TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Corporate.penny]

Has anyone heard back from Reed Smith today? (Offers and rejections)

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu for in person interviews how did you go about remembering all of your answers before the interview and how long did you spend going over it all? I feel like its impossible for me to retain so much information and then be able to think of it all up on the spot!

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.

 

[simplyfaith]

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?

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 🙏

 

[Corporate.penny]

Has anyone heard back from Reed Smith today? (Offers and rejections) it’s been almost a month now.

 

[Gr33n]

Has anyone heard back from Reed Smith today? (Offers and rejections) it’s been almost a month now.

Nah I think some ppl have got offers and ACs tho already

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

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!

 

[S7321]

SH virtual assessment! Does anyone know if there's any other stages after this?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

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!

Huge congrats! Am waiting to hear back, when did u apply?

 

[Chris Brown]

Stephenson Harwood virtual assessment invite!!! I think I applied like 1-2 days before the deadline, for Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2. 🙂​

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

Huge congrats! Am waiting to hear back, when did u apply?

Thank you! I applied on the deadline, and for Spring + Summer 1.

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

To my knowledge, they review applications first and then successful applicants get the test invite. 🙂​

Awesome, thank you!

(Congratulations on the PW VS btw!)

 

[jojo23]

Good news: stephenson harwood test invite (i needed some good news)

Bad news: my laptop finally packed up and died after 11 years so, i can't actually do the test🤣



✨️✨️Perfectly balanced as all things should be✨️✨️

Jokes aside, I don't suppose anyone has advice for sjt's and vid interviews? After my abysmal reed smith one I need the advice

 

[BobThebIlly]

Does anyone know when SH stop inviting people to the VI? I haven't heard anything from them since I submitted my initial app

 

[Sophie101]

Still waiting to hear from PW, assuming its a rejection?

 

[Mara]

Still waiting to hear from PW, assuming its a rejection?

Same, I am genuinely so perplexed as to why some people got ghosted post test

 

[jojo23]

Stephenson Harwood virtual assessment invite!!! I think I applied like 1-2 days before the deadline, for Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2. 🙂​

I think you should change your name to Jose Mourinho at this point, you're the 🐐 🤣
Also, congrats on PW. You deserve it!

 

[BBsharkk]

Still waiting to hear from PW, assuming its a rejection?

Some of us who did the interview are still waiting to hear back. It seems like most VS offers (if not all) have been given out. So they might just be doing PFOs in a batch soon.

 

[yueyueer]

Same, I am genuinely so perplexed as to why some people got ghosted post test

At this point I think it’s possible that they’re waiting to see if spaces are actually filled — e.g.: people may drop out from the VS for various reasons. But yeah more than likely PFO

 

[Ash4202]

anyone on the paul hastings x comcast scheme?

 

[TCLA0322]

SH test invite！Apply really close to ddl. Finally get some updates!