TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

AlegalA

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Dec 4, 2023
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Hi guys!
For DWF, they ask:
Please complete the personal statement below in no more than 750 words. Please note that you will be scored on your drafting ability as well as your content. Within your personal statement please answer the following questions:

  • What are your motivations for wanting to pursue a career as a Solicitor at DWF? (250 words)
  • The DWF value 'Be Better Together' is key to our business. Please identify when you have demonstrated this value and how you would apply this to the role of a Trainee Solicitor. (250 words)
  • Please comment on a commercial news topic or trend which has interested you recently. Within your response, please consider how this news topic or trend is relevant to DWF. (250 words)
I've answered all three as individual questions. Do you think I need to make a link between all of them to make it more one document, or is having a separation fine?

Thank you!
 
Hi everyone,

I just got a rejection for an open day for one of my top firms and I’m a bit in shock.

I had even asked an associate from the firm to review my application to ensure I had a decent chance of being successful.

Should I move on from the rejection, or should I understand the rejection as an indication that I might not get past the application stage for a vacation scheme?
 
Hi everyone,

I just got a rejection for an open day for one of my top firms and I’m a bit in shock.

I had even asked an associate from the firm to review my application to ensure I had a decent chance of being successful.

Should I move on from the rejection, or should I understand the rejection as an indication that I might not get past the application stage for a vacation scheme?
I got a rejection for an Open Day for a firm last year but was successful in applying for their Vacation Scheme.

Sometimes firms have limited Open Day places (especially in-person) or may be looking for different criteria. If it’s your top firm, I would say definitely still worth applying for their VS.
 

Tintin06

Legendary Member
Oct 23, 2019
525
1,227
Hi everyone,

I just got a rejection for an open day for one of my top firms and I’m a bit in shock.

I had even asked an associate from the firm to review my application to ensure I had a decent chance of being successful.

Should I move on from the rejection, or should I understand the rejection as an indication that I might not get past the application stage for a vacation scheme?
It doesn't mean all that much. I did the Freshfields open day in 2018 and never got anywhere with the VS or the TC. They're nice on the CV and help boost your confidence, but Open Days aren't a golden ticket to an interview, but this varies from firm to firm. Latham & Watkins seems to prioritise Open Day attendees when deciding who to interview for the VS.
 
I thought they were non rolling.
I think they say on their website something along the lines of ‘we don’t fill all our places before the deadline’. I interpret this to mean they are reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

However, since they are having technical issues with their automatic test, there‘s probably no rush to get applications in quickly.
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
14,367
19,997
Hi guys!
For DWF, they ask:
Please complete the personal statement below in no more than 750 words. Please note that you will be scored on your drafting ability as well as your content. Within your personal statement please answer the following questions:

  • What are your motivations for wanting to pursue a career as a Solicitor at DWF? (250 words)
  • The DWF value 'Be Better Together' is key to our business. Please identify when you have demonstrated this value and how you would apply this to the role of a Trainee Solicitor. (250 words)
  • Please comment on a commercial news topic or trend which has interested you recently. Within your response, please consider how this news topic or trend is relevant to DWF. (250 words)
I've answered all three as individual questions. Do you think I need to make a link between all of them to make it more one document, or is having a separation fine?

Thank you!
I think it is fine to have it as three sections of one document rather than connected up given the way it has been presented in terms of questions.
 

Andrei Radu

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Future Trainee
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Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
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I’ve received a Reed Smith Open day invite but it clashes with another open day that the deadline to pull out of has passed.

They have a virtual open day, would I be able to ask to be transferred to the virtual one? Would this look bad to the firm?
I would definitely advise you to let the firm know that you will unfortunately not be able to attend the open day. However, I would not make it a point to mention that the reason is a conflict with an event at another firm.

I also cannot see any potential harm in asking if there is any flexibility to accommodating you to a virtual open day. Whether this can or cannot be done will depend on the firm's policies and the recruiters' approaches, but I do not think asking for it can disadvantage you in any way.
 
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Andrei Radu

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Future Trainee
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Sep 9, 2024
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Hi Jessica, I am writing an application for Addleshaw Goddard. Would you recommend mentioning their rankings in the Legal 500 as they already know that stuff and is not a good use of the space?
Just to add to @Jessica Booker's response, I think mentioning Chambers/Legal 500 rankings can be very useful for your reasoning around the firm's unique selling points in terms of practice areas strength and sector expertise. It is a way of evidencing your claims and placing the firm in the context if the market competition. However, as Jessica mentioned, it is essential to connect the point your are evidencing with the ranking with your motivations, interests and experiences - ie. why are you interested in working at a firm that has excellent renown for X practice area/sectors, and which of your work/other experiences reinforce this point?
 

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