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

[Samir_O]

are DLA still sending out ACs? I've still heard nothing (and my portal hasn't updated since I submitted) :/

have been in the same boat as you!! really strange to have not heard ANYTHING

 

[AvniD]

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 understand what you mean- the application process is a taster of what lies ahead and being able to approach it with a balanced perspective really is crucial, especially re managing priorities and stress.

That being said, every person is different and approaches making applications differently and in ways that we may not always agree with. Success in this field taps on the shoulders of all kinds of people so there's really no one fool-proof way to go about managing stress.

Lastly, the forum is a place where we'd like people to freely share their opinions and thoughts, as you have rightfully done so as well, and we encourage everyone to post here through their application journeys so we can support them in whatever way they need 😇

 

[Jessica Booker]

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.

I have a lot of time for Chris (have worked with him in the past and think AS is an amazing organisation) but I don’t think this is great advice. 8 hours to proofread is not realistic nor productive in my opinion. It also doesn’t set you up well for the career when you’ll have far less time to proof read documents. I would say 8 hours is enough to draft, fill out and proofread an application on average.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Do you guys think that having mental health as a setback that you overcame is too personal?

I think it really depends on the circumstances. You have to feel very comfortable talking about it first. If it’s on your application, it’s going to be fair game to talk about in the interview process (unless the process is application blind) and your interviewer could ask more about it.

In addition, I think you need something tangible to show how you overcame the condition. Like most STAR answers to these type of questions, you really need to focus on the Result/Reaction/Reflection aspects of the answer - what you have in here (like most answers) will actually be the substance in the answer that the firm is interested in.

I have seen it work very well in some applications, and put brutally awfully in others. In the latter it can often be because they focus so much on the negativity on the situation, rather than the positivity of persevering through it. There can often be a risk that people blame others for their circumstances. Although I completely understand mental health can impacted by others’ behaviour, you have to make sure how you describe things is balanced and not inflict blame.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just my view/opinion on the recruitment process and it’s stresses, just to add it to the conversation.

The process is stressful for the vast majority of people. You will probably never experience so much rejection/lack of success in your lifetime ever again. And even if you do, you’ll probably get much more guidance on why that was the case. Once you get into your career, there will be many more small wins you have that will balance out the things that don’t go to plan.

But stress does not just come from failing. For many people their stress triggers are very different, and they may find the career a lot more stressful than the recruitment process because of that.

I think it also depends on what else you have got going on in your life. Many people find this process stressful as there aren’t other key stresses in their life. Sometimes people are more blasé about this process because compared to other things they are dealing/dealt with, this is less significant. For the next person, this is their only/main/first stress causer.

But I agree with the earlier comment that these forums are a conduit for off loading some of that stress, or in some cases helps to minimising it because of the information/advice shared. It really is part of the reason we are here - we are trying to make the journey easier for people. Our purpose is to have an open forum where people can discuss these things openly and productively. Sometimes that means it can cause a trigger in another person, but we can’t constantly censor ourselves in fear of it impacting others. We wouldn’t be able to post much at all if we did that.

But my final comment is I think it is absolutely vital to learn from this process on how to deal with your stresses. If you feel yourself getting anxious about something, try to analyse what is causing that and try to think about ways of remedying it. Sometimes that will be trail and error. Sometimes that will be by doing something silly. Sometimes that will be being good to yourself. Sometimes it will be by doing good for others. But this is the best way to prepare yourself for the career, because it is going to be stressful and you need to prepare yourself for that no matter what you are feeling right now.

 

[Ambs123]

I was cut off during one of my VI questions - do you think that will cost me moving to the next stage of the app process?

 

[Legalmel_99]

I was cut off during one of my VI questions - do you think that will cost me moving to the next stage of the app process?

Nope. I had a Vi last year 3/6 were cut off and said disturbed and I made it to the ac still x

 

[Legalmel_99]

“
This is just a gentle reminder that the deadline to complete the interactive assessment is 31st January 2022.

Please endeavor to complete this by the deadline”

do I have until today to complete it?

 

[Ambs123]

Nope. I had a Vi last year 3/6 were cut off and said disturbed and I made it to the ac still x

Ooooof that makes me feel better

 

[Legalmel_99]

Ooooof that makes me feel better

Good luck xx

 

[Jessica Booker]

I was cut off during one of my VI questions - do you think that will cost me moving to the next stage of the app process?

No - but you might want to send the recruitment team a brief email notifying them you were cut off. They can then make a decision as to whether to reset it or just factor it into their decision making.

 

[Ambs123]

Good luck xx

Thanks xx think I messed it up so I feel a little sad but it’s ok

 

[Jessica Booker]

I might really start to get angry if I receive another email saying that they can’t provide reasonable adjustments but will take into account my disability when evaluating my results. For the love of God!

You can ask them why they do not deem it a reasonable adjustment if they are not providing this explanation. However, their response is likely to be that the adjustment is being made in how they evaluate the results.

 

[therealellewoods]

have been in the same boat as you!! really strange to have not heard ANYTHING

same here guys

 

[Hele25]

my face after Mishcon VI - I have never in my life been so shocked than I was with the last question.
genuine question- does it matter if you remain calm, confident and keep answering the question even if the subject matter may have been less than?
So upset that it went poorly

 

[S87]

You can ask them why they do not deem it a reasonable adjustment if they are not providing this explanation. However, their response is likely to be that the adjustment is being made in how they evaluate the results.

Mmm I am sorry but your answer describe exactly what frustrates me. If you think that my brain works the exact same way as someone who has not a disability than the industry needs to update on learning disabilities.

 

[vacschemesforeveryone]

✨✨✨✨✨manifesting response from A&O post AC today✨✨✨✨✨

just to update everyone... I got a TC offer!!! 🤩

 

[Jessica Booker]

Mmm I am sorry but your answer describe exactly what frustrates me. If you think that my brain works the exact same way as someone who has not a disability than the industry needs to update on learning disabilities.

I was only explaining that you can ask the firm to clarify why they can’t provide the adjustments. The firm does not have to apply them if they either can’t apply them or they deem them unreasonable.

Sometimes the only way they can apply an adjustment is to the interpretation of the results, rather than the process of completing the assessment. This is actually pretty common and in some cases would be considered best practice by disability experts.

What I can’t (and am not) doing here is making a judgement as to whether the firms are in the right or the wrong. It’s impossible for me to determine whether they are applying best practice or not based on what you have said. I am just explaining it is within your right that you can ask for clarity on why they have made this decision.

 

[Jessica Booker]

“
This is just a gentle reminder that the deadline to complete the interactive assessment is 31st January 2022.

Please endeavor to complete this by the deadline”

do I have until today to complete it?

You’ll have until tomorrow. You might want to try and do it before 5.00pm though, just in case you have any problems and need to contact the recruitment team.

 

[NaimK]

@Jessica Booker

Would you know anything about the BCLP situational judgment test? Although the firm has said it won't time you, it still recommends you spend about 45 mins. However, I'm thinking about taking advantage of the situation by spending as much time as I need. I'm just concerned as to whether there is a running timer or not (unlikely, but I had to provision for that possibility)? If there is, I'd probably try to stick to 45 mins as much as I can. If not, why not take as much time as I want?

To clarify, while I won't have a time limit to complete my test, I also want to know whether there is a timer running in the background anyway.