TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Chris Brown]

Here's the thing I've already screwed up assessment centres with Freshfields and Hogan Lovells so I'm not so confident here. I need to get polished like the other candidates by getting interview prep otherwise nothing changes.😅

The partner interview is discrimination and the best way to get an offer is to have a partner like you.

It becomes a lottery based on who your interviewer is and how they perceive you. There is nothing fair or objective about it.

I can understand why you feel that the partner interview can be slightly discriminatory. There is definitely an element of luck involved. There is also still a lot of bias and prejudice against people that are visibly ethnic minority or poc, and people that come from socially mobile backgrounds. Even at application stage, as @aphelion has explained, there are so many different ways bias and prejudice could affect our chances of success. Seeing as though you got past the application stage and got AC invites for Hogan Lovells and Freshfields, it is safe to say that the firms’ saw a lot of potential in you. We do not get to control who we get in interviews, which is why I think you believe it comes down to luck. 🥲

Ultimately however, most of the ‘luck’ comes from us. How well we prepare for these interviews is what makes the difference between a successful interview and an unsuccessful interview. I can’t speak on every firm, but I believe there are many firms out there that ensure the partner interview is as fair and objective as possible (e.g., Willkie), whose partner interview is fully CV-blind. The only thing(s) the partner(s) know in advance of the interview is our name and whether we studied a law or non-law degree. The stage before it (written exercise), is also CV-blind. The associates that mark them do not know who they belong to, which ensures that the best talent get to interview. 🙂

At the point we reach the interview, the ball is entirely in our court. The direction of the partner interview is in our control, based on the answers we give. I have seen your question (above) on what people skills are. To give some examples, you need effective communication (the ability to speak clearly and concisely) and a willingness and ability to showcase your personality (a sense of humour, charisma and enthusiasm). These are crucial qualities that every aspiring trainee associate needs. The legal profession is a client facing, people-driven industry. If someone lacks the ‘people skills’, it is likely they will not have a successful interview. 🥲

There is an element of accountability that does need to be taken. It is not right to assume there was definitive bias, prejudice or discrimination in the interview, which was the sole deciding factor in the partner choosing not to proceed with your application post interview. Partners are assessing a range of things, such as our motivation for a career in (city) law, their firm, a particular practice area or industry sector, our range of competencies and our commercial awareness. If any of these things are deemed to need further improvement, the partner can and will decide to not make an offer. That is not necessarily the same as the partner deciding to not make an offer because the interviewee had an accent, was a poc or went to a state school (obvious discrimination). 🫤

Ultimately, there needs to be a balance between being competent and being a person with character. It can be hard to work out what that balance should look like, but that is where preparation comes into play. I am positive you can and will succeed in your applications, with a bit more targeted preparation! Best of luck in the rest of your applications. If you have any questions about interview preparation, you can always ask on the forum or PM people, who will be happy to help! 🙂​

 

[jacksollaf]

King & Spalding training contract AC!!!! Does anyone know what the application process is? im trying to determine if its worth it or not cuz im doing my year abroad and they want me to come to their London office next week

 

[BillSikes]

Anything from Winckworth?

 

[trainee4u]

King & Spalding training contract AC!!!! Does anyone know what the application process is? im trying to determine if its worth it or not cuz im doing my year abroad and they want me to come to their London office next week

It's sometimes possible to do this remotely, but less likely for smaller cohorts. You can ask though.

 

[Kakaboo]

WBD PFO… my scores were 9.8.8.8 and I got highest and highest. Not really sure what else I could of done there haha

 

[User5678]

WBD PFO… my scores were 9.8.8.8 and I got highest and highest. Not really sure what else I could of done there haha

Yes I’m in a similar boat, I don’t even feel bad at this point😂 nothing more I could genuinely score and I have a lot of legal and non legal work experience :/

 

[BobThebIlly]

Guys does anyone know what the “offer an interview” scheme means? Does it mean that you will be guaranteed an interview and does it apply to vac schemes or is it just for TCs?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jessica Booker]

The partner interview is discrimination and the best way to get an offer is to have a partner like you.

It becomes a lottery based on who your interviewer is and how they perceive you. There is nothing fair or objective about it.

I don’t think it’s productive to state a whole group of people as being discriminatory, just as it wouldn’t be productive to assume all of them are not. Partners are not a homogenous group.

Good interviewers (no matter what their job title or seniority) will be able to put their conscious or even unconscious biases aside. Many employers ensure there is interviewer training to help support this, but also I have seen people pulled off of interview panels because they have continued to show behaviours that are not fair/consistent.

Any process heavily reliant on humans will never be perfect (unfortunately) but many employers will put significant effort and reviews in place to ensure discrimination does not happen, not just for the integrity of the recruitment process, but put honestly, also out of fear of the financial and PR ramifications if they are found to be so, not only the direct costs of a tribunal but also the indirect costs of potentially losing clients off the back of it.

 

[Chris Brown]

Guys does anyone know what the “offer an interview” scheme means? Does it mean that you will be guaranteed an interview and does it apply to vac schemes or is it just for TCs?

Thanks in advance!

Is this the disability confident scheme? I think SH and TS are signatories. If you meet their minimum entry criteria (grades, application screening, test scores), you are guaranteed an interview. You have to opt in though by ticking the box. I think it’s for both VS and TC. I think there may be higher entry criteria for DTC though. 🙂​

 

[trainee4u]

Guys does anyone know what the “offer an interview” scheme means? Does it mean that you will be guaranteed an interview and does it apply to vac schemes or is it just for TCs?

