TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[TCLA Community Assistant]

What are the paralegal opportunities like with flex legal? Do the big firms (say the firms listed on legal cheek) recruit through them?

They have placed people at Freshfields (one of their major clients in Manchester) and firms like Leigh Day and Eversheds. A lot of their clients are in-house legal teams too though.

 

[erderlylars]

As anyone heard from Farrer & Co for the direct tc?

 

[zq522]

Hey, no worries if you don't feel comfortable sharing. I wanted to reach out to ask how you worked out that you scored low on the amberjack test? I didn't score at all in the applied intellect category, I think I did well on 2 categories and scored a 3/9 on digital mindset which I think is below average. I haven't heard yet either and clutching at straws trying to figure out whether I should still be holding out. If you'd be happy to share why you think you scored low I'd appreciate it, but no worries if you don't. Thanks so much.

It was in the automatic feedback report - in three of the four criterias I only scored 3/9 so knew i didnt get it at that point!

 

[LillyandSilver]

when is the best time to start emailing for chats before a vac scheme? I have one starting on the 24th and I don't want to go too early and risk them forgetting or being too last minute and everyone is busy.

 

[user254]

Anyone doing the London Hill Dickinson Insight scheme - have you received a timetable yet? Thought we get one the week before the scheme but have yet to receive anything.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

when is the best time to start emailing for chats before a vac scheme? I have one starting on the 24th and I don't want to go too early and risk them forgetting or being too last minute and everyone is busy.

I’d wait until you are there. You really don’t know what your timetable will be to organise the chats. I’d wait until you are settled into your department and have a bette understanding of your timetable and then arrange meetings from there.

Otherwise you just risk booking loads in and then not being able to commit to them or committing to them and missing out on work/important meetings.

 

[BillSikes]

Flex legal offer a lot of short term paralegal vacancies.

There’s a process to go through with flex. There are some amazing clients they work with.

I think the main difference between Flex and LOD is that flex allow you to work for the client permanently if the client wants to… whereas LOD will keep you tied in with them which is stipulated within the employment contract.

What's LOD?

 

[ayiiii05]

Does anyone know of firms that are lenient with A-Level grades whilst still having A-Level requirements? I got ABB and I want to apply to firms with AAB. I have mitigating circumstances but I am worried that firms won't care. I finished with 65% in 1st year and I am awaiting results for 2nd. I want to apply to US firms like Kirkland and Goodwin but don't want my A-Level grades to impact me when my uni grades are much better

 

[sm99]

Can anyone advise on whether having coffee chats during a VS is essential?

I don’t want it to come across forced & feel as though I’d only really be able to build a relationship after 2/3 days so it would be towards the end of the scheme anyway…

I find that natural talking opps tend to present themselves during the workday organically, so I don’t want to stress over slotting in coffee chats unless it’s absolutely essential??

 

[A worried paralegal]

Does anyone know of firms that are lenient with A-Level grades whilst still having A-Level requirements? I got ABB and I want to apply to firms with AAB. I have mitigating circumstances but I am worried that firms won't care. I finished with 65% in 1st year and I am awaiting results for 2nd. I want to apply to US firms like Kirkland and Goodwin but don't want my A-Level grades to impact me when my uni grades are much better

US firms tend to enforce the academic rules more strictly than others but as an ABB is still quite good you could probably get by if you do well in University and write out your mitigating factors correctly.

65% is fine but some US firms like to see those 70s.

Good luck!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Can anyone advise on whether having coffee chats during a VS is essential?

I don’t want it to come across forced & feel as though I’d only really be able to build a relationship after 2/3 days so it would be towards the end of the scheme anyway…

I find that natural talking opps tend to present themselves during the workday organically, so I don’t want to stress over slotting in coffee chats unless it’s absolutely essential??

Definitely not essential. If anything they are just a time filler if you are not busy.

 

[A worried paralegal]

What's LOD?

Lawyers on demand

 

[hkulsk2021]

Has anyone heard from shoosmiths? Its today

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Hi, could anyone please tell me if a 61 in Contract Law (PgDL) is enough or not? Or having a distinction is essential for certain firms?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi, could anyone please tell me if a 61 in Contract Law (PgDL) is enough or not? Or having a distinction is essential for certain firms?

This is likely to be sufficient. Firms don’t focus on GDL grades in the same way they do about undergraduate degree courses.

 

[sm99]

Has anyone on the gateley scheme received their schedule?

 

[A worried paralegal]

Has anyone heard from shoosmiths? Its today

They are just coming now

 

[hkulsk2021]

Shoosmiths Manchester TC reserve list for AC... mixed feelings

Has anyone been put on the reserve list before? Just wonder how short the notice could be

 

[johnnn821]

Anything for Shoosmiths' London TC?

 

[A worried paralegal]

I got the pfo