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

[YMontgomeryWilliams]

Hi team,

I've got an assessment centre coming up for Mills & Reeve, and I wondered if anyone has advice? They have recently redesigned it to include a 'hackathon' using design thinking, a group presentation, and a written exercise.

I would appreciate any help.

This is my first assessment centre, and Mills & Reeve is my number one firm pick.

Thank you!

 

[James Carrabino]

I want to thank everyone on the forum for the support they have provided over this cycle, especially @James Carrabino and @AvniD for the AC tips they gave me last week. Also, to the many people who have replied my DMs and quoted my posts with the most encouraging words, I really appreciate it. I heard back from Weil today and was offered a VS. I also heard back from Baker McKenzie last week with a Spring VS offer. This time last week, I was crying because I had been rejected from a final round interview (non-VS related) so things can always turnaround. That's the end of the application cycle for me! I applied to 6 firms, received 4 rejections and 2 ACs.

I'd appreciate if anyone can link me to any forums related to converting a VS to a TC. If anyone has an upcoming AC with Bakers for Summer VS or an AC with Weil, feel free to message me and I will do my best to help!

Congratulations @summer207; what a wonderful achievement!!!

You seem like such a sincere and genuine person and it is so sweet of you to thank us when of course it was all down to you

I would like to thank all the members of the community for the support everyone is giving each other!! Also (shhh don't tell @Jaysen) @AvniD @George Maxwell and I take inspiration from all of your posts in the ones we write ourselves - we cannot claim that it is all original material!

The wonderful thing about TCLA is that candidates help one another get through an absolutely brutal process. It is what got me hooked on this forum over a year ago and what has inspired me to stay involved ever since

@summer207 you should be exceptionally proud of what you have achieved and I do hope that you stay on here in advance of your two vac schemes! I know that the community will continue to provide support and we already have some great resources on how to prepare for the schemes.

For now, though, take the time to celebrate!

 

[CF12345]

Links ghosted me

have you emailed them?

 

[S87]

have you emailed them?

Twice and not response

 

[LS07]

Anyone still waiting on AG post VI for London?

 

[James Carrabino]

Any final tips for my case study presentation tomorrow?
I did one last week and my mind went blank during it... Like everything I just read was gone

In the two case study presentations I’ve done the assessor has always commented on the fact that mine was shorter than they generally expected. It always puts me off when they say this but it’s always followed up by “no it’s fine, it’s how you answer the questions that matters” and “you covered enough ground anyway”. But it always makes me think, why tell me then?!

I have written about my approach to case studies here and @George Maxwell has provided a compilation of case study-related links here. The length of your presentation is not what is important but there are a lot of potential issues to cover so usually I found that my problem was keeping things within the time limit! If you are significantly under what they are expecting you should check that you are exploring every issue as thoroughly as possible, but if you are confident that you are doing so then don't second-guess yourself! It sounds like concision is a much greater strength for you than it is for me 🤣

I hope all of this helps

 

[unserious candidate]

thanks to you all, I've just impulse-ordered Taco Bell 😭😭

 

[James Carrabino]

Hi team,

I've got an assessment centre coming up for Mills & Reeve, and I wondered if anyone has advice? They have recently redesigned it to include a 'hackathon' using design thinking, a group presentation, and a written exercise.

I would appreciate any help.

This is my first assessment centre, and Mills & Reeve is my number one firm pick.

Thank you!

Hi @YMontgomeryWilliams - I do not know much about Mills & Reeve but I have written some advice on group exercises here and advice on written exercises here - I hope it helps 😊

 

[Samir_O]

Hi all, I am a law grad / current paralegal and I am trying to get together a list of firms that look at candidates with paralegal experience/past careers favourably, and really value this experience. I know a lot of firm's tend to make it out they all feel this way, however I know this is simply not the same across all firms. If you have paralegal experience, are there any firms where you have got to interview/ AC stage, and felt that they valued this experience?

interesting, do you know of any firms that would not look on this type of experience as favourably? i would tend to say that any experience, especially paralegaling would be looked upon favourably by all firms?

 

[Emily K]

Mayer Brown PFO today (post application) but also got an invite to Gibson Dunn first stage interview! Any advice would be amazing, not sure what to expect!

 

[S87]

Guys, for those who have the Capp affinity verbal reasoning test, how did you pass it? Is there a particular thinking to follow?

 

[Samir_O]

hoping to hear back from w&c or taylor wessing sometime soon anyonealso not heard?

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

hoping to hear back from w&c or taylor wessing sometime soon anyonealso not heard?

Also waiting on Taylor Wessing but I think someone posted here they got a phone call last week ☠️

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

Mayer Brown PFO today though, so that was cute x

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

Anyone thought of bothering to apply for direct TC without a vac scheme but 3/4 years paralegal experience?

 

[dani2000]

Hi guys has anyone had the VI for kennedys pls help a girl out

 

[Jessica Booker]

Anyone thought of bothering to apply for direct TC without a vac scheme but 3/4 years paralegal experience?

If they haven't, they definitely should be thinking about it!

 

[Abii]

Anyone thought of bothering to apply for direct TC without a vac scheme but 3/4 years paralegal experience?

Yes! The majority of my apps are direct TC I only apply to VS where it’s a firm that only hires from VS. I have 3 years paralegal experience and no VSs. Had an AC today for direct TC and reached final stage for one just before Xmas before a final stage rejection.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Anyone thought of bothering to apply for direct TC without a vac scheme but 3/4 years paralegal experience?

I am apply for direct TC applications you have way more experience than most applicants so you should go for it.

 

[dani2000]

For the people with Kennedys VIs, are these for their training contracts or SQE positions?

SQE position! what have you applied for?