TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I got 21/40 in the linklaters test. Placing me 10% percentile which is heartbreaking. I have been trying my hardest with this test. Can anyone advice what they got and what percentile I should try to reach!! Been practicing this test forever.

Did you email to find this out?

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Did you email to find this out?

yep - you can email grad rec to find out your test results

 

[James Wakefield]

AG Voice Interview! 😅

 

[James Wakefield]

Just to bring this back. Any advice for the time to take for preparation on a VI where there is no limit?

Is 15 minutes ok for each question? Just thinking of that as a maximum.

 

[Eye of the Sun]

Shakespeare Martineau and HSF PFO after taking the tests.
Not a promising end to 2024 but we gotta keep going

 

[pax]

Shakespeare PFO after test

 

[mmm918]

anyone heard back from dla regional (manchester) post wg? i passed the assessment on 2 dec and no reply since

I completed WG in late November and got VI invite in a week (Manchester office). But the processing time could be longer now

 

[g.cl.2020344]

AG Voice Interview! 😅

Heya congrats! Can I ask which office this was for and if this is the stage after the test?

 

[James Wakefield]

Heya congrats! Can I ask which office this was for and if this is the stage after the test?

London and yes it is. I applied back in October and did the test in November.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Great thank you for answering! Would you therefore suggest I focus on 2/3 things for that first question, rather than giving more in depth information about my CV?

Yes, I definitely do not think the first question is meant to get you to provide an overview of all of your experiences and achievements. Similarly to almost all essay-like application form questions, it is more likely meant to make you choose a few particularly relevant experiences to explain in a lot more depth.

 

[ashwright]

Quick question for @Andrei Radu - could I check what Davis Polk‘s expectations of academics are? Is a first necessary or will a high 2:1 suffice? Equally, are you aware of how the firm treats mitigating circumstances?
Thank you so much

 

[pax]

Shakespeare Martineau and HSF PFO after taking the tests.
Not a promising end to 2024 but we gotta keep going

Was the HSF PFO for spring or summer?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Jessica Booker, @Andrei Radu and @Ram Sabaratnam,

I trust you are well.

I finished drafting my cover letter for Greenberg, the firm's website states that we can address it to the Graduate Recruitment Team but I was wondering if I should include my details (on the top) too. What do you think?

I think it makes for a nicer and more formal look if you can include your details as well - it may just be an aesthetic preference in my case, but I really like a cover letter that looks similar to an actual letter. That said, it is definitely not a requirement, and I would only advise you to do it if this is possible without messing up your formatting or cutting away too much word count.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Quick question for @Andrei Radu - could I check what Davis Polk‘s expectations of academics are? Is a first necessary or will a high 2:1 suffice? Equally, are you aware of how the firm treats mitigating circumstances?
Thank you so much

The firm does not require a first, as recruiters have told me they only expect a strong 2.1. In my vacation scheme, I knew there were people that did not have overall 1.1s, so I think this is a genuine statement of recruitment policy. I was told that the firm will consider candidates who do not have a high 2.1 as well if they have mitigating circumstances, but I am not aware of any particular policies in this regard. While I have no further information on this, I think it is general practice with City firms to consider them on a case by case basis. Generally, I would expect that the way mitigating circumstances can effect progression is in a case where an application scores really well on all other relevant assessment criteria and the candidate only slightly falls off from a normal required academic standard. Thus, I have heard of a number of cases where people with lower than required A level results ended up receiving TC offers.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Just to bring this back. Any advice for the time to take for preparation on a VI where there is no limit?

Is 15 minutes ok for each question? Just thinking of that as a maximum.

I don't think you should necessarily limit your preparation time. If there is no limit imposed by the firm, I would simply take as much time as I needed to perfect both my substantive points and the way I expressed them. Now, while I don't think there's much to be gained by spending hours doing mock answers for each question, I would also say that if a particular question feels more challenging, there's nothing wrong with taking 30 minutes instead of 15. Conversely, if you receive a question you are already well-prepared for, you may be fine starting in 3-4 minutes rather than 15.

 

[savage]

Were Weil and Kirkland video interviews for Spring or Summer?

 

[legalxp2]

How long do Mayer brown let you know you passed the first set of tests?

 

[Reem2024]

The firm does not require a first, as recruiters have told me they only expect a strong 2.1. In my vacation scheme, I knew there were people that did not have overall 1.1s, so I think this is a genuine statement of recruitment policy. I was told that the firm will consider candidates who do not have a high 2.1 as well if they have mitigating circumstances, but I am not aware of any particular policies in this regard. While I have no further information on this, I think it is general practice with City firms to consider them on a case by case basis. Generally, I would expect that the way mitigating circumstances can effect progression is in a case where an application scores really well on all other relevant assessment criteria and the candidate only slightly falls off from a normal required academic standard. Thus, I have heard of a number of cases where people with lower than required A level results ended up receiving TC offers.

So if I have a 2:1 (65%) should I not apply?

 

[Mug Fan]

yep - you can email grad rec to find out your test results

Is this before or after you hear back from them on the test? I’ve still not had general feedback (I.e. pass/fail to the next round) from the test yet…

 

[Tintin06]

So if I have a 2:1 (65%) should I not apply?

I got a 2.1 (62.5%). I got several ACs last cycle. White & Case. Latham & Watkins. Ropes & Gray. I think you should try here. It's just one firm of many. Don't restrict yourself when there's time. Just go for it and try.