TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Chris Brown]

Employers 100% check LinkedIn, I get many hits there. Logically they are going to also check twitter, facebook, tiktok, instagram, to a greater or lesser extent, and if you've got something off-colour there, then I'd expect it to cost you jobs.

LinkedIn is the most common one for sure. I have had partners view my profile and then later on send me a request and I’m sat there like wtf should I do or say, this is normally supposed to be the other way around or something lmao. It actually scares me every time because I’ve no idea what their first impression is of me at all. 🥲

I remember the one that caught me off guard the most was when an international arbitration partner from Willkie viewed my profile and then requested me. I felt like I had just won the lottery but I was equally stressed out at the same time. Similar story for a competition litigation partner at Willkie who did the same thing. I hope they liked what they saw. I also hope it gets me extra brownie points for Willkie. 🥲​

 

[tomsmitg]

How bad is it if you use an example you have used in your application form as an example to a competency question in an interview ?

 

[trainee4u]

At an AC today, someone I know from uni discussed in the final break of the day (where the marketing team was present) that they (a woman) really liked that their intervieweres were all female because it removed one layer of social discomfort/anxiety in the context of a law firm interview, but clarified that they of course are sure that all lawyers at the firm ar entice including the men. Do you think the marketing team (employed at the firm) would have judged them for that or even rejected them for that comment? Because as a lawyer you need to be more careful when phrasing stuff?

not great, is it.

I mean you could go with "As a woman who understands that the upper echelons of the law industry are dominated by men I was inspired and encouraged to be interviewed by two women today and that the firm pays more than lip-service to equality and recognising the unique needs and contributions made by women to a law firm."

 

[legallycece]

Anyone heard back post Fieldfisher AC ?

 

[xMontmorency]

At an AC today, someone I know from uni discussed in the final break of the day (where the marketing team was present) that they (a woman) really liked that their intervieweres were all female because it removed one layer of social discomfort/anxiety in the context of a law firm interview, but clarified that they of course are sure that all lawyers at the firm ar entice including the men. Do you think the marketing team (employed at the firm) would have judged them for that or even rejected them for that comment? Because as a lawyer you need to be more careful when phrasing stuff?

If the marketing person isnt a recruiter you have nothing to worry about.

If it was gred rec, unless they're incredibly petty, that comment probably makes no difference.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hey guys! Do you think employers check your socials? I’ve seen a few “diml” solicitors on TikTok .

Do you think this kind of content is appropriate/ detrimental? 🤗

TikTok - Make Your Day

Depends on how much you promote your social media and also how searchable you are. People with very common names are not necessarily easy to find and people who do not use their full names on their social media are pretty difficult to find too.

 

[Lizzy]

Hi @Lizzy that is a great question and I do not think I have tackled this topic in depth before! People have different research methods which can yield equally good results. But if I were to explain my research philosophy, the starting point would be to "split" the law firm up between a number of different categories, which I would then represent as subheadings in my Firm Research document. Among the categories I used I included: Firm Basics, Financial Results, Business Strategy and Outlook, Main Practice Areas, Deals/Cases, Client Base, Awards & Recognition, Training Programme Details, Lateral Hires and Other News, Culture, DEI, and Pro Bono. This helped me immensely not just in better organizing the information I found, but in knowing what to look for.

In terms of the steps I took and the resources I used, I followed the approach bellow:

1. First, get the 'Firm Basics' right: what is its size, what countries does it have offices in, what work is it known for, what does its history look like and in particular what does its history in London look like etc.
2. Then, using a combination of searches using key terms on Google, the firm's own website and their LinkedIn account, try to fill as much information under those headings as you can.
3. Thirdly, use Chambers Student Guide, Chambers UK 2025 and Chambers Global; but also Legal 500 and for US firms Vault 2025 to get (i) a good firm overview; and (ii) a deeper analysis of practice area/sector expertise.
4. Fourthly, use the wider legal press to find out more insights on all of the previous points, but in particular for practice area expertise and business performance compared to competitors. Here I advise you to simply type the name of the firm in the search bar of the following publications: The Lawyer, Law.com, Bloomberg Law, The Global Legal Post, Business Law, and sometimes even Legal Cheeck. Some require a subscription but you may be able to access without paying using your university account.
5. Fifth, if the time allows for it look if there are any further resources you can use, such as podcasts and youtube channels - some done by the firm itself, and some run by the legal press (see The Lawyer's, Bloomberg Law, and Law, Disrupted).

Thank you so so much. This was incredibly helpful!!

