TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[latome19]

For people who got an AC with Ropes, was it for a specific day or can you choose? Haven’t heard anything at all yet

 

[Happycloud100]

For people who got an AC with Ropes, was it for a specific day or can you choose? Haven’t heard anything at all yet

Hi for me I got a specific date!

 

[babylawyer1942]

For people who got an AC with Ropes, was it for a specific day or can you choose? Haven’t heard anything at all yet

was a specific date for me. I think they'll be sending more invites in batches because they apparently have multiple AC dates so if you haven't heard yet there's a chance xxxx

 

[Happycloud100]

For those w ropes AC - any resources for how to prepare for the negotiation excercise please?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey everyone! This is my first time posting here as I'm in a situation I'm quite upset about and would like some advice.

About a week ago, I had an assessment centre at a firm I was very keen on (I won't disclose which as I'm not sure I feel comfortable doing that). I feel the day generally went well and although the case study was quite difficult, I didn't think I performed *too* badly. There were 5 other people here on the day and everyone was really friendly, so didn't think anything was off and we all added each other on LinkedIn when there was a break period in the day after another candidate suggested we do so.

However, when the day was over, one of the other candidates hugged the Grad Rec member and said "it was great to see you Kathy, hopefully see you again in the next few weeks". When someone asked what she meant by this, she said she was a long-term family friend. This immediately seemed unfair to me; I don't know how strong her application was and she may have deservedly been there on her own merit, but it just made me feel uncomfortable. She said she hadn't performed too strongly throughout the day too, which I feel is worth bearing in mind.

Earlier this week, I was rejected from the firm. I'm obviously disappointed but it's just one of those things. Nevertheless, when scrolling through LinkedIn, I saw the other girl post that she had successfully landed a VS at the firm. I instantly felt like the whole process was completely unfair and she had gained a place because she had internal contacts. If I'm honest, this upset me just as much as the rejection itself knowing I was up against what I feel was a nepotistic candidate.

Part of me wants to write to the firm and say how I feel this is unjustified, but I know that won't achieve anything. I'm female, state educated and have attended a non-RG university, so I already feel I've had to work harder than many other applicants just to be in this position. It feels like a slap in the face. Am I right to be annoyed or is this just commonplace in the City and something you just have to suck up?

I don't think you can assume this individual got the job because of their connection, whether directly or indirectly. Some people have connections to others in the industry, but this does not mean they are automatically getting prioritised because of that connection - they can just be capable candidates. I have recruited "celebrities", relatives of very famous judges, next door neighbours of partners, children of leading international politicians - all received their roles off their own merit and not because of who they were. And yet, unfortunately for them all they were all too easily labelled by others of having being given the opportunity of who they were or who their connection was. That was unfairly placed on all of them for quite a long time in their careers.

I get it is frustrating though, and to be honest both the candidate and the graduate recruitment contact should have really thought a little more about how an interaction like this could be construed - because I completely get how it looks. Both of them should have thought a little more about the setting and maintaining a professional demeanour, and in my opinion doing this is not something they should have done.

Unless you had evidence that the individual had been favourited through the recruitment process, I don't think you have anything to base your complaint to the firm on and therefore would advise not writing to them firm about this. You feel the injustice of the situation, but it does not mean there actually was an injustice that happened.

It is always going to feel very raw in the moments after hearing you have been unsuccessful and you are allowed to feel like this, but I sense you are connecting your disappointment to what feels like an easiest thing to blame right now. And I don't think that blame is justified based on what you have said.

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

I don't think you can assume this individual got the job because of their connection, whether directly or indirectly. Some people have connections to others in the industry, but this does not mean they are automatically getting prioritised because of that connection - they can just be capable candidates. I have recruited "celebrities", relatives of very famous judges, next door neighbours of partners, children of leading international politicians - all received their roles off their own merit and not because of who they were. And yet, unfortunately for them all they were all too easily labelled by others of having being given the opportunity of who they were or who their connection was. That was unfairly placed on all of them for quite a long time in their careers.

I get it is frustrating though, and to be honest both the candidate and the graduate recruitment contact should have really thought a little more about how an interaction like this could be construed - because I completely get how it looks. Both of them should have thought a little more about the setting and maintaining a professional demeanour, and in my opinion doing this is not something they should have done.

Unless you had evidence that the individual had been favourited through the recruitment process, I don't think you have anything to base your complaint to the firm on and therefore would advise not writing to them firm about this. You feel the injustice of the situation, but it does not mean there actually was an injustice that happened.

It is always going to feel very raw in the moments after hearing you have been unsuccessful and you are allowed to feel like this, but I sense you are connecting your disappointment to what feels like an easiest thing to blame right now. And I don't think that blame is justified based on what you have said.

