TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Apple

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Hi @Apple

This isn't a dumb question at all. Written exercises can be tricky (I struggled with these often in my own applications), and getting the structure right is key! When approaching a memo, I think it's best to use headings and subheadings to clearly separate the different issues or topics you’re addressing. This helps ensure your memo is well-organised and easy to follow.

If it makes sense, I'd also recommend including an executive summary right at the outset. It’s perfectly fine to use numbered bullet points to summarise the key topics under this heading. This can make your memo more reader-friendly, and give your reader a signpost of where you'll be taking them in the rest of the document/memo (especially when there are multiple issues to address). Just make sure each point is concise and clearly highlights the key takeaways if you do include an executive summary. When you dive into each topic in more detail, you can then provide a more in-depth, cohesive analysis, using sub-headings that correspond to the numbered points under the executive summary. Hope that makes sense!

As always, make sure you leave time to read through it before submitting :D

Good luck with your assessment!
Thank you so much for this response, I feel way better going into the AC now ;)
 

Jessica Booker

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Just to clarify and wrap up, I'm interested in what is considered a stand-out score. As you mentioned, my application is considered holistically so even if I do get full marks, I can still have an average written app which pulls me down, especially if the application has a greater weighting on progression. Nonetheless, I'm interested in what is considered a stand-out score (beyond full marks).

With the emphasis on percentiles for some firms, I'm worried that getting say an 83% (roughly 33 marks) could be the 50th percentile, downplaying the strength of my performance. This is an outcome you might see regularly from applicants for firms like Linklaters, just to use as an example.

The firms I'm applying to that use this test/test style are Addleshaw, Hogan Lovells, Bates Wells and CMS. From what I have read, Hogan uses a benchmark, but I'm not sure about the others.
On the most basic levels of analysis, a “standout” percentile ranking would generally be anything 80th or above.

However, I’d stress this does not mean you need to get the 80th percentile in these assessments.

What you don’t know is what group of people you are being assessed against to get that percentile ranking.

This is an extreme example with made up numbers just to explain things…

You could do the same test and be assessed against different norm groups (these are the other people they are comparing you against). One norm group could be a general UK population group, one group could be your fellow applicants, another group could be partners in the law firm you have applied to. Those groups are likely to have very different percentile rankings for the same test. You could get 80th percentile for the first group (general population), 60th percentile (applicants) and 30th percentile (partners). Each firm could then have different views of what is “standout” - the firm who assesses you against partners could think 30th is a standout performance, while the 60th percentile for the general applicant pool could be considered average.

To make it even more complicated, different firms weight different aspects of the WG differently, so it’s really difficult to compare tests or make statements about what is good/what is not.
 

studentdelaw786

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Hi Hamzah, it's great to meet you too :)! TCLA's policy is to try to keep all discussions on the forum unless it is concerns very personal issues and circumstances. Firstly, this is so everyone else can get the benefit of reading our posts. Secondly, it is so that other people can get involved in the conversation as well, as a lot of useful insights and perspectives are shared as a result of that. Thus, I would encourage you to just write a response here to continue the discussion - I will be happy to respond to any questions.
No worries! Happy to continue here.

So, I was hoping to understand the sources of the research that you did for DPW’s profile. I have used Chambers Student and Legal Cheek so far, but I am looking for more detailed sources to get a comprehensive outlook.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts!
 

Jessica Booker

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After one purely motivational question, Addleshaw Goddard has the additional question: "Use this space to tell us about any mitigating circumstances that you might have or any other information about you that might be relevant to your application.". Besides mitigating circumstances, is it common/does it make sense to use this section as a "Why me?" section, for example detailing skills and positions of responsibility? Or should I simply leave it blank if I don't have any mitigating circumstances? (If I had to guess, I would assume that it was intended to be only about information akin to mitigating circumstances, but I can't be sure.)
If the application form has “why me” and —a “extra curricular” section it is important of not just use this question as an opportunity to carry over details that could have been included elsewhere. Generally, I would only recommend adding any details in this section that you feel are important context to your application but that you don’t have the ability to provide elsewhere (eg you have not been asked the question/given the opportunity to explain).
 

Jessica Booker

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For writing a memo, if I'm trying to address multiple separate topics is it appropriate to use numbered bullet points in the executive summary to summarise each key topic. Also, when addressing each topic in depth is it appropriate to use numbered points again, or should I be writing in full prose?

Sorry for what is probably a dumb question, but I've looked online and I'm struggling to see a consistent approach that I can be confident in going into my AC.
I’d stress there is not a consistent approach to this.

You will need to weigh up presenting the information in the clearest, most structured and concise way, and there could be many different approaches that achieve that.
 

Tintin06

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Tsitsipas10S

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If anyone could help with this, I'd be very grateful - if one SC firm recruits solely from its vacation scheme, and another has 50-100% from direct applications (and the rest through the vacation scheme), would my chances be higher of being offered a TC after a vacation scheme from the firm that recruits solely through its vacation scheme?

They have a similar number of TCs on offer.

Thanks! :)
 


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