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

[djqb]

Anybody's Gowling WLG portal not been updated after they submitted the video interview?

FYI my portal was last updated 21 Dec 2021, which was the day I received the VI invite

 

[hassanali]

Anybody's Gowling WLG portal not been updated after they submitted the video interview?

FYI my portal was last updated 21 Dec 2021, which was the day I received the VI invite

Yeah. Same for me.

 

[Tony Stark]

Sorry about the PFO 😞 may I ask if this was sent by email or via the portal ?

Email

 

[RS31]

For what it's worth I'll still be doing direct TCs. Best to be a bit strategic on this front as with some firms the odds for direct TC are vanishingly slim and imo the best thing about flunking out of the VS cycle is being able to enjoy evenings and weekends unbothered by the Damocles' Sword of rejection. Top priority for me will be firms whose vacs aren't open to grads - Freshies, SullCrom - and who don't actually have vac schemes - Fried Frank, Paul Hastings - + some with hefty enough intakes that direct recruitment is nontrivial (W&C, Bakers (I think), Ashurst (again, I think)).

At a certain point my strategy is to basically take rolling firms with cover letters that binned me this year and just prep them for next cycle so I can fire off like six apps day 1, but that's kind of a side project until July when directs are all wrapped up.

Strongly recommend aggressively tapping the market for paralegal work if you can, there's loads on right now - mostly in-house but much of that with highly credible financial services firms (if that's your bag), which experience might be a gamechanger next cycle

SullCrom does take grads though, I applied as a postgrad (was rejected, but they had sent me their 'maybe pile' email and let me know the outcome the day after apps closed). I think there are some firms that don't let you apply in the same cycle for a Direct TC if you have been rejected for a VS - but not sure if W&C is one of them. NRF is also a firm with a sizeable direct TC intake if you are interested!

 

[lawstudent12345]

if we are drafting an email during a written exercise, do we sign off with our real names or [trainee]?

 

[Jessica Booker]

if we are drafting an email during a written exercise, do we sign off with our real names or [trainee]?

Your real names are appropriate unless the exercise is name blind (the firm will tell you if this is the case) or if the instructions explicitly tell you it needs to come from someone else.

 

[YJ]

anyone know hsf stats for ac invites vs final vs offers?? thanks )

I heard that around 3000 people apply (for all 3 schemes) then there are around 90 places across the schemes then around 60-65 trainees a year, but do not quote me on it!

 

[manchester12]

AG voice interview! Would be great to hear from anyone who has completed this!

 

[djqb]

AG voice interview! Would be great to hear from anyone who has completed this!

Congrats! May I ask which office this is for?

 

[manchester12]

Congrats! May I ask which office this is for?

Manchester

 

[Desk Chair]

Hi, I sat my Baker WG on the 14th and have not gotten anything back from them, not even a confirmation email. Was wondering whether I should expect a PFO as I see people are already getting ACs?

 

[gt1465]

AG voice interview! Would be great to hear from anyone who has completed this!

you get 30 secs to prepare each answer but none of the questions are overly complicated. Mainly just about why AG, why law etc

 

[M777]

Hi, I sat my Baker WG on the 14th and have not gotten anything back from them, not even a confirmation email. Was wondering whether I should expect a PFO as I see people are already getting ACs?

Which scheme did you apply for? If it's summer then I'd expect it'll be a while yet, I could book spring ACs until 1st feb.

 

[Desk Chair]

Which scheme did you apply for? If it's summer then I'd expect it'll be a while yet, I could book spring ACs until 1st feb.

Thanks! It was summer

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi,

I'm applying to Winckworth Sherwood and there is a 600 word statement to complete. One of the suggested points to include is "what contribution do you expect to make to the business during your TC and future career at the firm?".

Can anyone please advise as to what this actually means? I'm not sure how to approach this.

Thanks!

It is looking for you to analyse how you think your particular skill set or characteristics may benefit the firm. Think about the role of a trainee/junior lawyer and how you think you may add particular value to either clients or your colleagues.

 

[M777]

Thanks! It was summer

Yeah, they're very busy with spring ACs this week and next week. Don't worry that you haven't heard.

 

[eleven14og]

For team work competency questions, is it ok to use examples where I was a team leader?

 

[LEL]

For team work competency questions, is it ok to use examples where I was a team leader?

You can do, but remember they might also ask you to mention a time when you were a leader and it may not be good to use the same example twice. Try and think of any teamwork example, even if it's simple like a group project at uni!

 

[lawstudent12345]

Your real names are appropriate unless the exercise is name blind (the firm will tell you if this is the case) or if the instructions explicitly tell you it needs to come from someone else.

Thanks! I saw on Chambers Student that it was name blind but then the firm didn't mention anything about that. I've just finished it and I used my real name.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks! I saw on Chambers Student that it was name blind but then the firm didn't mention anything about that. I've just finished it and I used my real name.

If they didn't mention it or it wasn't in the instructions of the exercise, then there is nothing to worry about. They may redact it out before it is marked if it needs to be name blind.