TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[liseazurite]

how did you find the AC?

Exhausting…
The case study was not too hard IMO but I kind of struggled with behavioural (possibly because I gave all my brain power to the case study)

 

[addy2004]

Just finished the A&O AC
Anyone know when to expect to hear back?

was this for TC or VS?

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi everyone, for the question "what skills would you bring to the role?" are these good enough ones to talk about:
- ability to grasp new concepts and ideas quickly
- commercial awareness

i just wanted to do something a bit different instead of just saying attention to detail like i always do, but please let me know what you think

Hey @confusedlawstudent,

I think that the first skill is good and perfectly answers the question. I think that if you also talk about it in the context of an example, it will be even better as it will allow you to describe how this skill will link to being a trainee (as it helped you in another role in a professional context).

The second one, as much as I understand why you would mention it, I do not think it should be mentioned in this question specifically. However, I might not get what you mean by commercial awareness:

• Do you mean that knowing about the commercial world will make you a good trainee in the future?
• Do you think that knowing about all the sectors affecting the legal world will make you a good lawyer?
• How is commercial awareness going to help you whilst working on a deal?

I think that if you tackle this from the point of explaining how commercial awareness will be beneficial (and if it was beneficial to you in the past), then it would be a good thing to mention!

Good luck with the application!

 

[BlueMoon]

Has anyone heard anything from SH about ACs post-VI yet? Aware WVS starts in less than 2 weeks!!!

 

[crt1s]

Is it still worth applying to firms that recruit on a rolling basis this late into the cycle?

 

[liseazurite]

was this for TC or VS?

VS

 

[CorporateCrocodile]

Does anyone have any experience with Taylor Wessing's online assessment? The website isn't exactly specific.

 

[jplaw1010]

Any news from Reed Smith post-app? (Vacation Scheme)

 

[Abgaal]

Has anyone heard anything from SH about ACs post-VI yet? Aware WVS starts in less than 2 weeks!!!

Honestly, shocking - its giving super last minute for me!!

 

[Abbas J]

Any news from Reed Smith post-app? (Vacation Scheme)

I'm still waiting also,

It's rather annoying to do the app so early and not to hear back until so late lol.

Last year they were quite quick in progressing applicants on to SJT's.

 

[axelbeugre]

Maybe a stupid question here: when we answering the question "why commercial law", do we need to tailor the question specific to the firm?

I would not say so, I think it should be personal to you and your experiences as well as your motivations. I would include a last sentence mentioning how you would like to be a commercial lawyer and you feel like you can be the best at the firm you are applying to, that is what I used to do.

 

[Manuchelsout]

Just completed Ashurst games and that was harder than anticipated

 

[TC seeker]

Just completed Ashurst games and that was harder than anticipated

did you received a feedback?

 

[Manuchelsout]

did you received a feedback?

Just did the test

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi @Jessica Booker

I completed the SJT for Latham's open day and essentially failed the test. My feedback report says my greatest strengths were critical thinking and effective communication, but my weakness was personal responsibility. I'm not entirely sure why I've failed the test though, considering critical thinking and effective communication are two of Latham's desired competencies, unless ofc there is a hierarchy of competency skills and personal responsibility is seen as more desirable.

In my next SJT test, should I just prioritise showing personal responsibility over critical thinking/communication skills as the former seems to have been what let me down?

Would really appreciate your thoughts on this (and also anyone else who has some insight into SJTs)!

I think that situational judgment test are so difficult to gauge. You might think that they failed the test when in fact you passed. I do not think it matters what you get. I remember that for my Latham test, I got commercial awareness and teamwork as my two strengths and I still did not pass the test, despite me thinking those were the perfect things to get for a law firm's application.

In fact, someone on here said that they had your same results and they passed the test, so I would not worry too much about what you get. It is really difficult to be able to demonstrate all your skills through thee kind of assessments, and that is not even what is required of you at this stage, so do not worry!

I would just make sure to do the test having in front of you the main values, behaviours of a trainee and skills of a successful lawyer that Latham displays on the website and do the test accordingly.

Good luck with the application!!

 

[Arf1309]

Does anyone know if Osborne Clarke's virtual AC (stage before the in-person AC) is on-demand like a VI or has to be done at a specified date and time like an actual AC?

It's like an actual AC with a date and time

 

[Manuchelsout]

HSF test passed confirmed by email

 

[izzy1036]

Hi @Jessica Booker @axelbeugre,

For HSF's application question 'Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you', I spoke about my favourite movie and how it motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. I then provided examples of how I stepped out of my comfort zone at university. I was told to speak about something connected to current affairs instead. Should I change my answer to talk about something that's more commercial?

 

[axelbeugre]

HSF test passed confirmed by email

Congratulations!!

 

[LawBrah]

It's like an actual AC with a date and time

Brilliant, thank you!