TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Hana ♥]

If you haven’t received anything from Mayer brown is it a pfo? I applied five days ago

They took 10 days to send me mine!

 

[I’m_Batman]

I’ve just finished Reed Smith’s assessment, and let me tell you, if being a solicitor means having that level of numerical reasoning, I might be in the wrong profession. I was so lost with those numerical questions. On the bright side, my verbal reasoning skills are top-notch, shining like a beacon of hope in my numerical darkness🤣🤣🤣

Yes, for us analytically inclined, verbal reasoning on Planet Earth stands for hope.

 

[191919191]

30 secs to prepare and 90 secs to answers. 3 Qs and 1 practice Q.

thank you so much for your kindness!!!

 

[Hana ♥]

Question for those who got to interact with Shoosmiths: how do they feel about people with an accent? It might be an odd question, but they are asking if English is your first language, and every video I have watched from them did not include anyone who sounds 'international'. I know that they are a national law firm, but still...

 

[icebear]

I have a DLA AC on 2nd Feb and apparently that's their last one (only for London I presume). Since people who've done the prior ACs have already received offers, does being in the last batch put me at a disadvantage since there will be fewer spaces and more competition?

 

[axelbeugre]

How can I answer this:

"Please provide details of any additional posts of responsibility that have not been caputured in your Work Experience information (e.g. at school, university, or elsewhere) and your main extra-curricular activities and leisure interests" @Jessica Booker @axelbeugre

even though I have gone into detail in the work experience section and have included all volunteering roles too. (I was also slightly confused that the spelling mistake was not double checked?)

Did you also include your extra-curricular activities in the work experience section? If not, it would be worth going into detail about them here in my opinion. I use to include only actual internships in my work experience section so I had still extra-curricular experiences to talk about so I would suggest that if you have a lot of professional experiences, I would not include your volunteering and extra-curricular activities such as sports etc. in the work experience section. This allows you to speak about those in these sort of questions or in questions that ask for additional information about you.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Question for those who got to interact with Shoosmiths: how do they feel about people with an accent? It might be an odd question, but they are asking if English is your first language, and every video I have watched from them did not include anyone who sounds 'international'. I know that they are a national law firm, but still...

Their website states they have only recently got the ability to sponsor work permits, and so it could easily be that they don’t have a lot of international staff, as anyone they would have hired up to recently would have needed the right to work in the U.K.

 

[Hana ♥]

Their website states they have only recently got the ability to sponsor work permits, and so it could easily be that they don’t have a lot of international staff, as anyone they would have hired up to recently would have needed the right to work in the U.K.

Thank you Jessica! That was reassuring

 

[elektrajenkov]

Question for those who got to interact with Shoosmiths: how do they feel about people with an accent? It might be an odd question, but they are asking if English is your first language, and every video I have watched from them did not include anyone who sounds 'international'. I know that they are a national law firm, but still...

I will also add I've interacted a lot with the firm and everyone has been very friendly and diverse in other ways (non RG uni's, etc.). I've also noticed a lot of more trainees than usual with strong regional accents and while it's not necessarily the same, I think it shows they're not targeting any stereotype for a lawyer! I assume they would ask more for informational purposes about your native language, especially because it's impressive submitting an application like this in your non-native language!

 

[laby201]

If you separate interviews at an assessment centre, would it be fine to reuse questions to ask at the end to interviewers? I don't know if they'd discuss with their fellow interviewers what they were asked and therefore make my questions seem disingenuous or pre-planned.

Would you have any input please @Jessica Booker?

 

[clo224455]

I have a DLA AC on 2nd Feb and apparently that's their last one (only for London I presume). Since people who've done the prior ACs have already received offers, does being in the last batch put me at a disadvantage since there will be fewer spaces and more competition?

Congrats on the AC!, if you don't mind me asking when did you hear back after your VI? I got an email letting me know I passed the benchmark but haven't heard back since.

 

[NJS]

Manifesting a good result from HL this week

 

[I’m_Batman]

How long does it take to receive your feedback report from BCLP?

I received mine pretty immediately.

 

[academicweapon121]

Do firms usually provide extra financial support for accom when doing a vac scheme? Especially those that are 2+ weeks, it quickly adds up!!

 

[Bee20]

Hi All! Does anyone know if the Bristows video Interview has unlimited prep time before you start the recording? Or is it only unlimited practice questions?

Any help at all would be really really appreciated!

 

[thelawstudent2000]

Hey everyone ! I was wondering if anyone has a list of full service law firms ? x

 

[aniraz]

Hi All! Does anyone know if the Bristows video Interview has unlimited prep time before you start the recording? Or is it only unlimited practice questions?

Any help at all would be really really appreciated!

For direct TC it's not unlimited prep time. You get 20 seconds to think and 1 minute to answer.

 

[thenublawyer]

Do firms usually provide extra financial support for accom when doing a vac scheme? Especially those that are 2+ weeks, it quickly adds up!!

Yea I would love to know the answer to this too... Some firms explicitly state that you can email them for additional support, while others omit that part, so I'm unsure as to whether I should email them to ask :/

 

[Seven]

Yea I would love to know the answer to this too... Some firms explicitly state that you can email them for additional support, while others omit that part, so I'm unsure as to whether I should email them to ask :/

Yeah you're right in that regard - it's firm-dependent so its worth just asking grad rec and they'll be able to see what they can do about it. Usually they're very accommodating but for smaller firms its not really standard.

 

[Lola333]

If anyone has any insight into Milbank AC I'd been very appreciative! I have insights on two other ACs I can share x