TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[1stCycleApplicant]

congrats legends when did you guys apply

I just got my vi invite for London. I applied on the 31st October.

 

[AlegalA]

CRS vi!!

 

[Jessica Booker]

It's frightening how differently people behave when hidden behind the cloak of online anonymity.

I believe that requiring users to display their legal name would make a difference. The Times online recently implemented a similar policy, mandating that users show at least their last name and first initial. I have noticed that since this, the number of unacceptable (racist, misogynistic, classist etc) comments under articles has dropped significantly.

Maybe you could initiate something similar @Jaysen @Jessica Booker

This is an interesting point, and I appreciate you raising it.

One of the key reasons the forums are so valuable is the anonymity they provide. Based on private messages I’ve received, many members strongly prefer to remain anonymous, particularly due to concerns about being identifiable to firms or recruiters. Given that the forums are publicly accessible, some worry being identifiable could affect their standing in firms' recruitment processes. Others also prefer not to be recognised by fellow members, especially when sharing updates on their progress or experiences. The ability to be identified beyond TCLA could deter people from engaging as openly. I’ve personally experienced this, having been contacted on LinkedIn as a result of my posts on the forums.

I also believe our community is quite different from platforms like The Times. While a name like “J Booker” in a Times comment section could belong to hundreds or even thousands of people, within TCLA, it would be far easier to identify individuals, particularly if additional details about their background were included. Law is a small industry, and the “seven degrees of separation” is often closer to two or three. That makes anonymity even more important if we were to consider changes like those you have mentioned.

That said, I hope we are striking the right balance through our existing moderation and reporting processes. For example, in this recent instance, a problematic account remained largely unnoticed for the past 4-6 weeks because it was being monitored closely. The issue only became visible to the TCLA community when they deliberately circumvented restrictions through using post reactions to troll people. At that point the community responded quickly, both by calling out the behaviour in the forums and by reporting it to the TCLA team. This allowed us to take action within an hour. This is what I was most pleased with - our community allowed us to stop the behaviour really quickly by calling it out.

The vast majority of our members understand and respect the purpose and rules of TCLA, and instances of rule-breaking remain rare. However, when they do arise, we act swiftly with the support of the community, who play an essential role in flagging concerning behaviour. We always encourage members to use the report function whenever needed, and we review all reports carefully before deciding on appropriate action, whether that involves editing or deleting posts, issuing warnings, moderating accounts, or banning individuals.

Our priority is ensuring that TCLA remains a safe and supportive space. If anyone has ideas on how we can continue to improve this, @Jaysen and I are always happy to hear them.

 

[Bloo]

congrats legends when did you guys apply

Thank you!! <3 I applied 1/1

 

[AS24]

congrats legends when did you guys apply

I applied a couple of weeks before the deadline.

 

[zonnonomo]

I just got my vi invite for London. I applied on the 31st October.

I applied a couple of weeks before the deadline.

Thank you!! <3 I applied 1/1

awesome, good luck! 🤽🏿‍♂️🥅🥇

 

[Anon Lawyer]

Has anyone heard from SPB? Birmingham office specifically?

 

[Defnefresko]

CRS VI - applied 12/01 !

 

[OliverTwist]

This is an interesting point, and I appreciate you raising it.

One of the key reasons the forums are so valuable is the anonymity they provide. Based on private messages I’ve received, many members strongly prefer to remain anonymous, particularly due to concerns about being identifiable to firms or recruiters. Given that the forums are publicly accessible, some worry being identifiable could affect their standing in firms' recruitment processes. Others also prefer not to be recognised by fellow members, especially when sharing updates on their progress or experiences. The ability to be identified beyond TCLA could deter people from engaging as openly. I’ve personally experienced this, having been contacted on LinkedIn as a result of my posts on the forums.

I also believe our community is quite different from platforms like The Times. While a name like “J Booker” in a Times comment section could belong to hundreds or even thousands of people, within TCLA, it would be far easier to identify individuals, particularly if additional details about their background were included. Law is a small industry, and the “seven degrees of separation” is often closer to two or three. That makes anonymity even more important if we were to consider changes like those you have mentioned.

