TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[unknownnn7372]

How would you answer, how does W&C stand out from its competitors for an interview question

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

are people dressed in formals even while taking the A&O test or is it only during the video questions? thanks

 

[jasonbourne]

Hey guys, I wanted to ask how I should go about answering a 'Tell me about yourself' question.

I'm not sure if there is a specific format for answering this when it comes to legal applications, or how else I should go about it

 

[19.mfjones]

How important are extra-cirricular activities? I am doing my PDGL, working 16 hours a week, and my commute to uni is approx 3 hours each way, twice a week. Am struggling to fit extras in, and wondering if it is better to lower my hours and do volunteering, or if I will be fine as I am

 

[Tintin06]

Is three Vacation Schemes too many? What about six work epxeirneces? Not showing off, genuinely curious. Some of these are years old. We're talking 2015 to 2016. The rest are all 2018 onwards. If there are four boxes, should we only add four?

 

[l789]

Is Hogan Lovells Launchpad and liftoff applications on a rolling basis or is that just their vac scheme?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker
Thank you for spending your time on the forum on the weekends much appreciated.

I have not done a vacation scheme before but if I failed to convert and applied again next year how do firms look at this.

Are open days easier to get than vacation schemes.

Is it advisable to include deals in vacation scheme applications.

Does this show research if I apply this well within the question asking ‘why x firm’.

If you do not convert a vacation scheme, I'd encourage you to ask the firm whether it is worthwhile reapplying. There won't be a general view of how firms will look at this - it very much depends from candidate to candidate. For the same firm, I have actively encouraged someone to reapply the next cycle as they narrowly missed out (and I thought they could easily improve their development areas) while for another candidate, I encouraged them to not reapply because I didn't think their motivations were going to change (and we couldn't offer them the career they truly wanted).

I'd say open days are generally easier to secure as they don't rarely have a formal recruitment process to them (e.g. no face-to-face interviews or assessments). However, open days can still be competitive to get on to for this reason. The application process tends to be a little more straight forward and therefore more people can apply. How competitive an open day or vacation scheme is though can be really varied, even for things outside of the firm's control. I have seen different programmes receive very different applications from year to year just because competitors were running schemes on the same dates, or because a deadline changes by a couple of weeks.

You can include deals in applications, but most importantly you don't have to. There are many other ways to demonstrate your interests and your research. If you do reference a deal, you have to ensure whatever you are referencing has meaning/relevance to you and your application. Just naming a deal and saying "this is the type of work I want to do as a trainee" is not specific enough. What is it specifically about that deal over others you could have chosen? Referencing a deal is okay to do if it is naunced and tailored to you. However, deal name dropping (just throwing it in for the sake of showing some research) should be avoided.

 

[Jessica Booker]

How important are extra-cirricular activities? I am doing my PDGL, working 16 hours a week, and my commute to uni is approx 3 hours each way, twice a week. Am struggling to fit extras in, and wondering if it is better to lower my hours and do volunteering, or if I will be fine as I am

As you are working part-time this is not an issue. Extracurricular activities demonstrate that university students are busy and developing skills beyond their degree, but part-time jobs can serve the same purpose. You can also refer to other extracurriculars from your undergraduate degree or even college too.

 

[Deleted member 37508]

If you do not convert a vacation scheme, I'd encourage you to ask the firm whether it is worthwhile reapplying. There won't be a general view of how firms will look at this - it very much depends from candidate to candidate. For the same firm, I have actively encouraged someone to reapply the next cycle as they narrowly missed out (and I thought they could easily improve their development areas) while for another candidate, I encouraged them to not reapply because I didn't think their motivations were going to change (and we couldn't offer them the career they truly wanted).

I'd say open days are generally easier to secure as they don't rarely have a formal recruitment process to them (e.g. no face-to-face interviews or assessments). However, open days can still be competitive to get on to for this reason. The application process tends to be a little more straight forward and therefore more people can apply. How competitive an open day or vacation scheme is though can be really varied, even for things outside of the firm's control. I have seen different programmes receive very different applications from year to year just because competitors were running schemes on the same dates, or because a deadline changes by a couple of weeks.

