessary the firm’s fault).

 

[bzheng]

received an invite to stephenson harwood interview! if anyone has any insight i’d be very grateful! thank you

 

[Charles]

Hello guys (Alice G, Jessica, Jaysen) pretty please do we have any link/article dedicated to video interviews (please could you direct me to them/post them) I would like to prepare for an upcoming video interview with Baker Mckenzie. Thank you

And if anyone has ideas/tips/pointers about the Baker Mckenzie video interview please could you share them. Thanks

 

[Charles]

Thanks for this Alice - that's such a helpful suggestion! And I hadn't even thought about the fact that I can mention how far I got on the application form - hopefully that would be taken into consideration I was definitely spiralling earlier, and you and Jessica have made me feel miles better- so thank you both!

Sorry @ Popal that would have been a hard one to take but like Alice G said you are strong if you got up to a potential assessment center and for the record I do not think you were naive in your application process - cheers.

 

[Alice G]

Hello guys (Alice G, Jessica, Jaysen) pretty please do we have any link/article dedicated to video interviews (please could you direct me to them/post them) I would like to prepare for an upcoming video interview with Baker Mckenzie. Thank you

And if anyone has ideas/tips/pointers about the Baker Mckenzie video interview please could you share them. Thanks

I must apologise on this as I started writing a document on tips for VIs and I have just been a little bit busy this past week so have not had time to develop it much further. I will try and get this turned around as soon as possible. When is the interview?

Also, just a quick tip for everyone - if you '@' and then type a person's username you can be sure they will get a notification and can respond to your question etc just a friendly tip to note so that nothing gets missed!

 

[c1070]

Hey, I’m in the same boat and so I totally sympathise. If it’s any consolation it was obviously a generic email, and the part about applying earlier was phrased a bit weirdly and almost implied it was our fault (not the corona virus lol) that meant we were in this situation? Please be so proud of yourself for getting this far, and remember it’s OK to be incredibly frustrated at the situation!!! It really is just rubbish luck and you’re clearly a great candidate! Their intake is small so that’s probably a factor, and in my case, they actually invited me to the feb AC lol but messed it up so had to move me to the March on so I totallyyyyy understand the feeling of ‘really?! Is this happening!!!?’ I also feel like the part about applying earlier made it seem quite a negative email, and you obviously did apply early so don’t let that bother you and honestly just take it forwards and use the confidence that you were good enough to get to AC in future apps!!

Hi all, I just got an email from a firm saying that the assessment centre that was postponed from March which I was due to attend has now been cancelled. All places for training contracts have been given to people who completed assessment centres before Coronavirus hit. Therefore, my application has been rejected.

I was told I should reconsider applying earlier as applications are assessed on a rolling basis. I applied 9 weeks after the applications opened - it was my first application of this cycle and I was taking my time but perhaps was naive in thinking I'd applied early enough.

Do you think there would be merit in asking the firm whether they would consider putting candidates in the same boat straight through to the assessment centre for the next cohort in 2023? I'm just so disappointed, and feel like I have been rather unfortunate, especially given this was my first choice firm. Also, they would just have to read pretty much the same application again, and otherwise they wasted time telephone interviewing us all, but also I don't want to sound like I'm complaining as I definitely want to re-apply next year.

Any advice welcome!

Many thanks in advance

 

[Pallatablelawyer]

received an invite to stephenson harwood interview! if anyone has any insight i’d be very grateful! thank you

Great news is the interview scheduled for August cause I read somewhere that they typically wait till then

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hello guys (Alice G, Jessica, Jaysen) pretty please do we have any link/article dedicated to video interviews (please could you direct me to them/post them) I would like to prepare for an upcoming video interview with Baker Mckenzie. Thank you

And if anyone has ideas/tips/pointers about the Baker Mckenzie video interview please could you share them. Thanks

Video interview 3

Video interview 2

Video interview 1

 

[S87]

Hi guys,

did anyone pass pinsent’s app stage? Could you give me some advice?

 

[Andrewp]

Anyone heard from dentons after first interview for a TC?

 

[bzheng]

Great news is the interview scheduled for August cause I read somewhere that they typically wait till then

its actually end of april. it's for the summer vac scheme! maybe the august ones are for tc?