TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[SamanthaBracey]

Yeah to me it’s just bad news. I’ve stuck it out with a few firms I’m really interested in but they can’t even bother to see me personally? Why would I want to work for that firm? I don’t think it’s at all indicative of what the person is like. I’ve done loads of public speaking, debating and other things so don’t consider myself awkward or bad verbally but I find it so hard to look at the camera whilst talking to no one and seem normal, it’s very unnatural to not pick up on social queues from someone else or have gaps in your speech where somebody interjects or asks a follow up question.

another thing is that it’s so easy for people to game the process by asking a friend what the questions were so it’s even more unfair.

A much fairer assessment of a candidate in my opinion are their grades, extra curriculars, achievements and psychometric tests results. An interview with a real person is much more indicative of how a candidate will interact with a client.

It just seems like a cop out from a lot of firms tbh so trying to avoid VI firms.

edit: what you said about seeing this a lot is so true. I know it’s only anecdotal but some of the smartest students I know with the best grades are also avoiding VI firms. So whatever arguments there are about “finding talent from a wider pool” there seems to be an argument with at least some merit that some of the best candidates are no longer targeting those firms.

Hi!

Just to confirm that we don't have a video interview anymore! We stopped this as part of our assessment process back in 2019-2020. Please do feel free to apply to our direct Training Contract applications if you are interested in TLT!

As a side note - please can I check where you've seen that we still include a VI and I will make sure to get this updated.
Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Has anyone used any informal language (unintendedly) during an interview and progressed to the next stage? I said 'you know' twice or more during my RS VI. 🥲

All the time...most people do this, so I really wouldn't worry about it.

 

[CorpLawyer00]

Hi!

Just to confirm that we don't have a video interview anymore! We stopped this as part of our assessment process back in 2019-2020. Please do feel free to apply to our direct Training Contract applications if you are interested in TLT!

As a side note - please can I check where you've seen that we still include a VI and I will make sure to get this updated.
Thanks!

Really sorry - i deleted the message where I said you had a VI. https://www.tlt.com/careers/trainees/trainee-insights-and-events/applying-for-a-training-contract/ there is a reference to it here which I think could be sort of misleading.
Thank you

 

[Future Six Figure Fee Earner]

Hi!

Just to confirm that we don't have a video interview anymore! We stopped this as part of our assessment process back in 2019-2020. Please do feel free to apply to our direct Training Contract applications if you are interested in TLT!

As a side note - please can I check where you've seen that we still include a VI and I will make sure to get this updated.
Thanks!

Applying for a training contract

TLT is a national law firm with in-depth experience in several industry sectors including Financial Services, Leisure, Retail, Technology & Media, Renewables, Housing and the Public Sector.

www.tlt.com

Ngl you need to update this or I would have applied if I knew you'd scrapped them

They said at the insight scheme in summer that they had VI too.

 

[boomer]

A firm wants two work referees. I have one who I'm currently working for, so I'll give their details. The second is one I haven't spoken to for a few months, so I am unsure if I can put them down right now (as I don't have permission). Can I leave one blank for now, and add details if the firm wants to contact my referees? The deadline is tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll get a reply before then. @Jessica Booker

I would put them down and send them an email explaining the deadline and saying you hope they don’t mind and asking if it would be ok if firms require it in the future. I wouldn’t leave it blank

 

[confusedlawstudent]

wait what? can they see your practice answers? 💀

noooo this can’t be true please tell me it’s not true 😭😭

for CMS i did the practise question and answered it all and then at the end i let out a big sigh and then said “f*cking hell” 🤦‍♀️

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker can you confirm or deny if they see our practice answers…

Unlikely in most situations - it may be the case they can in some instances, but generally I haven't been able to see them previously.

Even if they can see them, I really don't think they will bother watching them - they won't have the time to do so.

