TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[SalmaNasser]

i applied to mayer brown on 2/11 and still haven't received any test? how long did it take for anyone who received one to get it?

still haven't received anything yet as well

 

[Jessica Booker]

I realise I am posting this on the corporate law academy, but I thought some people might have some insights on my current conundrum. I do not want to do corporate law; I actively avoided all commercial modules at my undergrad and excelled at private client work. I've applied to mostly boutique firms. There are some full-service firms with excellent private client services, but the applications and video interviews are asking me why I want to do commercial law. What should I do? They can see by my application that I have taken no modules in the commercial sphere except contract because that was compulsory. Should I just avoid these firms?

My guidance on this is will 50% or more of your training contract be in practice areas you are happy to work in? If so, go for it. If not, then its likely to not be the firm for you.

Sometimes firms just use the term "commercial" to cover a broad set of the work they do, and things like private client can still fall into that given the typically high levels of wealth their clients have. So I wouldn't worry to much about the definitions in questions, but I would look at whether the firm can truly give you the experience you will need, not only for your training contract, but on qualification as well. And by having multiple practice areas that align to your interests, the chances of that are much greater.

 

[Tattyasha]

Akin test invite

Brilliant! Well done! May I ask when you applied please?

 

[Minitomatosalad]

Hey @user7879,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am genuinely sorry for this kind of behaviour, this is not acceptable. Unfortunately, these kind of behaviours are very common in this industry. I have heard worse stories than this. I really hope that these kind of behaviours and preferences during the recruitment process can change because it just limits deserving candidates' successes and this is not okay.

In terms of what you should do, I personally believe that you should let it go and focus on your next applications and firms you are applying to. Use that feedback (even if it is not accurate) as a guideline of things that you should not do during the recruitment process at other firms and try to improve yourself day by day. These situations can happen but I do believe that you can learn from them, and now what you know is that you are not well suited for that firm, and that is okay.

Good luck with the process!

Hi Axel
It’s really shocking that there are even worse stories out there. But how could that change in your opinion?

Most firms are already boasting about using rare recruitment, not allowing applications from an employees family member, blind CV interviews etc etc. Is that just all marketing?

 

[Flavius Aurelius]

Anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood post-test??

 

[jplaw1010]

Anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood post-test??

Did you apply for the WVS?

 

[Flavius Aurelius]

Did you apply for the WVS?

yep, I selected both winter and spring to be exact.

 

[LegallyBrown]

Would like to know your thoughts on this... I attended an AC at a Silver Circle firm two weeks ago and I learned that X candidate (a successful candidate) on the AC was best friends with the assistant grad rec. The grad rec assistant and the senior grad rec were with us the whole time whilst they were taking us to be interviewed individually by partners/associates. I fully understand that personal connections exist so this did not really bother me much at the time, especially as X themselves revealed that they were best friends after the AC.

Anyway, X learned they were successful right after the AC and told me right away. I waited a couple of days, then received the PFO from the assistant grad rec (the friend). I also received very detailed feedback (about 4 pages long) on each interview giving me 'insight into [my] performance' and 'observations of [my] behaviour'. At first, I thought the feedback seemed very odd because it didn't accurately describe how my interviews went (one of them went amazingly well but this was described as completely the opposite). A bit concerned, I asked another candidate what they thought of their feedback, and to our surprise, we learned that we received word-for-word identical feedback (basically copied and pasted the whole document), and this was also sent to them by the assistant grad rec (the friend).
At this point I was very concerned, so I sent a kind email to grad rec addressing the situation about the identical feedback and asking politely for a more individual assessment of my performance, one that truly reflects my performance for my personal development. It has been nearly 7 days and I have not received a reply.
Should I just forget about it, or should I try to make sure my concerns are properly addressed?
thank you for reading and please let me know your thoughts on this.

As annoying as it is, I honestly would let it go.

These things cannot be changed, and although it seems quite weird that the grad rec assistants best friend was successful - I wouldn’t be 100% confident that this was a contributing factor to their success. At the end of the day, that candidate would have had to apply and assess like anyone else - which they would have had to do themselves. Even more so, unless my firm treated me like a PA - it’s often the advisors or seniors that would pipeline and double check candidates not assistants. The only weird thing would be if they gave them additional insight into the answers and etc.

