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

[Jaysen]

Hey everyone,

It's back! Please use this master thread to discuss anything related to vacation scheme applications for the 2021-2022 application cycle. This can include everything from application and interview queries to news from particular law firms.

Useful Links
TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (for all general queries and discussion)
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion 2021-22 (for direct training contract applicants)
Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2020-21 (last year's vacation scheme thread)

A huge good luck to everyone this cycle.

Thanks,

Jaysen

 

[RS134]

Man I literally got a rejection from MoFo today (I applied last cycle!😂 ) At least I can start afresh now!

 

[lawstudent12345]

A&O Winter VS application - they have an optional section for you to upload a CV and Cover Letter - Should I upload these? The rest of the application already includes a section on work experience and extracurriculars, as well as a question on how I would apply the skills I picked up during work experience / extracurricular activities to the trainee role at A&O. I'm afraid the CV and Cover Letter will be repetitive (plus they don't mention them on the graduate recruitment website I believe) but maybe it's best to write them anyway?

 

[ScrappyDoo]

A&O Winter VS application - they have an optional section for you to upload a CV and Cover Letter - Should I upload these? The rest of the application already includes a section on work experience and extracurriculars, as well as a question on how I would apply the skills I picked up during work experience / extracurricular activities to the trainee role at A&O. I'm afraid the CV and Cover Letter will be repetitive (plus they don't mention them on the graduate recruitment website I believe) but maybe it's best to write them anyway?

I would like to know this as well - @Jessica Booker, would you be able to give valuable advice?

@Neville Birdi - would you be able to assist here? Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

I would like to know this as well - @Jessica Booker, would you be able to give valuable advice?

@Neville Birdi - would you be able to assist here? Thank you

Personally if it's optional I wouldn't bother unless you feel you need to include some additional information that doesn't naturally fit into the application form.

More likely than not it's just a quirk of the applicant tracking system.

 

[ScrappyDoo]

Personally if it's optional I wouldn't bother unless you feel you need to include some additional information that doesn't naturally fit into the application form.

More likely than not it's just a quirk of the applicant tracking system.

Thank you @Jessica Booker - so more likely they will not read the Cover Letter or CV? So it will pointless in attaching it to the portal?

 

[Rob93]

Have emailed grad rec re: cover letter, will report back when I hear anything.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you @Jessica Booker - so more likely they will not read the Cover Letter or CV? So it will pointless in attaching it to the portal?

Yes, more than likely.

 

[ScrappyDoo]

Yes, more than likely.

Thank you for that - love your valuable advice!! 😎

 

[kr]

Hey everyone,

In the the A&O Winter VS application, there are these two questions "Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience or extracurricular activities. And "Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful". Both are 250 words max.

This might be a silly question but do you think it is better to use bullet points or short paragraphs when answering these questions?

Any advice would be helpful, thank you

 

[kr253]

Hey everyone,

In the the A&O Winter VS application, there are these two questions "Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience or extracurricular activities. And "Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful". Both are 250 words max.

This might be a silly question but do you think it is better to use bullet points or short paragraphs when answering these questions?

Any advice would be helpful, thank you

Not a silly question at all! I've been advised that prose is better than bullet points in general in these applications, so I'd go with paragraphs personally

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey everyone,

In the the A&O Winter VS application, there are these two questions "Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience or extracurricular activities. And "Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful". Both are 250 words max.

This might be a silly question but do you think it is better to use bullet points or short paragraphs when answering these questions?

Any advice would be helpful, thank you

I’d write in prose - just very concise prose.

 

[Rob93]

Jessica was, as usual, entirely correct.

A&O have confirmed that the cover letter and CV upload is to be disregarded.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Jessica was, as usual, entirely correct.

A&O have confirmed that the cover letter and CV upload is to be disregarded.

Nothing much changes in 12 years 😂

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Hey everyone,

In the the A&O Winter VS application, there are these two questions "Please describe the key learnings/skills you’ve gained through work experience, positions of responsibility, personal experience or extracurricular activities. And "Outline how you would apply these skills to the trainee role at A&O, in order to be successful". Both are 250 words max.

This might be a silly question but do you think it is better to use bullet points or short paragraphs when answering these questions?

Any advice would be helpful, thank you

Sorry to ask this but are these the two application questions for the A&O winter vacation scheme.

 

[lawstudent12345]

Sorry to ask this but are these the two application questions for the A&O winter vacation scheme.

yes you can see it on their application portal

 

[Highnumberofapplicants]

Hi everyone, good luck with the applications!
I had a question about the whole experience part. Do you include positions on societies and stuff under work experience or try incorporating them in the answers to the questions?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone, good luck with the applications!
I had a question about the whole experience part. Do you include positions on societies and stuff under work experience or try incorporating them in the answers to the questions?

No - society positions should not be in work experience, they should be in any extra curricular section if there is one. If there isn’t, then the firm isn’t as interested in them. They can be woven into statements/cover letters or competency answers where appropriate though.

 

[Lawyerwithadream]

I’d write in prose - just very concise prose.

@Jessica Booker Would it be appropriate to use STAR for the first question? The question refers to 'skills' and 250words seem a bit limited to write out multiple experiences and using STAR.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

yes you can see it on their application portal

Thank you very much for this and good luck with the application.