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

[GXA123]

Received a Links WVS offer as an external applicant on Monday! My AC was last Tuesday

what do u mean by external applicant?

 

[GXA123]

Why would a firm ask you why you are applying to that specific office? i.e London instead of Manchester etc

depends on numbers of vac schemes offered, dates, preference, TCs and so on

 

[Shaz]

what do u mean by external applicant?

As in, I wasn't a candidate on the Pathfinder scheme or Making Links Scholarship as I know the VS invitations went out to them before candidates not on those schemes.

 

[GXA123]

As in, I wasn't a candidate on the Pathfinder scheme or Making Links Scholarship as I know the VS invitations went out to them before candidates not on those schemes.

Thank you x

 

[Anoned]

Just received an invite to Weil's Insight Day at their office! Those of you that have applied, I recommend you check your spam folders, as mine went there and there's a time limit to confirm attendance.

Same here! Which day did you pick?

 

[kat_]

If the word count for work experience is 250 words, does that mean I have to write that much about each job?

 

[layk]

Does anyone know Baker McKenzie's competencies/ values?? I can't seem to find them on the website

 

[layk]

Anyone else been sent a video interview from Bird & Bird? 😊

Could I ask what percentage you got for your WG test?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Would it be recommended to wait for NRF to open Summer Apps and apply then, or risk it and apply Spring if I prefer the dates of the scheme?

I’d apply for Spring if that is your preferred date.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know Baker McKenzie's competencies/ values?? I can't seem to find them on the website

This might help: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/-/media/files/careers/global_recruiting_ebrochure.pdf?la=en (although is a little older as it’s when the firm still was using the & in its name).

 

[m.aspiring.lawyer]

Congrats on the AC! Please can I ask when you heard back post VI?

Thanks, it was about two weeks I think!

 

[Shootingstars2]

To answer the more general question, at application stage it's best to calibrate the level of specificity to the firm. If you were applying to a US firm with an intense finance focus then obviously it would be appropriate to go deep on that. Conversely, some MC and other full service firms will raise an eyebrow if you're too focused on one thing because you'll spend most of your TC doing other things and they don't want you phoning it in.

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Slawrelated]

depends on numbers of vac schemes offered, dates, preference, TCs and so on

It was in an application question. They said why this office so I was wondering what the reasoning is behind that and what they expect us to say?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Why would a firm ask you why you are applying to that specific office? i.e London instead of Manchester etc

Because most people are not geographically mobile and cannot work in multiple locations. The firm needs to ensure they have the right amount of talent pipeline for each vacancy they have.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If the word count for work experience is 250 words, does that mean I have to write that much about each job?

No - some jobs can be described in a much shorter word limit (eg if the job was fairly straight forward/limited responsibilities/for a short period of time).

 

[Jessica Booker]

It was in an application question. They said why this office so I was wondering what the reasoning is behind that and what they expect us to say?

They expect you to choose the location you’ll be able to commit to long term - even if it is a vacation scheme, they want to see your commitment to that location because most firms only recruit vacation scheme students to then convert them into trainees.

With some regional firms/locations, too many applicants try to game the system. They think that if they apply to the location they think is least popular, they hope it improves their chances of getting a job offer, and then they try to use the system to move to their preferred location which they think might be more competitive. So firms ask these questions to try and preempt that process and select the people that are truly motivated to live/work in that location.

 

[GXA123]

It was in an application question. They said why this office so I was wondering what the reasoning is behind that and what they expect us to say?

Also some offices do different work sometimes, try to keep this on mind I guess

 

[M991]

Just got an invite for the Weil open day! (the one on the 24th)

 

[kat_]

No - some jobs can be described in a much shorter word limit (eg if the job was fairly straight forward/limited responsibilities/for a short period of time).

Thank you, Jessica!

 

[ltt_12]

for the 'why the firm' section in my cover letter for e.g. NRF, what sorts of things are typically looked upon well to write about (are references to high profile deals looked at favourably)? thanks!