TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[islasorna]

Hi, congratulations for getting VI invite!

Yes there is time limit for prep. If I remember correctly 1 minute prep for the first 2 questions and 3 minutes for the last. It's been a while so I am not 100% on this.. also I would recommend focusing on your skills for this VI!

Thanks, I imagine we only get one chance to record and no do-overs?

 

[EliteWhovian]

Does anyone know how many trainees Goodwin takes from their direct route?

 

[LawBrah]

Loooool yeah firms have found their new way of whittling down the number of candidates they need to consider. Make us complete the tests before the application deadline - but don't tell us that before hand! Scum move imo.

Linklaters did the same with their open day.

But if you look on LinkedIn at their trainees, I found only one who was not either from the south west or didn't attend Bristol uni. I don't know why they are so fussed, it is only how I would move to London for a job - yet London offices will take in people from anywhere across the UK.

For a firm based in Bristol it is reasonable to be worried about whether prospective trainees, who they pour considerable £££ and time into, are going to scarper to London for more money as soon as they qualify and become much more employable. Hiring candidates with a tangible connection to the area likely lowers the odds of this happening.

Despite doing a lot of London work, trying to be competitive in the London NQ Salary market isn't feasible for the firm so they have to think about maximising retention in different ways.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yes, I received a certificate upon completion, recognized by the Association for Coaching.

Was this a qualification though (rather than a certificate)? If a formal qualification (eg it has a recognised level of study) then include it in your education section. If it is more like a training course, then put it elsewhere in your application.

 

[Jessica Booker]

For a firm based in Bristol it is reasonable to be worried about whether prospective trainees, who they pour considerable £££ and time into, are going to scarper to London for more money as soon as they qualify and become much more employable. Hiring candidates with a tangible connection to the area likely lowers the odds of this happening.

Despite doing a lot of London work, trying to be competitive in the London NQ Salary market isn't feasible for the firm so they have to think about maximising retention in different ways.

I must stress how important an influence this is in the regional firms’ recruitment process.

For decades they have had people apply to their regional opportunities to either CV build or in the hope they can transfer to a London opportunity at some point (whether that’s during the recruitment process, as a trainee or upon qualification). They will try to filter out these people at every stage of the process.

London is an outlier in that many people are willing to move to the city or live within commutable distance to London because of the public transport networks being so much better in the South East. Therefore London based firms don’t have to worry about this in the same way - although the “stickability” can still be an important factor London firms look for. It’s just supercharged in regional firms when compared to London ones.

 

[LawBrah]

I must stress how important an influence this is in the regional firms’ recruitment process.

For decades they have had people apply to their regional opportunities to either CV build or in the hope they can transfer to a London opportunity at some point (whether that’s during the recruitment process, as a trainee or upon qualification). They will try to filter out these people at every stage of the process.

London is an outlier in that many people are willing to move to the city or live within commutable distance to London because of the public transport networks being so much better in the South East. Therefore London based firms don’t have to worry about this in the same way - although the “stickability” can still be an important factor London firms look for. It’s just supercharged in regional firms when compared to London ones.

Then the operative question becomes: How does a candidate, who genuinely wants to train and work in Bristol long-term, prove this to a firm like Burges Salmon when on-paper they have little to no connection to the area?

HR from a different Bristol-based firm were actually rather apologetic to me on this point during VS feedback - saying essentially that I lacked ties to the south-west but in all honesty that isn't really something I could go about changing easily, and therefore they themselves felt harsh in grading candidates on it.

 

[DKLaw]

Was this a qualification though (rather than a certificate)? If a formal qualification (eg it has a recognised level of study) then include it in your education section. If it is more like a training course, then put it elsewhere in your application.

It is like a training course, so I guess I'll put it in the extra curricular section. Thank you for the input.

 

[DKLaw]

Then the operative question becomes: How does a candidate, who genuinely wants to train and work in Bristol long-term, prove this to a firm like Burges Salmon when on-paper they have little to no connection to the area?

HR from a different Bristol-based firm were actually rather apologetic to me on this point during VS feedback - saying essentially that I lacked ties to the south-west but in all honesty that isn't really something I could go about changing easily, and therefore they themselves felt harsh in grading candidates on it.

Was just about to ask this, I am applying to English firms while doing an English law degree in Scotland. From my perspective, if I am applying to regional firms rather than City, then that is in of itself an indication that I'll stick, but I completely understand that the firm has no reason to be certain that I won't move further South for a better opportunity. So, how does one convince them without having any strong ties to the region? I lived in Manchester before moving to Scotland almost a decade ago, would that be a reason to discuss?