I have a few friends in grad rec, and actually worked in the industry for a while - things like this were very frowned upon and regardless of how close you are with someone, I don’t think anyone wants to risk losing their job and getting a lawsuit.

Regardless, it is annoying that the assessor was allocated to that candidate which in my opinion should have been mitigated against by keeping them separate if they declared their relationship. Like isn’t there a “contact at the firm” question on the application forms anyway. BTW these are declarations that we had to do in the firm I previously worked at - even for an insight scheme.

As for the feedback, I had the same experience with Macfarlanes. I got the opposite feedback than what I was expecting - apparently great interview and written exercise and awful case study (eventhough I thought the opposite). I flagged this and asked grad rec to check that the feedback wasn’t switched - they checked with the assessors to confirm and the assessors confirmed their feedback was correct.

Sometimes we can think things went better than they actually did, or maybe we touched on points that they weren’t actually marking for - which is the feedback I got for the case study I thought I smashed - apparently I said a lot of things which were good but they weren’t in the mark scheme.

I really hope they give more detailed feedback, but remain polite so as to not damage your potential applications with them in the future.

Good luck and I’m so sorry this was your experience xx

P.S - I was distraught after losing out on Macfarlanes earlier this year, I even DM’d Jess screaming conspiracy. I recently got a vac scheme at another silver circle firm. So take the hit, and carry on - there’s always something right around the corner xx

 

[kmo20]

Mishcon VI invite!!

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi Axel
It’s really shocking that there are even worse stories out there. But how could that change in your opinion?

Most firms are already boasting about using rare recruitment, not allowing applications from an employees family member, blind CV interviews etc etc. Is that just all marketing?

That is a good question, and honestly I genuinely do not know how they can change. I suppose that we will need to wait when the new generation is in charge to change things, especially at the recruiting level. I think that firms are going in the right direction (not all of them though) however there is still a long way to go to make sure that the sector becomes as diverse and as accepting as it should be!

 

[axelbeugre]

Mishcon VI invite!!

Congratulations!!

 

[kmo20]

If anyone has experience with the Mishcon VI I would really appreciate any advice as this is my first VI experience

 

[axelbeugre]

If anyone has experience with the Mishcon VI I would really appreciate any advice as this is my first VI experience

There are some posts on TCLA 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 I hope these are helpful and good luck with the assessment! and Congratulations for getting it in the first place!

 

[kmo20]

There are some posts on TCLA 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 I hope these are helpful and good luck with the assessment! and Congratulations for getting it in the first place!

Thank you so much, this is really helpful!

 

[Zaakir]

Advice please- I have a WVS next week and just received an email from grad rec asking for me to remove a twitter 're tweet' from back in 2019. For context, said post was regarding a politics. Do you think this will affect a positive outcome of the VS e.g. a TC offer?

No way, firms actually do this?😭

 

[axelbeugre]

Advice please- I have a WVS next week and just received an email from grad rec asking for me to remove a twitter 're tweet' from back in 2019. For context, said post was regarding a politics. Do you think this will affect a positive outcome of the VS e.g. a TC offer?

This is very surprising. I would say that it might be a negative thing. However, if I was in your shoes, I would comply with what they are asking and work really hard on the scheme to make everyone at the firm like you. Show all your skills and be a good vacation schemer, and I am sure that they will judge you based on your performance on the internship.

This is something that I never came across so it is kind of a shock for me too, but I would just focus on doing the best that you can without letting this bring you down.

Additionally, I would keep applying to more firms with this vacation scheme in your experience section as this will give you more chances to succeed in the application process with other firms.

I am so sorry this happened to you and I do think it is unfair, especially to vacation scheme students, but as hard as it is, try to not let this incident bring you down and try to be your best self throughout the experience and also enjoy it to the fullest. I am sure you will be able to learn a lot about the job, the sector and you as a person.

Good luck with it! @Missy0909

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Advice please- I have a WVS next week and just received an email from grad rec asking for me to remove a twitter 're tweet' from back in 2019. For context, said post was regarding a politics. Do you think this will affect a positive outcome of the VS e.g. a TC offer?

damn u learn smt new everyday 😭

 

[leaaa2023]

Anyone hear from Skadden?

 

[Zaakir]

Anyone hear from Skadden?

They'll get back after deadline

 

[s9111]

Any more offers/rejections for HL LIFT OFF? Saw one rejection a few days ago here, haven't seen anything since.