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

[letmeintolaw]

Orrick WG 😭 honestly forgot I even applied

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I always stress to people that they need to look at asking questions as the opposite way as most people approach them. Most people ask questions to try and impress in an interview, but my view is that this is your opportunity to ask the things that help you decide whether this is the right firm for you. Even if you are fairly sure this is the right firm for you, what would you want to ask the firm if you magically had five competitor offers on your desk? How would the questions help you decide that this firm is the one you want to choose over the other four?

Also, time has passed. Things do not stay constant. So you could ask about something the firm started doing/implementing/changing when you were there last summer - for instance, how is that progressing since you left the firm?

You could ask about their opinion on something - just because you have been told certain things, you haven't heard this person's opinion on a particular topic. As a lawyer, it is always good to try and look at things from different perspectives

You could ask about their experience in something - again, just because you were told something by someone else, doesn't necessarily mean it applies to everyone equally.

I agree with this as I have done this oin many paralegal interviews by asking the interviewer about theoir experiences to impress them.

As I always thought the interviewer wanted to know what I know about them but thank you for this as I will keep this in mind next time.

 

[AvniD]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

How would you recommend preparing for a written exercise at an AC?

Also, do you have any tips on preparing for the group exercise?

Linking some posts below for prepping written and group exercises-

1. George's tips
2. Jess' tips
3. James' tips for group exercises

 

[Hele25]

Okay so I’ve applied to a rather small firm for a summer vac scheme (held in May🤷‍♀️), and I received confirmation that they’re received my application on the 13th of Feb, but nothing further.
When is it appropriate to send an email asking for an approximate timeline? I need to start planning time off work etc! Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

How would you recommend preparing for a written exercise at an AC?

Also, do you have any tips on preparing for the group exercise?

I honestly have very little advice for preparing for group or written exercises. They are purposely designed so that preparing for them isn't needed or will have little impact.

My advice is more based on what you do during the exercise (rather than preparing beforehand).

Written exercise advice
Negotiation exercises - not all group exercises are negotiations, but the general advice on here transfers across
My general advice for group exercises/what is being assessed - here

 

[rightletsdothis]

Is the Orrick WG test just sent out to every applicant? I just received one today but don’t want to celebrate knowing it might be a standard email

 

[Abii]

Is the Orrick WG test just sent out to every applicant? I just received one today but don’t want to celebrate knowing it might be a standard email

No it’s not sent out to every applicant - at least it wasn’t for direct TC last cycle so assuming the same for VS.

 

[unserious candidate]

Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?

4 (in my case)

 

[aspiringlawyer123_]

4

I wouldn’t say that people generally secure 4 during their first cycle. I did a vac scheme last year and on my scheme people had between 1-2 and were mainly on their second cycle

 

[rightletsdothis]

4

Statistically probably 0 haha

 

[BM99]

4 (in my case)

You're smart! Thanks for letting me know.

 

[YUKI1201]

Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?

personal observation from a top uni in London: 4 at max, mean/median 2, lots without offers.

I understand people may want to share that they've got many offers in their first cycle here, which is a massive achievement indeed (we love to hear those!), but it's worth knowing that this isn't necessarily "the normal". Personally I've received many ACs and offers, yes I put in the hard work and deserve them, but I'm very conscious that I'm in a privileged position (socio-economic, educational level, previous knowledge about the legal industry before applying, etc.) with quite a bit of luck. People who reads that it's "normal" or "very common" to secure 4 offers may start to blame themselves for "failing" to get any and lose confidence - so let's be realistic and considerate here when sharing such information.

I mean if you think about it statistically, a firm usually receives some 3000+ applications but has only 40-60 VS places (US firms with like 10 places).

 

[John Travoni]

Has anyone completed a Fox Williams VI before? If you have, pls PM me.

 

[LawfulRust00]

You're smart! Thanks for letting me know.

Agreed, thanks for letting us know and for being so subtle about it 😂

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Just curious, how many VS do people normally secure in their first application cycle?

In my case 0. I only got a VS in my third cycle but I felt my first cycle was a bit of a practice run! Other may have been preparing for ages to apply for their first cycle! It’s not really a quantifiable thing as it really depends on every candidate, their situation, motivation and abilities!

 

[unserious candidate]

Agreed, thanks for letting us know and for being so subtle about it 😂

I saw a few responses to the post stating a number - I assumed people were giving the figures from their first cycle to give OP a range of what’s possible. e.g. the post following mine saying they got 0 in their case. It goes without saying it’s multi factorial with luck being a big factor.
Don’t be salty!

 

[LawfulRust00]

I saw a few responses to the post stating a number - I assumed people were giving the figures from their first cycle to give OP a range of what’s possible. e.g. the post following mine saying they got 0 in their case. It goes without saying it’s multi factorial with luck being a big factor.
Don’t be salty!

I’m not salty - I’ve also secured multiple VS. It just came across as insensitive, in my opinion.

 

[unserious candidate]

I’m not salty - I’ve also secured multiple VS. It just came across as insensitive, in my opinion.

i politely disagree, to each their own!

 

[BioSTEM]

Has anyone heard back from Bristows (post-final interview for direct TC) or Bird & Bird (post-AC for summer VS)?

 

[Asil Ahmad]

personal observation from a top uni in London: 4 at max, mean/median 2, lots without offers.

I understand people may want to share that they've got many offers in their first cycle here, which is a massive achievement indeed (we love to hear those!), but it's worth knowing that this isn't necessarily the "normal". Personally I've received many ACs and offers but I'm very conscious that I'm in a privileged position (socio-economic, educational level, previous knowledge about the legal industry before applying, etc.) with quite a bit of luck. People who reads that it's "normal" to secure 4 offers may start to blame themselves for "failing" to get any and lose confidence - so let's be realistic and considerate here when sharing such information.

I mean if you think about it statistically, a firm usually receives some 3000+ applications but has 40-60 VS places (US firms with like 10 places).

I love this post so much what you said was spot on and I applaud you for this as some people can't get past the online application stage or the online test stage.

Also, for anyone before saying you got 4 VS offers think about how it can affect another person's mental health when they read that.

Also, I sometimes get the assumption that people in this forum who get multiple VS offers are from prestigious universities but we need to take a step back and think that everyone's journey is different and everyone has challenges they face in the application stage.

Finally most importantly talking about multiple VS offers be wary of how it can affect another person's mental health especially if it is your first application cycle and someone who has been applying for more than 32 cycles.

Sorry if I went on and said too much but this is my opinion.