TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[studentgrad]

Is CMS accepting applications from recent LAW graduates? The wording on their websites looks a bit confusing?

 

[VMS]

Just received an email saying I hit the benchmark for HSF. I can't find anyone on the forums that didn't hit the benchmark, so it must be fairly low.

I think I've seen two comments by people who said they've been rejected.

 

[legal18]

Anyone heard anything for the Taylor Wessing October Open Day?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Did the HSF assessment and a minute later I received a response saying I hit the benchmark. If only we would receive outcomes that quickly huh?!

 

[tc252627]

Hi! Since the application form does not have any more questions where you can provide a written answer and expand more on your experiences, I think you will be given a bit more leeway regarding the level of detail you go to into the roles and responsibility section. That said, I do think you will have to observe the same norms of brevity and relevance that apply to cover letter/motivations questions. You can expand on your experiences more than you would in the normal work experience section, provided that (i) everything you write adds value to the recruiter's understanding of your roles, skills, and candidate profile; and (ii) you have been just as diligent in ensuring you have written in a clearly structured and to-the-point manner as you would have been for a section where you had a word limit.

As for the structure, I still advise you to use the normal STAR structure, but perhaps with one or two tweaks to allow you to add details which can show your experiences in a slightly better light:

1. Situation: here, instead of just jumping into a description of the general characteristics of the job, you may add one or two sentences describing the broader context: how did you get this job/position of responsibility (eg was it a competitive application process? networking? etc), why did you undertake this role specifically, what is the company/organization you were working for etc.
2. Task: here, once again you can expand a bit on the context - where you given this task or did you proactively seek it out? is this the normal type of task someone in your role would be expected to perform, or were you able to take on more high responsibility matters?
3. Action: I think this will be similar to how you would write in other work experience section, but perhaps instead of feeling you have to limit yourself at one or two task-action descriptions, you can write about some others if you think they are also relevant.
4. Result: here, you will of course want to have a concrete (and if possible, quantifiable) consequence or impact of your action. However, besides that, I think you can also add a few sentences linking the result (and the entire experience more broadly) to your application. Thus, you can link your experience of the role with motivations for commercial law, with motivations for the firm (but make sure you're not going on too much of a stretch!), and with skills/attributes that are useful for a trainee.

Thanks so much!

 

[HZP1309]

is it acceptable to refer to DLA piper as 'DLA' on the application or should I use the firm's full name?

 

[legal18]

For a firm having an open day in October, November and December. Do you think all will be equally as competitive?

 

[Tintin06]

is it acceptable to refer to DLA piper as 'DLA' on the application or should I use the firm's full name?

I think 'DLA Paper (DLA)' then 'DLA'.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Also, would opting out of the Rare Contextualised recruitment questionnaire affect your application in any way?

The system works on creating a series of "flags" which identify your social mobility. The more disadvantaged your background, the more flags you would have. These flags then can be used to put context against your achievements.

If you don't complete the form then this assessment cannot be done, but for many people they will know their background won't cause a flag anyway and so choose to not complete it. It doesn't disadvantage those people - they wouldn't have a flag anyway and the system just identifies them as having no flags.

The only disadvantage could be if you had any flags and the firm was not able to identify them where your details where not submitted.

 

[-legal-]

For a firm having an open day in October, November and December. Do you think all will be equally as competitive?

Paul Weiss?

 

[Tintin06]

When did you get a HSF rejection?

I got their rejection last week.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker ,

In some application forms, firms ask if you know any employees and to state your relationship with them. Would this include people I’ve had coffee chats with? Additionally, how might this impact a candidate’s application?

Thanks!

I think you have to determine whether you have a relationship with the individual rather than just knowing them. If the latter, you could still include the people you have spoken to (this is very common) but they are looking for more of a substantial connection.

The reason for this question is it helps identify the internal person. It tends to go a little haywire when HR/Graduate Recruitment don't know about the connection - the internal person can often be asking for updates on application statuses (which is even more difficult to manage with GDPR) or want to know why their connection was unsuccessful.

It can also ensure compliance with any anti-nepotism policies. Some firms do not allow relatives of people of a certain seniority to apply for jobs within the firm (especially partners). It can also help identify and client connections which often need more considerations - e.g. relationship partners for major clients want to know if you are going to turn down their client's son/daughter.

So don't worry about it from your perspective - it is really just being used to manage firm processes rather than it being something about you.

 

[Jessica Booker]

For a firm having an open day in October, November and December. Do you think all will be equally as competitive?

Generally yes - the firm will apply the same standards to select candidates across open days.

But open days can be less/more competitive for a whole host of reasons outside of your control though and that you'd never be able to predict why they received more or less applications anyway. Even if they did receive fewer applications and had not received the quality they required, they would just take fewer people on the open day.

 

[lookingforaTC]

Is Links WG deadline with the application deadline if I remember correctly?

 

[juaanperez]

How long did it take for people to get their ‘passed the benchmark’ email after submitting the SJT? For HSF

 

[fingersarecrossed]

entry jobs hiring those who have 4+ years of legal experience????????? what????????

 

[asplawyer100]

I got their rejection last week.

Was that due to failing the blended online assessment?

 

[cjwx]

You won't need to attach a CV for this - your application form will be sufficient. You also won't need to submit a cover letter as the application form covers the motivational questions the firm is asking for.

I looked at the FAQ's for DLA Piper and it states they do not accept separate CV's. However, it is part of the application for the summer internship I am not sure if I am over thinking this but is it a definite that their is no need for a CV?

 

[_shims_]

Unlimited prep, 2 mins to speak

Thank you!

 

[jasonbourne]

Definitely wait for a decision on your open day application. You'd easily have the whole of December (and maybe even more of November) to apply for the vacation scheme and with rolling recruitment, the vast majority of people will still apply in the last 2-3 weeks.

Appreciate that thank you!