TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Brandon93]

Hi everyone, sorry if this was asked before. I'm currently applying to Freshfields and they have an OPTIONAL CV upload in their application form. Has anyone been successful without uploading the CV or is it absolutely necessary for a successful application?

 

[Looper88]

@Jessica Booker Sorry, please could I trouble you for your opinion on rescheduling an WVS AC due to health issues? Given the sensitive issue at hand, I would like to DM you, would that be ok? 😀

 

[AI212121]

Has anyone heard back from Gibson Dunn, or does anyone know around when they tend to get back to applicants. I applied in the beginning of September and am starting to feel kinda worried lol.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all! I did a vacation scheme last summer but unfortunately did not get the training contract. I have an interview tomorrow with a firm for a WVS and am anticipating a question around the vac scheme I completed and why I did not get the training contract. I was wondering what the ideal approach is to answer this question as I didn't receive a ton of (useful) feedback on my previous vacation scheme. Essentially, I made some attention to detail mistakes on a markup exercise and in my interview scored 4/5 out of every category instead of 5/5 (with no qualitative feedback on the latter!).

I would try to do more self-analysis as to what you think you could have improved on if you did not get enough feedback from the firm, and focus your answer in the interview as to what you have done subsequently to try to improve/develop in the areas you thought were your weaker areas.

 

[Law Student]

Hey guys, I need advice. I’ve been offered a paralegal/legal assistant role but it’s unpaid. Do you think I should take it? I’m struggling to find anything else and I will still be doing VS/TC applications whilst working. Or should I find a retail job instead that pays? Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Sorry, please could I trouble you for your opinion on rescheduling an WVS AC due to health issues? Given the sensitive issue at hand, I would like to DM you, would that be ok? 😀

You should definitely reschedule if you are unwell - it is not appropriate to attend an assessment if you are unwell and like universities, recruiters very much take a "fit to sit" approach.

However, you can PM me about this but my PMs are exceptionally busy at the moment and I cannot guarantee a response today (hence why I have replied here).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know the correct structure to answering this question in AllHires:

Have you ever had to resit an exam? If yes, which exam(s) and what was the outcome?

I wouldn't worry about structure here - I would just present the facts of any exams/modules you had to resit, when they happened, and if you passed the second after the resit, with any final grade and capped score.

 

[RSK]

Has anyone heard anything post-AC from W&C WVS? The wait is killing me, not sure how much longer I can wait for.

I know they're still sending out VI's / AC's but it would be great to know what the typical turnaround time is (if there is one)?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you. There is that, but was wondering if I should go into detail as to why I failed and what I did better, etc.

You don't have to include this detail and generally I would say to avoid it as it can come across as more of an excuse if you explain why you failed (outside of mitigating circumstances). If you go on to do well on the resit, this would show you could do better and so explaining how you did better the second time around is also unnecessary detail.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Has anyone heard back from Gibson Dunn, or does anyone know around when they tend to get back to applicants. I applied in the beginning of September and am starting to feel kinda worried lol.

I haven;'t heard back either and I applied on the 1st of sept lol. Dyu know what the next stage would be?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Amma,

I just wanted to bounce off this and ask another q related to this. So the firm I'm applying to is quite strong in EM and so I wanted to potentially talk about how the US tariffs would impact the trade deals in EMs going forward as a topical issue if I were to be asked. Would you still advice against it?

@Andrei Radu would love your thoughts too!​

I don't think a topic like this is off the cards as it is something that will be impacting lawyers. As long as you focus on the potential impact of policy decisions rather than your opinions on political figures, I don't see this as being an issue.

 

[applebunny]

Hey @applebunny I would not worry too much about this. First of all, it is actually quite hard to cheat in a WG as for many questions even consistently high-scoring candidates will have to 'go with their gut'. Secondly, graduate recruiters are well aware that because of that, the WG scores of the same candidates can significantly vary between different tests. They will also be especially aware of this in the context of an AC, where people in the past will have also struggled with nerves.

Thirdly, the firm will not only be assessing you on your WG performance. As such, if you can show your qualities in the other assessments and you do well, they will be inclined to assume you have the analytic skills to do well in the WG and that if there was a drop in performance in the AC it was likely due to nerves. Fourthly, in my opinion what tends to matter most for AC conversion is what the interviewing partners think of you. If they are impressed, it is not likely you will be rejected simply because of a discrepancy in WG performance.

Finally, even in the very unlikely case where your WG score discrepancy is so significant that they cannot overlook it, if the firm otherwise would have wanted to make you an offer, I do not think they would straight out reject you. I believe it is more likely that they would try to speak with you and possibly schedule further WG assessments to see if the discrepancy can have another explanation besides cheating in the initial test.

Thus, my advice is not to let this cause you anxiety on the day of the AC. Try to go with a positive attitude and know that you are going to absolutely nail it!

thank you so much for your helpful and kind response!

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Has anyone heard back from Gibson Dunn, or does anyone know around when they tend to get back to applicants. I applied in the beginning of September and am starting to feel kinda worried lol.

for their summer vs the deadline is jan but they recruit on a rolling basis so idk when we will hear back

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

for their summer vs the deadline is jan but they recruit on a rolling basis so idk when we will hear back

Someone applied end of September and heard back start of Nov about an interview next week

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Someone applied end of September and heard back start of Nov about an interview next week

oh damn lucky them ! so maybe we will hear soon? I am losing hope in my early applications, as people who applied after me are hearing back sooner

 

[Jessica Booker]

I somehow scored 36/40 in wg for Linklaters but I heard you have to retake it at the AC. It was my first attempt and I am worried I won't be able to do as well when I redo it especially due to nerves as it will be my first AC. How badly do I have to do for them to reject me post-AC because of it or think that I cheated the first time?

I'd stress (as someone who has designed and implemented such assessments) that this is highly unlikely to happen even with having more nerves at an assessment centre stage.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone, sorry if this was asked before. I'm currently applying to Freshfields and they have an OPTIONAL CV upload in their application form. Has anyone been successful without uploading the CV or is it absolutely necessary for a successful application?

If its optional, the firm does not need it to make a decision on your application. It is most likely a default setting on their application software that they can't remove.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey guys, I need advice. I’ve been offered a paralegal/legal assistant role but it’s unpaid. Do you think I should take it? I’m struggling to find anything else and I will still be doing VS/TC applications whilst working. Or should I find a retail job instead that pays? Thanks

Unless this is a charity or providing a public service like legal aid, please avoid. If this is a company that charges and makes revenue, the role should be paid minimum wage and labelling them up as a "volunteer" role actually rarely makes them such. The company is likely to be on the wrong side of minimum wage legislation if they are employing people on an unpaid basis.

 

[stargazed]

How would you go about answering the question: "If successful in securing a training contract after the Summer Internship, what do you anticipate will be the key challenges of the International Training Programme for you? How would you approach these challenges, and what resources or support do you believe you would need to overcome them?"

How closely tied to the firm does it have to be and how would one make themselves stand out (since I imagine everyone might end up saying similar things)?

 

[lawyersum]

Mishcon be sending my heart bracing for a PFO with the first line of that confirmation email lol