TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[lawyerinzootopia]

Linklaters pfo for both the wvs and open day!! This is my first cycle of applications and I feel out of my element so I can't say that I'm too surprised or disappointed ("If you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed") 😆

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

Last year i applied 01/11/22 and i was declined 28/11/22 so nearly a month after! I think they really look at your answers to the application questions as mines last year were soo bad but i also gained work experience in my grad job this year that has a maths element, I don't think A level's are looked at. Hope you hear back soon!

Thank you so much!!

 

[clo224455]

Hi everyone!

Does anyone know whether the DLA Piper Watson Glaser is sent automatically to all applying candidates or whether you need to pass an initial screening to then be invited to complete it?

 

[axelbeugre]

DWF insight day invite!

Congratulations! Very well done! @LKG

 

[axelbeugre]

Latham open day!

Congratulations! Well done! @allwillbewell

 

[Mathsdebater]

Congratulations!! I shared some tips for a first round here so I hope these help! https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-151745

Congratulations once again and smash your interview! @Mathsdebater

Thanks a ton @axelbeugre 😁😁😁!!

 

[Lawstudent3sp]

If offered two winter vacation schemes which run on the exact same dates, can i ask for one of the firms to push it back to a spring scheme or is it unlikely they will accommodate this?

 

[emilyding]

Hi @emilyding

Your skills won’t just come from your work experience. You may have developed them through your extra curriculars or academics too, so don’t be afraid to highlight your key strengths/skills. Try to think about what yours are rather than just what you think the firm might be looking for. That is how you then stand out from the crowd as you are not just highlighting the skills a solicitor needs, but focusing on your particular strengths.

Do make sure you explain what motivates you to become a solicitor too though - and you can make this more commercially focused too if you would prefer - it really depends on what are the drivers behind your motivation for the career.

I would see the extra curriculars and passion as two very different questions. The passionate question is there to find out what drives you again - what do you get buzzy about? If you had an opportunity to try and convince someone to be passionate about the thing you care about, how would you “pitch this”? For the extra curriculars, you then may have some cross over in the topic of what you are passionate about, but I would expect this to cover a broader range of activities and also focus on your achievements/responsibilities rather than your interest in the topic (assuming there is cross over - there might not be!).

Thank you so much!

 

[emilyding]

@emilyding,

• Yes, the first questions are asking you to discuss your motivations behind your decision to start your career as a commercial lawyer, so feel free to discuss these reasons mentioning any personal anecdote but also experiences, whether professional or extracurricular, that inspired you to want to pursue commercial law and become a solicitor. The second part asks about your skills. You should discuss the skills you have developed through your experiences and basically link them to why those will make you a successful solicitor. These could be attention to detail, international mindset or team-work. I would discuss where you developed them and how these will be beneficial to you as a solicitor. You should discuss your work experiences where you see fit, and yes, even if you have given a detailed description of your experiences, you should still reference your work experience in these kind of questions and link them back to the reasons why you chose to become a lawyer, or why this firm etc. They are useful to understand what you have learned from these experiences and go beyond a mere description of the tasks (Which you would have done in the description section).
• I would say that these two are quite different questions actually. In the first one, they are asking you to talk about anything that is not law. Some people talk about dancing, music, art, football, tennis, cooking whatever you enjoy doing or learning about, it is worth discussing in this question. It does not have to be related to law at all. I, for instance, used to speak about the transition to net zero and sustainability as those were topics I was interested in and was studying during my master (so as you can se not law related!). However, the second question is asking you to describe your extra-curricular activities and positions of responsibility. These could be clubs or societies you were part of at university, volunteering opportunities, international experiences abroad, anything of that nature.
• I guess you could talk about finance in that question if you really are interested in finance but it will not give you an advantage over someone who talks about something else. If anything, they might ask you questions during the interview so be mindful of that and only talk about something you would feel confident talking about. I hope these tips help and good luck again!

Thank you so much! They are really helpful for my applications!

