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

[anon123456789]

Hi, are the SJT questions part of the VI or are part of the written test?

So the 'VI' itself is a blend of situational judgement multiple choice questions and video questions. Its kind of a whole online simulation of the experience of a trainee at a firm and aims to work out how you would react to certain situations. The only thing I would say you need to prep for are the video questions that ask why clyde and co, that kind of thing

 

[SamsanTech]

Does anyone whose done the Bakers VI, do they send you a confirmation email after you complete the VI??

 

[John Travoni]

All those who have a CC AC, does anyone have it next week?

 

[JayB]

All those who have a CC AC, does anyone have it next week?

Yes! Mine is booked for next week. Wby?

 

[Veep9]

Does anyone whose done the Bakers VI, do they send you a confirmation email after you complete the VI??

Yes I got one

 

[Jessica Booker]

I wanted to know in the activities and interests and give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility and any other noteworthy achievements questions. If you should add a sentence at the end like through these I have developed skills which will help me as a trainee solicitor at this firm. Is this necessary or not. I mean do the better answers in these questions add that at the end of the answer to these types of questions.

There is no need to do this. It would only be if the question specifically asks you to link then back to a career in law that this should be done.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker


1. On the Education section of the Sidley Austin application form, there's the following declaration:

Please confirm that you have entered a complete breakdown of all grades awarded, by subject, during secondary school, college or university. Entering the overall grade does not provide sufficient information to support your application.

For uni results this seems straightforward enough - I'm able to enter the class I'm predicted to get (e.g. 2:1), and a breakdown of my modules so far. What confuses is me is what they mean by a "complete breakdown" for secondary school and college - do you reckon they want candidates to enter every grade they got in every exam?

(If this were the case, there doesn't seem to be anywhere to differentiate between grades in individual exams, and grades in subjects as a whole - which makes me think that, like pretty much every other application form, Sidley Austin wants candidates simply to enter (in the secondary school and college sections) the final grade they got in every subject rather than every module - but the ambiguous wording of the declaration makes me wonder whether this is actually the case).


2. If a question asks candidates "which personal qualities make a successful lawyer", does the lack of an explicit reference to "commercial" in the question mean that it'd be unwise to mention commercial awareness as an essential quality?

1) They don’t mean module results for things like A-levels. This will only apply to degree/postgraduate studies

2) I would personally not state commercial awareness. This is just something for the recruitment process rather than the career. Try to think more about how this develops into something more substantial for the career and how more practically it plays out for lawyers. That more specific focus will provide you with a stronger answer.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

There is no need to do this. It would only be if the question specifically asks you to link then back to a career in law that this should be done.

Thank you very much for this I don't usually do it but just wanted to make sure just in case.

 

[mckelly]

Does anyone have experience with the Kirkland virtual interview and if so, would they please be willing to share their experience with me?

 

[pfoapplicant]

1) They don’t mean module results for things like A-levels. This will only apply to degree/postgraduate studies

2) I would personally not state commercial awareness. This is just something for the recruitment process rather than the career. Try to think more about how this develops into something more substantial for the career and how more practically it plays out for lawyers. That more specific focus will provide you with a stronger answer.

Thanks so much! When you talk about developing commercial awareness into "something more substantial", would that potentially include something like engaging with and learning about commercial concepts on a constant basis within one's role as a commercial solicitor (e.g. through keeping up to date with new developments in the world of business, and the implications this could have/opportunities this could create for a given law firm)?

 

[SCN]

If I applied to an open day and got in, but then using the same application just lengthier to apply for a vac scheme but didn't even progress to the next stage, what would be some of the reasons? Just trying to learn and improve from mistakes 😅

 

[lawful_neutral216]

Is the deadline for Freshfields tonight or tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night according to their Instagram story

 

[TcApp97]

Just received an AC/interview invite for Weil!

 

[mckelly]

Just received an AC/interview invite for Weil!

Congrats! When did you apply?

 

[TcApp97]

Congrats! When did you apply?

Thank you ! Mid November

 

[mckelly]

Thank you ! Mid November

Wow ok, congrats also for getting the app in so early. Gives me hope at least

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Explain how you would add value as a Trainee in the London office of Akin Gump? For this question should you discuss your skills and how you will bring those skills to a role of a trainee solicitor. I was thinking about discussing their fast-growing London office but am not sure if that will be relevant here. Any advice on this will be much appreciated thank you in advance.

 

[aspiringlawyer123_]

If I applied to an open day and got in, but then using the same application just lengthier to apply for a vac scheme but didn't even progress to the next stage, what would be some of the reasons? Just trying to learn and improve from mistakes 😅

Vacation schemes are a lot more competitive than open days, so your application may be good enough to get onto an open day but for vacation schemes there are a lot more applications so it might be more difficult to get onto this. Just be aware for next time that just because it got you to an open day, doesn’t necessarily mean it will also get you to a vacation scheme. That’s not to say it won’t be good enough for both - I assume depending on the application! But if you can make improvements from the specifics you have learnt about the firm at the open day and add this information to your app to improve it that is always good

 

[Rob93]

Just received an AC/interview invite for Weil!

Congrats! When was your VI?

 

[TcApp97]

Congrats! When was your VI?

I believe it was a few days before Christmas.