 

[Deleted member 27336]

Hi all,

Has anyone completed the Ashurst interview in person? Do you know if the trainee tour/ Q&A is assessed?

nope, its not!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Then the operative question becomes: How does a candidate, who genuinely wants to train and work in Bristol long-term, prove this to a firm like Burges Salmon when on-paper they have little to no connection to the area?

HR from a different Bristol-based firm were actually rather apologetic to me on this point during VS feedback - saying essentially that I lacked ties to the south-west but in all honesty that isn't really something I could go about changing easily, and therefore they themselves felt harsh in grading candidates on it.

It’s really about emphasising why you want to work (and live) in the area, focusing on what that region can give you that others can’t, and showing you are not someone who has strong ties to other areas.

It is still tricky though to convince people.

There is always just a risk HR have to take when someone hasn’t lived in the region before and has no support network within it. It’s not just about the work, it’s also about whether the individual is going to be happy and settled in the region outside of work too.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Was just about to ask this, I am applying to English firms while doing an English law degree in Scotland. From my perspective, if I am applying to regional firms rather than City, then that is in of itself an indication that I'll stick, but I completely understand that the firm has no reason to be certain that I won't move further South for a better opportunity. So, how does one convince them without having any strong ties to the region? I lived in Manchester before moving to Scotland almost a decade ago, would that be a reason to discuss?

If you have lived in the region before, you have got ties to the area and I would at least mention your desire to return to the area.

 

[Minitomatosalad]

Maybe re-send the email this time with the correct spelling in the subject line and text? You can always play off the first email as a mistakenly sent first draft and the second as the 'official' email, I think this might be better than not doing anything at all.

I thought that too but I received a non-automatic email response… I don’t know if I’d just make it worse

 

[Jessica Booker]

I thought that too but I received a non-automatic email response… I don’t know if I’d just make it worse

Honestly I would just leave it. The firm is going to take your first application and remove any duplicates from the process.

I would just take this as a learning to double check firm name spellings. Despite seeing them all the time, I still double check some firm’s names spelling, especially when they have a spelling that could easily be mixed up.

 

[eleven14og]

This may be a stupid question but how should we approach the exact same application question when reapplying?

 

[lawapplicant]

When should those in their final year without a TC start applying for paralegal jobs?

 

[Aga123+]

Hey @Aga123+'

I totally agree with you, the word count is a bit daunting but it is basically asking you to be succinct and go straight to the point, which I guess is one of the main skills as a lawyer.

What I did was:

• Pick two reasons why I was interested in Goodwin, whether it is its focus on technology, or life sciences, but also their initiatives regarding D,E & I. When you chose your two reasons, spend 50 words for each, describing them and link them (very briefly) to your background and experiences to substantiate why these factors of interest to you specifically. I talked about the focus on technology, which I am very interested in, and linked it back to an internship I did at a fintech company. Secondly, I talked about their diversity initiatives and goals which I really resonated with and linked them to my background.
• For the Why commercial law, I succinctly explained why I am interested in it with a personal anecdote and subsequently I linked it with an experience I had at a law firm and during an internship. The word count pushes you to go straight to the point, so make sure to immediately touch upon the crucial reasons as to why you decided to become a commercial lawyer and try to draw from your personal/professional experiences and I am sure you will do great!
• For the commercial news questions, just pick something that interests you and that you are genuinely able to tackle about as these could come up during the interview. I would make sure to link the topics to Goodwin in some way, shape or form if you can but this is not essential. I chose to talk about technology in one and sustainability in the other and I was able to connect both to Goodwin and I think that that worked really well.

I hope these tips are useful and good luck with the application! Goodwin is great and I am not saying it only because I have a TC there!

Thanks so much😍 @axelbeugre - These are great tips!

 

[wz_13]

When should those in their final year without a TC start applying for paralegal jobs?

tbh most if not all employers ask for you to have at least graduated, and then other qualifications like LPC/SQE. Id say dont worry about applying until earliest just before you graduate as you would have a predicted grade, or start when you have graduated, so then employers are more likely to give you interviews as u will have the qualification

 

[hanz123]

I'd appreciate any advice for Addleshaw Goddard's application

 

[Apple]

Hi

the absolute genius that I am, I managed to apply to Davis Polk open day and spelled their name wrong EVERY TIME. I thought it was Davies, not Davis. What are the chances for an immediate rejection? 99%? I’m so stupid.

I got a vacation scheme interview at a magic circle firm and spelled their name wrong in the first sentence of my cover letter. Not sure how it happened.

 

[mkt]

Ashurst pfo following case study