TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[ayek]

Just received DLA WG invite. For info, applied on 10/10.

 

[sm99]

Has anyone applied to gowlings direct tc and heard back?

 

[S87]

Has anyone applied to gowlings direct tc and heard back?

I applied last year and they usually respond after the deadline..but this was my experience so I do not know if they have changed their policy.

 

[hanz123]

Just received DLA WG invite, applied on 13/10

 

[sm99]

I applied last year and they usually respond after the deadline..but this was my experience so I do not know if they have changed their policy.

Thank you! Do they still do the games based assessment?

 

[S87]

Thank you! Do they still do the games based assessment?

I am not applying this year, so I cannot answer. But, they did it last year and I really did not like it!

 

[Jessica Booker]

This thread is being de-railed and I don't want that to happen.

If you think what I said was nasty then report my post.

I am keeping my post up and saying no more.

You can keep the post up, but I must stress your tone and responses are unnecessary and not appreciated.

The forums are designed to be a supportive environment for everyone, and the way in which you are currently responding to people is not aligned with that.

Please do keep this in mind for future posts.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If I 'bring misery' onto you from my posts then I apologise but I will not be censored from giving my opinion. What I said was acceptable and not abusive in anyway. Tag Jess all you want. My post won't get removed and I won't get banned lol.

I wouldn’t be so confident about that.

I am in the process of reviewing all posts and will have no hesitation in removing posts or banning you for a period of time if appropriate and if your posts breach our terms. Continued behaviour like those in your previous posts will fall foul of our terms under section 1 - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/help/terms/

 

[ayek]

Has anyone done the DLA Piper video interview? Not sure what kind of questions I should prepare for... Motivation? strengths? commercial awareness question??

From DLA’s website:

The video interview has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to the role you have applied for. It will consist of three questions which are focused on the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper.

 

[Minitomatosalad]

I don’t wanna derail it even further but surely attending an open day is valuable on an application. Of course it’s up to the applicant to make a good impression on the day by starting conversations and asking good questions/create engaging discussions to help with the “why this firm” section? Or is name dropping bad?

I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept a list of people that stood out on the day or else why go through the time, money and effort of having selective open days?

Edit: typo

 

[LegallyBrown]

Jones day PFO, honestly don’t know what these firms want. This even after speaking with them at an event and applying those in my cover letter. Talk about linking your own experiences to the firm and still get rejected, well….

Hey, sorry to hear this. I think the best thing you could do is consider whether you have actually detailed how these experiences with the firm have contributed to your reasons for applying. Personally, if the only takeaway I have from an event is that I spoke to a trainee - I err on the side of caution before including this to avoid sounding like I’m name dropping. Make sure you’re using these interactions as a way to display you’ve learnt something new, or it’s influenced you in other ways. Difficult to do as some of these events are a bore but good luck!

Also just know these things happen. I had an internship with Slaughter & May which I won off the back of an award. I met a ton of people and learnt valuable things. When it came to my TC - they rejected me whilst I was still interning at the firm. I decided to call the graduate recruiter internally and ask what more could I actually do, and he explained the most bizarre reasons. Apparently they preferred bullet points for a CV or something. It didn’t matter to them that I won an award, or that I actually interned at the firm - but at the end they rejected me over formatting (well they claim).

Just take it with a pinch of salt and don’t give up.

Equally, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. JD is very competitive and from what I gather, they opt for a specific type of candidate (I could be wrong, but I’ve not seen anything to disprove this just yet).

Keep applying to other firms this cycle, and who knows maybe one day in your career if you’re at another firm, and your name makes the headlines, JD will personally email you asking you to apply for a lateral job in one of their growing departments… if it’s where you want to be, I have no doubt that you have the rest of your career to work towards getting there in the end. Good luck x

 

[jas1502]

I have a few interviews for WVS coming up and I'm a little bit anxious as I've never attended a law firm interview - I'm hoping the nerves won't make me trip over my own feet under the pressure! Does anyone have any advice on how to prepare for interviews with HR & partners respectively? Thank you so much!

 

[LegallyBrown]

I have a few interviews for WVS coming up and I'm a little bit anxious as I've never attended a law firm interview - I'm hoping the nerves won't make me trip over my own feet under the pressure! Does anyone have any advice on how to prepare for interviews with HR & partners respectively? Thank you so much!

I’d definitely take advice from someone who has actually gotten a TC. But in my last assessment centre, I got close to full marks in the interview (it was just the case study that bought me down).

My feedback for the interview, which I hope you consider, was that my motivation for why law could be improved.

My problem was, when the interviewer asked me why not business consultancy instead. I was stumped. I honestly couldn’t think of the difference. So I would definitely say, if there is anything in your application that makes it seem like if not for law you would have gone down a different career route, definitely prepare to be asked about this!

Good luck xx

 

[Louise59]

Hey, sorry to hear this. I think the best thing you could do is consider whether you have actually detailed how these experiences with the firm have contributed to your reasons for applying. Personally, if the only takeaway I have from an event is that I spoke to a trainee - I err on the side of caution before including this to avoid sounding like I’m name dropping. Make sure you’re using these interactions as a way to display you’ve learnt something new, or it’s influenced you in other ways. Difficult to do as some of these events are a bore but good luck!

Also just know these things happen. I had an internship with Slaughter & May which I won off the back of an award. I met a ton of people and learnt valuable things. When it came to my TC - they rejected me whilst I was still interning at the firm. I decided to call the graduate recruiter internally and ask what more could I actually do, and he explained the most bizarre reasons. Apparently they preferred bullet points for a CV or something. It didn’t matter to them that I won an award, or that I actually interned at the firm - but at the end they rejected me over formatting (well they claim).

Just take it with a pinch of salt and don’t give up.

Equally, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. JD is very competitive and from what I gather, they opt for a specific type of candidate (I could be wrong, but I’ve not seen anything to disprove this just yet).

Keep applying to other firms this cycle, and who knows maybe one day in your career if you’re at another firm, and your name makes the headlines, JD will personally email you asking you to apply for a lateral job in one of their growing departments… if it’s where you want to be, I have no doubt that you have the rest of your career to work towards getting there in the end. Good luck x

Hi - just wondering what type of candidate JD go for?

 

[bella98]

Post-AC overthinking is consuming me. I can't get HSF out of my mind😥

 

[arbjun]

Post-AC overthinking is consuming me. I can't get HSF out of my mind😥

😢 If you don't mind, can you share your experience ? How was your case study and scenario round? What sort of questions did the interviewers ask?

 

[legally.brown]

Hi guys! I need some input.. I am planning to do my A&O vac scheme test on the deadline day around 11am (deadline is 5pm).. Is this ok?? A&O recruit on a non rolling basis as well.

I want to prep more for the VI and take it when I feel more confident. I am also worried applying on the deadline day will put me in a disadvantaged position. Please advise 🙏🏻

Can someone pls help me with this?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Can someone pls help me with this?

This will be fine if they recruit on a non-rolling basis

 

[bella98]

😢 If you don't mind, can you share your experience ? How was your case study and scenario round? What sort of questions did the interviewers ask?

Of course! I’ll get back to you in a pm by the end of the day

 

[mkt]

Got my ashurst case study on Monday any advice will be appreciated.