TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[aishaalexandra]

Has anyone completed a W&C Vac scheme before? Would love to pick someone's brains

 

[Elsa3.1415]

@AvniD has already provided you with some excellent advice on this, but I wanted to add my perspective both as a recruiter and as someone recently diagnosed with ADHD.

It is not a bad thing to mention ADHD. Firstly, it isn't a mental illness but a form of neuro-diversity. Law firms know that some of their best lawyers are those who are neuro-diverse (including those with ADHD). From experience (both as someone working with people with ADHD and through my own experience), they are rarely "less hard-working" - if anything, it is typically the opposite - they work too long hours and push themselves too hard, often leading to burnout. However, each person's circumstances are always different regarding how the neurodiverse condition applies to them individually, as it can be very different from one person to the next. For instance, time-keeping and punctuality can actually be a strength for many people with ADHD.

My general advice for these types of topics, whether in a competency question or when describing mitigating circumstances, is to focus on the learning process around managing your neurodiversity. Everyone has different strengths/weaknesses, whether you are neurodiverse or not. Being self-aware of your personal strengths/weaknesses and educating yourself on how best to balance these out (and utilising certain strengths to compensate for weaknesses) is actually a powerful combination no matter how your brain works. These are the bits you have to focus on as it shows you have taken responsibility for your personal learning and growth.

This is very reassuring, and makes me hopeful! Thank you so much to you and @AvniD for the precious advice!

 

[Bubbles]

I got the same email about the Open Day and haven't heard yet, I expect we'll hear by tomorrow evening?

Ah okay, hope we get positive responses!

 

[bibss]

Same here - assuming this for their direct TC, when did you guys apply? I was hoping to have heard back by now

I applied two days ago and preparing myself for a loooooong wait

 

[Deleted member 24543]

Has anyone heard from EY about the Experience Day?

Mine says "Experience day: Under Review: Your application is under review. Please await further communication" followed by

"Next Up: EY Experience Day"
Thank you for your application to EY and congratulations on making it to this stage in the recruitment process.

We are currently shortlisting candidates and will shortly be in touch as to whether you have been successful in securing a place on our EY Experience Day. We will send you an invite via email to confirm this and details of the event.

Not entirely sure if this is good news at all, the wait is making me really anxious!

 

[k3086]

Has anybody sat the Stephenson Harwood WG? How long did it take for them to get back to you and did they send you your score? Thank you!

 

[lw2000]

Hi all, I've been waiting around 2 weeks for a response for a wvs now but I've just realised I'm going to have to ask for time off work if I'm successful. I'm sure they'll be ok with it but ideally, I want to give them some actual notice of what days I need off within a sensible period. With the scheme supposed to start in a little under 3 weeks, do you thinks it's worth chasing a quicker response? Cheers

 

[S1gm4Solicitor1]

Travers WVS Interview PFO

 

[hanz123]

Any tips for a successful application for DLA Piper's Summer Internship
Thank you!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

This may be outdated - but the values of 'commitment to client service, responsiveness, integrity, teamwork and the highest quality of legal work' were mentioned in their 2010 global exchange document

On their ‘Meet the recruiter’ page for lawcareers.net, they say “At Mayer Brown, we’re looking for hard-working and committed individuals who demonstrate a passion for the work we have on offer for our trainee cohort. We want our trainees to be intellectually curious and business minded. As a firm, we also pride ourselves on our culture, and so we’re looking for authenticity and enthusiasm in our prospective trainees. Throughout the recruitment process, we’ll be testing candidates’ resilience, adaptability, and commercial awareness, as well as placing an emphasis on their knowledge of the legal industry and, specifically, Mayer Brown.”

Also, could I please ask how long it took to receive the test post-application?

Thank you very much both for this. This is helpful.

 

[BM99]

Nothing from HL Lift Off right?

 

[Interested_In_Law]

I haven't received an email from Slaughter but when I visit the website it now states application withdrawn... suppose that means PFO (or maybe accidentally withdrawn?? a little confused aha).

Turns out it was an error and I have received an interview invite! (For the summer vacation scheme)

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee123]

Do A&O send confirmation that your test has been completed? I took the test yesterday, and I didn’t receive any confirmation; my deadline is later today, so I am unsure if I should check if it submitted.

Also, did anyone else find the test really difficult? Honestly the hardest test I’ve ever taken for a firm, which seems to go against what I’d previously read about it!

 

[Rina]

Do A&O send confirmation that your test has been completed? I took the test yesterday, and I didn’t receive any confirmation; my deadline is later today, so I am unsure if I should check if it submitted.

Also, did anyone else find the test really difficult? Honestly the hardest test I’ve ever taken for a firm, which seems to go against what I’d previously read about it!

There is no email confirmation, there is only an in-browser message when you finish that says “thank you”. You should receive your results via email in 24 hours!

 

[WN20]

Any advice for Stephenson Harwood's VS interview?

 

[bibss]

When firms state on their website that they recommend applying for a vacation scheme (instead of a training contract) if you haven't completed legal work experience, do they mean vacation schemes only? Or does work experience as a legal assistant, paralegal, inter etc. count?

Sorry, this has always confused me

 

[Narince]

Mine says "Experience day: Under Review: Your application is under review. Please await further communication" followed by

"Next Up: EY Experience Day"
Thank you for your application to EY and congratulations on making it to this stage in the recruitment process.

We are currently shortlisting candidates and will shortly be in touch as to whether you have been successful in securing a place on our EY Experience Day. We will send you an invite via email to confirm this and details of the event.

Not entirely sure if this is good news at all, the wait is making me really anxious!

Hey! I have the same message. When did you complete the assessments, just trying to gauge a wait time haha

 

[toribabylawyer]

When firms state on their website that they recommend applying for a vacation scheme (instead of a training contract) if you haven't completed legal work experience, do they mean vacation schemes only? Or does work experience as a legal assistant, paralegal, inter etc. count?

Sorry, this has always confused me

i think they just mean general legal experience so paralegal and etc should count.

 

[hanz123]

Any tips for DLA's summer internship, thank you!

 

[hanz123]

Any tips for Slaughter and May's cover letter finalising it to submit next week, thank you!