You can include deals in applications, but most importantly you don't have to. There are many other ways to demonstrate your interests and your research. If you do reference a deal, you have to ensure whatever you are referencing has meaning/relevance to you and your application. Just naming a deal and saying "this is the type of work I want to do as a trainee" is not specific enough. What is it specifically about that deal over others you could have chosen? Referencing a deal is okay to do if it is naunced and tailored to you. However, deal name dropping (just throwing it in for the sake of showing some research) should be avoided.

Thank you Jessica good information.

To follow up on this.

How to other firms look at a non VS conversion to TC. Would they give the applicant a chance.

Does graduate recruitment check to validity of cases mentioned whether they actually exist and the information is correct.

 

[19.mfjones]

As you are working part-time this is not an issue. Extracurricular activities demonstrate that university students are busy and developing skills beyond their degree, but part-time jobs can serve the same purpose. You can also refer to other extracurriculars from your undergraduate degree or even college too.

Thank you

 

[seaweed.bond]

Hope everyone is having a good weekend I just had two questions re interviews:

1. When it comes to 'Why this firm?', should you still link your points to yourself? E.g. if you mention a specific practice area, their secondment opportunities etc., should you mention a personal experience/attribute that supports why you're even mentioning these points?
2. For scenario-based questions (e.g. 'What would you do if [...]?') is there a template that can be used (like the STAR structure for competency questions)? I'm asking because, at the start of your responses, couldn't you just say that you could refer to the firm's policy manual/contact your supervisor if there is an issue?

 

[wqueens8]

Anyone applying/applied for bakers? I'm unsure how to go about the first question, discussing a topic you're passionate about and how it's impacted you personally or professionally.

I've heard some firms in the past say they like when you go a bit out there, say you're really passionate about dodgeball or something. But with the wording of this "a topic" I'm more inclined to go for something a bit more generic.

 

[Tcvspfo]

PWC VI invite. Any insights will be great its my first time applying for them.

 

[RonRod13]

Have Bird and Bird sent out WG invites already?

 

[LawyerUpPal]

Maybe three months is an extreme example. How do I avoid getting frustrated by delays? I already feel like I’m playing catch up with my career and am in a hurry to start. Was it wrong to call out a firm for a three month wait post-VS?

The first thing you have to do is manage your own emotions. I have always found that emailing people and cc'ing others, presumably in senior positions, is incredibly passive-aggressive and wastes their time. I would say that you have to develop the skill of talking yourself down in your head from doing impulsive things. This career is full of frustrating moments; how you manage frustrating moments now will dictate how well you do in the future. I had this very experience at Stephenson Harwood this year where, after my VS, I waited almost 3 months after being rescheduled several times (sometimes 30 minutes after the appointment was to occur) to get feedback. I was VERY annoyed; anyone who has dealt with SH knows GR is beyond disorganised. It crossed my mind to email the partner who interviewed me, but I thankfully did not. Turns out they were incredibly short-staffed- of the four people who work in grad rec, two were on maternity leave, and one had an accident and was hospitalised, so only one person was doing the work of 4. Ultimately, I was glad that I had talked myself down and waited. Also, the way Grad Rec staff move around, you are bound to run into these people at multiple firms and don't want to create negative interactions with them.

 

[TrainingContract2024]

I did it last time and it was horrible.

is it like Watson Glaser?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Have Bird and Bird sent out WG invites already?

yeah I applied Wednesday night and got it Thursday afternoon

 

[mfuturetrainee]

has links wvs already handed out their AC invites?

 

[bella98]

yeah I applied Wednesday night and got it Thursday afternoon

Is this for the spring vacation scheme or something else?

 

[sammm10101]

I’ve got my first ever open day tomorrow following a competitive application process, with interactive elements and skill sessions and stuff like that, and I was just wondering whether anyone had any advice over what to expect/ what not to do/ how to make a good impression with everyone?

I’m super excited ! but also quite nervy ahah