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

[Red]

Has anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood's winter vac scheme app?

 

[John Travoni]

How long did it take for some ppl after submitting the DLA application to receive the WG link?

 

[rose888]

Has anyone heard from Slaughter and May about the Summer Work Experience Scheme?

 

[OB]

How long did it take for some ppl after submitting the DLA application to receive the WG link?

I believe they send it on the Friday after you submit

 

[AvniD]

Does anyone have any advice for what I can do/resources to use to prepare for a vacation scheme? I have a WVS with Allen & Overy so any A&O specific or general advice would be so helpful!

Congratulations! This is great news 🥳

I think you may find this thread helpful- https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....to-a-training-contract-top-tips-in-2021.3454/.

It has a bunch of tips from the TCLA community and resources available that you can go through in the run-up to your WVS 😇

All the very best- please do reach out to us if you have any questions and let us know how it goes!

 

[AAA_a]

How long after completing the test for Mayer Brown do you get sent a report?

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

What happens after completing the HSF online assessment? I have received a report, but when do I hear back if I passed the test or about next steps (which I believe is the AC)?

 

[Asil Ahmad]

What happens after completing the HSF online assessment? I have received a report, but when do I hear back if I passed the test or about next steps (which I believe is the AC)?

It can take hours or days to find out if you reached the benchmark

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Anyone receive Reed Smith SJT test invite this week or last week after submitting the application. I submitted mine on Thursday.

 

[James Carrabino]

PFO from A&O direct TC - they offered me an AC for the summer scheme instead as they said I didn't have enough legal experience but I had LPC exams that clashed and so they said they would consider me for the direct Tc instead but have just gotten the rejection email - I'm really upset and annoyed because if it weren't for the LPC exams, I could have genuinely had a shot at A&O
I also wanted to ask how much legal experience firms expect for direct TC - I was a legal intern for 3 months over the summer at a global bank but perhaps they're looking for law firm work experience?

Hey I'm really sorry to hear this @xJannax. It sounds like one of those scenarios where things are really out of your control, which I know can be so frustrating. As to whether or not to follow up on this with a phone call, my view is that it could never hurt regardless of how unlikely the outcome is to change as there could conceivably have been some kind of administrative error involved. I am not sure whether most direct TC candidates would have more legal experience than you, but it is possible that they want evidence of vacation schemes in particular (although honestly I think your three months as a legal intern would seem like better experience to me than a vacation scheme, but perhaps they would value the selectivity of a vacation scheme). Take from this experience that you are a great candidate since they have even told you as much by offering you an interview for the summer vacation scheme. There are many more firms out there and there's plenty of time left in this application season so I certainly wouldn't start to worry about one extremely frustrating incident like this - I'm confident that you will end up at a firm that's perfect for you!

 

[anon123456789]

What happens after completing the HSF online assessment? I have received a report, but when do I hear back if I passed the test or about next steps (which I believe is the AC)?

I'm pretty sure they won't be taking any further steps until the deadline of the 3rd December has passed as they're non rolling. They did say that you'll hear back shortly after this date has passed so fingers crossed you get news soon

 

[psr23]

Has anyone been to Skadden’s virtual open day before? Not sure what to expect - is it camera on, are there opportunities to network and ask questions etc. any insights would be appreciated!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Has anyone been to Skadden’s virtual open day before? Not sure what to expect - is it camera on, are there opportunities to network and ask questions etc. any insights would be appreciated!

The best virtual open day I attended last year and I attended Reed Smith open day also.

 

[Kubed]

Has anyone been to Skadden’s virtual open day before? Not sure what to expect - is it camera on, are there opportunities to network and ask questions etc. any insights would be appreciated!

I've not specifically been to Skadden's but I would always advise to keep the camera on (whenever possible), look engaged and ask questions. I would caveat that by saying: I wouldn't ask questions just for the sake of it, try to ask stuff you genuinely want to find out about or something you want to follow-up on that you've researched.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I've not specifically been to Skadden's but I would always advise to keep the camera on, look engaged and ask questions. I would caveat that by saying: I wouldn't ask questions just for the sake of it, try to ask stuff you genuinely want to find out about or something you want to follow-up on that you've researched.

For Skadden 1 we did not have audio or video by the way but I agree with this.

 

[James Carrabino]

Not sure if this is the right thread but I was wondering if anyone has a structure they follow for open day applications? Should it similarly be structured like a cover letter? I never really know how to approach it compared to VS apps

For open day applications, it's important to demonstrate your curiosity by elaborating on-

1. what you're hoping to learn about a career in commercial law at the firm that you're applying to and
2. how you know you may learn this through an open day

For 1, talk about what sparked your interest in commercial law and the firm (something you read or watched, an event/webinar that you attended etc.) and what you're hoping to learn from the open day. This could be anything from how the firm is structured, its business strategy, its sector focuses and practice areas to how their training contract is structured and what their trainees do on a typical day at the firm.

For 2, bring in your research to show that you've taken the initiative to learn how you can enter into a career in law and make strong applications using the knowledge you gain at open days. For example, you can mention conversations you have had with the careers service at your uni or articles you read online and how they influenced you to apply for open days.

Lastly, word count permitting, do elaborate on your background and personal attributes and how you know that they make you a good fit for a career in commercial law. So if you say you're creative, ensure you mention how you've demonstrated this and how it will help you as a commercial lawyer (maybe in innovating, bringing in new initiatives?)

I hope this was helpful! Tagging my fellow community managers for their thoughts as well! @George Maxwell @James Carrabino

I would agree with everything @AvniD has said here! I would only add that it is worth looking at what will be happening on the Open Day - for example, does it involve presentations on specific practice areas and is there a collaborative component? You can then talk about how you plan to leverage this to inform your applications to law firms going forward, in addition to possibly making a decision about training at that firm in future. Your enthusiasm and motivations will be more important than your legal work experience for an Open Day application, I should think.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

It can take hours or days to find out if you reached the benchmark

Right, so you have to pass the test and then they look at your app? If you fail the test, they don't look at your app at all? Or is it a combination of test and app?

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Right, so you have to pass the test and then they look at your app? If you fail the test, they don't look at your app at all? Or is it a combination of test and app?

Yes you have to pass the test for them to read your application.

 

[Rob93]

Has anyone been to Skadden’s virtual open day before? Not sure what to expect - is it camera on, are there opportunities to network and ask questions etc. any insights would be appreciated!

They've said they'd like cameras on but it's at our discretion.

 

[ZaraB]

no brain cells left after the Mayer Brown tests 😵😵😵