TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[hungry_for_TC]

Pinsent (6 hour AC in person) prepped for a good 3 weeks and I was on holiday, I took my iPad and read Ziplaw everday. On my 7 hour flight back to the UK I purchased WiFi and worked solely on AC prep, my interview and case study were my top strengths in my AC, I got a PFO as I didn’t complete the in tray 😭 felt like a slap in the face.

Simmons (5 hour AC) I did prep the day of the AC as I was burnt out and thought I had secured Pinsent TC the day before 🤣🤣

Goodwin (45 min interview) I had prepped for 2 weeks or so but I also attended a mentoring class on a Saturday at 5am (time zone difference) to get a better insight to the firm. I think if I didn’t go to that I wouldn’t have got an offer.

Farrer (2 hour AC) I did no prep as there was no interview just written exercise and group assessment, having done these things in the other AC’s I felt like I didn’t need to prep.

I think it is dependant on how the firms AC is laid out, I found every single one different but the more I did them the better I got? I work full time and I sacrificed a decent amount of sleep for a few weeks to prep.

Hope this helps

Wait, what's an in tray? Also are these ACs for VSs or TCs? The Pinsent story brought me to tears :'( also what's the mentoring class?

 

[LawBrah]

Does anyone have a rough idea how many candidates are invited to ACs and how many actually end up securing a VS? [Mishcon specific if possible please]

It's usually around 25%-33% of candidates at an AC will get an offer. Will obviously vary and can't comment on Mishcon, but those are generally your odds.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

It's usually around 25%-33% of candidates at an AC will get an offer. Will obviously vary and can't comment on Mishcon, but those are generally your odds.

amazing!! thanks

 

[s9111]

Anyone heard from Cooley on the diversity fellowship?

 

[J53]

Does anyone know what grade law firms expect in the PGDL? I recently did my mock assessments and scored between a 55 and 58 in all the four modules. I have to admit that I didn't focus enough, as I really struggled balancing the mock assessments with attending workshops and preparing for ACs. Moreover, the formula to get a distinction is badly explained by the lecturers. Does anyone have any advice on how to achieve a 60+ in problem question exams? Or any tips in general for the PGDL?

If you’re with ULaw, DM as I’m happy to help (currently doing PGDL there on track for a distinction)

 

[BUlawstudent1112]

Has anyone heard anything back from Stevens & Bolton re Spring VS?

Yes. Did you?

 

[BUlawstudent1112]

Hi - I received an offer yesterday afternoon via email. I had my partner interview on Monday the 11th.

Congratulations! Same, I received an offer today!

 

[amy2002]

Rather than law firms, what would people say are the main issues clients are facing now?

I would say the uncertainty of the economy, but I feel that's quite a generic answer. Are there any other issues I should be aware of?

 

[hungry_for_TC]

Rather than law firms, what would people say are the main issues clients are facing now?

I would say the uncertainty of the economy, but I feel that's quite a generic answer. Are there any other issues I should be aware of?

Depends on the client. The clients of an Employment law practice are going to have different issues than Aviation clients or Emerging Market clients... hone it down to practice area clients or sector and then go from there!

 

[Aliceczernia]

Rather than law firms, what would people say are the main issues clients are facing now?

I would say the uncertainty of the economy, but I feel that's quite a generic answer. Are there any other issues I should be aware of?

Rise of protectionism

 

[estimur]

It's usually around 25%-33% of candidates at an AC will get an offer. Will obviously vary and can't comment on Mishcon, but those are generally your odds.

For the spring scheme they had given about a 33% figure (15-ish out of 45 candidates)

However, they also said there isn’t necessarily a fixed number. So if instead of the intended 15 they thought 18 were great they’d offer Vac Schemes to all 18.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it bad to not ask many questions at the end of an interview? I only asked 1 and now I’m overthinking if I should have asked more…

One question is fine - it would only really be if you didn’t ask any questions that this can be a worry.

