General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Matt_96]

Does anyone know what online tests Boodle Hatfield and Collyer Bristow use?

 

[Soriginal234]

Has anyone heard back from Willkie Farr & Gallagher after Video Interview?
Has anyone heard back from Vinson & Elkins? or Sidley Austin perhaps?

Hi - have you heard back post VI? I’m still waiting!

 

[reedyboy]

Hi everyone, have a quesiton about LPC electives. Most firms require some kind of specific combiation of modules in the LPC, but do they penalise/not hire you if you have not taken these? For example, if I begin the LPC and do X modules, but am applying for a firm which requires Y modules, does the fact that I have not done their requried electives mean that I could not get a TC with them?

 

[AH97]

Hi everyone, have a quesiton about LPC electives. Most firms require some kind of specific combiation of modules in the LPC, but do they penalise/not hire you if you have not taken these? For example, if I begin the LPC and do X modules, but am applying for a firm which requires Y modules, does the fact that I have not done their requried electives mean that I could not get a TC with them?

I imagine all firms will differ in their approach, but I read on one firm's website that they would expect people to choose electives related to the firm's main practice areas, even if they're not the exact ones that they require. As long as you pick Corporate/Commercial electives over things like Criminal and Family, you'll probably be fine!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi everyone, have a quesiton about LPC electives. Most firms require some kind of specific combiation of modules in the LPC, but do they penalise/not hire you if you have not taken these? For example, if I begin the LPC and do X modules, but am applying for a firm which requires Y modules, does the fact that I have not done their requried electives mean that I could not get a TC with them?

Highly unlikely that you would be restricted from apply or not considered on this basis alone.

 

[E.A]

Hi all. I've got a very general and non law related question. Does anyone know whether there is an equivalent platform of the TCLA for consultancy?

 

[reedyboy]

I imagine all firms will differ in their approach, but I read on one firm's website that they would expect people to choose electives related to the firm's main practice areas, even if they're not the exact ones that they require. As long as you pick Corporate/Commercial electives over things like Criminal and Family, you'll probably be fine!

Highly unlikely that you would be restricted from apply or not considered on this basis alone.

Okay great, thanks so much for the info!

 

[SecretSantaxx]

Hey @Jessica Booker , I was sent a form to be filled up before an interview. There is a work experience section which says "list any employment.... after university". Does this mean that I do not include any internship/summer schemes? I am wondering if it is because its a generic form that is sent to all applicants (including those that aren't applying for graduate schemes), not tailored from students and therefore I should be including summer schemes/internships instead. Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hey @Jessica Booker , I was sent a form to be filled up before an interview. There is a work experience section which says "list any employment.... after university". Does this mean that I do not include any internship/summer schemes? I am wondering if it is because its a generic form that is sent to all applicants (including those that aren't applying for graduate schemes), not tailored from students and therefore I should be including summer schemes/internships instead. Thanks!

what’s the full question? Only seeing part of it means it is difficult to advise on this.

 

[SecretSantaxx]

what’s the full question? Only seeing part of it means it is difficult to advise on this.

Hey Jessica, it says "please list any professional positions that you have held at other companies (such as law or consulting firms, financial institutions, etc.) after university.".

 

[legalCheek27]

Question regarding the White & Case deadline. By 15th Jan, is that to be interpreted as the end of Thursday at 11:59pm, or the end Friday 11:59pm?

Considering they review applications on a rolling basis, I fully appreciate that applying this late is far from ideal. I also understand that applying by the end of Thursday is the safer option. However, if there is an extra day, I feel I could significantly improve the quality of my app.

 

[R203]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Thank you very much for all your advice!

Just wanted to ask, if a training contract deadline is written as "deadline 15th January 2021", does that mean that it is still okay to submit on 15th January 2021 itself, till 2359?

Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Question regarding the White & Case deadline. By 15th Jan, is that to be interpreted as the end of Thursday at 11:59pm, or the end Friday 11:59pm?

Considering they review applications on a rolling basis, I fully appreciate that applying this late is far from ideal. I also understand that applying by the end of Thursday is the safer option. However, if there is an extra day, I feel I could significantly improve the quality of my app.

This comes up EVERY deadline.

There is NO logic in the deadline being 11.59pm the night before the deadline stated. A deadline always includes the day it mentions.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker

Thank you very much for all your advice!

Just wanted to ask, if a training contract deadline is written as "deadline 15th January 2021", does that mean that it is still okay to submit on 15th January 2021 itself, till 2359?

Thank you!

See the post below yours....

I cannot guarantee a deadline will be 23.59 but a deadline will always include the date stated, never the day before.

