Completely agree - I personally have realised if you’re capable of legal assistant role, you’re capable of PA role. Pay is way better and you get to work with more senior people.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Can you apply for this as a non-law student? I always thought you needed a law degree!
Wedlake Bell interview invitation! Would appreciate any advice! 
Is this for their summer vacation scheme? When did you get the invitation?Wedlake Bell interview invitation! Would appreciate any advice!
Yes, it's for summer and got the invitation today
Damn, congrats to you! I haven’t received anything from them so I’m guessing it’s a rejection for me lol
Thank you! The interviews will take place on 27th and 29th Feb, so maybe they will get back to you next week! 🤞
Seen a bit of a discussion about SJTs and the reports today and having done Baker’s yesterday and plenty of others this cycle, I’ve learned not to read into them too much as we’ve no idea how they’re really assessed.
I’m sure you have to hit a certain benchmark, but some firms will view them holistically alongside your application, others may want one of the pillars to be particularly strong and overlook others; we just don’t know. In any event, I never really pay too much attention to the reports as they always seem to contradict each other, despite being based on the same qualities. Reed Smith thought my grit was a 7/9 and Baker’s thought it was a 3/9.
I think none of us really know how they’re assessed, so I just answer honestly and try not to overthink it. If they don’t like you off that, then oh well.
Thank you everyone for your advice - it is really appreciated! Wishing you all the best luck
Thought I would chip in as honestly the months post-graduation where I couldn’t get a legal position when all my friends were getting them was really challenging. The hardest part is most places seemed to be completely unresponsive, which sucks when you put a good amount of effort into a CV/cover letter.Thank you everyone for your advice - it is really appreciated! Wishing you all the best luck
I’ll caveat all this by saying I don’t think having a non-legal position after graduation is an issue. Firms know how difficult it is to secure legal work experience given how saturated the current market is and emphasise the skills you can pick up in other fields. So, even if you end up in hospitality, consultancy, recruitment, banking, whatever it may be, you’ll still develop valuable skills that will boost your applications!
However, if you are looking for legal jobs specifically, the only advice I can really give you is not be particularly fussy and apply for everything you see that you feel you’d be qualified for. Whether that’s a paralegal, legal admin, legal secretary, anything is a good starting place and feel it’s all about getting your foot in the door. LinkedIn/Indeed are always a smart bet on where to begin your search; I know a few others on here have recommended FlexLegal and that another route!
I wouldn’t be too fussed about the area of law either - I’m currently in insurance law, which certainly isn’t my main field of interest, but it’s still been useful experience that I’ve learned much from and can speak about on applications.
All in all, I’d just say stay persistent and grab any opportunities you can. Best of luck!
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This is really helpful - thank you so muchThought I would chip in as honestly the months post-graduation where I couldn’t get a legal position when all my friends were getting them was really challenging. The hardest part is most seemed to be completely unresponsive, which sucks when you put a good amount of effort into a CV/cover letter.
I’ll caveat all this by saying I don’t think having a non-legal position after graduation is an issue. Firms know how difficult it is to secure legal work experience given how saturated the current market is and emphasis the skills you can pick up in other fields. So, even if you end up in hospitality, consultancy, recruitment, banking, whatever it may be, you’ll still develop valuable skills that will boost your applications!
However, if you are looking for legal jobs specifically, the only advice I can really give you is not be particularly fussy and apply for everything you see that you feel you’d be qualified for. Whether that’s a paralegal, legal admin, legal secretary, anything is a good starting place and feel it’s all about getting your foot in the door. LinkedIn/Indeed are always a smart bet on where to begin your search; I know a few others on here have recommended FlexLegal and that another route!
I wouldn’t be too fussed about the area of law either - I’m currently in insurance law, which certainly isn’t my main field of interest, but it’s still been useful experience that I’ve learned much from and can speak about on applications.
All in all, I’d just say stay persistent and grab any opportunities you can. Best of luck!
Morgan Lewis VS interview!!! It's in a week and I'm honestly pooping myself but happy as it's the only firm I applied to last month heheeeee
Anyone passed a VI and floundered their words in one of the questions? Think I got detailed points in all mine but I kept stuttering 😭
Same here, I did two SJTs with the same pillars and my results were completely opposite.
In my experience to get a foot in the door is email your CV and create a short but sweet ‘cover letter’ style email about why you like the firm and why you think you’d be a fit. Best to target smaller firms. If one of them likes you, chances are they might have something for you. Only takes one
and if it’s a small firm can build from there. Ik it sounds annoying when everyone on here are applying to VSs and TCs at huge firms, but this has been a successful method for literally all my friends who I did the law conversion with and can then move to a bigger firm w paralegal experience or can use it as legal experience for TCs. Hope that’s useful - Status
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