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

[Rob93]

Hi guys, just reading over an application I submitted yesterday - I rushed it a little as I thought the deadline was midnight but I think it's actually midnight today. I realised I made two mistakes:

- 'Supreme Court Victory' capitalised the V in victory
- 'vital in becoming lawyer' (should have said 'vital in becoming a lawyer')

I thought this was one of my strongest applications so far, and so I'm really deeping the mistakes and whether they'll ruin it for me. In everyones opinions are these major? and would it be worth withdrawing my application and submitting a new one by correcting them or could this be plagiarism or something?

Depends on a number of factors - how particular the firm's policy is (some are famously finicky, others are famously lax, most are in the middle); whether grad rec even notices - I think they often don't with some of these little things, but that comes down to chance; how strong your application & candidate profile are - apart from the notoriously strict firms, assuming mistakes are caught they'll just become part of the overall assessment and if you have sterling credentials and otherwise good writing it's not the end of the world.

I would generally not advise withdrawing and resubmitting - it does not look good, and imo is a bit underhanded (though certainly not 'plagiarism' in the academic sense of that word) - important in this profession to own one's mistakes (in my view). Jessica has made more compelling points on this elsewhere in the thread but I'm not sure where exactly.

Wouldn't sweat it too much - que sera sera.

 

[Miki3999]

Anyone have experience messing up a couple of questions in an AC interview and still receiving an offer? My brain completely short-circuited 😅

My first AC so I'm going to treat it as a learning experience.

Yes, no candidate is impeccable

 

[marcelP]

Hi,

Anyone heard back from Gowling post VI? Still waiting for my portal to update (most recent was 21/12/2021), seems like people are receiving scores but I am still yet to get this on my account.

 

[antisocial applicant]

If you're working on a something close to a deadline and a partner asks you do do an urgent piece of work, is there actually a right response to a scenario like this? I'm preparing for an AC and law firms seem to be obsessed with this situational question so it wouldn't surprise me if it came up

 

[Rob93]

If you're working on a something close to a deadline and a partner asks you do do an urgent piece of work, is there actually a right response to a scenario like this? I'm preparing for an AC and law firms seem to be obsessed with this situational question so it wouldn't surprise me if it came up

Horrid question, particularly on SJTs where you have to 1) select a predetermined answer and 2) make a bunch of assumptions about the broader circumstances you can't actually state or test.

If I had to deal with this in AC/interview where the answer is open-ended, I would basically give one or more contingent answers depending on other facts I would reasonably expect to know in this circumstance - how long will my current task & the new task take & can I realistically produce work to a high standard on both against the respective deadlines? If yes okay do both. If not: is there someone better placed to do the new task of whom I am aware? If yes, perhaps redirect the work or see if a task-share is viable (may depend on the nature of the work). Is there someone on my current workstream I could tap for assistance to ensure that both are completed on time and to standard? If so this could work as well.

Broadly though like, go with your gut/be honest. Firms will be looking for slightly different answers to these types of questions, to see if the way you work fits with how they work. No point making yourself a square peg in a round hole.

 

[S87]

Guys,
How Long should a cover letter be?

 

[OO28]

Has anyone heard back from A&O following their AC? I had mine 2 weeks ago - feels like a long time to wait... Not sure if they have given out any offers or rejections so far

I did mine over a week ago, and I heard from trainees last year that they had to wait 2-3 to hear back, so it does seem to take a while

 

[TC fiend]

If you're working on a something close to a deadline and a partner asks you do do an urgent piece of work, is there actually a right response to a scenario like this? I'm preparing for an AC and law firms seem to be obsessed with this situational question so it wouldn't surprise me if it came up

Horrid question, particularly on SJTs where you have to 1) select a predetermined answer and 2) make a bunch of assumptions about the broader circumstances you can't actually state or test.

If I had to deal with this in AC/interview where the answer is open-ended, I would basically give one or more contingent answers depending on other facts I would reasonably expect to know in this circumstance - how long will my current task & the new task take & can I realistically produce work to a high standard on both against the respective deadlines? If yes okay do both. If not: is there someone better placed to do the new task of whom I am aware? If yes, perhaps redirect the work or see if a task-share is viable (may depend on the nature of the work). Is there someone on my current workstream I could tap for assistance to ensure that both are completed on time and to standard? If so this could work as well.

Broadly though like, go with your gut/be honest. Firms will be looking for slightly different answers to these types of questions, to see if the way you work fits with how they work. No point making yourself a square peg in a round hole.

Largely agree with Rob but having faced this question and discussed it with associates and senior associates, the resounding takeaway that I’ve heard is that they want to know whether you can effectively communicate and delegate. In the first place you need to check with the partner about your conflicting deadline. If the work has been given by two different people (say, a partner and an associate), seniority pulls rank. You do the urgent work for the partner first (after having discussed the deadline with them) and then revert to the associate about the deadline to see whether 1) you’ll still be able to meet it, 2) there’s any flexibility, 3) there’s anyone available to jump in and help out.