 

[Jessica Booker]

If offered two winter vacation schemes which run on the exact same dates, can i ask for one of the firms to push it back to a spring scheme or is it unlikely they will accommodate this?

There is absolutely no harm in asking. The worst they can say is no and then you have to work out which firm to choose. But it’s a very common question for graduate recruitment to get, so do ask.

 

[Abgaal]

Wait for the people who have done the NRF Articshore Test - did you guys also recieve feedback for the test cuz I didn’t. I swear with every test you complete with a law firm - you receive a feedback performance ???. FYI I did the AS test last week Monday and I haven’t heard back?

 

[Aliceczernia]

Does anyone know when the deadline for the Stephenson Harwood open day is?

 

[bangarangbass39]

Hey @NJS, whenever I was researching firms I used a template that looked at these different aspects:

1. Practice Areas: Determine whether the law firm specialises in the specific area of law that matches your interests.
2. Reputation and Track Record: Research the firm's reputation by checking online reviews, testimonials, and case outcomes.
3. Expertise and Specialisation: Law firms may focus on different legal areas, so it's important to choose one that has the right expertise and specialisation for what you are interested in.
4. Size of the Firm: Depending on your interests, you might prefer a small boutique firm for personalised attention or a larger firm with more resources for complex cases.
5. Locations: The firm's locations around the world can be important, especially if the firms offers secondments or opportunities abroad.
6. Diversity and Inclusion: Assess the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion, as this can be important for representing your interests effectively, especially if you are a diverse candidate.
7. Pro Bono Work: Some firms are actively involved in pro bono work and community service, which can indicate a commitment to social responsibility. If that is important to you, you should definitely investigate that!

I also had a section where, for each piece of news, I related that back to an aspect of my background or experience so that I could understand how to potentially link that news with me and show why it was important for me to join firm X based on this piece of news and based on my experiences.

Hope that is helpful and good luck!

Hi I'm really interested in your News technique. Could you show and example of what that looks like?

 

[Lawstudent3sp]

There is absolutely no harm in asking. The worst they can say is no and then you have to work out which firm to choose. But it’s a very common question for graduate recruitment to get, so do ask.

okay, thank you so much!

 

[DKLaw]

Does anyone know if Eversheds Sutherland reimburse travel expenses for Graduate Insight Evenings?

 

[Zi48]

Wait for the people who have done the NRF Articshore Test - did you guys also recieve feedback for the test cuz I didn’t. I swear with every test you complete with a law firm - you receive a feedback performance ???. FYI I did the AS test last week Monday and I haven’t heard back?

I don’t think NRF gives feedback reports, I didn’t get one this cycle or for the summer scheme earlier in the year

 

[Arianne Kez]

Does anyone know what the Pinsent Masons Psychometric tests are like - are they Watson Glassier and verbal reasoning tests?
Is it just those two?

Any help appreciated?
Thanks

 

[Aga123+]

Does anyone know what the Pinsent Masons Psychometric tests are like - are they Watson Glassier and verbal reasoning tests?
Is it just those two?

Any help appreciated?
Thanks

I think it's a blended assessment - so SJT, written case study and video interview questions

 

[catlover123]

For anyone who has applied both HL lift off and the WVS - did you have to complete the WG twice? They sent me two links but I'm hoping once I do the WVS one then that is it.

I applied to the WVS first as that was rolling and am still waiting to hear back about my WG results. So I applied to Lift Off before it closed yesterday and they sent me another link to do the test. Thinking I might just do it anyway as I'm not feeling too great about my WVS WG attempt and so am treating the Lift Off one as like a retake! When I spoke to grad rec they emphasised that you can definitely apply to both - especially if you're unsuccessful in one then you can apply to the other one etc. So am thinking either way doing the WG again for Lift Off can't hurt.

 

[Cynthia14]

@Jessica Booker Can I ask how to answer the questions like" summarize the prize, scholarships" on the application form? if I do not received any scholarship from a law firm, how can I answer that? Or can I write some awards from my community or any pro bono volunteer projects?