TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Zaraa.x]

Don’t use your brain. 🧠
Read it aloud as if you’re saying it to someone then contradict with the statement it’ll either make sense or not. Writing mind maps also helps. I’m not a Watson Glaser pro but these helped me.

Did you think the linklaters WG was harder/easier than the CMS one?

 

[User5678]

If anyone’s given the fieldfisher telephone interview, please can you pm me!!

Thanks

 

[tomsmitg]

Hi, what would be the best things to highlight if asked how I ensure that I don’t overcommit to a task?

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

These Watson Glaser tests be questioning your own feeling of common sense sometimes...😭

 

[s9111]

Has anyone been contacted by BCLP about booking their AC post first stage interview yet?

 

[Apple]

These Watson Glaser tests be questioning your own feeling of common sense sometimes...😭

lol I love some of these names

 

[TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏]

lol I love some of these names

5 years in this process and we won't stop, ever lol!

 

[Uch21]

Does anyone know how many days HSF gives to do its SJT after submitting an application?

7 days

 

[Apple]

5 years in this process and we won't stop, ever lol!

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Has anyone been contacted by BCLP about booking their AC post first stage interview yet?

I have not heard back after taking the online assessment. Have you had a first-stage interview? If yes, please could you share your application timeline? Thank you!

 

[s9111]

I have not heard back after taking the online assessment. Have you had a first-stage interview? If yes, please could you share your application timeline? Thank you!

Completed online assessment 12 Sept, received first stage interview invite 5 Oct for 12 Oct, received AC offer 5 Nov, nothing since on booking. Best of luck!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I have a direct TC offer from Freshfields, which I plan to accept! I will be turning down my VS at W&C (moved to spring) and HSF (winter), so there may be spots for two people on those schemes. Good luck to everyone, and please feel free to PM me if you have questions.

Congratulations!

 

[legal18]

Does anyone who did the GDL at BPP want to PM me? I have a few questions

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you very much! One last thing (as I have heard contrasting opinions on this), should I link to 'why law'/why the firm in the work experience section? Also should I explicitly state skills I have learned? Wondering whether I do all of that or just stick to the facts of my role, its responsibilities, and maybe an outstanding achievement etc.

Absolutely no need to link to why law/why the firm in the work experience section.

9 times out of 10 if you focus on your skills, output and achievements in a role, you don’t have to claim the skills as it will be evident from your description. For instance, saying you reviewed 1000 pages of documents scream attention to detail, saying you did it within a short period of time says you can manage challenging deadlines, and saying you worked with three others review a wider range of documents shows teamworking.

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Completed online assessment 12 Sept, received first stage interview invite 5 Oct for 12 Oct, received AC offer 5 Nov, nothing since on booking. Best of luck!

Congrats on reaching the AC!!! I think they probably don't have enough people for the AC yet so don't worry, I'm sure you will hear something soon!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Please use the space below to describe the reasons you want to be a solicitor.
Outline what first prompted your interest in the profession, your research on the profession, and particular areas of law that interest you. Max 300 words

Can anyone provide guidance on how to approach this question? Is this 'why commercial law' in disguise or do I need to just focus on the law aspect and leave out the 'commercial' bit?

It’s basically a why commercial law question but focused a little more on your journey to this point rather than what you are looking forward to experiencing within the career.

 

[Jessica Booker]

hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

how would you go about answering this in an interview/app question?

"Imagine you have a lot of conflicting deadlines coming up, how would you prioritse and manage your time?"

My advice for this is to focus on more of the decision making process of how you will decide what is urgent and what resources you may use to guide you during that time. Focus more on the factors you’d need to consider to prioritise the work, and also what options you have for effective time management (4 Ds of time management is a good starting point for this).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, what would be the best things to highlight if asked how I ensure that I don’t overcommit to a task?

I would focus on how you practically manage this in your life, rather than talking about it generally. Think about how you manage your time so you don’t over commit and then let yourself or others down. For instance, do you use time management tools to manage your time, do you take a flexible approach to your time, do you plan ahead, do you find ways to adapt deadlines?

 

[Bread]

For those who have been successful with open day would appreciate advice as have been rejected from a few open day applications this cycle.

Anyone feel free to message me or provide advice here for anyone who has been successful with open day applications.

I'd say generally it's good to get across what you hope to gain from attending the open day by demonstrating a genuine interest in learning about a certain practice area of the firm or the culture. In my successful applications (though I have no idea how competitive they were) I really emphasised my curiosity in whether the work done by the firm would be interesting to me and – most importantly – whether I would fit in well with the firm

 

[A worried graduate]

I was about to look at applying for Dentons and then I saw


Before you start your application:

Please make sure that you have the following documents ready to upload. Please upload the below as an official copy in pdf format in the additional documents section of the application form.

- A copy of your current right to work, if you have this

- Official copy of your A Levels or equivalent post-16 education, including a breakdown of your grades per subject

- Official copy of your undergraduate results up to date or official completion certificate with a breakdown of your grades per subject

We strongly encourage candidates to visit our website dentons.challengers.com and FAQs ahead of making this application.

If you have any questions regarding this role, please contact [email protected]


I have never seen something like this and I don't have actual proof of the module results.

I also want to know if this is a new thing or was I rejected last year as I don't recall doing this then.