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

[Jessica Booker]

I applied to Willkie a day before the deadline and received an email on the 20th (Monday) saying I will get a response from the 4th of January, did anyone else get this? and is it a good sign or a bad one?

I don't think it is either really - just a polite update ahead of the Christmas break.

It could easily be the case the team have had to take leave early due to Covid, and so any expectations to review apps before the Christmas break have had to be delayed until after the festive period.

 

[AspiringTrainee]

I applied to Willkie a day before the deadline and received an email on the 20th (Monday) saying I will get a response from the 4th of January, did anyone else get this? and is it a good sign or a bad one?

I received a video interview invite yesterday and they said in the 'interest of everyone receiving a break over the holidays they won't be sending anything else until the 4th of January', I assume this will be the same for the initial application stage.

So I wouldn't assume anything at this stage.

 

[Bill-Moore]

Hi, has anyone completed the Video Interview for Weil Gotshal & do you have any insight on what to expect?

 

[skmx]

Has anyone heard back post-WG for DLA’s London office?

 

[Sfernan21]

Just received an invite to Dentons WG! Is it automatic? Does anyone know if the telephone interview (next stage) is solely judged on my WG score or both app and score together? Thanks.

 

[GXA123]

Just received an invite to Dentons WG! Is it automatic? Does anyone know if the telephone interview (next stage) is solely judged on my WG score or both app and score together? Thanks.

congrats 🎉 🎉 it is not automatic, and I believe they only review based on the WG (they want very high scores tho). Goodluck

 

[Sfernan21]

congrats 🎉 🎉 it is not automatic, and I believe they only review based on the WG (they want very high scores tho). Goodluck

Okay, thanks! Any idea how how very high is? Bizarre how some firms have different thresholds for the same test when all operating in same/similar talent pools.

 

[GXA123]

Okay, thanks! Any idea how how very high is? Bizarre how some firms have different thresholds for the same test when all operating in same/similar talent pools.

I am not sure, this is what I heard

 

[violeta]

Can someone please confirm when the Reed Smith VI interview deadline is? I thought it was tonight but I've just logged onto the portal and it says December 23 which is obviously tomorrow. Do you know if it's 00:00 tonight (so technically the beginning of Dec 23rd) or tomorrow night 11:59pm?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Okay, thanks! Any idea how how very high is? Bizarre how some firms have different thresholds for the same test when all operating in same/similar talent pools.

So the reason for this is that they are not necessarily being assessed against the same groups.

Firm A could be taking your test and assessing it against GCSE level educated candidates while Firm B could be taking the same test results and assessing you against partners within a law firm. Being assessed against different norm groups could result in less than the 20th percentile in one and over the 80th percentile in the other.

So why do firms use different norm groups? Well, it depends on how they use the test. Some firms will have a "low" norm group as they may use the assessment for apprentices, interns and grads. Other firms may use the "higher" norm group because they are trying to recruit long-term talent and therefore want to compare you against long term talent within the firm.

There are a few other considerations why percentile rankings can be different. The key one is diversity concerns. Sometimes these assessments disproportionately filter out certain groups more so than others. Having a lower percentile benchmark can remove this though. So some firms wish they could put their benchmark up to help with the selection process, but know if they want to recruit diverse talent, they will be hampering their efforts if they do so.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Can someone please confirm when the Reed Smith VI interview deadline is? I thought it was tonight but I've just logged onto the portal and it says December 23 which is obviously tomorrow. Do you know if it's 00:00 tonight (so technically the beginning of Dec 23rd) or tomorrow night 11:59pm?

Which portal is it?

 

[Sfernan21]

So the reason for this is that they are not necessarily being assessed against the same groups.

Firm A could be taking your test and assessing it against GCSE level educated candidates while Firm B could be taking the same test results and assessing you against partners within a law firm. Being assessed against different norm groups could result in less than the 20th percentile in one and over the 80th percentile in the other.

So why do firms use different norm groups? Well, it depends on how they use the test. Some firms will have a "low" norm group as they may use the assessment for apprentices, interns and grads. Other firms may use the "higher" norm group because they are trying to recruit long-term talent and therefore want to compare you against long term talent within the firm.

There are a few other considerations why percentile rankings can be different. The key one is diversity concerns. Sometimes these assessments disproportionately filter out certain groups more so than others. Having a lower percentile benchmark can remove this though. So some firms wish they could put their benchmark up to help with the selection process, but know if they want to recruit diverse talent, they will be hampering their efforts if they do so.

Thanks for this Jessica! Helps a lot.

 

[violeta]

Which portal is it?

Shortlister

 

[violeta]

 

[SebKru10]

When did you take the WG?

Mid November I think

 

[m.n]

Congrats!! when did you do your WG ?

3rd December

 

[TCApp2021]

Hi everyone! Made it to the telephone interview with NRF. I’ve never had a telephone interview before- would appreciate any tips please.

 

[SCN]

Hi everyone! Made it to the telephone interview with NRF. I’ve never had a telephone interview before- would appreciate any tips please.

That's so amazing, congratulations! When did you do the WG may I ask?

 

[TCApp2021]

That's so amazing, congratulations! When did you do the WG may I ask?

Thank you- completed it on Sunday.

 

[SCN]

Thank you- completed it on Sunday.

Thanks! In terms of TI - it's the typical why law, why NRF, one commercial question, one competency etc. It's very brief phone call and grad rec are so lovely. My advice is don't script answers (they can tell) and don't over prepare, just make it very natural. The interview bit isn't very conversational, they will ask you the set questions and listen to you talk so just make sure you give a full account of what you want to say because they won't prompt you to speak more