Thanks in advance!

Typically, no, it doesn't at all.

1. it's not a legally binding obligation
2. it's subject to meeting the "minimum criteria", which they will never disclose.

I have ticked the box, and not been offered an interview.

While it certainly appears to imply that you have an increased chance of an interview, whether this is the case, in the absence of any statutory oversight, FOI, etc. nobody can be sure.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Define ‘people skills’ then?

To name a few:

Verbal communication skills
Self awareness
Emotional intelligence
Being able to read a room and the people in it
Collaboration
A willingness to learn from others
A willingness to impart your knowledge on others
Active listening
Negotiation
Flexibility/adaptability
Patience
Assertiveness/confidence

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

The partner interview is discrimination and the best way to get an offer is to have a partner like you.

It becomes a lottery based on who your interviewer is and how they perceive you. There is nothing fair or objective about it.

I think everyone's already explained why this kind of thinking isn't entirely correct. I just want to add that, even if there may be an element of prejudice to every interview, the Graduate Recruitment Team is just as likely to dislike an individual. So your argument would basically lead to a system where firms don't interview before hiring.

I'd also like to say that I understand your frustration. There has been a few times when I have felt that a member of a firm did not like something about me which was a core part of my identity, which was not a flaw and not something I could change. But most lawyers are not like this.

 

[Ash4202]

White & Case summer VS!!! genuinely in shock rn

 

[trainee4u]

Define ‘people skills’ then?

I asked ChatGPT about your reply:

The reply "Define 'people skills' then?" doesn’t demonstrate great people skills. While it raises a relevant question about clarifying the term, its tone might come across as abrupt or dismissive, depending on the context.
Good people skills involve effective communication, empathy, and the ability to maintain a positive interaction—even in a debate. A more thoughtful reply might look like this:
"That's an interesting point. Could you elaborate on what specific traits or behaviors you mean by 'people skills'? It'd be helpful to have a clearer definition."
This approach fosters collaboration and shows a willingness to engage constructively while asking for clarification. If you're writing on a forum, tone and wording can make all the difference in building rapport and demonstrating people skills. Would you like help crafting a reply?

I don't particularly agree with its analysis in that my perspective would be that the definition of "people skills" is easily accessible via Google, and it would ultimately demonstrate better people skills to go away and read that and then perhaps come back with a more specific reply that demonstrates that you have done research, which is more respectful of other people, who don't then need to answer questions that have textbook answers.

There are different issues that could be at play.

* It's definitely understandable that if you have been a member of this forum for three years that you might be getting frustrated at the recruitment process, and it's understandable that you would express that
* We know that some people might be very good at law but perhaps struggle with people skills, and there might be specific roles where those people would thrive.
* However it appears to me that your responses lack the necessary self-reflection that will help you to achieve your goals.

This is not intended as a personal attack on you or anything: I understand that I, personally, have not got a TC, and likewise do not *deserve* a TC, because I have failed personally to achieve and put in the work at all the necessary stages to achieve that goal.

I can also see perhaps that my skills might work better in different areas than others, giving me a better chance following certain routes to get a TC than others, and ultimately my perspective is that this a *me* problem, in that I am selling something (myself) and just need to find a buyer. If I'm not marketable, my question is why. And so far I've found answers about where I can improve. And that's motivating for me because I can see the necessary steps to do that, including for example attempting to mask a tendency to apply in ways abruptly or defensively.

The problem from my perspective (and I assume other forum readers) is that your posts appear not to demonstrate the process of analysis and reflection that I would personally want to follow before making conclusions such as those that you have made.

OTOH this is only a forum on the internet and it's valid to make lighthearted posts or those not intended entirely seriously, so to the extent that I or you are letting off steam then it might be best to withdraw from subsequent discussions rather than attempt to defend a perhaps ill-considered or lighthearted first post.

 

[charleyemmett]

has anyone just gotten an email from Howard Kennedy to do the rare recruitment form?

I also received this. I have just now completed this information. Have you received an email to complete the test yet?

 

[YW113380]

Has anyone had an interview end very quickly? The interview was scheduled for an hour but only lasted for about 30 minutes which was a bit disheartening

 

[User5678]

I also received this. I have just now completed this information. Have you received an email to complete the test yet?

Hi, nope not received the test yet. I think it is the second stage so not automatic and they will review applications first. Hopefully we get it soon 🤞🏻

 

[James Wakefield]

Has anyone had an interview end very quickly? The interview was scheduled for an hour but only lasted for about 30 minutes which was a bit disheartening

I got a VS last year and my AC interview was scheduled for 50 minutes, and didn’t last more than 30.

 

[BobThebIlly]

Typically, no, it doesn't at all.

1. it's not a legally binding obligation
2. it's subject to meeting the "minimum criteria", which they will never disclose.

I have ticked the box, and not been offered an interview.

While it certainly appears to imply that you have an increased chance of an interview, whether this is the case, in the absence of any statutory oversight, FOI, etc. nobody can be sure.

Thanks for letting me know!

I also ticked the box for SH's VS and haven't heard anything back. It's a shame they don't offer more information on how the scheme works within their recruitment process

Good luck though! I hope we both hear some good news

 

[weupin2025]

Has anyone had an interview end very quickly? The interview was scheduled for an hour but only lasted for about 30 minutes which was a bit disheartening

happened to me and i got a place