TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[billyonthespeeddial]

This isn't true. GR told me at an insight day that they do review before sending the WG invite.

This is interesting because I did their vac scheme and I was told otherwise. Maybe it's a very superficial review

 

[Reem2024]

This is interesting because I did their vac scheme and I was told otherwise. Maybe it's a very superficial review

Yeah, it’s usually to see if you meet the minimum requirements before sending you the WG

 

[JessicaTC27]

Willkie VI! 😁

Congrats!! When did you apply and when is your VI set to take place and did they offer multiple dates to choose from? (I’m thinking of applying next year)

 

[tea]

happy new year everyone! hoping 2025 is a great year for you all and brings lots of success - both in law and beyond

 

[Star Light]

Thank you for your reply! It's really helpful. Could I also please ask how many questions for the video interview section there were?

It is timed. No. The prep time was 1-2 mins (I forget), beginning when you see the question, and the answer time was 2 mins.

 

[mulan0]

Anyone know what time Debevoise’s deadline is tomorrow?

 

[Shandy101]

Thank you for your reply! It's really helpful. Could I also please ask how many questions for the video interview section there were?

There were 5 and they were mixed in with the other types of questions and spread out through the assessment.

 

[Alwaysdreaming]

If anyone has CC TC AC insights, please share. I would be happy to offer insights into the HSF AC in exchange 🙂

 

[illegallyblonde]

Can anyone confirm whether the Pinsent Masons AC’s for Manchester are the week of 24th Feb-3rd March? It says they are on legal cheek but having a panic as I’m away that week!🥲

 

[baj5]

I applied to Willkie on the 18th and still haven't heard back when others have, should I just assume PFO?

 

[chrisbrown]

I applied to Willkie on the 18th and still haven't heard back when others have, should I just assume PFO?

The turnaround is normally 10-15 working days but factoring in it was xmas/nye period I would say you can expect to hear back by the end of next week or the week after for sure (regardless of the outcome) as some people that applied close to the deadline are slowly hearing back now.

15 working days from 18th Dec is roughly 13th Jan I think.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I applied to Willkie on the 18th and still haven't heard back when others have, should I just assume PFO?

no - Gemma has mentioned that it usually takes up to 15 working days for a response and that would take you to Monday 13th January given the bank holidays.

 

[suhana]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

I’ve seen a lot of posts on here about typos, so I needed some advice please. I just submitted my application to BM and saved a copy to my PC. When I was submitting it, nothing was flagged on the portal, and it all seemed fine. But now, looking at the saved version on Word, I see four red-underlined errors.

They’re things like “organsing” and “commerical” — stuff that didn’t stand out at all when I was proofreading. I went over this application so many times, spent days on it, and even had other people check it. I also did an insight scheme with this firm, so I’m feeling super frustrated and worried right now.

I know one typo might get overlooked, but four feels like it’ll mean rejection. The only thing giving me a tiny bit of hope is that maybe some of these errors aren’t obvious without a spell-check system.

Any advice or thoughts on this?

 

[jta227]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

I’ve seen a lot of posts on here about typos, so I need some advice. I just submitted my application to BM and saved a copy to my PC. When I was submitting it, nothing was flagged on the portal, and it all seemed fine. But now, looking at the saved version on Word, I see four red-underlined errors.

They’re things like “organsing” and “commerical” — stuff that didn’t stand out at all when I was proofreading. I went over this application so many times, spent days on it, and even had other people check it. I also did an insight scheme with this firm, so I’m feeling super frustrated and worried right now.

I know one typo might get overlooked, but four feels like it’ll mean rejection. The only thing giving me a tiny bit of hope is that maybe some of these errors aren’t obvious without a spell-check system.

Any advice or thoughts on this?

I'm not them, but I made this mistake in my first two applications of this cycle, especially with US vs UK spellings. I didn't even realise until I got my first PFO and went back to check and was like omg how did I do that. From then I decided to write every application in Word (with proofing language set to British English), I would highly recommend doing that!

I don't know anything about BM (I'm yet to write my application lol) but I know a few firms read applications with a spellchecker and some don't. If it helps, I still got progressed in an application this cycle where I made a bad typo. Not 4, but one bad one (the sentence didn't make sense). We can't really predict how any specific gradrec member will react at a specific time or whether they'll even notice so at this point I'd just hope for the best and make sure future applications don't have that mistake.

 

[Shandy101]

I was told by grad recruitment that they only look at applicants’ responses to the online questions (thoroughly) if you’ve passed the Watson Glaser, and that one reason they have it is to make their lives easier with less applications to review? Unless you mean something different?

They may initially scan for spelling or other obvious mistakes; it's unclear whether there is an initial review and, if so, to what degree, so I emailed GR for a more definitive answer. I will share with the group once I have a reply.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

I’ve seen a lot of posts on here about typos, so I needed some advice please. I just submitted my application to BM and saved a copy to my PC. When I was submitting it, nothing was flagged on the portal, and it all seemed fine. But now, looking at the saved version on Word, I see four red-underlined errors.

They’re things like “organsing” and “commerical” — stuff that didn’t stand out at all when I was proofreading. I went over this application so many times, spent days on it, and even had other people check it. I also did an insight scheme with this firm, so I’m feeling super frustrated and worried right now.

I know one typo might get overlooked, but four feels like it’ll mean rejection. The only thing giving me a tiny bit of hope is that maybe some of these errors aren’t obvious without a spell-check system.

Any advice or thoughts on this?

I encourage people to focus on what they can change rather than the things they cannot.

I would consider how you can implement a checking/proof reading process that sits outside of applicant tracking systems so you can pick up errors like these for future applications rather than worrying about what may or may not be picked up in this particular application.

 

[kokoprep]

I applied a little before midnight, so not quite on the deadline, and heard back yesterday.

You got VI?

 

[Tclarocks123]

Is it risky to use two reasons as opposed to 3 for responding to "Why this firm"? The word limit is 300

 

[jojo23]

Is it risky to use two reasons as opposed to 3 for responding to "Why this firm"? The word limit is 300

2 might be better because you can provide a more detailed explanation for each reason

 

[chrisbrown]

Is it risky to use two reasons as opposed to 3 for responding to "Why this firm"? The word limit is 300

I would normally choose 3 reasons and try to allocate an even word count to each one e.g., 100 words per reason. This is a good balance between explaining your motivation but writing it in a coherent and succinct way.

If you feel that you will not be able to get your ideas across in that limit then I would say it’s best to choose two reasons and give more depth for each one. I would just make sure that the two points are thought out and tailored to the firm you are applying to.