General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Ifmhouse4]

Anyone heard from Arnold & Porter post application?

I haven’t yet no!

 

[Danube]

Hey guys, quick question - are summer TC applications in the same application as winter, spring, summer schemes and winter TCs?

 

[Alice G]

Hey guys, quick question - are summer TC applications in the same application as winter, spring, summer schemes and winter TCs?

Hi there,
Yeah that’s right. Recruitment cycles typically open Sept/Oct and then they can run right through to the July/August and then they start all over again. It’s essentially like an academic year from the time they typically open in Autumn (I say typically as I think A&O and maybe a couple others have actually opened their cycles from August now) hope this helps and is clear!

Whilst this is a typical rule of thumb, always do be sure to thoroughly check each firm’s website just to make absolutely sure.

 

[Jaysen]

Just adding a quick message to say we hope all of you are doing okay during this scary/uncertain period! If any of you reading this have worries/doubts, do feel free to post or vent here - we’re a welcoming community and we’ll do our best to help you!

 

[Ayo Babatunde]

I have just logged on to the Browne Jacobson application portal, literally about to submit my direct TC application, and it says the 'vacancy is closed', even though the deadline was not till the 1st April and I logged on yesterday and had no issues....is this the case for anyone else applying to Browne Jacobson for the direct TC? Please let me know if it is-I have put so much work into this application and am so gutted right now

 

[Helena]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

 

[Daniel Boden]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

Helena I'm so so terribly sorry to hear about the bad news regarding your health! News like that really puts getting a TC into perspective...

I wish you nothing but the best and am sending so many positive prayers your way! You will beat this - I have no doubt! I think I can speak for everyone on this forum when I say we are here for you in whatever way you may need

 

[Jaysen]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

You’ve been such a helpful voice in the forum right from the early days. So sorry to hear what you’re going through, really hope you get through it okay.

 

[Alice G]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

Helena, I’m shocked and saddened to hear about your health concerns. Though we have never met in person, you have been a tremendous friend to me on here over the past year. I desperately hope you are ok and I too know you will overcome this. I’m sending you love and best wishes and if I can do anything at all to help you please please let me know. I hope you can go ahead with your vac scheme and that it goes ahead as scheduled, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of a TC than you and I shall have everything crossed for you indefinitely.

 

[Changes]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

I'm so sorry to hear about this and hope you make a full recovery. Some things really put life into perspective. I'm not a recruiter but I would have thought an exceptional case like your would be a prime candidate for a deferral to a later year if that would work for you...but you probably have other priorities right now.

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Hey Jessica, given the current situation with COVID-19, many firms are postponing / cancelling VSs and ACs, and almost all are doing interviews online now. And the situation, from the looks of things, is only going to get worse in April, May, who knows beyond that. Do you think it's worth applying for a direct 2022 TC now, or would it be better to save the application for when the virus panic calms down a bit and firms start working normally again?

Are HR / grad rec teams even looking at applications at this time? And if not, do you think their backlog of applications will get looked at once the virus panic passes? I mean firms can have such a picking of applicants I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to ignore the backlog altogether and just focus on newly incoming applications.

 

[Deleted member 5185]

If anyone has heard from Browne Jacobson post online tests, please get in touch, thank you!

 

[ZH]

Has anyone heard from Shoosmiths - vac scheme?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hey Jessica, given the current situation with COVID-19, many firms are postponing / cancelling VSs and ACs, and almost all are doing interviews online now. And the situation, from the looks of things, is only going to get worse in April, May, who knows beyond that. Do you think it's worth applying for a direct 2022 TC now, or would it be better to save the application for when the virus panic calms down a bit and firms start working normally again?

Are HR / grad rec teams even looking at applications at this time? And if not, do you think their backlog of applications will get looked at once the virus panic passes? I mean firms can have such a picking of applicants I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to ignore the backlog altogether and just focus on newly incoming applications.

Yes - if you don't apply, you can't be recruited - its as simple as that.

There is no one size fits all approach to whats happening.

Plenty of firms are looking at applications (if they are still recruiting for those vacancies). Some will hold off and will look at applications later in the cycle (but many would do that anyway!!)

There is absolutely no logic in ignoring a backlog of applications and only accepting new ones. If anything the better logic would just be to close applications and focus on the ones you have.

 

[Alice G]

Hey Jessica, given the current situation with COVID-19, many firms are postponing / cancelling VSs and ACs, and almost all are doing interviews online now. And the situation, from the looks of things, is only going to get worse in April, May, who knows beyond that. Do you think it's worth applying for a direct 2022 TC now, or would it be better to save the application for when the virus panic calms down a bit and firms start working normally again?

