TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[htrizzy100]

Does anyone know how to answer the "what do you understand about what we do" question at a vac scheme interview (sidley) ? I'm a bit confused on how to address this point and where to get info for it @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu (if you have any insights too, please do share!)

 

[Optimistic1111]

Has anyone done horribly in the Watson Glasser test for Linklakers? I did loads of practice ones and was scoring 65-75% percentile, but I just asked for my results and I scored in the 11th!!! I am so so confused and embarrassed honestly.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Hi, does anybody know if Simmons & Simmons’ blended assessment invite is automatic and also if there is a time limit to complete it from when it is sent?

 

[user9809]

I have been spending some time with the bane of my existence - the W*tson Gl*ser (censored in case anyone else is scared of it as much as i am)
I'd love to hear some thoughts on this assumptions question:

Statement - "[Dessert] restaurant must fill its ten missing staff posts as soon as possible. Otherwise, [Dessert restaurant] will be unable to cope with this summer’s influx of tourist customers."

'Assumption' - "There will be more customers this summer."

Now, apparently, the assumption is made. Maybe I'm overthinking this (is that not a good thing?) but I thought that an increase in 'tourist' customers is not the same as an increase in 'customers'. The restaurant might have an increase in 'tourist customers' but it is still possible that other kinds of customer demographics decrease, meaning that the total customers is the same or even might decrease.

I wish that there was a text box option in the watson glaser just so our reasoning (even if wrong) could be explained...
Please help!

Edit - also quick q for @Andrei Radu - I think you mentioned in a post that you made a Watson Glaser guide for yourself when taking the test. Would you by any chance be able to share that with us? Thank you

It’s assumption made. I think you were overthinking it with the tourist part. I would take customers as anyone making a purchase and not separate them out.

 

[ashwright]

It’s assumption made. I think you were overthinking it with the tourist part. I would take customers as anyone making a purchase and not separate them out.

Thank you for clearing that up for me - I really appreciate it. I have a tendancy to overthink the test and it's definitely been my downfall. I guess I need to find a balance.

edit: Same thing happened when I even read an example question for the inferences bit.

The sentence roughly said "Students discussed [topic 1] and [topic 2], because they thought they were important"; the next 'inference' was that 'students discussed [topic 3]'. The correct answer was 'false' but I would've put 'probably false' - i thought false should have been completely impossible. The sentence didn't necessarily exclude the discussion of other topics - it just said that certain topics weren't...
Hopefully, I'll get the hang of this at some point 😂

 

[SamiyaJ]

Has anyone done horribly in the Watson Glasser test for Linklakers? I did loads of practice ones and was scoring 65-75% percentile, but I just asked for my results and I scored in the 11th!!! I am so so confused and embarrassed honestly.

I received mine and I was in the 71% percentile but still got rejected!

 

[AS24]

Hey @AS24 just to jump in before @Ram Sabaratnam and @Amma Usman come back to you, I think since the question does not ask for it explicitly, you do not need to mention how HL could help them. However, if you can, I think it is desirable to do so.

Firstly, the context in which commercial awareness is a useful skill to have in a law firm is exactly that - an ability to connect events impacting clients' businesses with what the firm can do to assist them as a result. This is a direct benefit for the firm, as it is a way to generate more revenues from client mandates and also deepen an existing client relationship. As such, in general I think it makes sense to keep this in mind when interpreting a commercial awareness question. When there is any ambiguity in whether we should add this to the analysis, I have therefore chosen to read this element into the questions.

Secondly, I think the specific request for you to identify one of the firm's clients rather than just any business shows that the firm wants to do more than simply test your general ability to analyze a commercial a story. Simply being able to name one of the firm's clients as part of a category of affected businesses and then going on with a normal general commercial analysis does not add much. As such, I would read into this specific link made with the firm a suggestion that you should add a layer of analysis as to the potential role of the firm in this story.

Finally, I think you should also consider this issue with a view to the downside/upside risk. In the event that the firm did not want you to discuss its potential role in advising a client, it is unlikely this will do much to hurt your progression chances. At most, recruiters would see you as a slightly overeager candidate who wanted to show he can make a connection between the commercial story and the firm's practices. However, in the event that the firm does want you to write about its role and you fail to do so, you will have missed out on scoring well in a key criterion of evaluation.

Thank you @Andrei Radu

You clarified all my doubts and I can keep my answer without changing it!

 

[Optimistic1111]

I received mine and I was in the 71% percentile but still got rejected!

Congrats on the score! I'd imagine perhaps it's a very competitive year, maybe quite a few are scoring high and it seems like from this thread they are allowing others on the summer/spring vacs also. Can I ask, how did you prepare for the WG test and how much preparation time did you dedicate? This is my first year applying for vac schemes.

 

[AveragePoster]

Has anyone heard from Hogan Lovells WVS post-app/post-WG?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Congrats on the score! I'd imagine perhaps it's a very competitive year, maybe quite a few are scoring high and it seems like from this thread they are allowing others on the summer/spring vacs also. Can I ask, how did you prepare for the WG test and how much preparation time did you dedicate? This is my first year applying for vac schemes.

