TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[axelbeugre]

Does anybody have tips to convert a VS? I would really appreciate any advice! ☺️

First of all congratulations in obtaining one, this is such an amazing achievement, especially given how competitive this cycle was. You really should be proud of yourself. And I also applaud you for still keeping yourself accountable and start preparing for it since the work never stops until you sign the training contract!

I have shared a couple of resources on how to convert a vacation scheme in this post, I hope these will be useful: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/macfarlanes-vac-scheme.8601/post-174236

 

[axelbeugre]

Following on from the discussion on memos yesterday, do these tend to have an introduction, or is an executive summary an introduction, then you just go into your points with headings?

It really depends on what the law firm wants you to do and the structure they want you use, but generally speaking the executive summary will serve as an initial introduction to the memo.

However, it it depends on what they told you. Try to respect everything that they suggest you should do and include.

 

[AlegalA]

Hi,
Is answering a question wrong very blatantly in an AC gonna completely cost me my chances at getting the VS?
There was a question an associate asked and I just didn't really understand, and I asked her to repeat it once already and still it didn't really make sense so I started answering AWFULLY, and I thinkkk I got somewhere at the very end but it was just bad overall... Do I still have a chance or not really?

 

[mp2000]

Anything from Hill Dickinson post online assessment/VI?

 

[mp2000]

Anything from SH post summer VS online application?

 

[leaaa2023]

Received a response from Dechert. GR says they are still reviewing and have a delay from unexpected amount of applications

 

[elektrajenkov]

Apparently SH are still reviewing apps/VIs for the spring scheme that starts in 2 weeks (so those that applied for summer I would not worry that they haven’t sent anything yet)

 

[Jaysen]

Hi,
Is answering a question wrong very blatantly in an AC gonna completely cost me my chances at getting the VS?
There was a question an associate asked and I just didn't really understand, and I asked her to repeat it once already and still it didn't really make sense so I started answering AWFULLY, and I thinkkk I got somewhere at the very end but it was just bad overall... Do I still have a chance or not really?

You definitely still have a chance. The interviewer will take your whole performance into account, largely because an interview is not a test of whether you don't make any mistakes.

The exception to this is if the question was about 'why this firm?' or 'why commercial law?', where it's very important to give a convincing answer, but it doesn't sound like this was the question.

 

[Aliceczernia]

Anything from SH post summer VS online application?

No, but I did email them and say that they are currently reviewing applications and will come back to me with the outcome and next steps within the next couple of weeks.

 

[lawgurl90]

So I got a VS offer, and the dates were running in the summer and in spring. I accepted the dates for the summer. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I can't make the summer dates now. I've emailed them to ask them to move me to spring. Does anyone have an idea how flexible firms are with such requests?

 

[starbright]

First of all congratulations in obtaining one, this is such an amazing achievement, especially given how competitive this cycle was. You really should be proud of yourself. And I also applaud you for still keeping yourself accountable and start preparing for it since the work never stops until you sign the training contract!

I have shared a couple of resources on how to overt a vacation scheme in this post, I hope these will be useful: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/macfarlanes-vac-scheme.8601/post-174236

Thank you!

 

[AlegalA]

You definitely still have a chance. The interviewer will take your whole performance into account, largely because an interview is not a test of whether you don't make any mistakes.

The exception to this is if the question was about 'why this firm?' or 'why commercial law?', where it's very important to give a convincing answer, but it doesn't sound like this was the question.

amazing that's really reassuring thank you

 

[Z_H02]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I’m considering relocating back to my home country after graduation and applying for VS from there. Will having a non-UK address on my application forms place me at a disadvantage at the application form stage?

 

[tanamontana]

does anyone have any upcoming baker ac

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I’m considering relocating back to my home country after graduation and applying for VS from there. Will having a non-UK address on my application forms place me at a disadvantage at the application form stage?

Will you still have the right to work in the UK after you graduate or will you need a form of sponsorship to work during a VS?

 

[Z_H02]

Will you still have the right to work in the UK after you graduate or will you need a form of sponsorship to work during a VS?

My visa (Youth Mobility) covers the durations of VS hosted in 2024 and 2025.

 

[ja_mibe]

Just done my first ever interview. I think, considering this, it went reasonably okay. I felt like I was waffling a little at some points, and definitely not the most eloquently I've ever spoken! But hopefully it wasn't too bad. I only struggled with one question where my mind went blank (did not help that my house-mates all came in at that moment and weren't exactly quiet about it) but I then came back to it at the end of the interview and said that I actually had some thoughts on the question now, and then we were able to have a discussion about what I said.

@Jessica Booker I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how this would come across. Do you think this would redeem me somewhat or do you think it's more of a case of negative marks against me for getting flustered initially and not being able to answer the question at the time? In any case, do interviewers look past one question that the candidate was unsure of how to answer, or is this pretty detrimental? Just know I'm going to be overthinking this now!

 

[hopefulforatc]

That is really good!

The video interviews was something I used to be bad at too, combined with the watson glaser too. My advice with issues like this is that you need to know yourself. If you feel like these forms of assessments are severly hindering your chances, I would start focusing on firms that do not have these assessments. I was successful with firms that did not have these kind of tests because I was confident in my interview skills but I knew that a video interview or a watson glaser would have not even allowed me to show my interview skills. So applying to US firms with direct interviews after the application stage was something that worked for me. Considerations like this are important in my opinion as you understand yourself and you start spending time on firms that will objectively give you a chance.

However, if you want to improve your video interview skills, I shared some tips on here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-167426

Additionally, there are some posts on TCLA from me and Erin that might be helpful, I will include some links here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/how-to-prepare-for-a-law-firm-video-interview-a-step-by-step-guide-⭐️.8346/ and https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-151491

Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[s2203]

Does anyone have the thread on how to convert a VS?

 

[medy]

I personally do not think so, they are pretty much the same, I think that at interview stage though, you should be more prepared to be able to convince the interviewers as to why you want to join that firm specifically over others but that it just my opinion since I did not go through this route myself.

Good luck with applications!

Thank you!