TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[cjwx]

Holding email from CRS made tooo excited I thought I got a VI 🥹

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu, @Ram Sabaratnam and @Amma Usman

I have been invited to complete a video interview and want to make sure to be 'fully prepared'.

When answering a question about qualities or skills, do I need to link it back to my own experiences? I feel like time is of the essence, and if I need to mention multiple aspects, I feel that there is no time to discuss a time when I demonstrated x and y.

Moreover, do you think I can mention examples outside of my professional life?

@Jessica Booker, from a recruiter's point of view, what do you expect to see when assessing a video interview?

Depending on the question and the time you have to respond to it, sometimes linking it to your own experiences will not be a strict requirement. For instance, if the question was "What are three essential skills for a successful commercial solicitor and why?" and the response time was one minute, it would probably be impossible to adequately address the core aspects of the questions and also add connections to concrete examples in your life. That said, I think in some cases it is basically an unwritten expectation (for instance, for a 'what relevant skills do you have' questions); and also that in most cases, even if it is not a strict requirement, it does make your answer a lot more convincing.

As such, while of course you will have to make a judgement call based on the exact framing of the question and the time limit, my advice would be to try to illustrate points about skills with concrete examples wherever possible. You do not need to go on a full STAR-structured description of each experience. Simply state in one or two sentences the essence of what the experience was about and the way in which it demonstrates the relevant skill or quality. To illustrate my point, your answer could look something like this and should not take you more than 10-15 seconds: 'Whilst completing a legal internship at X firm, I had the opportunity to review and write a brief on a due diligence report. I was commended by my supervisor for my drafting skills, a core ability of a successful trainee'.

 

[emma.d]

Holding email from CRS made tooo excited I thought I got a VI 🥹

for which office? and what did it say?

 

[xxrr.18]

for which office? and what did it say?

Pretty sure it is the London Direct TC as I got one too saying they'll try and get back to us late Feb/early March with ACs in May.

 

[ashwright]

a few days ago for the summer one! there seem to be slots going into the next few weeks so imagine they're working thru apps atm

Awesome!! Thank you so much
EDIT: super sorry but just remembered a follow-up question - before getting the invite, did you by any chance see what your application progress percentage was (i.e. 66% or 77%) and whether you had a tick mark by the 'application review' stage?

 

[loe]

Hii, congrats to everyone with CRS VI offers for the London office. Could people please clarify when they applied? I applied on the deadline day but feel like it will be a PFO

I applied the day before the deadline and received the VI invitation today. As far as I'm aware, CRS review all applications after the deadline

 

[cjwx]

for which office? and what did it say?

London office, they said they are working through applications for the Direct TC but they are sending out VI for the VS first.

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Hi, I am considering buying the Bronze subscription. if anyone here has it, please could you let me know how useful it is over using your own question bank for interview?

 

[cjwx]

CRS VI and Howden VI!

Was this for the London TC or VS?

 

[Amakaa]

V&E post App PFO🥰

 

[maylawwww]

I haven't yet. Same timing as you. I expect it might come later today as they tend to send these emails out later in the afternoon.

Is this for the summer VS?

 

[aphelion]

Is this for the summer VS?

yas

 

[Legal Wizard]

Slaughters Direct TC post app PFO

 

[suhana]

is hsf still giving out invited for summer vs ac?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi everyone, this is my first cycle applying. In previous years, whenabouts did the last AC invitations go out for Summer Vacation Schemes? For firms that haven't got back to me at this stage, when can I assume that it's going to be a rejection?

I definitely would not assume rejection, firms have very different response times for a variety of reasons. In some cases I had to wait for two months to get an AC invite. But to address your question, I think most ACs take place in February, but there are definitely some also being held in March and April.

 

[Sam field]

My application for WBD was not saved, however, I still advanced to the assessment stage. I feel like everyone who applied automatically received an invitation.

 

[Andrei Radu]

does anyone know what the longest time firms take post AC to respond to you if you got an offer is? I had an AC on Monday last week, so it's been almost two weeks and still haven't heard back. Is this likely a rejection because I see people usually getting offers the day after their AC or do firms still send out acceptances even two weeks later?

When I interviewed with Slaughter and May it took them around a month to get back to me and I ended up receiving a VS offer. With Milbank, I only heard back two weeks afterwards and also got an offer. While some firms will respond very quickly, others spread out ACs over a longer period of time and/or simply have more drawn out decision-making processes. As such, there is not much you can infer from the wait time. I know how difficult it is, but try to get your mind off what the outcome will be. I found it useful to channel the post-AC anxiety into applications-related efforts; as that kind of work made me feel like at least I was doing all I could to prepare for the worst case scenario.

 

[tc2025hopeful]

Wondering if people usually send a thank you note/email post-interview? (and if so what length/saying what)? I've heard mixed things...

 

[legallyells]

Congrats! Can I asked which branch you applied in for CRS and when did you receive the invitation.

London and received just after 12 this afternoon!!!

 

[legallyells]

Was this for the London TC or VS?

london placement scheme !