TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

What are the benefits of a six-seat training contract? Compared to the typical 4 seat structure.!

Three benefits I would consider writing about include:

• Better for qualification decision making: a six-seat TC gives you 50% more options of seats you can qualify in. Moreover, by trying more practice areas and assessing commonalities and differences, you will automatically be in a better position to consider your experiences and be more informed in your decision-making.
• Better for becoming a well-rounded lawyer: experiencing more seats will mean you learn more about a different types of work and relevant subject matters. Regardless of where you end up qualifying, this can arguably lead to you becoming a more well-rounded lawyer, as you will be able to consider the client's interest from more perspectives. Moreover, you could arguably take on more work yourself instead of having to rely on the support of your lawyers. For instance, if you end up becoming a corporate lawyer but have done a seat in disputes, you will be in a better position to negotiate the drafting of a dispute resolution clause without having to heavily rely on the support of colleagues in litigation.
• Intrinsic benefit of pursuing interests: if you are interested in a higher number of practice areas instead of just two or three, a six-seat TC will give you more of an opportunity to experience work and learn about them. Arguably, this is a benefit in itself.

 

[A worried graduate]

I did. had to create a new account.

That's bad

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi guys,

After seeing that a lot of US firms prefer students/graduates from Russell Group universities, i’ve been considering taking an LLM course at a Russell Group uni.

I was wondering if this could make a difference to my employability? For context, I have AAB equivalent at A-Level and a high 2:1 at a non-RG uni.

Thanks

Hi @studentdelaw786 there are indeed some US firms that are more oriented towards university prestige. I would assume that is likely a corollary of the so called 'campus interviews' recruitment system in the US, where firms go to the campuses of 'elite' laws schools and interview applicants there. However, I will specify that (i) not all US firms have this focus in the UK; and (ii) even the US firms that do have this focus end up having non-RG trainees - while it may be an important criteria, it is not an overriding consideration.

As for whether an LLM at an RG university would increase your chances with US firms, I think that is possible. However, I do not think the improvement in chances will be so significant to justify you doing an LLM only for this reason. An LLM is an important commitment of time, effort, and money. Moreover, in this period you could use your time to more effectively improve your chances in many other ways: submitting more high quality applications, to work experiences, networking, improving commercial awareness etc. I would only consider doing an LLM with a primary motivation to increase chances of getting a TC if you have already done your best to improve your chances in all these other ways.

Finally, although you have not asked this directly, I will say that even if your ultimate goal is to work at a US firm, you do not necessarily have to start your journey there. It is significantly easier to lateral at a US firm as an NQ than to get a TC there. Firstly, because as an NQ you are very profitable for a firm (in excess of 1 million/year at some firms), whereas as a trainee in many cases the firm is actually losing money in training you. Secondly, because the US firms commonly employ a model where they will take on substantially fewer people as trainees than they need NQs and then they will simply attract many NQs from other firms by offering higher salaries. As such, provided you are still interested in their work, I would not disregard the possibility of training at a different firm and then moving to a US one. In my vacation schemes at top US firms I have met plenty of people from a non-RG university who trained somewhere else and then could lateral without much difficulty.

 

[far]

I accidentally said the same thing twice when describing one of my work experiences in an application.. am I screwed?

 

[Uch21]

If you're asked in a video interview how you will respond to negative feedback, should you still give an example of how you have done so? If yes, how do you link it in your answer @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

 

[Jessica Booker]

If you're asked in a video interview how you will respond to negative feedback, should you still give an example of how you have done so? If yes, how do you link it in your answer @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

You can use previous examples of how you have responded to feedback in the past, but I think it is important to frame this and lead with how you would respond in the situation the firm is asking you about first. Assuming this is a scenario of being in a trainee in a law firm, I would focus on the practical ways you might respond within the law firm first. You can always then complement it with how you have taken similar approaches in previous examples but this approach ensures you answer the question first.

 

[theone132213]

For anyone that has done pinsent assessment, is the VI still one motivational and one SJT ?

 

[jta227]

For anyone that has done pinsent assessment, is the VI still one motivational and one SJT ?

I haven't done it yet, but there's no time limit: you can just open the assessment and then look at the actual questions and prepare your answers for as long as you want

 

[Amma Usman]

Covington Corporate Legal Horizons Programme Offer! I thought they ghosted us

Yay! Huge congrats! 🤗

 

[User5678]

Damn, the irwin Mitchell test was sooo long and one vi question caught me off guard😭

(I also think I took more time than advised)

So worried now!!

 

[Gg2001]

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!

Hi was this for the spring scheme or summer scheme? I haven’t submitted my application for summer yet, the app questions are very long

 

[AveragePoster]

Hi was this for the spring scheme or summer scheme? I haven’t submitted my application for summer yet, the app questions are very long

Spring!

 

[andrecsaa]

Hey, has anyone completed the critical thinking test for Addleshaw Goddard? Is it a Watson Glaser?

Yes, it is a WG test.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Any1 waiting on PWC post Ac?

 

[CG_101]

Hi Everyone,
for Jones Day, I'm really struggling to draw the line between work experience and extra currics. Some things like vac schemes and employment are clearly work exp, but what about something like my college law society or student union?
Thanks

 

[cjwx]

Passed CC’s Watson Glaser Test 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

 

[DoyDoy24]

It doesn't let me on at all 😅

I had this same issue! Ended up getting rid of the cookies from the website and it worked! #TW

 

[Zaraa.x]

Does anyone know if CMS sends you an email informing you that you’ve passed the Watson Glaser like what CC does? Since they use the same test provider.

 

[Bubbles O_O]

I can think of two ways to include it:

• Integrate it into your cover letter or application form answer: it can make a lot of sense to have it as the 'Result' part of a STAR-structured paragraph. For instance, if you are discussing your interest in commercial law and how it grew over time, you can explain how once you have confirmed you wanted to pursue this path you have been making VS applications and have subsequently received a WVS offer. Another example of how you can use it is when discussing your skills - for instance, you can show how your commercial awareness improved over time, which led to you performing really well in interviews, which led to receiving a WVS offer.
• Mention it in your work experience section: if you cannot do the former, I would advise you to still try to mention it in your work experience section. I think having a VS offer from another firm gives you a lot of clout and significantly improves your candidate profile, and as such it would be a mistake not to write about the achievement. The way I would approach the fact that you haven't yet completed it is either through the dates (if the form allows to input future dates), the the title of the work experience (you can say something like 'Upcoming Vacation Scheme at ...'), or in the description section. Besides this, I would try to offer a short description which would include (i) the application process at this firm; (ii) any impressive statistics as to the application/VS offer ratio; (iii) your reasons for applying, to the extent there are commonalities with the reasons for applying at the current firm; and (iv) any details as to the structure and work of the VS, including information relating to the practice area you will be sitting in.

Thanks Andrei, this is interesting and I hadn't thought of it.

Is anyone else in the same position / has been in this position and done this too? Specifically the latter point - mentioning it in the work experience section?

 

[yasmars]

Does anyone know if CMS sends you an email informing you that you’ve passed the Watson Glaser like what CC does? Since they use the same test provider.

Was the test similar to CC’s?