TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

is there a word limit for HSF work experiences ?

Hey @Smart water 0403. Most firms do not have strict word limits for the work experience section. However, I recommend using about 2-4 bullet points briefly explaining your key responsibilities in a given role. This will ensure some level of structure and coherency in that section of the application form. You will, in addition to key responsibilities, determine whether you can quantify your involvement in a role. For example, if you managed a social media business and drove sales up by 20% in the first 6 months due to innovative marketing methods, mention this! Incorporating both methods will help showcase a lot of transferable skills to recruiters.

I am unsure about the specifics of HSF’s work experience word limit, as it does not seem visible from the graduate recruitment website. It should be included on the application form within that section, otherwise it is safe to assume the limit is a ‘reasonable‘ word limit. ‘Reasonableness’, may differ between firms - for some its 75, 100, 250, etc. In any case, I would email graduate recruitment if you have any doubts, but this should not be too much of an issue if it’s not specified initially.

 

[Amma Usman]

Many thanks @Amma Usman

But can't prose and headings be used at the same time? For instance, the below:

Heading 1

TEXT IN PROSE

Heading 2

TEXT IN PROSE

Hey @Lastseasonwonder. Yes, absolutely! I’d just ensure that the information below those headings centre solely on the subject matter and specifics of the question. In terms of formatting as well, some application portals do not permit underlining and bold titles, so it’s worth being weary of this.

 

[AS24]

For those applying to NRF, in the academic sections, do we need to list every single exams or just the final qualification with the date?

 

[Andrei Radu]

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? (Max 200 words/1,500 Characters).

how would you answer this question for DLA Piper? I am really confused.

Also, have a lot of people heard back from Sidley's vac scheme?

I've answered a similar query about this DLA Piper question recently - I've quoted my answer bellow, I hope you'll find it helpful.

Hi there! For the first question, I think the two things the firm is trying to test you on is (1) your understanding of the role of a trainee - and specifically, your knowledge of the the less appealing parts of the job; (2) your understanding of the specific internal resources and support offered by DLA. You could structure the answer as:

• Start by pointing out one aspect of the TC that could challenging; then explain why it could be particularly difficult; then explain what specific resources the firm offers to deal with the issue; then explain how you would make use of them, and if you would take any further steps. Finally, if you have examples form past experiences when you have navigated similar challenges, you could mention that as well.
• Then repeat once or twice, depending on word count. Should it be helpful as an example, I've copied bellow my answer to to this question last year (as I ended up being progressed to the AC):

The first challenge I anticipate is delivering high-quality work even when I must simultaneously manage multiple workstreams with tight deadlines. Firstly, to prioritise effectively I would ask the assignor of any work how long it should take me to finish it and how strict the deadline is. Secondly, I would ask for the support of my trainee buddy to learn how to complete routine tasks more efficiently. In my summer internship I finished my Legislative Update email quicker by using (lawyer's name)’s tips, which enabled me to focus on research for a presentation I delivered in front of the entire firm. Consequently, I received positive feedback from my supervisor for the many cases and academic sources I cited.

The second challenge I envisage is starting from the beginning with each rotational cycle, which can be difficult after finally gaining some experience in the previous seat. I would attempt to make the transition easier by anticipating and preparing for the usual trainee work in that practice area, using resources like the Internal Knowledge Hub. I would also invite trainees from that seat for a coffee, where they can share advice and experiences in adapting to the style of the supervisors.

For your second question, unfortunately I do not know that much about the firm's other UK offices. However, I think a useful resource besides the firm's website is its profile in the Chambers UK 2024 Rankings - it should show some practice area rankings by region as well, which will enable you learn about at least some of the work done by the other offices.

Good luck with your application!

 

[Amma Usman]

HSF feedback is a gut punch. It just sounds absolutely brutal, honestly.

I’m sorry to hear this @Tintin06. But don’t forget, every setback is just setting you up for a bigger comeback. You’ve got this!

 

[Amma Usman]

Hiya, does anyone know what the PWC online test for their summer vacation scheme consists of?

Hi @_shims_ , I have linked the general application process HERE , as described on the website. Feel free to drop the early careers team an email if you have any more questions on the specifics of the legal vacation scheme application process. However, I have spoken to a colleague of mine who did the scheme and said the process was largely as described on the link.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Just received a DLA Piper WG. Is that automatic or have I passed the initial app review?

I think last year it was after the initial application review. I'm unsure whether they have kept the same policy for this cycle, I haven't found any relevant information on their website. That said, if it took more than a couple of days since you submitted the application to receive the WG invite, I would guess they reviewed it before.

