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

[SemperParatus]

Does this mean everyone who applied to macfarlanes will probably hear back today? View attachment 3782

As their AC is going to be held in late January, not hearing today prob means i didnt get it

 

[GXA123]

Anyone heard from blm? Last year there turn over was fast

do you know if they are rolling for direct TCs?

 

[Legalmel_99]

do you know if they are rolling for direct TCs?

I’ve applied for the vs xx

 

[ssolicitorz]

So sorry to hear. Keep going you’ll get there 🤩
I’m yet to hear back from them post-VI, may I ask when you applied ?

I applied on the 12th December.

 

[h1]

pfo from Bird & Bird---- greaaaaaat

SAME but I'm more relieved cos they had me hanging since October! No response after application. But emailed them yesterday and finally got the PFO - the relief!

I'm sorry for the PFO though - keep your head held high and I'm sure that yes is around the corner

 

[Erwin Attle]

Sorry about that
If you don’t mind me asking, when did you complete the WG?

After a few application cycles, rejections are the norm, as long as one keeps at it...
I did mine on the 5th of Jan

 

[SemperParatus]

I just want them to give me my PFO and stop daaaangling me.

Also it feels like it was just yesterday that I was frantically pounding back low calorie red bulls and getting my macfarlanes application together. Absolutely mad that it’s almost been 2 weeks.

if I get a pfo from macfarlanes it will be the third time the firm is rejecting me in some capacity (other two being 1 week experiences etc) lol

 

[ellwilsen]

Omg Mayer brown job sim fried my brain

 

[manifestingaTC]

Omg Mayer brown job sim fried my brain

SAME. It was so much more intense than I could have ever expected

 

[SemperParatus]

if I get a pfo from macfarlanes it will be the third time the firm is rejecting me in some capacity (other two being 1 week experiences etc)

I should focus on my work instead of faffing around worrying about a potential pfo smh

 

[manifestingaTC]

Just had my NRF telephone interview (it was a bit wobbly if I’m honest), but grad rec said they’re interviewing people till early next week & they expect to get back to us ASAP. 🤞

 

[tt_xo]

Im a bit confused with NRF, are the current telephone interviews for the spring or summer vacation scheme?

 

[M777]

Anyone had Skadden news post TI?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Anyone know which firms actually prioritise RG/Oxbridge grads?

I understand that there is a huge misconception that firms prioritise RG candidates when in reality this is largely incorrect. However, does anyone know of firms that actively do engage in this practise?

i.e. Sherman and sterling have 4% non RG trainees.

I have never heard of a firm prioritising RG or Oxbridge applicants.

Shearman have an AAB at A-level requirement. By default, this means that most applicants will come from RG universities as these universities also have that requirement.

I worked for firms with similar A-level requirements and it meant that the overwhelming majority of applicants were from RG universities, as those who went to non-RG universities were more likely to not meet the minimum criteria and therefore self-selected out from applying. Even when I was at a firm with non minimum A-level grades nearly 25% of our applications came from Oxbridge alone, despite doing campus events at over 40 universities (including many non RG).

 

[route10]

Got a lovely PFO from Hogan Lovells aswell. But I thought I did well on the WG.
In fact I asked for and received the WG report from Linklaters after their PFO from the winter vac, and I did exceptionally well, so what the heck were they looking for?
I'd be interested in getting a WG report for Hogan Lovells too, but I can't find the relevant contact info.

I was able to get my WG result back from hogan lovells just by emailing grad rec and asking my score

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just did my VI for Irwin Mitchell and for a few questions i got cut off. I've done a few VI's and never feel good about them- I feel like I present myself in a much better way in live interviews. Feeling so disheartened by how many law firms recruitment processes have a video interview element that just doesnt accurately portray ones personality- i come off as cold and not friendly I feel.... i fucking hate the application process for law firms. I understand they receive thousands of applications but just feel that it's not personal at all and is centered around quickly cutting down the pool of people by criteria that is not relevant/representative of what you are actually capable of and what you can bring to the firm....

I completely understand the frustrations.

What I will say is that, in my opinion, video interviews have transformed graduate recruitment for the better.

They are far much more personal than making arbitrary decisions on an application form. I was really sceptical about video interviews to start with, for exactly the same reason as you have stated. However, I implemented it at a law firm purely because the recruitment process wasn't working effectively. It meant that rather than having to make a really harsh cut of roughly 1500 applications down to 75 face-to-face interviews, I could see around 250 people at video interview and then only have to see 50 or so at the face-to-face interview stage. That in turn transformed the diversity of their trainees (university attended, social mobility, ethnicity and age) because we weren't having to make as harsh a cut purely based on an application form.

I wish there was a process that was completely personal that didn't require an individual recruiter spending time talking to each candidate. Whoever came up with such a system would be exceptional wealthy!

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Im a bit confused with NRF, are the current telephone interviews for the spring or summer vacation scheme?

Mine (which I did on the 20-something of December) was for Spring

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Just had my NRF telephone interview (it was a bit wobbly if I’m honest), but grad rec said they’re interviewing people till early next week & they expect to get back to us ASAP. 🤞

Oh god now I’m nervous 😬 dw mine was also wobbly and I wasn’t sure I put all my points across eloquently 🤷🏻‍♀️ I also had to mention to grad rec that I was feeling exceptionally unwell because of my booster! Finger crossed and best of luck 🙏🏼

 

[m.n]

has anyone heard back from the dla birmingham office?

 

[Legalmel_99]

Anyone done the gateley assessment got any tips I’ve just got an email telling me to complete it