TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
-
- Tags
- vacation scheme
- Sep 7, 2024
- 469
- 1,078
Hiya @Aspiringsolicitor01
I had meant to send you this response yesterday - my apologies for the delay in getting this to you!
Just wanted to built on what @Jessica Booker said. Many firms' video interviews tend to ask similar questions to those in TCLA's interview question bank. The key is to practice answering these questions in a clear and concise way, making sure you can fit your responses within the typical 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes that most VIs allow.
One tool I found really useful for practicing is this page by ULaw: https://go.shortlister.com/marketplace/universityoflaw. It simulates video interviews done by various law firms, which can help you get used to the format and timing constraints. I used it myself before doing VIs for different firms, and it was a great way to prepare by recreating a realistic interview environment. Alternatively, you can also record yourself on your phone or laptop. This helps you refine your answers and get comfortable speaking on camera.
Best of luck!
It’s automatic but I think it’s likely they don’t send them out at weekends. I applied on a Friday and got the test on a Monday.Hi allI applied to BCLP last night and have not received the test yet. Do they send it manually? or does it just take time to come through?
Dunno about you guys but I’m glad for the weekend. I’m still prepping for tests and applications but I’m glad I don’t have the stress of wondering if I’ll hear anything back from anyone during the day 😅
congratulations! did you get invited to the AC? would you mind telling me what questions they asked if you remember?
Thank you so much! This is so helpful and I will slowly digest it : )Hi @MayaM0921 and thanks for the kind words
As for the second part of your question (regarding what skills/examples to pick) I think you have to be strategic in balancing both trying to have the most convincing possible 'why me' answer and in not boxing yourself in a position where you will be forced to repeat yourself. My strategy was to first come up with the best possible answer I could for the 'Why the firm' question, then the best possible answer for the 'Why the firm' question, then the best possible answer to the 'Why commercial law', and only then draft my 'Why you?' answer. This was because I found that only a few of my experiences and achievements, could be connected to firm USPs, slightly more could be connected to my why commercial reasoning, but a lot of them could be used for showcasing a relevant skill or attribute.
- Give a high level summary of what your answer will be, something like 'There are three reasons why you should offer me a place: my critical thinking skills, my organizational skills, and my teamwork abilities, all of which are essential for a trainee solicitor'.
- Take the first skill/ability/attribute that you mentioned, and explain to the firm how an experience or achievement of yours demonstrates it. Use the STAR structure when walking the interviewer through the experience.
- Explain how the skill/ability/attribute is relevant for the job of a trainee solicitor.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other skills/abilities/attributes.
- Conclude by once again giving a short summary of what your answer has been, something like 'So, to conclude, my experiences demonstrate I possess excellent critical thinking, organizational and teamwork skills, and this makes me an ideal fit for the job'.
Beyond that, in drafting my 'Why you' answer I would just use the most impressive leftover experiences, and maybe reference one or two of the experiences in the 'Why commercial law' or 'Why firm' answers if particularly impressive. While you could still be asked a competency question in the interview that forces you to be repetitive, there's no way to eliminate that risk, as there's no way of predicting what competency you will be asked about. However, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Firstly, the interviewers know candidates will not have an unlimited list of experiences to leverage, and will definitely not mind repeating one if you also consider it and discuss it from a different angle. Secondly, while this was something I worried about a lot before my interviews (as at least compared to some of my peers, my CV was not as full) in practice it was not a situation I often found myself in. If anything, the opposite happened more, in that I would not get to speak about more than 2-3 experiences and sometimes I would finish the interview without having mentioned some of my most impressive achievements.
Help pls - what does this answer mean in TW's app?
Please provide details on your decision and elaborate on the reasons behind your choice. {Provide answer of 2500 characters}
Is this re the use of chat GPT? (q above this one is: * Did you seek assistance from ChatGPT when completing this application? (Please note that there is not a right or wrong answer to this question, we are focusing on your integrity to this process).
Please provide details on your decision and elaborate on the reasons behind your choice. {Provide answer of 2500 characters}
Is this re the use of chat GPT? (q above this one is: * Did you seek assistance from ChatGPT when completing this application? (Please note that there is not a right or wrong answer to this question, we are focusing on your integrity to this process).
I would assume that it is re the use of AI
Jones Day had this question on their app as well. I got a PFO in the end but said: "While I chose not to use AI tools in completing my application, I fully support their integration in the legal sector and application process. Jones Day’s white paper on AI regulation highlights the firm’s recognition of AI’s transformative potential, particularly in transactional, litigation, and compliance contexts. AI can streamline processes, provide strategic insights, and mitigate errors for applicants managing multiple applications per cycle. Embracing AI aligns with Jones Day's innovative approach, ensuring efficient solutions in a competitive landscape while maintaining high legal services and recruitment standards. The content should always authentically reflect the applicant's experiences with an AI-enhancing structure".
If I still haven't heard back from white and case post-application, but others have already passed the Virtual interview stage and are getting ACs, does this mean I'm in a reject pile? or do they tend to hold many ACs?
W&C AC! I had a question about the questions to ask during the interview, as it would be with the grad rec and an associate. What are some examples of questions that I could ask the both of them?
rip was going to apply today but guessing there's probably not much point...
issa knife when you really want to apply to a firm but they have the worst possible application questions
when they ask about a time you showed courage/resilience... like applying in itself is a terrifying process thank you very much surely this covers it
When you reapply to a firm, do you mention it tactfully to exhibit that you’re really driven to this particular firm? Or leave it out
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
- Sticky
- Sticky
