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

[Rob93]

has anyone still not heard back from DLA?

Radio silence - applied I think ~13th Dec, sat WG 25 Dec, portal updated 31 Dec, no movement since then.

 

[esther18]

Has anyone else who has a HSF AC tomorrow not received their link for the platform that they’ll be using? I’m getting kinda nervous now 😂

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Is there a post/thread on NRF's AC? Looking for any tips/advice especially for the group exercise

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Does anyone know if Travers Smith has a word count for the application questions about activities and interests and the question about the position of responsibility. Also if it does not have a word count how many words should I write for both questions.

 

[Plato]

Does anyone know when realistically will Fresh send out WG invites for direct TC?

 

[charlottel]

Has anyone heard back from Irwin Mitchell post VI?

Hi, would you mind sharing some advice for the VI? What type of questions were asked or was there anything you did to prepare that you found particularly useful? Thanks in advance!

 

[starbright]

Does Mayor Brown send the test automatically or do they review the application first.

I think they review your application first, because I got sent the test a few weeks after submitting my application.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I think they review your application first, because I got sent the test a few weeks after submitting my application.

Thank you for this and that seems correct then.

 

[Rob93]

Does anyone know if Travers Smith has a word count for the application questions about activities and interests and the question about the position of responsibility. Also if it does not have a word count how many words should I write for both questions.

No word count for anything on TS app. My approach has been to pilfer what I wrote for similar questions on apps with 250/300 w/c and pad them out a little with some choice reflections on hard graft or playing well with others or whatever applies. Reckon anything 200-400 is fine, but past ~300 I'd be extra critical of whether every word counts (obviously this applies irrespective of length). Remember that the style in which you communicate your experiences is being assessed and brevity is the soul of wit etc.

 

[Arche172372]

What do people think the average amount of applications and ac’s people attend is?

 

[Donuttime]

What do people think the average amount of applications and ac’s people attend is?

Theres no average. It differs for everyone

 

[Rob93]

What do people think the average amount of applications and ac’s people attend is?

I don't think that's really quantifiable in a useful way. Average apps is probably like 10-20 per cycle, but I've done as few as 3 in my first cycle and have seen people do like 40 (built different). I know someone who did I think 3 - to the Magic Triangle PE firms - got 1 interview and nabbed the TC. That's probably an outlier but there's something to be said for intensity of focus.

Conversion from app to AC alone is variable but anecdotally I'd say that like 2 progressions per 10 apps is a pretty impressive conversion rate - Jessica or other TCLA staff might have a more nuanced view on this. 1 or nil per 10 is, unfortunately (not least for me) quite common, but there will also be candidates with golden profiles and a winning application strategy that have much higher conversion rates so it's v hard to generalise

 

[Asil Ahmad]

No word count for anything on TS app. My approach has been to pilfer what I wrote for similar questions on apps with 250/300 w/c and pad them out a little with some choice reflections on hard graft or playing well with others or whatever applies. Reckon anything 200-400 is fine, but past ~300 I'd be extra critical of whether every word counts (obviously this applies irrespective of length). Remember that the style in which you communicate your experiences is being assessed and brevity is the soul of wit etc.

Thank you very much for this I was thinking 250 words for each question.

 

[LEL]

I don't think that's really quantifiable in a useful way. Average apps is probably like 10-20 per cycle, but I've done as few as 3 in my first cycle and have seen people do like 40 (built different). I know someone who did I think 3 - to the Magic Triangle PE firms - got 1 interview and nabbed the TC. That's probably an outlier but there's something to be said for intensity of focus.

Conversion from app to AC alone is variable but anecdotally I'd say that like 2 progressions per 10 apps is a pretty impressive conversion rate - Jessica or other TCLA staff might have a more nuanced view on this. 1 or nil per 10 is, unfortunately (not least for me) quite common, but there will also be candidates with golden profiles and a winning application strategy that have much higher conversion rates so it's v hard to generalise

Which are the Magic Triangle PE firms? First time hearing this term!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Which are the Magic Triangle PE firms? First time hearing this term!

I think it means magic circle law firms but I might be wrong here.

 

[Rob93]

Which are the Magic Triangle PE firms? First time hearing this term!

That's cause I made it up just now, but - Latham, Kirkland, Weil

Ofc there are other outfits both UK and American with serious PE offerings but those three have a particular stature at the top of the market for corporate PE work (cf. ex. Travers which dominates mid market, Ropes where biotech/biopharm sector focus looms large, Fried Frank which is more fund-side)

 

[Rob93]

Naturally the MC also pick up a lot of top-end PE but they're full service (ish) and already have a moniker that they hate

 

[YJ]

What do people think the average amount of applications and ac’s people attend is?

This is my first cycle, I have only applied to 4, so far I have heard back from two (AC) and one of these AC has been successful! Still waiting to hear back from the other two post-app. I decided early on to focus on a few firms, ones that I have had a lot of interaction with and can spend a couple weeks on each app, rather than just racing through lots of applications in a few days that end up being quite generic. It is all preference though, I am a slow worker in general but it is all about finding the line between quality and quantity.

 

[Plato]

I think it means magic circle law firms but I might be wrong here.

I don't think that's really quantifiable in a useful way. Average apps is probably like 10-20 per cycle, but I've done as few as 3 in my first cycle and have seen people do like 40 (built different). I know someone who did I think 3 - to the Magic Triangle PE firms - got 1 interview and nabbed the TC. That's probably an outlier but there's something to be said for intensity of focus.

Conversion from app to AC alone is variable but anecdotally I'd say that like 2 progressions per 10 apps is a pretty impressive conversion rate - Jessica or other TCLA staff might have a more nuanced view on this. 1 or nil per 10 is, unfortunately (not least for me) quite common, but there will also be candidates with golden profiles and a winning application strategy that have much higher conversion rates so it's v hard to generalise

wow, that's super interesting. Quite disheartening, also.

 

[starbright]

Thank you for this and that seems correct then.

No problem!