TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

If an application question asks 'Why are you attracted to the firm' should you not mention your interest in commercial law at all? or just jumpy straight to why the firm alone?
@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

I'd just jump straight to why the firm - it maybe that they don't feel they need to assess why law.

 

[Amma Usman]

I received an immediate rejection from Clifford Chance after the Watson Glaser test. It's disappointing, especially knowing how much effort I put into my application for the Open Day, and knowing they did not even look at it. Oh well!

Hey @gimmeavacschemepls , I’m sorry to hear about the rejection. Please keep powering through, you got this 💪

 

[Amma Usman]

Does anyone have experience with PwC's online tests? Is it game-based like Ashurst or is it a CRT and SJT?

Hey @AGRACHEL, last I took the test a while back, it was games-based!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Help please! (Not sure what decision to make) @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

My main goal is to secure a TC at a top law firm.

I recently graduated from my LLM, and my plan for this year was to secure a short-term paralegal position whilst applying for VSs/TCs. (I wanted a short term role so that I could attend VSs without any issues).

Today I received an email from a recruiter who read my CV for a paralegal position at a top US law firm (where I am also applying for a VS). They want to discuss the role over a call, and the job description they provided states that I need to be free for at least 12 months to be considered. If I am successful with this paralegal role, I am not sure how I will be able to attend any VSs (if I secure any)... Most of the law firms I am interested in training with recruit trainees exclusively through their VSs. Should I go ahead with this call?

I am also worried that if I do not proceed with the call, the recruitment agency will not consider me for any future opportunities, and that I may not be given an opportunity like this again given that I have 0 paralegal work experience. I am scared I might end up in the worst case scenario: no VS/TC offers and no paralegal position offers.

Additionally, I thought it would be important to add that the job description sent to me by the recruiter states that the paralegal role should not be viewed as a route to a TC at the firm but that the firm is happy to accept candidates actively (and openly) seeking TCs elsewhere and will proactively offer coaching and assistance in application drafting and interview techniques.

I would really appreciate any insight on this - thank you!

I would go ahead with the call - this is not a job offer (yet) and so I would wait until you have had the initial call and potentially even gone through the recruitment process and see if you get an offer before assuming this may be an issue. The recruitment process itself may give you an indication as to whether you could balance this role with a VS too. In the call you could even ask whether there would be any flexibility.

 

[Amma Usman]

Mishcon Dey Reya Race Open Day

Amazing, huge congratulations @BonanzaBih_ …! I hope you have an amazing time at the Open Day and well done for securing it..! 😊

 

[Parsorandini]

Hi everyone. I am looking for some help as the information I can find online is not specific enough. I have a stammer that could be considered somewhere between mild and moderate (it shifts between severity levels depending on my mood/anxiety levels etc). I am 29 and have only addressed recently through self-reflection the huge impact it has on my life; I avoid phone calls and conversations sometimes, and have dropped out of university and work exsperience partly because of it. I am going to start speech therapy in the coming months and I am making strong steps towards not letting it run my life anymore.

My actual question is whether I can/should disclose this as a disability on an application form? I genuinely believe it fits the criteria that I have read online, and it does make applying for law firms much more difficult as the stammer worsens in interview type scenarios, but would never want to 'use' it as an excuse or whatever. Up until now I have only mentioned it in mitigating circumstances and in the reasonable adjustments section for interviews. Just wondering if anybody in the know could help me please? @Jessica Booker I know you know a lot about legal recruitment! Thanks

 

[Andrei Radu]

Help please! (Not sure what decision to make) @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

My main goal is to secure a TC at a top law firm.

I recently graduated from my LLM, and my plan for this year was to secure a short-term paralegal position whilst applying for VSs/TCs. (I wanted a short term role so that I could attend VSs without any issues).

Today I received an email from a recruiter who read my CV for a paralegal position at a top US law firm (where I am also applying for a VS). They want to discuss the role over a call, and the job description they provided states that I need to be free for at least 12 months to be considered. If I am successful with this paralegal role, I am not sure how I will be able to attend any VSs (if I secure any)... Most of the law firms I am interested in training with recruit trainees exclusively through their VSs. Should I go ahead with this call?

