TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[Harrison.jm]

I recently did a vac scheme that I didn't convert (worked so so hard during it), and now have one coming up in Spring but am scared the same's gonna happen

two vac schemes are two more than most. You'll be better prepared now that you've been through the process. You clearly have the talent!

 

[lawstudent22]

Congrats! I've got a feeling my two above average and three average is unlikely to be successful

I saw from other years' posts that there was a huge mix of scores that got progressed, so I would say you still have a great chance! They also look at your SJT strengths and grades etc.

 

[lawstudent22]

Congratulations. When did you take the text?

Thank you! I did it in early December! Feels like forever ago 😂

 

[Logan1101]

I got a response from NRF on their minimum 2.1 requirements for contract and tort modules. They said they view the application as a whole and you won't necessarily be disqualified.

 

[Denver]

I mean that you can't punish your peers when they have done nothing to you for something that their ancestors did to your ancestors. How would even begin to calculate wrongness then?

I don't know why such a calculation is necessary. It's more about acknowledging that certain things are inherited from previous generations and that is something this and future generations should attempt to rectify and mitigate. It's not about assigning blame but identifying issues and finding a solution that recognises disparities

 

[SCM]

Hi guys - does anybody have any advice regarding the Bakers VI? Feel free to PM!

 

[Uvaia]

There is also an overrepresentation of some minorities and women in a lot of firms.

Care to share some sources? Even law firms admit that they have an issue with lack of diversity and inclusion. Even when they may hire people from diverse backgrounds, there are issues with retention which says a lot about how superficial some firms' efforts have been.

 

[CorpLawyer00]

Which firms have an over representation of minorities? This is something new.

no, this is absolutely nothing new. I am happy to provide you with some data. This data is from 2018 so it is worth looking at the diversity data at the time. This is from diversityuk.org "In 2018 about 13.8% of the UK population was from a minority ethnic background"

In the year 2018 these are some examples of some firms and the percentage of their trainees from Ethnic Minority backgrounds:

Allen & Overy 26%
Clifford Chance 38%
HSF 26%
Latham 33%
White & Case 23%
Linklaters 31%

Overall in 2018 the % of trainees from ethnic minorities in US city firms was 21% and in UK city firms was 20%

This is an "Overrepresentation" in proportion to the population

Again, I do not disagree that there is a problem at partnership level, but the denial of the data is frustrating.

I would also remark that diversity has likely improved from 2018 but more recent data is not so readily available.

Source: https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firm-diversity-201819

 

[NotLord Denning]

I don't know why such a calculation is necessary. It's more about acknowledging that certain things are inherited from previous generations and that is something this and future generations should attempt to rectify and mitigate. It's not about assigning blame but identifying issues and finding a solution that recognises disparities.

I agree that acknowledgement of past misdeeds is obviously a good thing - but you don't have to take away from people who are not the cause of those misdeeds in the present day. The calculation is necessary because as the other guy said if you want to do a retrospective correction then you would want to make sure that you don't go too far in the opposite direction because that's obviously discrimination.

I guess the issue is that I keep hearing about the theorizing of this without any actual substantive methods on how to resolve such issues fairly.

 

[ssolicitorz]

I crashed a drink events of theirs recently - almost everyone I'd met went to Oxford. Also, I was like 1 of 3 people of colour in the room the entire night. I basically drank all their champagne and saw first-hand how pale, stale, and male commercial law can be.

View attachment 4746

as Jack Harlow would say,

Am I fancy enough? Am I dancing enough?
Am I handsome enough? Tell me right now, so I can be enough

 

[CorpLawyer00]

Care to share some sources? Even law firms admit that they have an issue with lack of diversity and inclusion. Even when they may hire people from diverse backgrounds, there are issues with retention which says a lot about how superficial some firms' efforts have been.

sure, see my recent comment I think a lot of the issue is at partnership level

 

[Ghassen]

Maybe you mentioned an experience not on your initial app? I would take it as they're looking at some info on you

No I didn’t mention any experience not in my initial app. Thanks anyway

 

[Uvaia]

I agree that acknowledgement of past misdeeds is obviously a good thing - but you don't have to take away from people who are not the cause of those misdeeds in the present day. The calculation is necessary because as the other guy said if you want to do a retrospective correction then you would want to make sure that you don't go too far in the opposite direction because that's obviously discrimination.

I guess the issue is that I keep hearing about the theorizing of this without any actual substantive methods on how to resolve such issues fairly.

The issue is that it is not simply a 'past misdeed'... Colonialism and racism(s) have had everlasting repercussions. Read up on it.

 

[Harrison.jm]

No I didn’t mention any experience not in my initial app. Thanks anyway

Could be simple curiosity. I once had a partner check my Linkedin 7 times post-interview after rejecting me 🤣

 

[Ja H]

Hi guys - does anybody have any advice regarding the Bakers VI? Feel free to PM!

Hey, am waiting on Bakers and wondered if you got the VI invite today/when you did the wg?

 

[islay6_5]

Does anyone know how long Cleary will take to get back to people post-AC? I know they have another AC day coming up so maybe fair to assume after then?

 

[CorpLawyer00]

Hey, am waiting on Bakers and wondered if you got the VI invite today/when you did the wg?

Hey, idk how helpful this is but I did the WG on the 12 of Jan and received a VI invite 2 days ago

 

[futureTS2025hopeful]

Could be simple curiosity. I once had a partner check my Linkedin 7 times post-interview after rejecting me 🤣

7 times?!?!

 

[SCM]

Hey, am waiting on Bakers and wondered if you got the VI invite today/when you did the wg?

Hi - I got the invite last Friday for the VI!

 

[cyberjaz1116]

sure, see my recent comment I think a lot of the issue is at partnership level

As you said, even with an 'overrepresentation' (I personally wouldn't think 52% of females is an 'overrepresentation' with it really close to 50%) of minorities at the trainee level, law firms are still heavily middle class white male-dominated at the partner level. If minorities are given an 'unfair' advantage, how do they get weeded out in the process?