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

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Asil Ahmad

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    I'd be a bit cautious as almost all dichotomies are false dichotomies. In general the two groups Jaysen mentions do have very different routes into law, but not everyone will fit in to one of those two groups.

    Many people may have grown up in a mix of the two. So they might have had family dinners and supportive parents and still been bullied at school and had to deal with mental health difficulties. The simplified version makes a more compelling story, but in reality there's more nuance in people's individual circumstances.
    I see where you are coming from but I do agree about the last bit in that post about not choosing your circumstances bit. But the post is about some people have challenges getting into law where others are lucky to have a not so easy journey into law.

    I mean both groups of people have their challenges but there should be more support provided to the second group of people those who don't know how to have a professional conversation with people.
     

    IRO

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    I see where you are coming from but I do agree about the last bit in that post about not choosing your circumstances bit. But the post is about some people have challenges getting into law where others are lucky to have a not so easy journey into law.

    I mean both groups of people have their challenges but there should be more support provided to the second group of people those who don't know how to have a professional conversation with people.
    Of course, I wasn't commenting on the circumstances of anyone who fits into the groups Jaysen described, or the amount of support that should be provided to them. I was asserting that there are people who don't fit into those groups, and their existence should be acknowledged as well. Personally, I didn't love the post because I don't feel I fit into either category, and pretending those are the only categories at play seems a bit reductionist.
     
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    Rob93

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    I see where you are coming from but I do agree about the last bit in that post about not choosing your circumstances bit. But the post is about some people have challenges getting into law where others are lucky to have a not so easy journey into law.

    I mean both groups of people have their challenges but there should be more support provided to the second group of people those who don't know how to have a professional conversation with people.
    I think the point is that there are a lot of people who don't neatly fit either category, that differentials of advantage straddle an infinite gradient. I myself have been blessed with certain substantial privileges but also confronted with a number of unusual hardships. It's bizarre having a foot in both worlds but somehow in neither, and that experience is rarely, if ever, spoken to. Ultimately most people probably sit somewhere between the extremes of privation and privilege.

    That said I quite liked Jaysen's commentary and yours, and it's not really feasible to address every possible circumstance and it's tidy when making a point to gesture towards broad categories. I'd certainly agree that making the point that all disadvantage should be accounted for is as good an argument as any that *any* disadvantage should be accounted for with a view to leveling the playing field.
     
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    IRO

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    I think the point is that there are a lot of people who don't neatly fit either category, that differentials of advantage straddle an infinite gradient. I myself have been blessed with certain aubstantial privileges but also confronted with a number of unusual hardships. It's bizarre having a foot in both worlds but somehow in neither, and that experience is rarely, if ever, spoken to. Ultimately most people probably sit somewhere between the extremes of privation and privilege.

    That said I quite liked Jaysen's commentary and yours, and it's not really feasible to address every possible circumstance and it's tidy when making a point to gesture towards broad categories. I'd certainly agree that making the point that all disadvantage should be accounted for is as good an argument as any that *any* disadvantage should be accounted for with a view to leveling the playing field.
    I absolutely agree with this; I was essentially trying to articulate this viewpoint though less eloquently!
     
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    theag

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    Literally just finished it! A huge benefit of virtual ACs is that I can immediately sit on my couch and pour a large glass of wine to decompress with!

    I think it went well, guess now its wait to hear the outcome! I'm not so sure about the WG element - does anyone know if we can request our score?
    Glad to hear it went well! Not too sure on the WG score, but I can't see the harm in asking after you get the outcome!
    Just to clarify, there is no HR/partner interview at this stage?
     

    James Carrabino

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    Could anyone who has done an in-person VS please shed light on what the days entail? I've done a virtual scheme, which was largely practice area talks, talks on diversity/tech/legal research etc. Is this likely to still be the case in person, or would we be more involved with work?
    I think it really differs by firm - on one of the virtual vac schemes I did there were almost no talks and most of my day was spent at home completing work on behalf of an associate! I have hear that some firms like to keep their in-person vac schemes based more on assessments and talks, and less on real work although on the whole I do think that it is more likely you will be doing real work on an in-person VS!
     
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    S87

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    Tbf Jaysen’s email nearly had me teary-eyed.

    But the question I need an answer to is:
    which one of these two worlds do wine mums fall into????
    Well for San valentine I'm planning a lovely Italian Aperitivo (I'am Italian) and I just received a premium Prosecco.

    I do not drink much, I prefer to enjoy good food and alcohol. So, if you want a good and expensive red wine I shall suggest Bolgheri 2020.
     

    Abii

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    I think the point is that there are a lot of people who don't neatly fit either category, that differentials of advantage straddle an infinite gradient. I myself have been blessed with certain aubstantial privileges but also confronted with a number of unusual hardships. It's bizarre having a foot in both worlds but somehow in neither, and that experience is rarely, if ever, spoken to. Ultimately most people probably sit somewhere between the extremes of privation and privilege.

    That said I quite liked Jaysen's commentary and yours, and it's not really feasible to address every possible circumstance and it's tidy when making a point to gesture towards broad categories. I'd certainly agree that making the point that all disadvantage should be accounted for is as good an argument as any that *any* disadvantage should be accounted for with a view to leveling the playing field.
    This is a very eloquent way of putting it! Although I grew up in a very low income household, and left home very young due to family instability I also grew up in a home discussing current affairs and politics, not over the dinner table because we didn't have space for one and we very rarely ate a meal together as a family, but none the less we discussed the general state of the world. Perhaps not the implications of the stock market etc but certainly what was going on politically and the implications of that. Now entering a professional world was never a given, even going to university was unusual as studying certainly wasn't a priority growing up - I didn't even successfully complete A levels at 16-18. The lack of safety net fear is one I really resonate with and I'm sure many others on this forum do too! I saw the point of the email as a way to recognise that peoples journeys are different, and that people have different struggles and that that needs to be recognised rather than splitting people into two neat categories.
     

    Adrian_S

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    Well for San valentine I'm planning a lovely Italian Aperitivo (I'am Italian) and I just received a premium Prosecco.

    I do not drink much, I prefer to enjoy good food and alcohol. So, if you want a good and expensive red wine I shall suggest Bolgheri 2020.
    You're either gonna love the answer or you're gonna hate it

    ME, inhabiting both worlds:


    4C47B528-FF63-4193-B7D6-C6CF8F8EB06D.jpeg
     

    James Carrabino

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    Hi @James Carrabino Thank you so much for your response, I truly appreciate it. I took the evening off yesterday just to give some time to myself to self-reflect and relax. Definitely feeling a lot more positive today and will try to focus on the remaining cycle, and start thinking about direct TCs.

    Yes, being a final year international student worries me for visa purposes, since I have limited options to stay in the country and continue to apply but I have bookmarked some of @AvniD's posts on the topic and also refer to the International Students guide that has been put together by TCLA.
    I am really glad to be able to help @lawful_neutral216! Do continue to reach out with any queries, concerns or apprehensions about the process that you may have - I can tell that you have the drive and determination to get there :) I am confident that we will all be hearing about your good news soon and know that we are with you every step of the way!
     
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