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

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LEL

Legendary Member
Junior Lawyer
Jul 22, 2020
201
419
Dechert VI and Written Exercise just hit my inbox. Applied on the last day (from memory) and it was defs for the summer vac/2024 training contract. Thanks for all the help in the forum thus far! What do written exercises usually involve? Is the VI one of those ones where you can re-record as many times as you like (easy as) or is it a one take show (worst thing in the world lol)? (And remember for all those who got Latham rejections, WAGMI!)
Feel free to PM me :)
 

Rob93

Legendary Member
Dec 29, 2020
627
1,677
Hi @Jessica Booker and Gemma,

I understand and agree with some of your remarks. However, may I ask you how candidates can understand how to improve their apps?
I mean, if I receive a general rejection how do I know what went wrong?

English is not my first language, however I have British people in my life who do not work in the legal industry but are happy to look at my apps and give me their feedback. However, this is not enough and it can be frustrating and mentally challenging at times.
To an extent that's just kind of how this works.

I think there's a lot to be said for like, being able to self-reflect and find iterative ways to improve what you've done - even if your application was good, it can always be better.

And that's a related point - I've been unsuccessful on plenty of apps that were like... entirely serviceable, have had former grad rec people say they were good. But sometimes you just aren't what they're looking for and it's important to make peace with that.
 

S87

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 4, 2018
1,648
2,403
To an extent that's just kind of how this works.

I think there's a lot to be said for like, being able to self-reflect and find iterative ways to improve what you've done - even if your application was good, it can always be better.

And that's a related point - I've been unsuccessful on plenty of apps that were like... entirely serviceable, have had former grad rec people say they were good. But sometimes you just aren't what they're looking for and it's important to make peace with that.
Amen to that..there is always room for improvement!
 
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Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
14,357
19,987
Just seen the number of pages of the forum

black and white devil GIF


no good satan GIF
 

ps123

Star Member
Oct 15, 2021
43
193
Classic stuff, absolute paragons of the profession in the comments every time.
God I hate the legal cheek comments section.
I find it absolutely bonkers. I think the open nature of NQ salaries rn really warps opinions towards levels of remuneration. You see 15+ US firms offering crazy money and begin to think it's a norm when in fact the total numbers of NQ solicitors are pretty insignificant when compared with the broader total London grad market.
 
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ps123

Star Member
Oct 15, 2021
43
193
Dechert written exercise and VI invite! any advice would be hugely appreciated!! :)
The platform automatically saves your work as you go along, don't think it's a good idea to write up the exercise in word and try to copy and paste it over. I had a wifi glitch which meant I couldn't access the platform to submit my work and so the grand sum of my efforts was 'Dear' and that was the end of my Dechert process hahaah
 
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Rob93

Legendary Member
Dec 29, 2020
627
1,677
I find it absolutely bonkers. I think the open nature of NQ salaries rn really warps opinions towards levels of remuneration. You see 15+ US firms offering crazy money and begin to think it's a norm when in fact the total numbers of NQ solicitors are pretty insignificant when compared with the broader total London grad market.
Yeah I mean it's also imo quite unseemly to get into pissing contests about comp levels as though that's a reflection of competence, intelligence or inherent worth. Everyone matriculating into City practice as an NQ is in or very near the top 1% of UK earners, the obsession in some corners with working at the highest levels of remuneration is a bit tasteless and should be relegated to investment banking where it belongs.
 
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