Thank you! But genuinely think I am the worst person to ask for help as I always fail at this stage. I practised on JobTestPrep; watched a few YouTube videos about the inferences and deductions (I still get confused! But there has been some great advice on the forum about this) and also AllAboutLaw have a complete practice test you can practice for free.

I was surprised to receive this score but I think it’s all about practice. It’s also my first proper cycle of applying for vac schemes so spend as much time as you can practising- even 30 minutes a day. Hope that helps!

 

[Optimistic1111]

Thank you! But genuinely think I am the worst person to ask for help as I always fail at this stage. I practised on JobTestPrep; watched a few YouTube videos about the inferences and deductions (I still get confused! But there has been some great advice on the forum about this) and also AllAboutLaw have a complete practice test you can practice for free.

I was surprised to receive this score but I think it’s all about practice. It’s also my first proper cycle of applying for vac schemes so spend as much time as you can practising- even 30 minutes a day. Hope that helps!

This is so helpful, thank you! Going to try and just do them daily and actually try to make sure I understand them lol. I was feeling confident after all my practice tests but I guess now I know what the outcome will be so I can just move on from it.

 

[Interested_In_Law]

Can't believe I am asking this on 4 Nov, but is anyone still waiting to hear from Sidley? This is for post-app...

Have been waiting post interview for nearly 6 weeks

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know how to answer the "what do you understand about what we do" question at a vac scheme interview (sidley) ? I'm a bit confused on how to address this point and where to get info for it @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu (if you have any insights too, please do share!)

The firm wants to understand what you know about the firm but not necessarily in a "why are you applying to us manner". For this question, try to summarise the firm's position in the market and broad client work within it - it really isn't about saying everything about the firm. I would focus on the key things you know and try to present it in a way that is a coherent summary rather than a long list of factors.

 

[msclm]

Dechert really be playing with us

 

[Smart water 0403]

Hi, I have a Q regarding one of the BCLP application questions, wondering if anyone could help?

'Q3 - Please describe a time where you have received constructive feedback? How did you react and how did you utilise this feedback to ensure your own positive self-development?'

I am planning to talk about running a weekly event and using the feedback forms I circulated to attendees, to improve it. However, I am unsure how to link this to 'positive self development'- do I talk about what i learnt from the whole process/ the skills I gained ?

 

[thelegalstudent]

Hi, if I am a final-year international law student graduating next summer, would I still be eligible to work for the summer vacation schemes under my student visa if it has expired? Or would I have to apply for a new one? Thank you!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I have a Q regarding one of the BCLP application questions, wondering if anyone could help?

'Q3 - Please describe a time where you have received constructive feedback? How did you react and how did you utilise this feedback to ensure your own positive self-development?'

I am planning to talk about running a weekly event and using the feedback forms I circulated to attendees, to improve it. However, I am unsure how to link this to 'positive self development'- do I talk about what i learnt from the whole process/ the skills I gained ?

I would focus on the "you" part of this. If you can link the event feedback to your own personal development, then you can use this example but I would not use it if it was just general improvements to the events that were not necessarily a reflection of your input/ideas.

You don't necessarily have to talk about the skills gained, but it is important to show how you proactively react to feedback and find ways to improve yourself in the area(s) you were given constructive feedback on. This is the key part of the question - it isn't really the feedback that they are looking at, it is how you react to the feedback in a positive and constructive way that leads to improvement of your future input/idea and which leads to (or has led to) greater success in the future.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, if I am a final-year international law student graduating next summer, would I still be eligible to work for the summer vacation schemes under my student visa if it has expired? Or would I have to apply for a new one? Thank you!

You will usually get up to three months after your course is completed where you can stay in the UK on your student visa. So your eligibility for summer vacation schemes will depend on when your course finishes. If your course hasn't officially concluded/finished, eligibility might be tricky as you will be limited to working 20 hours a week. If the scheme starts or ends three months after your course finishes, you would need to secure another visa.

Another student visa would only be possible if you were going on to further study. You can apply for the post-study visa (graduate visa) though that will give you up to two years of being able to work and live in the UK with few restrictions. Many international candidates apply for and secure this visa to allow them to work after their studies have finished: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa

 

[F a v o u r]

I PASSED CLIFFORD CHANCES WATSON GLASER TEST- the test is valid for TWO YEARS!

I’m absolutely over the moon, this is such a huge weight off my shoulders and means I can pour everything into the TC application, knowing that it will be reviewed and I don’t have to do the test for this recruitment cycle or the next!

I will keep practicing the Watson Glaser but HALLELUJAH PRAISE THE LORD!

Huge congratulations!!!!👏👏👏🎉🎉🥳

 

[SamiyaJ]

I’m currently attending the W&C virtual event- grad team said they sent out invites for the first open day (14 Nov) today and will send out outcomes for the 2nd open day (21 Nov) later this week