TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[lawstudent1]

Has anyone had an Akin interview yet?

 

[Jessica Booker]

If a deadline for a VI on Launchpad is 7 December 2022 (GMT+00:00). Does that mean the dealine is tonight or tomorrow night (the night between the 7th and the 8th)?

23.59 on the 7th

 

[Jessica Booker]

I do tend to use short paragraphs, not bullet points. However, I wouldn't like to hold myself out as someone that can suggest what should/shouldn't be done.

@Jessica Booker may be able to provide clarity

My general rule is paragraphs unless you can format bullet points in the application form (like you can do on these forums). However, if it’s just a free text box (with no formatting functionality), use full prose/sentences/paragraphs.

 

[F12M34L]

I also got an invite!

Hi when did you apply

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Does anyone know of any firms that don't take module marks/degree percentage into account?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know of any firms that don't take module marks/degree percentage into account?

You mean at all? Or do you mean in terms of getting above a certain grade (eg a high 2.1)?

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

You mean at all? Or do you mean in terms of getting above a certain grade (eg a high 2.1)?

If there are any firms that see '2.1 gained', and treat it the same irregardless of it being 61 or 69. Also, just any firms that don't count academics as a big thing, as they're probably the weakest part of my application. Thanks in advance

 

[tryingtoqualify]

Got an invite to Taylor Wessing's game-based assessment! Would appreciate any tips if anyone's done it already.

(Edit: I applied for the Cambridge vac scheme)

it's a joke. Arctic Shores if I remember correctly. Impossible to prepare, and consists of mini-games that take no skill whatsoever.

 

[Bubbles]

sure, my strengths were critical thinking, organisation (I think?) and my weakness was not considering the broader picture apparently!
They might be snowed under the large number of applications, hence the delay! Personally, its been three weeks since my VI, so I'm anticipating their response too.
It should be fine, I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Thanks for the reply, I got a PFO from them on Monday lol. My strength was detail and weakness was the same as you so I'm just gonna assume that I did poorly on the critical thinking test.

Hope you get a positive response from them!

 

[Jessica Booker]

If there are any firms that see '2.1 gained', and treat it the same irregardless of it being 61 or 69. Also, just any firms that don't count academics as a big thing, as they're probably the weakest part of my application. Thanks in advance

In all honesty, I don't think any firm has a blanket approach like this - the results are ultimately different and are, therefore likely to be seen as such.

However, there will be firms who care less about academics and who put much more weighting on other evidence in an application - unfortunately I don't know specifically who they are (our wider TCLA might have a view on which firms might be worth considering).

 

[ayoussef]

Anyone receive response from Simmons post AC.

They said within two weeks. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks.

I think it’s PFO, but did anyone hear back earlier or know how Simmons deal with outcomes?

 

[nma123]

Anyone receive response from Simmons post AC.

They said within two weeks. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks.

I think it’s PFO, but did anyone hear back earlier or know how Simmons deal with outcomes?

I had AC for Simmons SVS over 3 weeks ago - I also got told 2 weeks for response but have heard nothing. Going to wait because they might be busy with WVS stuff this week

 

[selfcarequeenzzz1]

Hi when did you apply

Halloween

 

[RB2022]

Are you meant to get email confirmation after submitting the Watson Glaser for DLA?

No, but you can email Grad Rec and ask them to confirm that they've received it (which is what I did). As long as you get to the end of the test where it says something like 'thank you for taking part', your results should go through just fine. Bearing in mind I did my WG for DLA Piper back in September so I'm not sure what it said at the end of the test 😅

 

[sxw517]

My general rule is paragraphs unless you can format bullet points in the application form (like you can do on these forums). However, if it’s just a free text box (with no formatting functionality), use full prose/sentences/paragraphs.

Thanks Jessica!​

@a06k01

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

In all honesty, I don't think any firm has a blanket approach like this - the results are ultimately different and are, therefore likely to be seen as such.

However, there will be firms who care less about academics and who put much more weighting on other evidence in an application - unfortunately I don't know specifically who they are (our wider TCLA might have a view on which firms might be worth considering).

Thank you for your response. If anyone does have any ideas regarding firms which don't weigh academics highly, I would appreciate any responses!

 

[Ambs123]

Thank you for your response. If anyone does have any ideas regarding firms which don't weigh academics highly, I would appreciate any responses!

Macfarlanes are quite forgiving! I had a 2:2 in my second year (but with mitigating) and I got an AC there! Same with trowers and Hamlins and Stephenson Harwood. I have a low 2:1 and got AC/interviews there too

 

[AvniD]

Hi! @Jessica Booker i was hoping for your insight. I attended a law firm event the other day and they spoke about a deal in the presentation that really reflected a lot of the reasons why I like the firm. Now I’m writing my application, do you think it’s ok to talk about that deal? I don’t want it to sound like I haven’t done my research, it is just that it was a particularly large and complex deal. It did also happen 2 years ago so I don’t know if that affects things as well.

Absolutely ok to talk about that deal but the fact that it is 2 years old makes me wonder if it may be better to search for other deals that happened within the lat 6-12 months that cover the same reasons why this deal stood out to you? If you're not able to find any other deals that resonate, then it should be fine to use the 2-year old deal as you don't want to compromise on the quality of your answer that's conveying your motivations to going the firm!

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Macfarlanes are quite forgiving! I had a 2:2 in my second year (but with mitigating) and I got an AC there! Same with trowers and Hamlins and Stephenson Harwood. I have a low 2:1 and got AC/interviews there too

That's really useful, thank you

 

[aniraz]

Does anyone know how to get into their Freshfields workday account after applying? I don't remember ever setting a username/password and my email isn't working as a username.