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

[George Maxwell]

@George Maxwell I start my vac scheme with HSF tomorrow and was just wondering what is an acceptable time to leave the office? How late should we be staying, and when is too early to leave?

Hey @aspiringlawyer123_,

That's awesome news! I will likely be meeting you later in the week then (come and say hello!) as all future trainees have been invited to a quiz at the office.

I agree with what @Jessica Booker has said on this. If I were me, I would ask my trainee buddy and supervisor. I would really emphasise that it is important that you listen to what they say too.

HSF is not a firm that will be impressed if you work late into the night against the advice of your supervisor. Ultimately your supervisor's feedback will determine whether or not you get the TC too and they will not be trying to catch you out.

In my experience, I was told that working extremely would just imply that I had not managed my time well. The firm wants vacation schemers to work in a sustainably and healthy way. Do not feel afraid to leave when you have finished your work. As Jess says, 1730 sounds like a sensible time to aim for!

Please do reach out if you have any further question too! I am excited for you.

How are you feeling ahead of starting @aspiringlawyer123_? Are you staying in London for the duration?

 

[Maddiefretwell]

I’ve had an online interview invite for Shoosmiths, any tips/what type of questions they ask would be mega mega appreciated! Super nervous as this is my first application cycle!!

 

[Maddiefretwell]

If it says the link will be sent by 6th then I wouldn’t worry about it if you haven’t had it until 5.00pm on the sixth.

I am sure you will be given a deadline when the link is sent.

I haven’t been sent anything yet either so I’m assuming they’ll send it on the 6th!

 

[Maddiefretwell]

Congratulations same !!xx

Congrats to you both, same here!! do you have any clue as to what the online interview is going to be like?

 

[Sugarcookies]

Had anyone heard from Howard Kennedy post application?

No, their website says that they'll get back to applicants one month after the deadline so I assume by next week, we should hear something

 

[Jessica Booker]

Will the expectation be the same in all types of firms?

Asking particularly in the context of US firms where lawyers tend to work longer hours. Will VS students who leave at 1730 be seen as unsuitable for their norms and culture?

Yes. The expectation is the same across firms.

There is no need to stay late unless there is work to do. If you have concluded your work for the day, ask your supervisor if there is anything else you can help with for that day and if they say no, you leave.

Sitting around doing nothing and distracting other people will be a much bigger risk than going home.

Obviously if your supervisor has given you work to do and you need to do it to meet the deadlines set, then stay later. At firms where the culture is known to be late hours, then you might find your supervisor has given you work that means you have to stay later.

This is going to sound brutal, but many supervisors will want you to leave for the day so they can focus on their work. Looking after a VSer is hard work and can often be a massive distraction - getting a few hours to themselves at the end of the day probably helps them deliver the work they need to do (and that you can’t help them with). If your supervisor tells you there is nothing to help them with for the rest of the day and it’s gone beyond your contracted hours, go home!

If you are still worried use the “after your contracted hours” period to catch up with other VSers, organise end of day coffee catch up with employees in parts of the business you want to find more about, or go to a communal area and do things like write up a day’s journal of a summary of what you learnt from the day/do some reading.

 

[Bestkid98]

Woke up to the best phone call I could get on a Monday morning - Taylor Wessing vacation scheme offer after doing the AC on Wednesday 🥳

Thought I bombed it because I couldn't complete the group exercise due to technical difficulties. Just want to say thank you to the forum and all of the support provided here.

 

[becfa]

Has anyone heard back from W&C post ac? It's been 4 weeks!

 

[NMA]

Anyone have a contact email for Travers grad rec?

 

[unserious candidate]

invitiation to mishcon final interview

 

[Homer]

invitiation to mishcon final interview

invite to mishcon's final interview as well! does anyone have any experience with this or any insight as to the format of the interview/ what to prepare

 

[Shia]

Anyone heard back from W&C post AC for summer VS?

Just wanted to ask when your AC was and when you got the invite? Still waiting on their response after VI for their Summer VS!

 

[Shia]

Is anyone still waiting for Travers Smith post-application?

 

[YUKI1201]

Has anyone heard back from W&C post ac? It's been 4 weeks!

ikr 🤣 and they said they'd respond in 2 weeks

 

[djqb]

Can somebody clarify what this means? Can I apply for White & Case's direct TC after being rejected for their VS a couple months ago? (i.e., applying for the TC in the same cycle after being rejected from the VS).

 

[Jessica Booker]

View attachment 4013

Can somebody clarify what this means? Can I apply for White & Case's direct TC after being rejected for their VS a couple months ago? (i.e., applying for the TC in the same cycle after being rejected from the VS).

You can apply, but ultimately they are saying they recommend you should wait until the next recruitment cycle to reapply.

 

[golden99]

Hi there, has anyone else been offered a place on the dentons vacation scheme and accepted but not received a confirmation. I sent an acceptance a couple of weeks ago and then a follow up yesterday but have heard nothing. I'm slightly worried as the deadline to accept was yesterday.

 

[djqb]

You can apply, but ultimately they are saying they recommend you should wait until the next recruitment cycle to reapply.

Thanks for clarifying Jessica

 

[ssolicitorz]

Got this from Gibson Dunn: Thank you for your application for a place on the Gibson Dunn Summer Vacation Scheme 2022. I regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, we were impressed with your application and encourage you to apply for our 2023 summer vacation scheme, as we aim to recruit all of our trainees from our summer vacation scheme. Applications open in Autumn.

Did anyone else get the same?

 

[charleshflush]

Has anyone heard back after Gibson Dunn stage 1 interview?