 

[SK02]

Does anyone know if Osborne Clarke's test is timed? And is it a WG or just verbal reasoning? TIA

Hey,
Its a verbal reasoning test with 30 questions to be answered in 15-20 mins.

thanks

 

[patternteddybear]

does anyone know when we may hear back from pinsent masons?

 

[SK02]

Hi guys, can anyone suggest how to approach this question -:

What makes you particularly suited to a career at Trowers & Hamlins compared to other applicants?

Ps: the deadline is today so any quick recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[cls33]

i got a Freshfields AC invite but i can't find the careers portal to book a date, can anyone help me :c i will love you forever

hey, was this for the vac scheme or TC?

 

[Ali A]

Does anyone have advice for not checking/refreshing your emails over a million times a day?

I can't help but refresh my emails every time I am on my phone, especially with 12 applications out there in the Metaverse.

It has become really draining.

Every time I get an email, I get excited that a law firm has replied but in reality, it's Just Eat and Deliveroo discount codes.

Please help

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Hey,
Its a verbal reasoning test with 30 questions to be answered in 15-20 mins.

thanks

Thank you!

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Does anyone have advice for not checking/refreshing your emails over a million times a day?

I can't help but refresh my emails every time I am on my phone, especially with 12 applications out there in the Metaverse.

It has become really draining.

Every time I get an email, I get excited that a law firm has replied but in reality, it's Just Eat and Deliveroo discount codes.

Please help

Re thinking a firm has replied and then realising it's spam, you could make a separate folder and direct all the law firm correspondence there?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi guys, can anyone suggest how to approach this question -:

What makes you particularly suited to a career at Trowers & Hamlins compared to other applicants?

Ps: the deadline is today so any quick recommendations would be appreciated.

You’ll need to think about your individual strengths, whether they be qualities, values or motivations and then link these to the specifics of what the firm can offer you, whether it be the opportunity of the training contract or the environment in which you will complete it.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone have advice for not checking/refreshing your emails over a million times a day?

I can't help but refresh my emails every time I am on my phone, especially with 12 applications out there in the Metaverse.

It has become really draining.

Every time I get an email, I get excited that a law firm has replied but in reality, it's Just Eat and Deliveroo discount codes.

Please help

Turn off notifications entirely for any period of time you don’t need an update from anyone.

I worked out I had over a 1,000 notifications from my phone and laptop in one day last week and that is a bonkers amount of time to be distracted every time one pops up (worked out it must be at least an hour and a half lost each day), so I have started to put my phone on “do not disturb” and I not check my email at planned times of the day.

It’s slow progress but feel it is definitely helping.

 

[legally.brown]

I was wondering how to answer “Who will be involved in an acquisition of a hotel?”
For this question, do you have to talk about practice areas?

 

[evn25]

Has anyone done the Weil virtual interview/in-tray exercise? Any tips would be appreciated x

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Does anyone have advice for not checking/refreshing your emails over a million times a day?

I can't help but refresh my emails every time I am on my phone, especially with 12 applications out there in the Metaverse.

It has become really draining.

Every time I get an email, I get excited that a law firm has replied but in reality, it's Just Eat and Deliveroo discount codes.

Please help

Turn off notifications entirely for any period of time you don’t need an update from anyone.

I worked out I had over a 1,000 notifications from my phone and laptop in one day last week and that is a bonkers amount of time to be distracted every time one pops up (worked out it must be at least an hour and a half lost each day), so I have started to put my phone on “do not disturb” and I not check my email at planned times of the day.

It’s slow progress but feel it is definitely helping.

I also do this. I will then tell myself that I'll complete my admin when I'm on the train at the end of the day, or if I'm WFH, I'll just set out some time to go through my emails and messages while also listening to a podcast or something. It's so much easier to mark emails that you need to action when they're all in a big group (especially as they'll likely have had multiple updates by the time you read them!).

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Btw for people applying to OC who haven't yet applied, test deadline seems to be 23:59 on the 16th