Are HR / grad rec teams even looking at applications at this time? And if not, do you think their backlog of applications will get looked at once the virus panic passes? I mean firms can have such a picking of applicants I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to ignore the backlog altogether and just focus on newly incoming applications.

I think that if you have the time to make an application then I would probably advise you to do so. I know that there is uncertainty but firms do still have to hire and people are still getting online AC invites so I think many HR teams are trying to continue as normal as best as they can.

Though I have never worked in grad rec or HR, I can confidently say that I do not believe that firms would cast aside applications in favour of new ones coming in when things have calmed down. Like I say, I imagine business is continuing as best as possible and things are more than likely ticking over behind the scenes in terms of app reviews and it may just mean that ACs and interviews are postponed or held online until circumstances become more certain. I have also seen many law firms share on Instagram that they are using video conferencing to keep in touch which is another slight reinforcement that teams are still working as usual, but just from home for the time being.

 

[Samar]

Hi All,

Just going on from Jaysen's post about venting etc during this period - I wanted to make a note about how demotivated I am feeling about doing any kind of applications at the moment. Whilst I can manage my time more flexibly due to WFH, I am the most demotivated I have ever been... finding it hard to think about/concentrate on TC apps when there is so much going on around us that is far bigger than me/applications etc in my opinion.

Of course I will try to press on and not push myself too much but just wanted to make mention of it in case anyone else was feeling the same way. I am sure it is totally normal as times of uncertainty are always quite bizarre but just can't seem to think beyond this current situation.

Any advice always welcome for me and anyone else feeling the same way!

 

[Miki3999]

Hi All,

Just going on from Jaysen's post about venting etc during this period - I wanted to make a note about how demotivated I am feeling about doing any kind of applications at the moment. Whilst I can manage my time more flexibly due to WFH, I am the most demotivated I have ever been... finding it hard to think about/concentrate on TC apps when there is so much going on around us that is far bigger than me/applications etc in my opinion.

Of course I will try to press on and not push myself too much but just wanted to make mention of it in case anyone else was feeling the same way. I am sure it is totally normal as times of uncertainty are always quite bizarre but just can't seem to think beyond this current situation.

Any advice always welcome for me and anyone else feeling the same way!

I feel the same RE uni assignments, corporate governance does not matter so much after all..

 

[J32]

Jaysen knows how important this forum has been to me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone on TCLA. It's been a lifeline. I have had my trials and tribulations, as we all have, with trying to get a TC and have come close a few times, learning and developing as I go. I had secured a VS for this summer which I was so excited about. I didn't mention it on the forum as I didn't know how I would cope if I didn't convert. I have since had some seriously bad news concerning my health which has now put it all in jeopardy. And of course Covid19 adds to my and everyone's anxieties.

I want to wish you all good luck as I may be silent for a while. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy. I will watch your progress from the sidelines and hope one day to join you again here. Take care and stay safe.

So sorry to hear this Helena. Sending you positive thoughts, and hope you get through this

 

[D95]

Hi All,

Just going on from Jaysen's post about venting etc during this period - I wanted to make a note about how demotivated I am feeling about doing any kind of applications at the moment. Whilst I can manage my time more flexibly due to WFH, I am the most demotivated I have ever been... finding it hard to think about/concentrate on TC apps when there is so much going on around us that is far bigger than me/applications etc in my opinion.

Of course I will try to press on and not push myself too much but just wanted to make mention of it in case anyone else was feeling the same way. I am sure it is totally normal as times of uncertainty are always quite bizarre but just can't seem to think beyond this current situation.

Any advice always welcome for me and anyone else feeling the same way!

I feel the exact same and, to be honest, I'm kind of relieved that I am not the only one. Seemingly I have more time on my hands, but this is the first time in years when I don't care about getting a TC as much as I did before - really, all I care about right now is that my family and friends stay healthy and do not lose their jobs. Even when my spring VS was cancelled, instead of moaning about the lost chance, my reaction was more like: "Yeah, that's for the best, I'm glad I won't have to commute to the City now".

I am taking it day by day right now - whilst I am working from home (I appreciate the fact that I can do so!), my partner is a key worker and every time he leaves for work in the morning I am worried sick, especially seeing how many people are plain irresponsible and do not take extra precautions.

While I know I should be still making applications and do not lose sight of the future career-wise, it is hard to do it knowing what is going around at the moment and what a massive impact it already has had on our lives - and it is just a beginning here in the UK.

 

[S87]

Guys is anyone available or willing to give my training contract a last read? I do not know ho many times I read it and it is killing my spirit.