TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[DieHard]

I don’t think this is necessarily true. You don’t need legal experience to be a competitive candidate. Legal experience is advantageous but not compulsory. I remember attending a firm event and a future trainee said the only job she had ever had was as a customer assistant at Sainsbury’s. But there are so many transferable skills in that role. Do things that you enjoy/challenge you. Like sports or taking part in a society as a committee member or playing an instrument or a part time job at a restaurant. Commit it to it and watch yourself grow! And also I agree with what DieHard said about the importance of being a well rounded candidate but you need to be a human first and foremost! Yes you’ve got good grades and legal experience but what about your soft skills? Do you become nasty to others when they make mistakes? These things matter too!

I didn't say you need legal experience. I said the competition is people with strong extra curricular, society exec positions, university prestige and strong grades. The suggestion of being a paralegal was if she has since graduated uni or doesn't have enough time left to really adopt these factors, legal experience for a year would provide the most direct and available chance to make up for not being involved enough at university. She could equally go and become an accountant for a year, but this may raise questions in the interview that are easier avoided. She may also work stocking shelves, but again, this puts her at a disadvantage in the current climate of fierce competition.

 

[DieHard]

Does anyone know how W&C get back to you post-AC? Is it a phone call either way or only if successful and then an email if not?

Email for both offers and PFOs

 

[DieHard]

Adding to what DieHard has said about BPP, sometimes lessons would be cancelled with half an hour's notice or they would substitute the tutor and you'd have a public law tutor teaching contract etc.

90% of the teaching couldn't be faulted though, it's more of the administration side that is a pain in the arse. Which it seemed the tutors were as frustrated with as students, at certain points.

i haven't heard of lessons being cancelled, but I would add its not uncommon for you to get into BPP for your Monday morning 9am and then being sent an email saying your class is now online which is rather irriating

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi all, a firm is asking when I am available for an AC. Is it reasonable to tell them that I available for the AC 2 weeks later - is this too long of a wait for them? Or should I try to move around my plans so that I can go for the AC asap at an earlier date?

You could say that you are available in 2 weeks but if need be you can rearrange to accommodate their needs, that is the approach I used to take when presented with a similar situation.

As long as you give alternatives, I think you will be fine.

Congratulations for obtaining the assessment centre!!

 

[DieHard]

Hi all, a firm is asking when I am available for an AC. Is it reasonable to tell them that I available for the AC 2 weeks later - is this too long of a wait for them? Or should I try to move around my plans so that I can go for the AC asap at an earlier date?

Honestly, I don't know - I've also never heard of a firm just asking a candidate when they fancy doing the interview, rather than just giving them a date or option of a few dates. If I were you, I would avoid telling them you can only meet after 2 weeks, what do you have going on between then and now that you can't move?

 

[axelbeugre]

@axelbeugre @Jessica Booker is it okay to email the senior associate and the member of grad rec that interviewed me to thank them for their time? Or would you prefer only grad rec?

Yes, it is okay, I personally did it with partners and they were super nice about it so I do not think there is any harm in reaching out, especially if they invited you to reach out in the interview, which they did with me.

I would reach to both. The senior associate might not reply but at least you have been respect and appreciative of their time and that is all that counts in my opinion.

Good luck for the result, I am sure you did amazing!

 

[haydararikci]

Hey everyone, I would like to ask does any of you received an Interview or VC offer from the Withers for their 15.04-19.04.2024 VC dates so far? I haven't received an interview so far should I assume PFO?

 

[DarrenB]

I just submitted an application and when I downloaded it on my PC, it was formatted in a strange version which is not how I submitted the application. The downloaded version had a couple of words together but I remember that when I wrote my application those were separated by a space bar Has it ever happened to anyone else before?

 

[wawawa]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but is there any rhyme or reason to how interviewers are allocated, particularly at AC? I have been interviewed by the Grad Rec Partner at two ACs now and not sure whether it's a good thing or if I'm just reading into it overly...

@Jessica Booker maybe this is something you have an insight into?

 

[yasmars]

I just submitted an application and when I downloaded it on my PC, it was formatted in a strange version which is not how I submitted the application. The downloaded version had a couple of words together but I remember that when I wrote my application those were separated by a space bar Has it ever happened to anyone else before?

yes this happens to me whenever I submit an application with cvmail

 

[legallybrunette8]

oh my god that gateley update email made me think i had an AC

 

[Jessica Booker]

@axelbeugre @Jessica Booker is it okay to email the senior associate and the member of grad rec that interviewed me to thank them for their time? Or would you prefer only grad rec?

If you have the senior associates email (eg they have it to you) then yes you can definitely do this. If you had to track down or guess the associate’s email, I get slightly more cautious in these circumstances. So depends on how accessible their email address was or if they gave it to you.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but is there any rhyme or reason to how interviewers are allocated, particularly at AC? I have been interviewed by the Grad Rec Partner at two ACs now and not sure whether it's a good thing or if I'm just reading into it overly...

@Jessica Booker maybe this is something you have an insight into?

No reason at all - it’s likely to be fairly random.

The only thing is firms typically tend to avoid allocating you to someone you have any form of connection to, even if that feels quite minor/low level.

 

[user254]

oh my god that gateley update email made me think i had an AC

What does the email say? Haven't got one yet but fully expecting a PFO 🙃

 

[legallybrunette8]

What does the email say? Haven't got one yet but fully expecting a PFO 🙃

"Many thanks again for applying to Gateley and for your patience in awaiting next steps following the video assessments. We have been delighted with the level of applications we’ve had through and we’re excited to progress to the next stage of recruitment.

Just to keep you informed of our timelines, these assessments are currently being reviewed and we should have the results available to us by the end of week commencing 11th March.

From then we can advise you if you have been successful in gaining a place on one of our assessment centres which are due to commence w/c 1st April."

then they list the available AC dates for the office i applied to - tbh i wouldnt look too much into this email rn, im pretty sure they send it to everyone so stay put!

 

[bibss]

Has Mayer Brown sent out all AC invites for spring?

 

[Deleted member 9747]

I always did it so I personally think it does not hurt to do it!

You will come off as a nice person regardless. I do not think that this will make or break your chances of getting the offer, but it is always nice to appreciate people's time and effort in my opinion.

If I had an interview on Wednesday do you reckon it’s too late to do so?

 

[tcplease2345]

I graduated from law school in 2023 and applied for vacation schemes this cycle. I did make it to VI stages for a couple of firms and have three decisions pending. However, I not relying on these decisions and I am preparing for the next cycle now. I am not currently doing anything but I am looking for work experience so I have something to show for the next cycle.

What kind of work experience is preferred? that may put me at an advantage.

 

[Happycloud100]

I graduated from law school in 2023 and applied for vacation schemes this cycle. I did make it to VI stages for a couple of firms and have three decisions pending. However, I not relying on these decisions and I am preparing for the next cycle now. I am not currently doing anything but I am looking for work experience so I have something to show for the next cycle.

What kind of work experience is preferred? that may put me at an advantage.

I’ve found commercial experience in banking and PE helpful if you’re looking to apply to US firms

 

[Bread]

Hey everyone, I would like to ask does any of you received an Interview or VC offer from the Withers for their 15.04-19.04.2024 VC dates so far? I haven't received an interview so far should I assume PFO?

I saw one interview and one offer on this forum, but nothing else and I haven’t heard back since the test (which I took over a month ago)