TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[Jessica Booker]

If an application question is asking why you want to be a lawyer, is it asking purely about your motivations? Or is it necessary to also outline why your skills and experience makes you suitable for the role?

Just asking you why you want to do it, not why you would be good at it.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Irwin Mitchell is moving to SJT and away from the long application questions. Weil is doing their open day in person. Debevoise assesses people in the assessment centre through an open day. I found out all of this Legal Cheek open day law fair today and thought should post this information here.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yesterday around 6pm.

If you haven’t heard from them by the end of the week, give them a call.

 

[Dheepa]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering if I encounter a 'Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you' question, do they only accept or would greatly desire a response around a legal topic? As background — I am a non-law student.

I have written about my interest in astrology for this kind of question. The more genuine your answer, the better! Conversely, don't try to force yourself to write about something completely out of the box either!

 

[Dheepa]

Anyone know if we need to provide our details in the heading for the Slaughters cover letter? Seems an awful waste of space for something strictly limited to one side of A4

No you don't! Just a simple, "Dear X," would suffice. (If I'm not mistaken you're supposed to address it to a Ms. Janine Arnold)

 

[Dheepa]

If an application question is asking why you want to be a lawyer, is it asking purely about your motivations? Or is it necessary to also outline why your skills and experience makes you suitable for the role?

Purely motivational, but you'd probably be backing up your motivations with your experiences or highlighting skills you gained from those experiences that translate into commercial law too.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Anyone know if we need to provide our details in the heading for the Slaughters cover letter? Seems an awful waste of space for something strictly limited to one side of A4

Use their full address and date it. You don’t have to include your name and address though as you would do in a formal letter (we know future trainees who have done this).

 

[Rob93]

Use their full address and date it. You don’t have to include your name and address though as you would do in a formal letter (we know future trainees who have done this).

Perfect, thanks Jessica!

 

[Rob93]

No you don't! Just a simple, "Dear X," would suffice. (If I'm not mistaken you're supposed to address it to a Ms. Janine Arnold)

It is indeed Janine Arnold

 

[PM2021]

Hey, I have a general question. For applications that ask for work experience and do not prescribe a word limit, what is the ideal way of entering? Bullet points of paragraphs? And what should be the appropriate length?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey, I have a general question. For applications that ask for work experience and do not prescribe a word limit, what is the ideal way of entering? Bullet points of paragraphs? And what should be the appropriate length?

Prose/paragraphs unless you can format the text with bullet points within the application form (eg the application form has the functionality for you to add bullet points).

 

[KerC14]

Irwin Mitchell is moving to SJT and away from the long application questions. Weil is doing their open day in person. Debevoise assesses people in the assessment centre through an open day. I found out all of this Legal Cheek open day law fair today and thought should post this information here.

Did IM say if they were moving to SJT for this upcoming cycle?

 

[KerC14]

Took a much needed break from everything application related and trying to hit the ground running this cycle!

Applied to Linklaters for the third time yesterday, I guess I just love the feeling of rejection :')

 

[M777]

Took a much needed break from everything application related and trying to hit the ground running this cycle!

Applied to Linklaters for the third time yesterday, I guess I just love the feeling of rejection :')

I'm on my third time too. Third time lucky?

 

[KerC14]

I'm on my third time too. Third time lucky?

That's what I'm telling myself, good luck!!

 

[OB]

Took a much needed break from everything application related and trying to hit the ground running this cycle!

Applied to Linklaters for the third time yesterday, I guess I just love the feeling of rejection :')

I'm on my third time too. Third time lucky?

I'd love to know what the magic formula is for their test. I'll probably give it a go for the third time this cycle too haha

 

[M777]

That's what I'm telling myself, good luck!!

you too!

 

[Careerchanger2021]

I'm applying for vac schemes after work commitments only allowed me to apply for direct tc applications last year. If @Jessica Booker or anyone can help me with the below that would be great!

1. How much detail do I need to put for questions on application forms about the stage you reached in a previous application? I have a few where I reached the telephone/virtual interview and one where I reached the assessment centre. I presume that the Grad Rec teams will have all the details anyway so just wanted to check.
2. If the questions on the application form are the same as last year and I made it past the first stage, how different do my answers need to be? Obviously I will update anything that relates to my work/experience or if it relates to a more recent business question.
3. For the work experience section, what would you say is the best method for displaying the skills you've gained/developed from your experiences or would you actually use these sections as more of list of what tasks you were doing? I know that you've said on multiple occasions that prose is better, but if the formatting allows bullet points would you still opt for prose?

Thanks so much!

 

[hopefullawyer101]

Can anyone direct me open day application examples!

 

[A92167!8]

They are non-rolling so you won’t hear anything back before mid-December

Where did you get this information from? I thought they said on the website it is rolling