As Rob said, different firms will have different “best answers”. If it’s not a multiple choice question, I’d try to set out the different points to take into account and then reason why you’d act one way over another (and whether particular factors might influence how you act).

Other people likely disagree but I think as long as you can demonstrate those key competencies (communication, delegation, organization), you’re on the right path.

 

[Rob93]

Guys,
How Long should a cover letter be?

One side of A4 is a good rule of thumb. If you can make it shorter, great - less than half a side you're probably leaving something out

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, just reading over an application I submitted yesterday - I rushed it a little as I thought the deadline was midnight but I think it's actually midnight today. I realised I made two mistakes:

- 'Supreme Court Victory' capitalised the V in victory
- 'vital in becoming lawyer' (should have said 'vital in becoming a lawyer')

I thought this was one of my strongest applications so far, and so I'm really deeping the mistakes and whether they'll ruin it for me. In everyones opinions are these major? and would it be worth withdrawing my application and submitting a new one by correcting them or could this be plagiarism or something?

The first one is very minor. The second one is more of an issue where it doesn't read right.

However, I know plenty of people who have secured roles with worse.

There is no point withdrawing an application and resubmitting one - the firm will be able to see you have already applied despite withdrawing. I wouldn't worry about it though given the mistakes are minor and may not even be spotted.

 

[Rob93]

Largely agree with Rob but having faced this question and discussed it with associates and senior associates, the resounding takeaway that I’ve heard is that they want to know whether you can effectively communicate and delegate. In the first place you need to check with the partner about your conflicting deadline. If the work has been given by two different people (say, a partner and an associate), seniority pulls rank. You do the urgent work for the partner first (after having discussed the deadline with them) and then revert to the associate about the deadline to see whether 1) you’ll still be able to meet it, 2) there’s any flexibility, 3) there’s anyone available to jump in and help out.

As Rob said, different firms will have different “best answers”. If it’s not a multiple choice question, I’d try to set out the different points to take into account and then reason why you’d act one way over another (and whether particular factors might influence how you act).

Other people likely disagree but I think as long as you can demonstrate those key competencies (communication, delegation, organization), you’re on the right path.

Absolutely agree with all of this, and quite appreciate these points as I will definitely use them in the future - resource/time management or similar is consistently my lowest attribute cause it doesn't really occur to me that I'll be able to delegate things out.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Guys,
How Long should a cover letter be?

Depends on the firm - some give you a specific length to aim for. For instance, Slaughters are very explicit in saying it should be no more than a page of A4.

I'd say 400-800 words is the usual though. Any longer (unless the firm says it can be longer) and it tends to get a bit long winded.

 

[Marlian44]

is fieldfisher rolling basis ? and is it worth applying to either the 2023 or 2024 tc

 

[Giovanna]

HSF AC!! 🤯🤯 This is my first post here but I've been keeping up with these threads for a few months now and all of the advice and support given by everyone here has been amazing to see I've definitely used some of the advice given in my own applications so for that I'm really thankful to everyone here!!

(..and on a side note if anyone has any HSF-specific/commercial awareness/general AC advice I would be extremely grateful as this will be my first one ever!!)

 

[antisocial applicant]

@Rob93 @FS thank you both so much!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Largely agree with Rob but having faced this question and discussed it with associates and senior associates, the resounding takeaway that I’ve heard is that they want to know whether you can effectively communicate and delegate. In the first place you need to check with the partner about your conflicting deadline. If the work has been given by two different people (say, a partner and an associate), seniority pulls rank. You do the urgent work for the partner first (after having discussed the deadline with them) and then revert to the associate about the deadline to see whether 1) you’ll still be able to meet it, 2) there’s any flexibility, 3) there’s anyone available to jump in and help out.

As Rob said, different firms will have different “best answers”. If it’s not a multiple choice question, I’d try to set out the different points to take into account and then reason why you’d act one way over another (and whether particular factors might influence how you act).

Other people likely disagree but I think as long as you can demonstrate those key competencies (communication, delegation, organization), you’re on the right path.

I am not convinced that seniority always pulls rank. Clients ultimately pull rank and therefore if the associate's work is for a client and the partner's is not (which it could easily be), although the partner says it is important, they don't know the importance of other things you are working on.

 

[YJ]

Hi! Does anyone have experience with Kirkland & Ellis AC? Would be much appreciated please!

 

[LoveAspireLAW]

Has anyone heard back from Latham post VI?

 

[S87]

Depends on the firm - some give you a specific length to aim for. For instance, Slaughters are very explicit in saying it should be no more than a page of A4.

I'd say 400-800 words is the usual though. Any longer (unless the firm says it can be longer) and it tends to get a bit long winded.

Thank you @Jessica Booker and @Rob93 ,

I have 684 words, for now, trying to cut to 600, but will print the paper before sending my application.

 

[YUKI1201]

HSF AC!