TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

On that note, do candidates get penalised for not filling out the Rare survey? I didn't grow up in the UK so almost all of the questions are inapplicable (eg. school meals, postcode, etc), but they do not have a "prefer not to say" option. I usually opt out because the answers I would necessarily have to supply would not be reflective of my circumstances in any way, but is this a bad thing?

They said you can opt out instead of completing it.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

They said you can opt out instead of completing it.

I am also really curious about this. Does it impact you if you don't complete this section (Rare context). I sometimes don't because I feel I don't tick the boxes per se (i.e. didn't have free school meals, not a carer at a young age etc).

@Jessica Booker - could you please opine here?

 

[B2025]

PWC VI messed that up big time and if I get their AC it will be a miracle. For anyone wanting advice be prepared for scenario based situations and how you will react. Also it is so annoying you can't look at your notes during prep time as they notice when you switch screens. They notice when you switch screens and a pop up comes up. The worst VI but will wait for my PFO soon.

 

[Bread]

They said you can opt out instead of completing it.

Yes, which is why I asked whether candidates get penalised for not completing it (i.e. by opting out)

 

[bangarangbass39]

Yes, which is why I asked whether candidates get penalised for not completing it (i.e. by opting out)

I don't think it would be legitimate for them to penalise you. The whole point of that recruitment tool is to help disadvantaged candidates where they can. Such as a candidate who completed A levels at a low performing school for example. If it doesn't apply to you, there won't be much use of the system in their reviewal of your application. In essence, it is not assessed in the way the rest of your application is. It is, for one way to think about, mitigating circumstances for whom it benefits. You have every right not to complete it, as shown by the option. Rejecting you on the basis that they gave you an option to not provide information, and you choose not to, is deceitful as it has not been indicated as an essential/required assessment point. Also, it would be a highly questionable practice.

Bit of a stretch here but rejecting someone because they aren't disadvantaged runs the risk of being discriminatory - this does not mean events and insights towards social mobility and DEI are before an argument about that develops...

 

[yasmars]

Does anyone have an updated list of firms that do not use psychometric tests within their recruitment processes ?

 

[lawyersum]

Has anyone heard back from SPB regarding the Open Day?

 

[Bread]

I don't think it would be legitimate for them to penalise you. The whole point of that recruitment tool is to help disadvantaged candidates where they can. Such as a candidate who completed A levels at a low performing school for example. If it doesn't apply to you, there won't be much use of the system in their reviewal of your application. In essence, it is not assessed in the way the rest of your application is. It is, for one way to think about, mitigating circumstances for whom it benefits. You have every right not to complete it, as shown by the option. Rejecting you on the basis that they gave you an option to not provide information, and you choose not to, is deceitful as it has not been indicated as an essential/required assessment point. Also, it would be a highly questionable practice.

Bit of a stretch here but rejecting someone because they aren't disadvantaged runs the risk of being discriminatory - this does not mean events and insights towards social mobility and DEI are before an argument about that develops...

I completely agree, plus me filling out the survey would corrupt the process, but I wonder whether it not being legitimate for them to penalise me would stop them :/

 

[lilymawe1]

Just got Capp report back from Linklaters, strengths were working with others and resilience, weakness was leadership preference. Anyone have any insights on this? Im worried scoring badly for leadership doesn't look good (i.e., lacking confidence/initiative), but not sure what to make of it

 

[WillkieGemma]

I completely agree, plus me filling out the survey would corrupt the process, but I wonder whether it not being legitimate for them to penalise me would stop them :/

Hi all

If you don't mind me jumping on here, I'll answer as someone who uses the CRS as part of the application process. The CRS is there to assist those who've faced socio-economic adversity, not penalise those who haven't. Equally, absolutely everyone has the right to decline to answer these questions - it's a very personal decision. Feel free to ask me a question about things like this and I'll happily answer.

thanks
Gemma

 

[l789]

I received an interview invite despite having no formal interactions with the firm.

Thank you for letting me know!

 

[KBanana]

Hi @KBanana!

1. I think it is fine to write about an upcoming open day - and especially for Paul, Weiss, which has been extremely competitive from what I hear. I think whether the proposed sentence works depends on the context of the rest of answer. When I was listing upcoming events, I would just write something such as "Finally, I have secured a place and will attend open days at ...". However, if you want to try to link this with any insights, you can maybe say something like "I secured an open day at Paul, Weiss, where I expect to improve my commercial awareness by learning more about one of the most remarkable recent developments in the City's private equity legal landscape".
2. I think it is very unlikely his will be taken under consideration in any way. Recruiters are quite aware that people have different schedules and that some will only be able to complete a VI at night. Moreover, in many cases (like for me last year), people will complete VIs in places without much access to natural daylight - so it should not even be noticeable that you are competing yours at night. My advice would be to just complete yours at the most convenient time.

Thank you @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu !

As a follow-up to this, if I have a section dedicated to various open days, and the application instructions state that I should list my work exp from most recent to least, is it ok to place this open day section at the very end (even though it now includes future open days)? Thanks!

 

[TrainingContract2024]

Has anyone heard from b&b post wg for spring vac scheme? a few people who applied for direct training contract heard back post wg, so i was wondering if it is the same for spring vac scheme as well. Thank you!

 

[Pola123]

Does anyone know when we will hear back from DLA post video interview? I was told I passed and that I would be shortlisted for the AC. This is the first time I have seen something like this haha. I just expected to get to the AC if I passed the VI.

 

[lilymawe1]

Has anyone heard from b&b post wg for spring vac scheme? a few people who applied for direct training contract heard back post wg, so i was wondering if it is the same for spring vac scheme as well. Thank you!

I’ve heard nothing I’m afraid, sorry. Re direct TC, do you know if those who have heard back so far post WG were rejections or further assessment invites?

 

[NMA]

How long does Hogan Lovells take to send a WG link after submitting the application?

i waited around a week for mine

 

[NMA]

Anyone who applied to slaughters- how much pre firm contact did you have.

The presentation evening is all booked up for my uni and I’m worried I won’t have enough personal insights for my application.

when i did the vs, i think i only attended 1 virtual event with trainees prior to sending my application but i messaged a decent number of people on linkedin which was super helpful

 

[s9111]

Anything from Dechert post written exercise yet?

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

PWC VI messed that up big time and if I get their AC it will be a miracle. For anyone wanting advice be prepared for scenario based situations and how you will react. Also it is so annoying you can't look at your notes during prep time as they notice when you switch screens. They notice when you switch screens and a pop up comes up. The worst VI but will wait for my PFO soon.

I messed it up too. That they state you shouldn’t use examples of previous experience really threw me off. I struggle to fill the time on the scenario based questions without talking about previous experience.

 

[Tintin06]

If we haven't heard from W&C, is it a rejection by now? Heard nothing after sending the application. Applied to a couple of firms this cycle where I've done VIs and/or ACs before and not sure it's honestly worthwhile. I have had the opposite experience where I applied to Travers three times before getting an interview and then got the WVS in 2020. Not feeling optimistic about W&C at this point. If this logic also holds true, I don't expect to get another AC at Latham either.