Spontaneous TC Journey

[Legalstalker]

End of the week update✨

Progression:

• AC invites: 4

No progressioon this week which I am happy to see as I am too swamped to take on any interviews, tests or AC's.

Rejections:

• A&O Shearman post test/VI rejection
• Ashurst - post test rejection
• Bird & Bird (TC) - post WG rejection
• Clifford Chance (TC) - passed WG but rejected
• CMS (TC) - post VI rejection
• Covington & Burling - post application rejection
• Dechert - post application rejection
• DLA piper - passed WG but rejected
• Herbert Smith Freehills - passed test but rejected
• Macfarlanes - Post tests rejection
• Mayer Brown - post test rejection
• Skadden - post application rejection

12 rejections and counting 🥲

Macfarlanes rejection 🏃‍♀️

I won't get into my Macfarlanes injustice just yet, as i have arranged a call with them, regading my application. 😅

Looking at my rejection list, I am not sad!! I have progressed with many, and given I now have another 2 firms in my top 2 replacing Dechert and CC I'm happy happy happy.

I have really locked in these past few days with my essays; I've nearly finished one of them. I got an extension of 3 days... 3 days!! I literally procrastinate for 3 days before starting anything. I'm used to having 2-week extensions, haha

One of my AC's got rescheduled and is now one of my deadline days, which stinks. I looked at the brief for the graduate job interview i have next week, and they require us to make a presentation... luckily I saw that, as I was going to rely on vibes and vibes only to get me the job🤣 I also went to book a train ticket for the interview, and it is £200; my railcard expired. I wish everything was virtual.

I had an AC today, which I did not prepare for in the slightest. Did I do it... Yes, am i happy with how it went.... no
STAR method who? 😭 I was having a bloody conversation with the interviewer as if we were friends; no formality was present. We were slating some of the big law cultures, hehe. Will I convert it? absoutley not. I went to sleep after the AC, missed my lecture, skipped lunch, and missed training I have. I am however happy to have done a written exercise!!! I needed to do one given all my other AC's require one. I also have a written task coming up soon so I hope this pays off.

I rambled so much i forgot it was an interview I need to chill out and find structure in my life as I have an interview in person next week, so no notes or anything. I need to find motivation for the company over this weekend🧍‍♀️

Tomorrow I have training all day for one of my sports, so it will be nice to be out and about and not in my room at my desk.... these white walls are killing me.

I have work Sunday and 2 online assessment deadlines on Sunday. Right now I will make food, watch TikTok, do one test, finish my essay, and maybe even start an application I have been meaning to do.

I hope you've all had a better week than me, as I am super tired.

Keep striving, friends; the end is near; we got this!!!!​

 

[Legalstalker]

Today I had a scheduled call with Macfarlanes regarding my application as I believed it to be wrongly rejected (I do have a reason for thinking this and they obviously agreed given the call).

They were super nice to walk me through how many applications they got this year (2712) with 250 invited to AC. Less than 10%.

They didn’t mention grades so I don’t think this was taken into consideration which was great.

My application:
I was told I exceeding the benchmark for the test (which I knew based on my feedback report). They assessed the work experience section, they said the background of my experiences were very detailed highlighting my skills and the structure was very good. However there was one experience (part time retail job) where I did not show the skills as much… very valid point on their part but very small nonetheless. They highlighted that they were impressed that I had attended insight/open days and showed my commitment to law but I was told to attend their events however, that’s not detrimental…

Why Macfarlanes - they said I had a good foundation, clear reasons and that I needed back my points up with research to show I know it’s a reason. Once again I should attended firm events. should speak about deals or cases the firm has worked on.
I then stated I did in fact add a case the firm worked on the impact of said case and how it feed into me wanting to work there. I was told I did a very good job at adding the case in and it was very clear and structured well….

Tell us about yourself - good mix of points and a very varied background, good structure and an emphasis on skills learnt and linking it back to the firm. However, I should stick to only 3/4 points (I said 5).

You’re allowed to apply for direct TC if you didn’t make it to AC for the VS, they don’t look for any specific legal experience and they invite 60-90 to AC.

All in all it was a great call and I really appreciated it! They don’t give feedback but my case was very different and I do find it useful. I don’t believe the points stated are bad to the point of rejection imo considering they repeatedly said “your application was very good it was just unfortunate you applied in such a competitive year”.

Happy to share my “why Macfarlanes answer” with anyone who would find it useful!

Closure has been sought and I can now move on with my life 😂😂

I have my final stage interview for the graduate job tomorrow and I’m soo scared I feel underprepared! I was walking with all my smart clothes and my blazer fell on the wet floor and it’s now muddy🫠​

 

[lawyersum]

Today I had a scheduled call with Macfarlanes regarding my application as I believed it to be wrongly rejected (I do have a reason for thinking this and they obviously agreed given the call).

They were super nice to walk me through how many applications they got this year (2712) with 250 invited to AC. Less than 10%.

They didn’t mention grades so I don’t think this was taken into consideration which was great.

My application:
I was told I exceeding the benchmark for the test (which I knew based on my feedback report). They assessed the work experience section, they said the background of my experiences were very detailed highlighting my skills and the structure was very good. However there was one experience (part time retail job) where I did not show the skills as much… very valid point on their part but very small nonetheless. They highlighted that they were impressed that I had attended insight/open days and showed my commitment to law but I was told to attend their events however, that’s not detrimental…

Why Macfarlanes - they said I had a good foundation, clear reasons and that I needed back my points up with research to show I know it’s a reason. Once again I should attended firm events. should speak about deals or cases the firm has worked on.
I then stated I did in fact add a case the firm worked on the impact of said case and how it feed into me wanting to work there. I was told I did a very good job at adding the case in and it was very clear and structured well….

Tell us about yourself - good mix of points and a very varied background, good structure and an emphasis on skills learnt and linking it back to the firm. However, I should stick to only 3/4 points (I said 5).

You’re allowed to apply for direct TC if you didn’t make it to AC for the VS, they don’t look for any specific legal experience and they invite 60-90 to AC.

All in all it was a great call and I really appreciated it! They don’t give feedback but my case was very different and I do find it useful. I don’t believe the points stated are bad to the point of rejection imo considering they repeatedly said “your application was very good it was just unfortunate you applied in such a competitive year”.

Happy to share my “why Macfarlanes answer” with anyone who would find it useful!

Closure has been sought and I can now move on with my life 😂😂

I have my final stage interview for the graduate job tomorrow and I’m soo scared I feel underprepared! I was walking with all my smart clothes and my blazer fell on the wet floor and it’s now muddy🫠​

Honestly hearing this makes me so mad!!! ‘It was just a competitive year’. - PLEASE tell me how someone can get more competitive than you??? Exceeded the benchmark and wrote good answers according to grad rec themselves! Makes me wonder how us mere mortals will ever succeed🥺🤞