 

[Jessica Booker]

At an AC today, someone I know from uni discussed in the final break of the day (where the marketing team was present) that they (a woman) really liked that their intervieweres were all female because it removed one layer of social discomfort/anxiety in the context of a law firm interview, but clarified that they of course are sure that all lawyers at the firm ar entice including the men. Do you think the marketing team (employed at the firm) would have judged them for that or even rejected them for that comment? Because as a lawyer you need to be more careful when phrasing stuff?

context: this is like the end of a LONG day + the interview in question is a really technical, challenging interview. This person was otherwise quite friendly, smiley, etc!

There is no issue with the comment about it removing a layer of social anxiety. What specifically did you think was poorly worded?

 

[ashwright]

I wouldn’t worry! I just received an AC offer yesterday. Those offers are from people who were fast tracked I believe. Either via pathfinders or an open day. I attended neither so hold out hope! My application was on 77% on hold with a tick by candidate review if that means anything

Congratulations & good luck - you’ll smash it 🍀😎 if I may ask, were there many slots?

 

[Jessica Booker]

How bad is it if you use an example you have used in your application form as an example to a competency question in an interview ?

This is not an issue.

 

[floral.tcla]

There is no issue with the comment about it removing a lawyer of social anxiety. What specifically did you think was poorly worded?

that's a relief, thanks! I honestly sympathise with the sentiment but I was worried that it may come across as appearing like you can't work with men/everyone in the workforce or just perhaps being phrased a bit insensitively in general?

 

[Jessica Booker]

that's a relief, thanks! I honestly sympathise with the sentiment but I was worried that it may come across as appearing like you can't work with men/everyone in the workforce or just perhaps being phrased a bit insensitively in general?

I have had enough similar comments at assessment centres/interviews where there is more of a familiarity of or connection to their interviewers. I really don’t think this will have been seen as an issue unless they were being derogatory towards certain groups.

 

[sapphireoreos]

Has anyone not heard back either way post-app from CRS London about their placement scheme? Quite disappointed as I felt my application was strong & attended their open day. Applied a day before the deadline.

I also haven’t heard back for CRS London placement scheme post-app. I applied deadline day. Really thought it was one of my strongest and super tailored, so am a little disappointed tbh

 

[jojo23]

Does anybody know what the stephenson harwood questions are on the application form?

 

[future_traineesolicitor]

I e-mailed RPC today btw asking if more ACs are to be held. whether they will reply - or give a proper answer - is to be seen.

They hold 5 ACs this cycle for 60 people. The first one was 21 Jan and also one on 29 Jan. Not sure about other dates.

 

[dolchii]

should i assume NRF pfo post-vi?🫠

Not necessarily; I just did my VI for nrf 2 days ago and they said to expect an answer by the end of Feb latest.

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

is weil competitive? ik its a dumb q but just asked to calm my post AC nerves

 

[stacy2523]

Have Travers Smith given out all interview invites for the Summer Vac Scheme or do they give them across a few days?

 

[Chris Brown]

Have Travers Smith given out all interview invites for the Summer Vac Scheme or do they give them across a few days?​

From what I have seen, Travers smith seem to call everyone that has submitted a successful application to inform them that they have made it to the partner interview stage. I don’t think they hand them out in one go. 🙂

Based on last year’s forum, some people even received invites in early March. If it’s the same this year, then invites will be spread over a few weeks. So far only one person on the forum has been called for invitation to partner interview. 🙂​

 

[WillkieGemma]

LinkedIn is the most common one for sure. I have had partners view my profile and then later on send me a request and I’m sat there like wtf should I do or say, this is normally supposed to be the other way around or something lmao. It actually scares me every time because I’ve no idea what their first impression is of me at all. 🥲

I remember the one that caught me off guard the most was when an international arbitration partner from Willkie viewed my profile and then requested me. I felt like I had just won the lottery but I was equally stressed out at the same time. Similar story for a competition litigation partner at Willkie who did the same thing. I hope they liked what they saw. I also hope it gets me extra brownie points for Willkie. 🥲​

Hi @Chris Brown I just wanted to jump on here to clarify something, because it is really important to me. We run a completely fair and transparent process, which is based on each candidate's application and progress through the various stages. Having connections with partners/associates/trainees, whether on LinkedIn or personally/professionally, doesn't factor in to the process in any way as it is inherently unfair. We don't ask whether you have connections to the firm at any stage of our process. Please do bear in mind that everyone's LinkedIn profile is their own personal online space, and grad rec teams wouldn't monitor who partners/associates have as a connection etc. If a partner (from any firm) has requested a LinkedIn connection, that is their personal choice, and would not be linked to the grad rec process.