General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Alice G]

I’ve loved reading through everyone’s motivational posts and wish I could bottle up this positivity!

I definitely struggled at times with the process. I distinctly remember one Friday in February, I had the Watson Glaser to do for Freshfields and it was the day after my Linklaters AC. Everyone on my AC had gotten a positive result and a phone call in the morning and no call or email came for me. I knew it must be bad news and I was so upset. At the same time I was still waiting on A&O and it had been around two weeks of continuous anxiety about it. Everything felt like it was too much and I was so overwhelmed. I cried to my mentor at Rare and think I may have even called @Jaysen that day in panic too. That afternoon it felt almost impossible to get a TC, I felt there was something wrong with me and that perhaps this simply wasn’t meant to be for me.
However, fast forward around 3-4 weeks and I had my AC with Freshfields and got a call at 11am the very next day offering me my TC. This time I (embarrassingly) cried with pure joy and elation- @Jaysen can testify to this too as he was the third person I rang to tell and the tears were still in full force.

the moral of this story is not that I’m a bit of a crier, but that one of my darkest days and one of the best days of my life were a few mere weeks apart. I got my TC at a time where I’d half resigned myself to thinking it just wasn’t meant to be for me.
Things really can turn around in the blink of an eye so don’t give up, keep pushing, and know your time will come.

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

I’ve loved reading through everyone’s motivational posts and wish I could bottle up this positivity!

I definitely struggled at times with the process. I distinctly remember one Friday in February, I had the Watson Glaser to do for Freshfields and it was the day after my Linklaters AC. Everyone on my AC had gotten a positive result and a phone call in the morning and no call or email came for me. I knew it must be bad news and I was so upset. At the same time I was still waiting on A&O and it had been around two weeks of continuous anxiety about it. Everything felt like it was too much and I was so overwhelmed. I cried to my mentor at Rare and think I may have even called @Jaysen that day in panic too. That afternoon it felt almost impossible to get a TC, I felt there was something wrong with me and that perhaps this simply wasn’t meant to be for me.
However, fast forward around 3-4 weeks and I had my AC with Freshfields and got a call at 11am the very next day offering me my TC. This time I (embarrassingly) cried with pure joy and elation- @Jaysen can testify to this too as he was the third person I rang to tell and the tears were still in full force.

the moral of this story is not that I’m a bit of a crier, but that one of my darkest days and one of the best days of my life were a few mere weeks apart. I got my TC at a time where I’d half resigned myself to thinking it just wasn’t meant to be for me.
Things really can turn around in the blink of an eye so don’t give up, keep pushing, and know your time will come.

You amazing lady! Just what we needed I think!

So very proud of you Alice!

 

[Alice G]

You amazing lady! Just what we needed I think!

So very proud of you Alice!

Thank you so much- I really hope this does help and offers some positivity too!

 

[Saksham Malik]

Have you guys checked your junk mail? That it where I received my confirmation from Pinsent Masons.

Has anyone received an acceptance/rejection mail from Pinsent Masons yet? I filled the application more than 2 weeks ago but haven't received anything other than a mail informing that they've received my application.

 

[S87]

Has anyone received an acceptance/rejection mail from Pinsent Masons yet? I filled the application more than 2 weeks ago but haven't received anything other than a mail informing that they've received my application.

Many of us received an email confirming that they received our application and will let us know asap.

 

[J32]

I’ve loved reading through everyone’s motivational posts and wish I could bottle up this positivity!

I definitely struggled at times with the process. I distinctly remember one Friday in February, I had the Watson Glaser to do for Freshfields and it was the day after my Linklaters AC. Everyone on my AC had gotten a positive result and a phone call in the morning and no call or email came for me. I knew it must be bad news and I was so upset. At the same time I was still waiting on A&O and it had been around two weeks of continuous anxiety about it. Everything felt like it was too much and I was so overwhelmed. I cried to my mentor at Rare and think I may have even called @Jaysen that day in panic too. That afternoon it felt almost impossible to get a TC, I felt there was something wrong with me and that perhaps this simply wasn’t meant to be for me.
However, fast forward around 3-4 weeks and I had my AC with Freshfields and got a call at 11am the very next day offering me my TC. This time I (embarrassingly) cried with pure joy and elation- @Jaysen can testify to this too as he was the third person I rang to tell and the tears were still in full force.

the moral of this story is not that I’m a bit of a crier, but that one of my darkest days and one of the best days of my life were a few mere weeks apart. I got my TC at a time where I’d half resigned myself to thinking it just wasn’t meant to be for me.
Things really can turn around in the blink of an eye so don’t give up, keep pushing, and know your time will come.

Personally, your story is one of the best, if not the best, source of motivation for me heading into interviews this summer Alice I'm sure others feel similarly to me!

