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

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Would it be appropriate to use STAR for the first question? The question refers to 'skills' and 250words seem a bit limited to write out multiple experiences and using STAR.

No - STAR only works for competency questions. This needs to list out all your activities in 250 words, which means you won’t have the ability to do a full STAR format. Just focus on your responsibilities and achievements

 

[BiancaM]

should we also be writing our work experience summaries as a list of responsibilities and achievements? or are we expected to adopt STAR? thanks

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

No - STAR only works for competency questions. This needs to list out all your activities in 250 words, which means you won’t have the ability to do a full STAR format. Just focus on your responsibilities and achievements

Thank you very much Jessica

 

[Asil Ahmad]

No - STAR only works for competency questions. This needs to list out all your activities in 250 words, which means you won’t have the ability to do a full STAR format. Just focus on your responsibilities and achievements

Is this referring to the A&O vacation scheme application question.

 

[Jessica Booker]

should we also be writing our work experience summaries as a list of responsibilities and achievements? or are we expected to adopt STAR? thanks

STAR is only appropriate for competency questions (tell me about a time you…. Type questions) that are asking you to describe a particular skill/competency.

Focus your work experience sections on responsibilities, achievements and personal impact.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is this referring to the A&O vacation scheme application question.

Applies to any question/section that isn’t a competency question.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Also last year in this forum

Applies to any question/section that isn’t a competency question.

Thank you very much for this.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Last year in the forum someone shared their spreadsheet about law firm applications and that person allowed me to use their spreadsheet for the application tracker. If anyone wants to use the spreadsheet also here it is and this spreadsheet is really good for application tracking.

 

[k.k]

hi does anyone know with the A&O app, if you can review your answers before submission or if it doesn't allow you to go back a page?

 

[Celestie]

hi does anyone know with the A&O app, if you can review your answers before submission or if it doesn't allow you to go back a page?

I think its always good practice to save answers ahead - I recommend using 'OneDrive'. Then just copy and paste over when you are done.

This also saves you if you ever use CVmail which doesn't let you see your app (if you forget to download) and if you get invited to interview.

 

[Aicha]

Jessica was, as usual, entirely correct.

A&O have confirmed that the cover letter and CV upload is to be disregarded.

Hi, did you email and then call them? I emailed them about a week ago with no reply, and haven't been able to get through the phone either!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Hi, did you email and then call them? I emailed them about a week ago with no reply, and haven't been able to get through the phone either!

They replied to my email yesterday evening at around 7ish and I emailed them on Sunday night.

 

[OB]

hi does anyone know with the A&O app, if you can review your answers before submission or if it doesn't allow you to go back a page?

There's a review page where you can view it all and go back and change sections

Ngl their website/platform is probably my least favourite of them all hahah give me apply4law anyday

 

[lawstudent09]

I’d write in prose - just very concise prose.

What about for the responsibilities and skills for work experience sections? Should we also do prose for that? If yes, how detailed should it be? Similar to a CV or more in depth?

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hey everyone,

In the the A&O Winter VS application, there are these two questions "Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience or extracurricular activities. And "Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful". Both are 250 words max.

This might be a silly question but do you think it is better to use bullet points or short paragraphs when answering these questions?

Any advice would be helpful, thank you

Responses like this should absolutely be written in prose. They are testing your ability to draft in a clear, concise manner by giving you short word counts in responses like this.

 

[Jacob Miller]

I think its always good practice to save answers ahead - I recommend using 'OneDrive'. Then just copy and paste over when you are done.

This also saves you if you ever use CVmail which doesn't let you see your app (if you forget to download) and if you get invited to interview.

Completely agree here - always recommend drafting in a competent word processor - eg Google Docs, MSWord or Apple Sheets - and then copying and pasting responses over when you're satisfied with them.

Using tools like word counters, in-built spelling/ grammar/ syntax checkers, etc make it a lot easier to draft your responses and then just fire them into the application page as and when you go to submit.

Almost every major application platform will permit you to go back and forth through the app though, and will almost invariably include a final "check all content" type page where you can assess everything you've inputted through the whole application.

 

[Jessica Booker]

What about for the responsibilities and skills for work experience sections? Should we also do prose for that? If yes, how detailed should it be? Similar to a CV or more in depth?

Yes prose unless the application form allows you to format bullet points. It should as detailed as your CV but in prose

 

[Hira10]

Hi. Would anyone please tell me vacational schemes would be online this winter 2021 in the UK? As I cannot attention physically there

tha my oh

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

Hi all,

Does anyone have the Sidley Austin and A&O questions?

Thanks!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Hi all,

Does anyone have the Sidley Austin and A&O questions?

Thanks!

A&O application opened 3 days ago and someone posted their application questions in the VS 2021/2022 forum.