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

Status
Not open for further replies.

James Carrabino

Legendary Member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Forum Team
Junior Lawyer 11
Oct 12, 2021
666
1,558
I spent 4 hours proofreading my answer for 1 question that was 250 words on why this firm. I usually type up my first draft then proofread it again and again until it looks good.
It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a difference.
 

futuretraineecity

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
M&A Bootcamp
Mar 2, 2020
282
619
If a firm asks you “why did you apply for a Vacation Scheme with us” at interview after they have asked why the firm, should this be taken to mean why I am applying for that role in particular? For instance, getting more legal experience?
 

Asil Ahmad

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Forum Winner
  • Mar 29, 2020
    1,640
    2,160
    29
    It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a difference.
    Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
     

    S87

    Legendary Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Sep 4, 2018
    1,648
    2,403
    Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
    mmm..I am part of Aspire and believe me I have received more help on here than Aspire! Spending 8 hours on a single file calls for mistakes! Print and read the file out loud 3 times, or just read it out loud a couple of times.
     

    Kubed

    Legendary Member
    Future Trainee
    Forum Winner
    Junior Lawyer 49
  • Nov 25, 2020
    271
    798
    Yeah, I hear that. But I think a lot of it comes across - for lack of an appropriate euphemism - a bit 'needy' or adolescent. If you can't deal with the stress synonymous with the law application process (on your own accord) then you probably won't make a very good lawyer to start with. In short, yes it's a bit stressful, but it's nothing like the stressors you'll encounter during practice.
    I'm currently practicing as an analyst and wish to convert. I'm doing my applications around my current role (which is highly stressful) and it's a walk in the park compared, but that's just my view. I've been to hell and back before, so I guess I must just be used to it.

    Fair enough - I think you have the benefit of being experienced in a job already and have probably developed internal strategies to cope with your stress, which is one way to do it and can be applied to the law firm application process. I'm in a similar position, having previously been a secondary school teacher, which I found to be a stressful role. I see coming on here to have a bit of a vent as the equivalent of popping up to the staff room for some decompression 🤣
     
    Last edited:

    Kubed

    Legendary Member
    Future Trainee
    Forum Winner
    Junior Lawyer 49
  • Nov 25, 2020
    271
    798
    mmm..I am part of Aspire and believe me I have received more help on here than Aspire! Spending 8 hours on a single file calls for mistakes! Print and read the file out loud 3 times, or just read it out loud a couple of times.
    I would also advise to put it through a text-to-speech reader - I caught a number of errors each time when it was being read out that I probably would've otherwise missed.
     

    Abii

    Legendary Member
    Junior Lawyer
    Feb 1, 2021
    280
    871
    Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
    8 hours to proof read one application?! That seems rather overboard. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that proofreading masters essays of 7.5-10k words let alone an app with maybe 1-2k words 😂
     

    therealellewoods

    Distinguished Member
  • Jan 20, 2022
    73
    144
    I'm probably going to sound stupid rn but how relevant is the metaverse concept to law firms? Because it's off going to have a lot of legal issues which underpin it as it begins but will law firms develop specific niches in this type of law? or would it come under something broader like technology or maybe alongside NFT type stuff? I've also noticed virtually no law firms have wrote or published anything about it which indicates what their approach will be to such a thing. sorry if I sound stupid again, this is not my area of expertise!!!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: OB

    iolitelegal

    Well-Known Member
    Jan 16, 2022
    23
    37
    It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a differen
    8 hours to proof read one application?! That seems rather overboard. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that proofreading masters essays of 7.5-10k words let alone an app with maybe 1-2k words 😂
    Yeah, that's too much. Proofreading is a short exercise that ensures your work is free of errors, you shouldn't be looking to redesign your answer imo.
     

    JSM123

    Star Member
    Oct 11, 2021
    35
    156
    I'm currently practicing as an analyst and wish to convert. I'm doing my applications around my current role (which is highly stressful) and it's a walk in the park compared, but that's just my view. I've been to hell and back before, so I guess I must just be used to it.
    I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
     

    ssolicitorz

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Aug 3, 2021
    200
    789
    I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
    Definitely agree with this- my stress isn't about the applications but more about what happens if I don't get a training contract. Being an international student in my final year, it would potentially become even more difficult as firms won't sponsor visas for vacation schemes and many law firms only accept TC applications through vacation schemes. While I am Canadian and can enter the UK without a visa, I can't work here so I really am limited with my options once my tier 4 visa expires in October.... ofc there is the graduate visa but that's pretty expensive to even apply for
     

    iolitelegal

    Well-Known Member
    Jan 16, 2022
    23
    37
    I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
    This is a very presumptive response.
     

    JSM123

    Star Member
    Oct 11, 2021
    35
    156
    Apologies if it came off presumptive - I don't assume you haven't come from a low-income background or that you haven't worked very hard / in a competitive way to get your role. But I don't think your experience can be perfectly analogous to the situations some applications find themselves in and how they may be perfectly able to handle stress in their future role in practice as compared to the stress they feel in the application stages.
     

    Rob93

    Legendary Member
    Dec 29, 2020
    627
    1,677
    I'm probably going to sound stupid rn but how relevant is the metaverse concept to law firms? Because it's off going to have a lot of legal issues which underpin it as it begins but will law firms develop specific niches in this type of law? or would it come under something broader like technology or maybe alongside NFT type stuff? I've also noticed virtually no law firms have wrote or published anything about it which indicates what their approach will be to such a thing. sorry if I sound stupid again, this is not my area of expertise!!!
    It will be interesting if and when people increasingly spend large sums of money on digital property, essentially extending the current NFT use-cases or perhaps branching into different ownership models. I'm not sure how niche the practices will become, it will likely sit within broader 'digital economy' groups or similar for the foreseeable future.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: George Maxwell

    therealellewoods

    Distinguished Member
  • Jan 20, 2022
    73
    144
    It will be interesting if and when people increasingly spend large sums of money on digital property, essentially extending the current NFT use-cases or perhaps branching into different ownership models. I'm not sure how niche the practices will become, it will likely sit within broader 'digital economy' groups or similar for the foreseeable future.

    Thank you!!! Really helpful - as always :)
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.