 

[legal18]

How do people manage university work and applications? I'm one week into my PGDL and I'm getting so stressed, there's so much work and it's so much harder than I expected. I don't know how I'm going to manage the workload on top of applications. Still haven't sent off one VS application and the whole week I've done nothing. Any tips would be much appreciated

 

[BM99]

How do people manage university work and applications? I'm one week into my PGDL and I'm getting so stressed, there's so much work and it's so much harder than I expected. I don't know how I'm going to manage the workload on top of applications. Still haven't sent off one VS application and the whole week I've done nothing. Any tips would be much appreciated

Honestly just time management and prioritisation. Currently working in a full time job, studying for qualifications, and doing applications at the same time

 

[abhuzaifa]

Does anyone know if you need to redo the online assessment for HSF if you passed it previous cycle ?

 

[Tintin06]

Holding myself accountable (again).

CC* ✅
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅
Sidley ✅
Willkie ✅🎥
Cooley ✅
Latham ✅
Skadden ✅
Goodwin ✅
Covington ✅
Linklaters* ✅📝
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅
White & Case ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅
A&O Shearman ✅📝

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

 

[KBanana]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone done the flex legal OA/VI? If so, what kind of questions do they ask and is it automatically sent? Thanks!

 

[erderlylars]

Does anyone know if the linklaters WG is timed?

 

[AS24]

Does anyone know if we need to complete the NRF test before the deadline?

 

[User5678]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone done the flex legal OA/VI? If so, what kind of questions do they ask and is it automatically sent? Thanks!

I’ve gotten a job at flex legal during uni term time. No it’s not automatic, only if you pass the first stage (CV check) then will you be invited to assessment and VI (both are a part of one single assessment and there is no separate VI). It is timed and the camera and mic needs to be left on throughout the test. Make sure to brush up on contract law and litigation questions (I don’t remember what they were as they were long ques w 4 options to choose from). The contract law ques was easy and I did not know the answers to the litigation ones but it was fairly easy to figure out via common sense. VI was basic talk about experiences, why do u want this job. You get unlimited time to prep for the interview but do not use ur phone to search as mic and cam is on. You get three tries to record and upload the video. Hope this helps

 

[hmevey]

How to approach HSF's question What skills, qualities and attributes would you bring to the role? without regurgitating your answer to their other question about what attracts you to HSF/the work experience section

 

[RSK]

Does anyone know if the linklaters WG is timed?

It's untimed

 

[0livia.pope]

Does anyone know if we need to complete the NRF test before the deadline?

they should have given you a deadline on the test email, mine was for the application deadline but i think that may be coincidence

 

[Andrei Radu]

How do people manage university work and applications? I'm one week into my PGDL and I'm getting so stressed, there's so much work and it's so much harder than I expected. I don't know how I'm going to manage the workload on top of applications. Still haven't sent off one VS application and the whole week I've done nothing. Any tips would be much appreciated

I had the same issue in my first application cycle, but despite a significant increase in workload in my second cycle, I was still able to invest a lot more time into my applications. I think this was mainly possible because of the following:

• Prioritization: I decided that besides keeping my learning to a level which would enable me to get a 2.1 at the end of the year, my number one priority was going to be to secure a TC. Firstly, this meant that I significantly decreased the time I was spending on university work in the first few months of the year. I focused solely on doing some of the essential readings to enable me to understand the basics as I was progressing through the course. My worries around the impact to my results were somewhat eased by the fact that I was going to have at least one month at the end of the year in which I could commit only to revising. Secondly, having applications as my no 1 priority meant that I had to significantly decrease the time I was spending on my personal interests and on my social and interpersonal activities. Although never easy, what helped here was being very straightforward from the start to people in my circle about what the next few months would look like for me.
• Planning: A key element to managing your limited time will be proper planning. For your applications, you need to figure out (i) how many firms you are targeting, (ii) which firms you are targeting, and (iii) when you are aiming to submit each application. After you do that and start working, you will be able to estimate roughly how long it takes you to research and write a high-quality application. Subsequently, you should block out some times in your timetable every week exclusively for this purpose. Then, you can make the rest of your work/free time schedule around that.
• Improving efficiency: A big issue for me in my application cycle was that despite spending many hours on some applications, the time was not well-spent. Whenever I would lack inspiration as to how to answer a question, I would fall into the trap of starting to do other things: from beginning a new application, to switching to university work, to taking my phone out and scrolling. What I did in my second cycle which really helped was to commit to not doing anything else but applications work in the allocated times. Although it was very frustrating at first, as time passed I realised I was really improving the output as to how many hours it was taking me to write a good answer.

 

[georgejacob55]

How long after you submitted the application form for HSF did you receive the test link?