TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
-
- Tags
- vacation scheme
- Sep 9, 2024
- 622
- 1,095
While in general direct TC applications are more competitive than VS applications, I think you should go for it. I know people with similar levels of legal experience who managed to secure TCs in this way - perhaps partly because most people concentrate all of their applications efforts in the VS cycle and ignore summer opportunities, thus making them comparatively less competitive. Just make sure to select firms that are know to recruit substantial numbers from the direct track and ideally ones who do not explicitly state that they expect applicants to have substantial legal work experience.
Finally, although this is slightly unrelated, if you find yourself starting another VS applications cycle next year, I would definitely advise you to target more than 8 firms (unless you have very specific practice area interests or time limit issues). I think the "it's a numbers game" saying holds to some extent and that you therefore want to submit as many high quality applications as possible.
Maybe not! They could still be getting aroundI have seen that some people received vacation scheme offers from Debevoise. If other applicants have not heard back, does it mean that they were rejected?
If anyone is waiting to hear back from CRS Guilford, this is the email I received today: 'We are still in the process of reviewing the video interview submissions for our Guildford Placement Scheme. We have another placement scheme and a couple of assessment centres commencing at a similar time which has contributed to a slower decision-making process than we would have hoped for.'
There is a high chance they have made all of their offers for now, but the deadline for accepting a place on the Vacation Scheme is this Friday. You may be on a "On Hold" list in case anyone turns it down.I have seen that some people received vacation scheme offers from Debevoise. If other applicants have not heard back, does it mean that they were rejected?
Thanks! Was there any kind of speaking to others or commenting on anyone else's answers or was it very much just like a one-to-one interview except you hear other peoples answers?
- Sep 9, 2024
- 622
- 1,095
Hi @Lawlife5 this is a great question and I do empathize with your struggle. My answer is that I did not did not memorize all of my answers and I do not think you should aim to either. In truth, I did not exactly memorize any given answer. I initially tried to for the big three motivational questions (why commercial law, why firm, why me) but then I realized that (i) I would sound really robotic when saying them; and (ii) I would often end up forgetting bits of the exact wording, which would then detract my entire performance. As such, I gave up word-for-word memorization and settled for memorizing a basic structure and the ideas and examples I wanted to express. This took significantly less time and as I practiced I also found out that on-the-spot articulation sounded a lot better. I would recommend you take the same approach for a selection of questions you consider very likely to come up (which I don't think should be more than 10-15 in total).
Besides these, I do not think you should aim to memorize answers at all. You are unlikely to be able to prepare structured memorized answers for the hundreds of possible variations and iterations of questions you may encounter in an interview. Moreover, if you did so the mindset you would enter the interview room with would be problematic, as you would be looking to interpret the interviewer's questions in a way that fits you pre-prepared scripts. Thus, you would be running a higher risk of hearing what you want to hear and actually not answering the real questions at all.
I still think you should prepare for them by (a) writing a long list of potential questions down; then (b) writing down short bullet pointed ideas describing how you would respond; and (c) practicing articulating as many of them as possible. This will help you achieve the most important thing, which is to develop your interview skillset. Part of this skillset includes deep knowledge of one's experiences and achievements, and ability to describe them in a flexible manner to pick out particular aspects and draw out the desired themes and inferences in the context, and an ability to formulate thoughts on the spot in an articulate manner. By preparing in this way, you will have a higher chance of being able to deal well with any given interview question, whether you have thought of it before or not.
One-to-one where you happen to hear other people's answers, exactly. It was similar to their CAC quarter-finals in that sense, actually. With that in mind, you could tailor your responses to stand out based on what others might've said before you (e.g. to avoid sounding like a carbon copy), but that's just a thought of mine. That's also assuming it'll be the same. Best of luck 🙏
Nah I think some ppl have got offers and ACs tho already
Stephenson Harwood assessment invite! Does anyone know if this is automatic?
Also does anyone have tips for the video interview, as I am notoriously awful at them (flashbacks to Weil VI...). Thank you!
Also does anyone have tips for the video interview, as I am notoriously awful at them (flashbacks to Weil VI...). Thank you!
SH virtual assessment! Does anyone know if there's any other stages after this?
Huge congrats! Am waiting to hear back, when did u apply?
Stephenson Harwood virtual assessment invite!!! I think I applied like 1-2 days before the deadline, for Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2. 🙂
Last edited:
To my knowledge, they review applications first and then successful applicants get the online test invite. 🙂
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
- Sticky
- Sticky
