TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[bella98]

Is CMS TC rolling or non-rolling? I keep finding conflicting information and I need to know if I should prioritise it ahaha

 

[AveragePoster]

Is CMS TC rolling or non-rolling? I keep finding conflicting information and I need to know if I should prioritise it ahaha

Rolling, I received a WG invite (non-automatic) about a week ago. Have heard nothing since, though!

 

[lawyersum]

@bella98 Sorry to throw a spanner in the works here but CMS’s Instagram post (in caption) has said they’re not rolling. I also don’t know what to do whether I should prioritise them??

 

[DesperateForVac]

Not last year - they asked people to do them before the AC but said in the feedback call that it was just to collect data and didn't use them to make decisions

is this true? why would they need data on it? so if someone got a WG for Cleary does that mean they will get an AC? seems unrealistic idk tho

 

[AveragePoster]

@bella98 Sorry to throw a spanner in the works here but CMS’s Instagram post (in caption) has said they’re not rolling. I also don’t know what to do whether I should prioritise them??

Oh, that is odd. I have just checked my correspondence from them - I submitted my London TC app on 30th Sept, the opening date, and received an email saying "Thank you for your online application. We appreciate the time you have taken to complete this and are delighted to confirm that we would like to progress you to the next stage of our application process, which is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test" on 14th Oct, this past Monday.

 

[lawyersum]

Oh, that is odd. I have just checked my correspondence from them - I submitted my London TC app on 30th Sept, the opening date, and received an email saying "Thank you for your online application. We appreciate the time you have taken to complete this and are delighted to confirm that we would like to progress you to the next stage of our application process, which is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test" on 14th Oct, this past Monday.

I know it is quite odd, but maybe once you do the WG, they don't give out AC invites until after the deadline? I can't think of any other way 'non-rolling' would make sense.

 

[AveragePoster]

I know it is quite odd, but maybe once you do the WG, they don't give out AC invites until after the deadline? I can't think of any other way 'non-rolling' would make sense.

Yeah, that may well be it!

 

[DulyDiligent]

I landed the Slaughters AC for their direct TC, which I have next week. In terms of firm contact pre application, I mentioned the legal cheek vac scheme, and a bright network careers event I went to where I met trainees/gradrec

How long did it take after ur app to get the invite?

 

[bella98]

@bella98 Sorry to throw a spanner in the works here but CMS’s Instagram post (in caption) has said they’re not rolling. I also don’t know what to do whether I should prioritise them??

Sooo if they're not rolling then I'll focus on another firm since I have one rolling deadline left. I will attend their events in the meantime

I know it is quite odd, but maybe once you do the WG, they don't give out AC invites until after the deadline? I can't think of any other way 'non-rolling' would make sense.

Exactly, I was thinking the same thing. I believe they'll only start reviewing applications/WGs and inviting candidates to ACs after the deadline at this point

 

[NJS]

Congrats!! I'm still waiting to hear back after VI. Not sure how that went though, did you feel yours went well, as you said you were not expecting it? And how long did it take for you to hear back? Thanks!

I’m still waiting post app lol

 

[LawLawLawLawLaw]

Hi - sorry to pester but if I applied for Sidley Austin's Winter Vac scheme in September and still haven't heard anything, should I take this as a PFO?

 

[Jessica Booker]

is this true? why would they need data on it? so if someone got a WG for Cleary does that mean they will get an AC? seems unrealistic idk tho

They could be piloting the assessment to see if it creates any correlation to other assessments and therefore see if it is a predictive tool to use in future cycles.

 

[PlimptonWeld]

Not last year - they asked people to do them before the AC but said in the feedback call that it was just to collect data and didn't use them to make decisions

I think they've changed their process now... (I hate WGs)

 

[PlimptonWeld]

is this true? why would they need data on it? so if someone got a WG for Cleary does that mean they will get an AC? seems unrealistic idk tho

No, I can confirm. Was invited to AC last year and the WG was also attached to the AC invite. On the feedback call, they said the same but I think they've changed their process to use WG to filter candidates now. (rip me)

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

If anyone is waiting for a WG from DLA it might be because you haven’t completed the Rare survey. That’s what has just happened to me. Hopefully now I’ve completed it they get back to me with their verdict sharpish.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Does Cleary filter using WGs?

To contribute to the Cleary discussion, I'm 99% sure it's part of the process now because I was sent one not too long after applying. Not sure if it's a "filter" with a concrete benchmark though.

 

[Bread]

If anyone is waiting for a WG from DLA it might be because you haven’t completed the Rare survey. That’s what has just happened to me. Hopefully now I’ve completed it they get back to me with their verdict sharpish.

On that note, do candidates get penalised for not filling out the Rare survey? I didn't grow up in the UK so almost all of the questions are inapplicable (eg. school meals, postcode, etc), but they do not have a "prefer not to say" option. I usually opt out because the answers I would necessarily have to supply would not be reflective of my circumstances in any way, but is this a bad thing?

 

[F a v o u r]

To contribute to the Cleary discussion, I'm 99% sure it's part of the process now because I was sent one not too long after applying. Not sure if it's a "filter" with a concrete benchmark though.

Do they ask people to complete the test before the deadline? Or do we get a certain number of days to complete it, regardless of when we submit the application?

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Do they ask people to complete the test before the deadline? Or do we get a certain number of days to complete it, regardless of when we submit the application?

It's three days from the date of the invite! I assume that'll be the same in any case because the test isn't automatically sent out (i.e. you might receive it after the application deadline in the first place)

 

[F a v o u r]

It's three days from the date of the invite! I assume that'll be the same in any case because the test isn't automatically sent out (i.e. you might receive it after the application deadline in the first place)

oh okay, thanks for clarifying