TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[HandCranKelly]

BCLP has 4 x 500-word questions for their SVS. 2000 words. An essay. They want an essay All that just to get "we regret to inform you"...

Easy solution: stop applying to these places. They'll get the message soon enough with lower numbers and lower quality chosen.

But they're banking on dog eat dog / rats in a sack to continue regardless so....

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

BCLP has 4 x 500-word questions for their SVS. 2000 words. An essay. They want an essay All that just to get "we regret to inform you"...

Having engaged with the firm a lot this year, it’s definitely worth it! Give it a go, you might surprise yourself!

 

[Manuchelsout]

Easy solution: stop applying to these places. They'll get the message soon enough with lower numbers and lower quality chosen.

But they're banking on dog eat dog / rats in a sack to continue regardless so....

But both of these firms have strength based interviews which maybe explains why they both opt for long questions to assess your strengths from those app questions

 

[liseazurite]

Did you email the firm?

I spoke to grad rec a few times

 

[HandCranKelly]

But both of these firms have strength based interviews which maybe explains why they both opt for long questions to assess your strengths from those app questions

If you need an equivalent essay to work this out, then something is not quite right with the process. Law is not academia either.

Do they give any form of feedback at the application stage? If not, you are getting nothing out of it apart from an automated email in the vast majority of cases.

Imagine writing a 2000 paper in any other situation and getting a robot rejection.

 

[axelbeugre]

Does anyone know if there is a way we can find out how many people would be invited to ACs for a specific firm?

Unfortunately I do not think there is an actual way as law firms keep this piece of information very confidential. Additionally, there are people who get invites and reject them all the time so the number would not even be accurate. It would definitely be easier though if it was known for sure!

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

I completed my studies outside the UK, but I noticed that many vacation scheme applications do not have the space to explain my home country. Do you suggest getting in touch with the graduate recruitment team to understand how to provide the extra explanation? Thank you in advance

Hey @S87,

I myself have an undergraduate degree completed outside of the United Kingdom and when I was applying to vacation schemes last year I was in your same position. However, I always found space to explain my different education system, I never emailed a law firm with my education information. If there is no space to explain your education system, putting in in the 'Additional Information' section is the way to go, according to some law firms' graduate recruitment. If the application you are completing does not seem to have any space to explain your education, then I would advise to email the firm and ask them where you can provide this information.

Good luck with the application process!

 

[axelbeugre]

Hey guys, if you were to have an hour interview with grad rec and they ask "why our firm?" how long would you spend talking? Would 5-7 minutes be overkill? Thank you!

I think it really depends on the situation and the interview itself. I would not quantify the number of minutes it is advisable to speak in an interview. This, in my opinion, depends on a number of different factors, i.e. interviewer-interviewee relationship, whether the interview is flowing well or not, whether the interviewer is very interested in your answer and let you speak. So, it is quite difficult to put a number to it. I would say that as long as you have seen graduate recruitment engaging in a positive way with your answer, then this is all that matters.

Besides, I think that if you were speaking for a long time, you probably would have realised for yourself that you are speaking too much and you would have stopped yourself, so I would not overthink this too much. I am sure you did just fine.

Congratulations for having completed an interview though, this is really impressive!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

If you need an equivalent essay to work this out, then something is not quite right with the process. Law is not academia either.

Do they give any form of feedback at the application stage? If not, you are getting nothing out of it apart from an automated email in the vast majority of cases.

Imagine writing a 2000 paper in any other situation and getting a robot rejection.

Considering drafting skills are a key component of a lawyer’s job, I understand the logic of longer questions and unique questions to the firm.

It’s not for everyone, but the same could be said for psychometric tests, video interviews, group exercises etc. There will always be parts of the recruitment process people don’t like or don’t think they are good at. And plenty of people will choose to not apply because of that - but firms will have plenty who do, so it’s of little lost to them. In fact the strategy could be to reduce the number of people applying to the most motivated.

The recruitment process is going to be something they have considered carefully, developed and tweaked over time to get to something that works for them.

Interestingly, BCLP reduced the word count on their application forms last year and everyone went into meltdown (including on here) about how they were going to write their answers with fewer words. The firm then seemed to back track quite quickly and went back to the 500 words per answer. Maybe that was because of the backlash, maybe it was because they were not seeing the evidence that they wanted in the shorter form.

As for the “any other situation” comment, there will be plenty of situations as a lawyer where you won’t get feedback on your efforts. It will happen regularly enough throughout a legal career that people should be prepared for it to go beyond a recruitment process.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you so much!

Do you reckon there's an application guide for Milbank? It's not included in the courses for Premium. Where can I get more info on the firm?

Unfortunately we don’t have a profile for this firm.

 

[Ash2323]

Hey @axelbeugre , was hoping if you could help with some pointers for the employment section of the Goodwin VS application, it would be very appreciated!

1. They do not have a maximum amount for the employment. I have a fair few amount of experience (mostly non-legal), how many experiences would you recommend putting down?
2. Do you think it is sufficient to write just the skills and type of role you did (bullet point style) or did you put it in detail and link it to Goodwin?
Thank you

 

[clo224455]

Anyone that has done the DLA Piper VI have any tips?

 

[avaboles]

Does anyone know the format of the BCLP first stage interview with Grad Rec? Any tips would be appreciated as I haven't received a response after emailing!

 

[Kai]

Congratulations!!! Can I just check which office you applied for?

The London one

 

[Deleted member 30442]

anyone heard from slaughters re summer schemes?

 

[Lola333]

Has anyone else not heard from Hogan Lovells WVS? I know people have had offers and pfos...

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

Does anyone know the format of the BCLP first stage interview with Grad Rec? Any tips would be appreciated as I haven't received a response after emailing!

Hey congrats on getting an interview! When did you submit your app and test? And when were you offered the interview?

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

Fieldfisher Diversity Access Scheme Test Invite!

Got an email this morning saying that my application and test scores have been sent to Grad Rec and I should hear back in two weeks. Now we wait…again…

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

Has anyone heard from the following firms:
1. Travers Smith (Winter Vac Scheme)
2. BCLP - Spring/Summer Vac Scheme (post test)
3. PwC - Legal Vacation Scheme (post VI)

Any more VI/AC/PFOs for these?

 

[edpx8]

anyone still yet to hear back from Dechert post-VI & written ex?