I am also worried that if I do not proceed with the call, the recruitment agency will not consider me for any future opportunities, and that I may not be given an opportunity like this again given that I have 0 paralegal work experience. I am scared I might end up in the worst case scenario: no VS/TC offers and no paralegal position offers.

Additionally, I thought it would be important to add that the job description sent to me by the recruiter states that the paralegal role should not be viewed as a route to a TC at the firm but that the firm is happy to accept candidates actively (and openly) seeking TCs elsewhere and will proactively offer coaching and assistance in application drafting and interview techniques.

I would really appreciate any insight on this - thank you!

Hey @KBanana, I also agree with @Jessica Booker's advice that you should take the call. Even if you can't negotiate any flexibility around being available for the next 12 months, you will still be able to take leave for at lest 21 days, which should be enough to complete 1/2 vacation schemes at other firms. Moreover, while the firm states that the paralegal role should not be viewed as route to the TC, I imagine that if you do a particularly good job, it is more likely that it would lead to a VS placement with them rather than an independent application.

 

[Andrei Radu]

I agree with @Jessica Booker's advice. The only situation when I would consider addressing the why commercial law element is if the question is formulated more broadly like 'Why do you want to be commercial solicitor at our firm?' and there is no independent 'Why law' section in the application form.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Perhaps a silly question, but if lawyers are involved in advising a client and the client ends up settling without going to court, is it properly called a "case"? or is "deal" better

I would just say advised on the 'dispute' between X and Y or on the 'settlement' of X and Y. I don't think this would qualify as a case if there were no court proceedings involved and the term 'deal' is closely associated with transactional mandates.

 

[Maddy]

@NJS Hi, I was wondering when you submitted your application to Jones Day and if you have received an interview invite yet?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi, could use with some advice in terms of grades for a non-law graduate. To sum up - I'm a STEM oxbridge grad applying for Open Days/ VS etc. Graduated with 2.1 overall (integrated masters) but quite a few of my module grades in my second year and finals are in the 2.2s and one is quite bad - 31 percent (thought still technically a pass). The rest of my timed exams are low 2.1s but my non-timed modules e.g. my masters project are much better - high firsts (hence why I managed to get the 2.1 overall). Just wondering how much this may disadvantage me for city law firms? thanks for your help

Hi @lawadvice_23, I think you should not worry to much. As @fingersarecrossed said, the fact that you went to Oxbridge and got an overall 2.1 means most firms will not care too much about some of your lower individual module grades. Maybe just keep an eye out for the few firms that are known to place a lot of emphasis on grades (some will say they expect a 'high/strong 2.1' on their careers websites) and ensure you are not prioritizing those excessively. Otherwise, I think you should just focus on writing as many good applications as you can without being concerned about this.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Perhaps a silly question, but if lawyers are involved in advising a client and the client ends up settling without going to court, is it properly called a "case"? or is "deal" better

Matter is a broader term that would cover this, or as @Andrei Radu has suggested dispute would work as it is not a case until it goes to court.

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

Does anyone know the Wilkie Insight Day question?

 

[Shah74k]

Anyone hear back from A&O Shearman - not sure to expect a PFO or if no news is good news

 

[AGRACHEL]

Hey @AGRACHEL, last I took the test a while back, it was games-based!

Thank you!

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

I have received an invite to AC with NRF. They've asked for my A-level certificates before the assessment day, but I received them in 2016, and cannot locate them.

In terms of next steps, should I just explain that I can contact the exam boards but will need more time to receive the certificates while sending over my uni transcripts?

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

Congratulations! When did you complete the assessments?

I completed them on 2 Oct.

 

[m12]

I have received an invite to AC with NRF. They've asked for my A-level certificates before the assessment day, but I received them in 2016, and cannot locate them.

In terms of next steps, should I just explain that I can contact the exam boards but will need more time to receive the certificates while sending over my uni transcripts?

Hi! Massive congrats when did you do your arctic shores? And had the firm communicated with you in between at all? Thanks

 

[asplawyer100]

Since some people here have had HSF AC invites already, are we assuming that anyone who hasn’t is PFO? Or does HSF send out invites in batches?

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

Hi! Massive congrats when did you do your arctic shores? And had the firm communicated with you in between at all? Thanks

Hello - thanks! I did Arctic Shores around 10 days ago, and since then had to do a video interview.