 

[Law123]

@Jessica Booker Hi, sorry if this has been answered before, when referring to a law firm, so for example, saying "I am interested in working with X as..", is it grammatically correct to say "as it is" or "as they are"? Thank you!

 

[lawstudent2021]

**please help**

I just received a TC rejection after my winter vac scheme. I really enjoyed the vac scheme and was convinced it was the right firm for me so the rejection has hit me really really hard. The TC interview process in general took a massive toll on me because I found it so hard to balance my uni work and deadlines with preparing for the interview and ending up overworking and over stressing myself and tanking on the actual interview day. I'm in my final year and feel like this was my last opportunity to get a training contract before I graduate as I've missed all the vac scheme deadlines for other firms now.

I'm getting my head around the fact that I'm going to have to apply for straight TC's. I've seen firms like White & Case and Hogan Lovells have TC deadlines in summer like July time. I don't know whether I should be applying to these now, or waiting until after I graduate when I have my degree results and then applying in the summer. The pros of this would be that I could focus on getting the best possible results and not having to worry about the application process, but the risk is that they will have already made all of the their TC offers.

Any advice on the TC application process & how to cope with rejection (lol) would be great thank you.

 

[Alison C]

Hi guys. I’m thinking about taking a break from all applications so I can focus on my grades. The applications are very time consuming and have taken a serious toll on my mental health; I don't want to risk it also affecting my academic performance. Instead, I hope to take a gap year and focus on applications once I graduate.

Even though I am really struggling to simultaneously look for employment whilst maintaining good grades, most people I've met either secured their TC during uni or whilst working. I don't know if taking this process very slowly and step-by-step could be frowned upon in any way and been seen as lacking proactiveness? Has anyone taken this approach or is there anything I should take into consideration? Thank you.

Look at what you've written - you are making an active choice to take a year out, it's the opposite of not being proactive! (Hope you can follow the double negative...) And you know what? Even if you end up doing a non-law job, that will be incredibly valuable world experience. The job market, in general, is going to be pretty ropey but with a good degree behind you and a sense of adventure, you should get something. You will probably be a better lawyer as a result - wiser, clearer about how you can make a difference in the right firm for you. Far from being the passive option, this shows real commitment.

You can make applications next year. You can't redo your finals.

And those other people with all those TCs? They won't get the chance to pop their heads over the parapet and look at the world. A minority will find, further down the line, that they wish that they had taken that chance when it was there.

Be your own best friend here. Get the main project out of the way.

 

[Alison C]

**please help**

I just received a TC rejection after my winter vac scheme. I really enjoyed the vac scheme and was convinced it was the right firm for me so the rejection has hit me really really hard. The TC interview process in general took a massive toll on me because I found it so hard to balance my uni work and deadlines with preparing for the interview and ending up overworking and over stressing myself and tanking on the actual interview day. I'm in my final year and feel like this was my last opportunity to get a training contract before I graduate as I've missed all the vac scheme deadlines for other firms now.

I'm getting my head around the fact that I'm going to have to apply for straight TC's. I've seen firms like White & Case and Hogan Lovells have TC deadlines in summer-like July time. I don't know whether I should be applying to these now, or waiting until after I graduate when I have my degree results and then applying in the summer. The pros of this would be that I could focus on getting the best possible results and not having to worry about the application process, but the risk is that they will have already made all of their TC offers.

Any advice on the TC application process & how to cope with rejection (lol) would be great thank you.

Firstly, I'm so sorry to hear that it didn't work out. But good for you for asking for support, and learning that way too.

Not sure if you have premium access to TCLA but the overriding view is that it all works out in the end. There was a seminar given with Paul Gascoyne, Shearman & Sterling grad recruitment, where he and the TCLA core team address some of the practicalities. And painful as it is, the feedback from your VS will be well worth hearing. If they don't want you, it's their loss, but lucky you to have had that experience.

It's always unpleasant. But lawyers have to deal with rejection all the time. And see the conversation above about taking a year out. You can reapply, but you can't redo your Finals.

Good luck.

 

[R203]

Hi everyone!

Would love to hear what's everyone's pre-AC routine. What do you do the day before, night before and on the actual day itself? Any last minute routine that helped calm your nerves? Any foods that you particularly find would help with stress?

Thank you!!

 

[packhorse]

Hi everyone!

Would love to hear what's everyone's pre-AC routine. What do you do the day before, night before and on the actual day itself? Any last minute routine that helped calm your nerves? Any foods that you particularly find would help with stress?

Thank you!!

Would make a good thread I think ?!