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

[LS12]

I just received confirmation that I passed A&O's SJT btw - completed 13/09 for context

 

[anxiouslawyer]

Anyone have any advice for the Simmons and Simmons application form? The question doesn't seem to imply you need to say anything about the firm specifically, so I'm torn as to whether to talk about my experiences / achievements in relation to how it makes me a good fit to train at S&S :

Please give details of your interests and activities, positions of responsibility, skills and achievements. Please also include any other information relevant to your application. (250 words max)

 

[Jessica Booker]

Anyone have any advice for the Simmons and Simmons application form? The question doesn't seem to imply you need to say anything about the firm specifically, so I'm torn as to whether to talk about my experiences / achievements in relation to how it makes me a good fit to train at S&S :

Please give details of your interests and activities, positions of responsibility, skills and achievements. Please also include any other information relevant to your application. (250 words max)

With that word count, I’d just focus on the question rather than trying to link it back to the firm.

 

[M777]

Is White & Case rolling this year? has anyone heard back since applying winter vac?

 

[LEL]

HL have this question as one of their core questions: 'Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector'. (250 words!)

Do they want to know what you've learned from these events? Does it matter what kind of events they are?

 

[Jessica Booker]

HL have this question as one of their core questions: 'Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector'. (250 words!)

Do they want to know what you've learned from these events? Does it matter what kind of events they are?

I’d try to ensure there is some kind of connection to the events and the firm you are applying to, even if just that the firms do similar work. If you have the word count you could briefly talk about either what you learnt or how the events have shaped your career motivation.

 

[Nicole15]

Has anyone experienced any difficulties in filling out basic information using cvmail? For some reason, whenever I get to the preview application page, letters from my name and referees keep getting cut out. It's really odd as I have not experienced this before. I've also tried using different browsers too.

 

[anxiouslawyer]

Has anyone experienced any difficulties in filling out basic information using cvmail? For some reason, whenever I get to the preview application page, letters from my name and referees keep getting cut out. It's really odd as I have not experienced this before. I've also tried using different browsers too.

I'm experiencing the same issue. Letters from my name keep going missing. I've emailed about this to CV Mail support and hopefully they will resolve it.

 

[Veep9]

Clyde & Co’s application form asks if I’ve completed their Virtual Experience Programme. Is it a massive no no if I haven’t? Should I do that before I submit the application?

Honestly I’m working crazy hours so just making time for applications is all I can manage. I really don’t have time for more work outside of work (and I have some degree of legal work experience).

 

[elizabethjo123]

Is it okay to just write ESG in an answer to a question or should we write Environmental, Social and Governance the first time?

 

[kat_]

Sounds like you have taken the right approach!

Thank you, Jessica!!!

 

[Nicole15]

I'm experiencing the same issue. Letters from my name keep going missing. I've emailed about this to CV Mail support and hopefully they will resolve it.

Thanks for responding - thought I was the only one! Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

 

[tt_xo]

Does any know if Clyde & co's new video interview will happen after you've passed the written application stage or is that part of the first stage of the app? seems a bit odd

 

[OB]

Does any know if Clyde & co's new video interview will happen after you've passed the written application stage or is that part of the first stage of the app? seems a bit odd

I would guess from the wording on the website that it happens after and your written and video responses would be reviewed together to see if you get to the next stage. I could be wrong though!

 

[Veep9]

Does any know if Clyde & co's new video interview will happen after you've passed the written application stage or is that part of the first stage of the app? seems a bit odd

have you done their Forage internship?

 

[OB]

Clyde & Co’s application form asks if I’ve completed their Virtual Experience Programme. Is it a massive no no if I haven’t? Should I do that before I submit the application?

Honestly I’m working crazy hours so just making time for applications is all I can manage. I really don’t have time for more work outside of work (and I have some degree of legal work experience).

Someone like Jessica would have better authority over this but I definitely would not say that you have to do these. Its more if people want to build their understanding of the firm and what sort of work law firms do in general. With your work and other experiences I'm sure you have enough to back up your reasons for applying So I definitely wouldn't stress that you can't rush through it as then its not even that beneficial to you either!

 

[AAA_a]

Does anyone know what exactly is Linklaters looking for in the application/Capp assessment? I was on 90+th percentile for the Watson Glaser but apparently that does not necessarily guarantee me an interview and I don't want to have false hope.

 

[Dheepa]

This is absolutely invaluable thanks so so much. Just a quick follow up question - I’ve actually written two answers to this now, one from the perspective of me outside the business - ‘Gowling can offer’ etc and one with me placed inside the business ‘we can offer’.
Do you think the firm will find the second way presumptive? 😂😂 Does it matter?

Glad it was helpful! I'd actually write from the first person ie "we can offer". I looked at the question again and it is essentially framed as placing you within the business so stick with that!

 

[Dheepa]

Hi everyone,

I am struggling with CMS's application questions and was wondering if anyone could help me out. For reference the questions are...

• Focusing on one of CMS’s sectors, what opportunities have arisen in the ‘new ways of working’ and current business climate? (200 words)
• In your own words, explain one key strategy that CMS is implementing to become the leading relationship law firm. (200 words)

Regarding the first question, does 'new ways of working' mean remote working? If so, does it mean the opportunities that remote working has created for the sector or CMS or both?

For the second question, I was wondering where I can find out more about CMS's strategy? I found a section about it on their website and looked at their annual report but I feel there isn't a lot of information about it.

Thank you!

For the first question, I read it as what opportunities "new ways of working" created for the sector. And yes I think they are referring to predominantly remote working but there are probably other ancillary changes to this that you can research and discuss too. I'd recommend starting your research by narrowing down which two or three sectors you'd most likely talk about - then look up the biggest changes in the industry since the pandemic generally and decide what would be most relevant for answering the question. The opportunities its created for CMS is something you can discuss after you've identified the opportunities for the sector/clients in the sector - so you'd link it back to how CMS can help their clients (in that sector) capitalise on those sector opportunities.

 

[Dheepa]

Hi, everyone!
I'd like to ask whether my approach for A&O application questions is 'correct'. The questions are quite straight forward but I am just getting confused.

Question 1
Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience, or extracurricular activities.

• For this, I used examples of when I 'innovated' a process (at work), collaborated on a campaign with a group of people, and lastly how I use 'attention to detail' when checking website articles.

Question 2
Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful.

• Innovation - I talked about how innovative A&O is (RelativityOne) and how I would put the client first, and look for new approaches
• Collaboration - I'd have to work with many different people within the firm (so I gave an example of their recent deal where different teams were involved) but also internationally.
• Attention to detail - proof-reading etc

I think your approach here is correct! For the second question, I would just try to be as specific as possible about what the day to day responsibilities of a trainee are so for example: instead of saying collaboration would be useful for working with colleagues across different offices you could say, as a trainee collaboration is an important skill when coordinating signing/closing documents for a deal across different teams (this is a very common trainee task). Being specific will show them that you have a good understanding of the role which is something I think the question is trying to assess as well.