 

[mattyh23]

If asked in an interview what your strategy has been when applying for vacation schemes, what kind of answer are they looking for? Focusing on the practice area strengths, international nature, and the like?

 

[tomtrainee02]

Long time lurker, first time poster as I'm extremely stressed about a VS interview answer I gave today.

The interview was with W&C and at the end, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to add. I didn't want to say no, so I said that I'd had an assessment centre with the firm last year and the feedback I was given on the call, and what I'd taken onboard to improve on that since last time.

Now I'm worried that was a stupid answer to give because it makes it appear as if I'm almost asking for their sympathy (i.e. you rejected me at this stage once, please don't reject me again!).

Am I overthinking things and that was actually an okay answer to give? Any thoughts, @Jessica Booker as I can't get it out of my head...

 

[hungry_for_TC]

Has anyone heard back from Morgan Lewis post in-person interview??? When are we to hear back?

 

[InvesmentBanker]

Long time lurker, first time poster as I'm extremely stressed about a VS interview answer I gave today.

The interview was with W&C and at the end, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to add. I didn't want to say no, so I said that I'd had an assessment centre with the firm last year and the feedback I was given on the call, and what I'd taken onboard to improve on that since last time.

Now I'm worried that was a stupid answer to give because it makes it appear as if I'm almost asking for their sympathy (i.e. you rejected me at this stage once, please don't reject me again!).

Am I overthinking things and that was actually an okay answer to give? Any thoughts, @Jessica Booker as I can't get it out of my head...

I think this is a pretty good answer tbh... It reflects positively on your character that you've taken steps to improve.

 

[hungry_for_TC]

Long time lurker, first time poster as I'm extremely stressed about a VS interview answer I gave today.

The interview was with W&C and at the end, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to add. I didn't want to say no, so I said that I'd had an assessment centre with the firm last year and the feedback I was given on the call, and what I'd taken onboard to improve on that since last time.

Now I'm worried that was a stupid answer to give because it makes it appear as if I'm almost asking for their sympathy (i.e. you rejected me at this stage once, please don't reject me again!).

Am I overthinking things and that was actually an okay answer to give? Any thoughts, @Jessica Booker as I can't get it out of my head...

As long as you delivered it in a tone which showed you genuinely wanted them to know you've progressed and are proud of yourself for being a different, better candidate than when you received your last PFO from them, I think it's golden. But if you said it in a resentful tone in which you wanted it to be like a "Gotcha!" moment for the interviewees, which it doesn't sound like you've done here, then I'd trim my expectations. So it seems you're fine - just depends on wording/delivery IMHO.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If asked in an interview what your strategy has been when applying for vacation schemes, what kind of answer are they looking for? Focusing on the practice area strengths, international nature, and the like?

This should be what are the common themes in how you selected the firm you applied to. If they aren’t common themes, then explaining why you have applied or very different firms and what was your reasoning or strategy behind that decision making.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Long time lurker, first time poster as I'm extremely stressed about a VS interview answer I gave today.

The interview was with W&C and at the end, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to add. I didn't want to say no, so I said that I'd had an assessment centre with the firm last year and the feedback I was given on the call, and what I'd taken onboard to improve on that since last time.

Now I'm worried that was a stupid answer to give because it makes it appear as if I'm almost asking for their sympathy (i.e. you rejected me at this stage once, please don't reject me again!).

Am I overthinking things and that was actually an okay answer to give? Any thoughts, @Jessica Booker as I can't get it out of my head...

This is not a stupid answer and actually something quite sensible to bring up. By the sounds of it, you weren’t asking for sympathy, you were showing your ability to take feedback on and act on that feedback. That is a positive quality to demonstrate.

This is most likely over thinking / over worrying!

 

[tomtrainee02]

I think this is a pretty good answer tbh... It reflects positively on your character that you've taken steps to improve.

Thank you I've been stressing about it as I didn't want it come off as resentful or trying to garner sympathy, which it wasn't, it was more trying to highlight that I'd taken on the feedback they'd raised and the steps I'd taken to improve on that. Just worried it may have come across as the former.