 

[Alice G]

Personally, your story is one of the best, if not the best, source of motivation for me heading into interviews this summer Alice I'm sure others feel similarly to me!

Thank you You’re going to smash it hands down, no doubts whatsoever!!

 

[Saksham Malik]

Many of us received an email confirming that they received our application and will let us know asap.

Same. Do you know how long are they expected to take to announce the results? (rough idea)

 

[S87]

Same. Do you know how long are they expected to take to announce the results? (rough idea)

Absolutely not

 

[Saksham Malik]

Absolutely not

Oh alright. Thanks anyway

 

[thecorporatelawyer]

Hi all, sorry for all my questions regarding the Macfarlanes app, but I was particularly concerned about how to answer this question. "On this page please give details of time spent out of education or work, for example time spent travelling.(50)' I would assume they mean if you took a gap year, which I didn't. However I did travel a lot around Asia after graduation, but I'm not sure if this really what they're looking for.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi all, sorry for all my questions regarding the Macfarlanes app, but I was particularly concerned about how to answer this question. "On this page please give details of time spent out of education or work, for example time spent travelling.(50)' I would assume they mean if you took a gap year, which I didn't. However I did travel a lot around Asia after graduation, but I'm not sure if this really what they're looking for.

this is exactly what it is for - it is if there for any time gaps in your CV that can be accounted for by going travelling for that period of time

 

[Sammy]

Hi all
Anyone heard back from Macfarlanes or BCLP for TC applications?

 

[Nikhilrai]

Hi all
Anyone heard back from Macfarlanes or BCLP for TC applications?

hey , I haven’t heard back from those two either. Am I correct in thinking those two take applications on a rolling basis?

 

[Andre]

Anyone heard from Dentons (post-1st interview) or BCLP for TC?

 

[Reg]

What would count as a position of responsibility outside of academics?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

What would count as a position of responsibility outside of academics?

anything that isn’t specifically attached to your degree subject.

 

[SLKEJRWOI97]

Morning all!

Hoping to reach out to you guys as you're a very supportive bunch!

Is anyone feeling demotivated and a little lost? I'm a 2018 graduate and have been applying since my second year (2016/17) - although I didn't actually really focus on my apps until last app cycle where I did get results.

I think with the nature of recruitment too, with firms hiring 2 years in advance, I just feel that I'm losing so much time, etc. And the fact that the main recruitment cycle happens October - January so effectively it's like waiting it out with not much you can do ? :/

Just sort of losing steam and not sure what to really do. Anyone been in a similar position?

 

[SportsThoughts]

Morning all!

Hoping to reach out to you guys as you're a very supportive bunch!

Is anyone feeling demotivated and a little lost? I'm a 2018 graduate and have been applying since my second year (2016/17) - although I didn't actually really focus on my apps until last app cycle where I did get results.

I think with the nature of recruitment too, with firms hiring 2 years in advance, I just feel that I'm losing so much time, etc. And the fact that the main recruitment cycle happens October - January so effectively it's like waiting it out with not much you can do ? :/

Just sort of losing steam and not sure what to really do. Anyone been in a similar position?

You're not alone, in fact a frighteningly similar position to myself. A 2018 grad, applying since second year with only last cycle being a focused approach with results.

I had my week of 'deflation' last week. Make sure you allow yourself to have some sort of time to step back. I've found that if I'm feeling lost/demotivated I try and focus on something that isn't on the forefront of applications to law firms. Allow yourself this time! For me this was reading 'Billion Dollar Whale' which is a book about finance (something I really enjoy and currently work in), but this also may contribute to a well rounded commercial knowledge which might be later useful in the application process. I did this almost every evening last week as apposed to applications - the weather was good so I took the opportunity to sit outside and top up my Haribo-Squashy-like tan.

I'd say the courses on TCLA are also very useful where the content isn't necessarily application focused but will help you later down the line come next Jan/Feb interview season. Naturally it's very easy to stray onto the forums and begin where you started.

Whilst my examples have both been somewhat related to how I tailor my applications - look at doing almost anything else you enjoy, as it's likely that your period of demotivation will be temporary, especially if you've been on the grind since 2016! Even if you put all of your energy into one thing for 3/4 days you completely depart yourself from the process and come back with a fresh mindset.

In terms of lost time, it's only lost time if you do nothing with it - which I'm certain doesn't apply to you. There are still direct TC opportunities out there, LawCareers.net TC deadlines is your friend.

Whilst the above is specifically related to myself, I think the message I'm trying to convey is that if you find something that'll require all of your attention for a small period of time, it's likely you return to that apply4law portal raring to go.

 

[Reg]

anything that isn’t specifically attached to your degree subject.

Sorry, I meant what would be examples of this and would examples from employment work? When I see this question, I immediately assume they want to know about perhaps being president of a society etc. I don’t really have any of that so I don’t know what I could use 500 words on.