That's really interesting. But how would you know someone is a relative of a famous judge? I get it with celebrities as they are famous and known across the globe but I am really curious how can grad rec infer that a candidate is the relative of a famous judge or a next door neighbour of partners? Or is that something candidates write in their app? Especially when some firms claim that app reviews are completely blind

 

[laylaamahmood]

Has anyone done trowers & hamlins AC or has one coming up, pm please please!!!!!!!!

Hey I just had mine !

 

[laylaamahmood]

Has anyone heard back from Clyde and Co? For Vac Scheme?

Yes I have !

 

[law12345]

Hi - has anyone done the Dentons AC yet? Does anyone have any advice?

 

[laylaamahmood]

I just secured a place on the Clyde and co vac scheme london 2024 !

 

[laylaamahmood]

Just secured Clyde and co vac scheme !

 

[lllaaawww098]

Hi - has anyone done the Dentons AC yet? Does anyone have any advice?

Hey, congrats! Is this for London spring or summer? And when did you have your VI, if you don't mind me asking

 

[ADKM]

Is it just me or has anyone else also faced this- I’ve been applying for 2 years now and in every application, other people hear back about ACs and next stage invites yet law firms never get back to me. Am I that bad or do firms really hate me?? (apologies for the weird questions) but it seems to me as if I’m making applications after applications never to hear back or either get a PFO. It’s mentally very tiring

 

[law12345]

Hey, congrats! Is this for London spring or summer? And when did you have your VI, if you don't mind me asking

Thank you! It's for London Summer - I submitted my VI on 22nd Jan & heard back for AC about a week ago!

 

[law2022x]

Hey everyone! This is my first time posting here as I'm in a situation I'm quite upset about and would like some advice.

About a week ago, I had an assessment centre at a firm I was very keen on (I won't disclose which as I'm not sure I feel comfortable doing that). I feel the day generally went well and although the case study was quite difficult, I didn't think I performed *too* badly. There were 5 other people here on the day and everyone was really friendly, so didn't think anything was off and we all added each other on LinkedIn when there was a break period in the day after another candidate suggested we do so.

However, when the day was over, one of the other candidates hugged the Grad Rec member and said "it was great to see you Kathy, hopefully see you again in the next few weeks". When someone asked what she meant by this, she said she was a long-term family friend. This immediately seemed unfair to me; I don't know how strong her application was and she may have deservedly been there on her own merit, but it just made me feel uncomfortable. She said she hadn't performed too strongly throughout the day too, which I feel is worth bearing in mind.

Earlier this week, I was rejected from the firm. I'm obviously disappointed but it's just one of those things. Nevertheless, when scrolling through LinkedIn, I saw the other girl post that she had successfully landed a VS at the firm. I instantly felt like the whole process was completely unfair and she had gained a place because she had internal contacts. If I'm honest, this upset me just as much as the rejection itself knowing I was up against what I feel was a nepotistic candidate.

Part of me wants to write to the firm and say how I feel this is unjustified, but I know that won't achieve anything. I'm female, state educated and have attended a non-RG university, so I already feel I've had to work harder than many other applicants just to be in this position. It feels like a slap in the face. Am I right to be annoyed or is this just commonplace in the City and something you just have to suck up?

i’m really sorry about your experience. personally i would email them just to let them know so that in the future they can do more to prevent other students from feeling this way. some people do just have an advantage in this process and lots of it is subtle, it’s ok to point it out to them possible bias without having all the evidence because in reality that is never possible in HR. and in admin law we learned that even a perception of bias is an issue for the courts etc. i would say the same applies here. but keep it short and straightforward, just say you wish to give some feedback etc. and it’s up to them how they take it.

 

[karennnnnnnnn]

I submitted my application for Dentons back in early jan and haven't heard back for an VI invite nor the test should I just assume PFO?

 

[Jessica Booker]

That's really interesting. But how would you know someone is a relative of a famous judge? I get it with celebrities as they are famous and known across the globe but I am really curious how can grad rec infer that a candidate is the relative of a famous judge or a next door neighbour of partners? Or is that something candidates write in their app? Especially when some firms claim that app reviews are completely blind

If they have a very distinctive name, the association happens very quickly. Plus law is a small world - word gets around pretty quickly and in the same way people spot people are friendly with other people because there is a connection. Word gets around very quickly.

I am not saying it necessarily happens at application stage, but by the time the individual attends an assessment centre or joins a vacation scheme or training contract (like the example I was quoting in my last post), connections come to the surface through people's actions or through people talking/speculating about things.

 

[jenniferrrrrrr]

anything from Weil post AC after last tuesday?

 

[RevisiontimeRevision]

Has anyone else not heard from IM yet? I applied to Cambridge office

 

[LillyandSilver]

Has anyone applied to Boodle Hatfield? Concerned because I applied for both the vac scheme and the TC at the same time but talked more about the vac scheme in my application. They said you could edit it up until the TC deadline but I think that just means for the work experience sections.