TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[hmevey]

Hey guys, I am wanting some advice as I am not sure I am approaching this TC cycle correctly. Saw someone do a post like this and I would really appreciate the help. I have applied so far to a broad range of firms; Slaughters, CC, Ashurst, AG, Irwin Mitchell, HSF and I want to continue applying. I have done a few apps on deadline day and rushed the IM VI which may have ruined my chances. Already got PFOS from Slaughters, Ashurst and AG

Does anyone have any firm recommendations for my next few apps- I was planning on squeezing a CMS app out as the deadline is closing soon.

I am looking for firms that are international, I am interested in litigation, intellectual property and competition law at the moment but I am keen to explore all areas. I am also keen to go somewhere where I can do an international/client secondment.

I have a mid 2:1 from a RG uni, have a broad range of work experience i.e paid work, volunteering, positions of responsibilities and two MC first year open days. but no VC's previously. Currently on my 6th month working at a fairly large firm in conveyancing but I am keen to enter the commercial world. Is there anything I can do to tailor my approach. This is my first proper cycle but working full time, i am really strugglign to find motivation to keep going. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[plshireme]

can anyone give some advice on what they included on their CV for DLA? I have legal work experience from ages ago, is it worth mixing that in with actual jobs i've had?

 

[Unknowncabbage]

For Goodwin’s 100 word limit on ‘why Goodwin’ how should we approach answering it, do you think we need to link back our experiences I.e if we’re interested in life sciences.

 

[Aspiringlawyer_]

Does anyone know what happens after submitting the CMS application? Other firms I’ve applied for usually indicate that an online assessment will follow, but the automated reply from CMS hasn’t referenced that. Do they review your application first then send the Watson Glaser?

 

[xxrr.18]

for those waiting on white and case post AC, login to the application portal and look at the correspondence as it turns out i was rejected on the 20th november but did not get any emails about it. better to know than have false hope theyre still considering me lol

 

[axele]

Does Weil give out offers before the deadline? Ie still in time to apply for their vs?

 

[Eeeazyyy8]

Taylor Wessing Written Assessment Invite!!

hi, do you have any tips for the online assessment? How did you prepare? X

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

for those waiting on white and case post AC, login to the application portal and look at the correspondence as it turns out i was rejected on the 20th november but did not get any emails about it. better to know than have false hope theyre still considering me lol

You have unlocked a new fear for me

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Does Weil give out offers before the deadline? Ie still in time to apply for their vs?

not sure tbh, I applied in sept and haven't heard anything

 

[g.cl.2020344]

has any1 heard from Skadden? Their apps are closed but haven't heard anything since my sept application.

 

[Deleted member 37508]

has any1 heard from Skadden? Their apps are closed but haven't heard anything since my sept application.

They have just closed!!! You need to learn to give firms time. It’s a non rolling deadline. They gave you an estimate in their email when you applied. Humans are viewing applications not robots I’m sure you want them to take into consideration every aspect of your application including mitigating circumstances. You wouldn’t like to get rejected as they viewed your application without diligence.

 

[Eeeazyyy8]

Hi. Has anyone attempted the only test for Taylor Wessing? If so, how did you prepare?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

They have just closed!!! You need to learn to give firms time. It’s a non rolling deadline. They gave you an estimate in their email when you applied. Humans are viewing applications not robots I’m sure you want them to take into consideration every aspect of your application including mitigating circumstances. You wouldn’t like to get rejected as they viewed your application without diligence.

hey sorry I didn't realise that they just closed my bad..

 

[BonanzaBih_]

hi, do you have any tips for the online assessment? How did you prepare? X

Hey I just used the test platform the firm gives you access to and did all the questions multiple times haha

 

[suhana]

Hi @Jessica Booker and anyone who can help!

I had a quick query regarding one of the questions in my application. The question reads:

“Please detail all your positions of responsibility, including title, date, and a brief description. Please separate each position with a bullet point - 500 words.”

For some reason, I find myself repeating a lot of my work experience.

I’m currently holding a society position and also held one last year, which I plan to mention. However, since the word count is quite high, I wanted to ask if volunteering, such as pro bono work, could come under "positions of responsibility." Additionally, I’m a campus ambassador for a law firm, but I feel that role leans more towards work experience rather than a position of responsibility, especially since it’s a paid role. I’m a bit confused because I typically categorise pro bono work and my campus ambassador experience as work experience. Do you have any tips on what else could be included under positions of responsibility without repeating my work experience?

Another issue I had was with the formatting of the bullet points. I wanted to clarify whether I’m supposed to write the description and my responsibilities in bullet points (similar to a CV), or if they expect each experience to be listed as a bullet point with the description written in prose.

I’d really appreciate some insight on this.

 

[jta227]

Does anyone know if there are any firms with a strict zero-typo policy? 😭I spent weeks on an app, attended firm events etc, had it reviewed by multiple people, SPENT TWO DAYS PROOFREADING ( not continuously obviously but at random points) - stupidly made a last-minute change in the work experience section which caused my automatic keyboard to change the word to my last name ( I forgot it was on) - it obviously doesn't fit in the sentence and its capitalised so there's no chance graduate recruitment will miss it. It's so disheartening - I've been applying for so long and it just seems to be going nowhere because I keep making stupid little errors which is obviously my own fault but ouch.😟.

I mean, there's probably at least 1 firm with a no-typo policy (which would assume that they noticed it and I doubt they notice every typo) but honestly even at MC level plenty of successful applications have 1 typo. I think I heard something to that effect from Jessica too. If the typo is really noticeable, they might not be best pleased but if the application is great I don't think they would dead it on arrival just for that. After sending my [top city firm name redacted] application I noticed a huge typo (i.e. it's so noticeable that if in the assessment centre they have a copy of my answers in front of them in interview they'll immediately notice it when they get there which scares me) in one of the long-form answers that I don't know how I missed. They still invited me to take their WG (not automatic, comes after app reading) and after that invited me to the next stage. All is not lost!

Also if you do get rejected you'll never know how much of it was because of that typo vs something else so I think you shouldn't dwell on it and just try not to make the same mistake again. Could also get other people to proof-read it (I don't really have anyone IRL that can do this which sucks for me but if you do you should make use of them!)

 

[jta227]

I just did the HSF test and the report feedback is literally the exact opposite of everything I clicked?? Is this a bug or something, fairly sure I didn't contradict myself between answers as well...

 

[kokoprep]

Hi - Has anyone who submitted CMS application last week around 28, 29th of November heard back with the WG test invite? Please reply if you have with when you applied and when you heard back. Thank you so much!

 

[EK_27]

Hi - Has anyone who submitted CMS application last week around 28, 29th of November heard back with the WG test invite? Please reply if you have with when you applied and when you heard back. Thank you so much!

The test is not automatic so you may expect to wait at least a week if they have a number of applications. Hope you hear back soon.

 

[tomsmitg]

Hi, how long did it take people to hear back after BCLP first stage interview ?