That said, I hope we are striking the right balance through our existing moderation and reporting processes. For example, in this recent instance, a problematic account remained largely unnoticed for the past 4-6 weeks because it was being monitored closely. The issue only became visible to the TCLA community when they deliberately circumvented restrictions through using post reactions to troll people. At that point the community responded quickly, both by calling out the behaviour in the forums and by reporting it to the TCLA team. This allowed us to take action within an hour.

The vast majority of our members understand and respect the purpose and rules of TCLA, and instances of rule-breaking remain rare. However, when they do arise, we act swiftly with the support of the community, who play an essential role in flagging concerning behaviour. We always encourage members to use the report function whenever needed, and we review all reports carefully before deciding on appropriate action, whether that involves editing or deleting posts, issuing warnings, moderating accounts, or banning individuals.

Our priority is ensuring that TCLA remains a safe and supportive space. If anyone has ideas on how we can continue to improve this, @Jaysen and I are always happy to hear them.

Thank you for your response.

Both yours and Jaysen's responses make sense to me. I realise that something as sweeping as my suggestion would probably impact engagement and be counterintuitive.

I agree. It's the odd isolated event, and there is not much you can do about this, bar putting out the flames when it has happened.

Out of curiosity, how do you prevent banned users from signing up again?

 

[gazdgazd11]

Guys did you all apply for VS at CRS? Or direct TC too?

 

[lcmk15]

hey, do people know whether the CRS VI invites are sent all at once? congrats to everyone who has one ! I applied closer to the deadline but wondering whether it's done in batches or if I've been rejected ...

 

[helloj]

Hiya does anyone have any insight into what the Goodwin interview entails? There is nothing online however, some people are stating there is a case study? Any insights would be much appreciated!

 

[murm]

Hey, I hope you are doing well, just wanted to know, when you applied to Debevoise, and when you heard back from them regarding open day?

I applied day of deadline. Heard back at 11:30pm on Wednesday

 

[Amakaa]

AKIN VS🍾🥳🎉💅🏾🙂‍↔️💙


I did the AC yesterday. My dream firm fr🥹

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you for your response.

Both yours and Jaysen's responses make sense to me. I realise that something as sweeping as my suggestion would probably impact engagement and be counterintuitive.

I agree. It's the odd isolated event, and there is not much you can do about this, bar putting out the flames when it has happened.

Out of curiosity, how do you prevent banned users from signing up again?

There are a number of ways we can work out if someone who has been banned has set up another account. We have recently experienced this with another banned account and were able to review certain information and stop the subsequent accounts from going live.

It is not 100% accurate though and we have had instances where further accounts have been set up successfully. However, even then it often leads to those other accounts being banned within a fairly short space of time. Such people usually don't change their behaviour, tone or language and so its easy to spot them a mile off, whether its through their content or subsequent community reports. We have even had community members flag such instances to us, especially when the banned member hasn't been shy in coming forward that they have been banned previously/are the same person!

We also monitor any accounts where there is a risk that the account is a duplicate from a banned member but where we can't be 100% certain that is the case.

 

[hfbjsdhfbhf]

Has anyone heard back from fieldfisher after DAS AC? Please pm me

 

[Zaraa.x]

Has anyone heard from BCLP since Jan regarding the summer vac scheme?

 

[Anonymousxyz]

Has anyone heard back from W&C post-AC (vac scheme application)? If yes, was it a PFO or an offer?

 

[OliverTwist]

There are a number of ways we can work out if someone who has been banned has set up another account. We have recently experienced this with another banned account and were able to review certain information and stop the subsequent accounts from going live.

It is not 100% accurate though and we have had instances where further accounts have been set up successfully. However, even then it often leads to those other accounts being banned within a fairly short space of time. Such people usually don't change their behaviour, tone or language and so its easy to spot them a mile off, whether its through their content or subsequent community reports. We have even had community members flag such instances to us, especially when the banned member hasn't been shy in coming forward that they have been banned previously/are the same person!

We also monitor any accounts where there is a risk that the account is a duplicate from a banned member but where we can't be 100% certain that is the case.

Sounds like you're on top of it! Nice to hear

Happy Friday!

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Forsters post VI PFO - only 20% who did this stage got progressed to the next stage!