TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[s9111]

Anything from Sidley?

 

[Stef]

Anything from Sidley?

Not yet and it’s “rolling”

 

[leaaa2023]

Hey guys, just introducing a friend I recommended to the forum! He is prepping for his first round of Vacation Scheme apps!
@Edgar_Santos

 

[Edgar_Santos]

Hey everyone I'm a 2nd year non-law student at a Russel Group uni. Excited to start this new chapter. Does anyone have advice on which firms I should prioritise when it comes to applying/absolute do's and dont's with applications?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica! I have some questions about the written exercise, usually what kind of information should be included when we write the report?

Hi there - it’s really difficult to give advice on this as it’s so dependent on the exercise.

Think more about:

- What’s the report’s purpose (eg informative, influencing, advising, a recommendation).

- Who is the report’s audience and what do they already know

- What is the key takeaway message you want your audience to remember and how can you ensure this message is super clear in your tone and structure of your writing.

 

[Mentally and Physically Exhausted Applicant]

Has anyone heard back from Sidley Austin Winter AC or Slaughter and May TC or White and Case TC or Paul Hasting TC??? I am tired man.

 

[Tintin06]

Sidley Austin VS apps open. Not to put anyone off applying at all, but I have looked through their trainees on LinkedIn and found only 2 of their 30 trainee cohort who attended state school (granted I probably didn't find everyone).

I don't understand why the likes of Legal Cheek don't look into this and report it.

People know privilege is bad at these US firms - but do they really know it is that bad?

90% Oxbridge too - with some LSE/Bristol and Notts/Exeter came up.

Legal Cheek do 'look into' it: https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/sidley-austin/.

'Universities Currrent Trainees Attended: Oxbridge 44%, Russell Group 47%; Other UK 3%, International 6%'

If we're going to quote statistics (which can and do put people offf applying) let's quote the real ones, shall we?

 

[RVD23]

How long does it take to improve in the Watson Glaser? I have to take one next Friday and am not doing well in the Inferences and assumptions sections

 

[HZP1309]

Has anyone completed the test for A&O Shearman WVS? If so please pm me

 

[19.mfjones]

How long does it take to improve in the Watson Glaser? I have to take one next Friday and am not doing well in the Inferences and assumptions sections

I saw definate improvement within 2 weeks, so I think you've got a solid chance just depending on how much time and effort you put in

 

[Mentally and Physically Exhausted Applicant]

How long does it take to improve in the Watson Glaser? I have to take one next Friday and am not doing well in the Inferences and assumptions sectionsiF

How long does it take to improve in the Watson Glaser? I have to take one next Friday and am not doing well in the Inferences and assumptions sections

I'll be real it depends on how good you are to begin with. If you haven't been practising loads 1 week might not be enough. But if you practice long hours every day and give it your single focus, it's certainly possible. For future reference, you want to be practising 1-2 hours every day for months before you take a Watson Glazer test; it's not really something you can wing too often. hope that helps.

 

[Mentally and Physically Exhausted Applicant]

Hi does anyone know what websites are useful for practice for the A&O Shearman interactive assessment? Where can I practice the maths test especially?

 

[Tintin06]

Hi does anyone know what websites are useful for practice for the A&O Shearman interactive assessment? Where can I practice the maths test especially?

Try this YouTube video for size:

.

 

[Gg2001]

Legal Cheek do 'look into' it: https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/sidley-austin/.

'Universities Currrent Trainees Attended: Oxbridge 44%, Russell Group 47%; Other UK 3%, International 6%'

If we're going to quote statistics (which can and do put people offf applying) let's quote the real ones, shall we?

That does not go against their point though. Legal cheek could say 47% Russell group and majority of those would come from LSE / Durham / Warwick, people who got rejected from Oxbridge. Russell groups unis have their own hierarchy, not all of them are the same. Many people attending LSE / Durham are private school students as well.

 

[AS24]

Hi guys, does anyone know what math elements the A&O test has?

 

[Filia]

That does not go against their point though. Legal cheek could say 47% Russell group and majority of those would come from LSE / Durham / Warwick, people who got rejected from Oxbridge. Russell groups unis have their own hierarchy, not all of them are the same. Many people attending LSE / Durham are private school students as well.

I agree with you 👏🏻

 

[Tintin06]

That does not go against their point though. Legal cheek could say 47% Russell group and majority of those would come from LSE / Durham / Warwick, people who got rejected from Oxbridge. Russell groups unis have their own hierarchy, not all of them are the same. Many people attending LSE / Durham are private school students as well.

Fair enough. The Legal Cheek information doesn't mention school types. LinkedIn would help there, however.

 

[Tintin06]

How long does it take to improve in the Watson Glaser? I have to take one next Friday and am not doing well in the Inferences and assumptions sections

It's really hard. I peaked at 77% in the Watson Glaser in 2020. I regard it as an ableist test, intentionally or otherwise. You cannot be a neurodiverse employer while using that test, in my honest opinion. Just use an interview, written task, SJT etc. Outsourcing to the Watson Glaser feels a bit lazy.

 

[Thom&as]

Hi @Jessica Booker , at the end of the A&O Shearman SJT I think there's a video interview question along the lines of 'why do you want to be a commercial lawyer at A&O Shearman?'. When answering something like this, I don't know whether to prioritise 'Why A&O Shearman?' or 'Why commercial law?'. What structure would you recommend?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker , at the end of the A&O Shearman SJT I think there's a video interview question along the lines of 'why do you want to be a commercial lawyer at A&O Shearman?'. When answering something like this, I don't know whether to prioritise 'Why A&O Shearman?' or 'Why commercial law?'. What structure would you recommend?

I don’t think there is one approach to this. One person may need to prioritise more of the commercial law over the next candidate (for instance if they have no legal work experience). I would ensure there is a balance in the answer so that it covers both parts of the question though and not to put too much emphasise on only one part.