TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Claristered]

Hi guys! I applied for BCLP’s spring vacation scheme this Monday and got the email to do the test on Monday as well. I am planning to do it on Saturday/Sunday since they give 7 days to do it and I want to be very well prepared for it. Does anyone have any tips and do you know when we should hear back for an interview if we were successful? I know that it is a test encompassing situational judgment, critical reasoning and verbal reasoning and that we are given automatic feedback but that’s about it. Thank you so much!

 

[babylawyer1942]

Any word on Sidley yet? Their brochure says interviews get conducted late october/early November but I haven't seen anyone hear back from them yet

 

[ccfuturetraineesolicitor]

Is anyone still waiting to hear back about their HSF test? I got to re-do mine due to mitigating circumstances and I still don't know if I passed :'(

hey - the email regarding the outcome of the test can vary - i got the email saying i passed within 2 hours of doing the test but i think generally, you should get it within a couple days of doing the test. If you have been waiting for more than a week, I would suggest emailing grad rec

 

[LillyandSilver]

Hi, anyone applying to Forsters? You can only apply to either the TC or VS in one round but it doesn't say if they recruit trainees from the VS. Trying to decide which way to go.

 

[BlueMoon]

Hi everyone - panicky first time vac scheme applicant here!

Does anyone have any idea on timelines for Ashurst, Linklaters and AO in particular? I can see people have recieved AC's and PFOs but ive heard nothing... I'm expecting negative outcomes tbh but at this point its the not-knowing that is killing me....

 

[lovelaw223]

DLA Piper VI invite!!

 

[hopefultrainee888]

DLA Piper VI invite!!

congrats!! when did you submit WG?

 

[Norturn]

DLA Piper VI invite!!

I just received the same email too!

 

[Tiffany0104]

Spoke to HL GR about WG as I havent received one…. I applied 2 weeks ago and was told WG are sent every Monday but it’s been 3 Mondays now

I am on the same boat. applied it last month, and I received nothing... may try to write a mail to them

 

[johnnn821]

Hi everyone, For the work experience section does anyone have any advice regarding the writing style. Do you recommend using sentences like "I drafted" or use the CV format avoiding "I", "me" and "my" in writing. Also do you recommend highlighting any transferable skills or keeping it factual, i.e. outlining the task and my contribution?

 

[Petallove1]

Hi everyone, For the work experience section does anyone have any advice regarding the writing style. Do you recommend using sentences like "I drafted" or use the CV format avoiding "I", "me" and "my" in writing. Also do you recommend highlighting any transferable skills or keeping it factual, i.e. outlining the task and my contribution?

Heyy, I tend to go for CV style (idk if anyone has any advice that differs because I’m also interested). I went to the Mishcon open day today and they said it’s important to highlight transferable skills as well as just detailing role, results, etc. especially if there’s not as much scope within the competency questions to go into a lot of depth about skills you’ve developed. Hope that helps

 

[Petallove1]

Heyy, I tend to go for CV style (idk if anyone has any advice that differs because I’m also interested). I went to the Mishcon open day today and they said it’s important to highlight transferable skills as well as just detailing role, results, etc. especially if there’s not as much scope within the competency questions to go into a lot of depth about skills you’ve developed. Hope that helps

To add sorry, I tend to structure the sentences using ‘I’ so like “I drafted X with Y result” which is how it’s set out on my CV too

 

[johnnn821]

To add sorry, I tend to structure the sentences using ‘I’ so like “I drafted X with Y result” which is how it’s set out on my CV too

Great! Thank you very much

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi everyone, For the work experience section does anyone have any advice regarding the writing style. Do you recommend using sentences like "I drafted" or use the CV format avoiding "I", "me" and "my" in writing. Also do you recommend highlighting any transferable skills or keeping it factual, i.e. outlining the task and my contribution?

I would write in full prose, and you can write things like I, my, we, our (unlike a CV where the bullet point format means this stuff is redundant). I personally don’t feel like transferable skills need to be claimed most of the time as your evidence will usually highlight those skills anyway. There are some exceptions, particularly when something is not obvious (eg your solution was creative/innovative).

 

[johnnn821]

I would write in full prose, and you can write things like I, my, we, our (unlike a CV where the bullet point format means this stuff is redundant). I personally don’t feel like transferable skills need to be claimed most of the time as your evidence will usually highlight those skills anyway. There are some exceptions, particularly when something is not obvious (eg your solution was creative/innovative).

Great! Thank you very much Jessica

 

[NMA]

When do you graduate from uni?

graduated this year!

 

[lovelaw223]

congrats!! when did you submit WG?

submitted it around 10 days ago

 

[wz_13]

can i talk about crocheting as an example of extra curricular activity for a law firm app q - i can relate it to skills like attention to detail, creativity and innovation, thinking outside the box problem solving etc. or would this be the wrong approach (i dont have much else to talk about that i havent already mentioned in other app qs)

 

[futuretrainee2025]

Does anyone know any good private equity newsletters/websites?

 

[yasmars]

can i talk about crocheting as an example of extra curricular activity for a law firm app q - i can relate it to skills like attention to detail, creativity and innovation, thinking outside the box problem solving etc. or would this be the wrong approach (i dont have much else to talk about that i havent already mentioned in other app qs)

Yes, draw on those points. It’s quite a unique extra curricular too