General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[hktr]

I haven’t heard anything back and I applied in April! I am hoping to hear back within the next few weeks as the wait is killing me now

Ah no sorry to hear. Most of the posts i've seen in relation to Macs are from people saying they haven't heard back yet but now I feel my point is slightly redundant haha!

Hi both - my understanding is that Macs plan to do 2 direct TC ACs. One before the vacation schemes that has already taken place and one after the schemes. The last vacation scheme is scheduled to finish in mid August, so I imagine direct TC applicants will hear soon after that.

 

[Lawgirl123]

Hi both - my understanding is that Macs plan to do 2 direct TC ACs. One before the vacation schemes that has already taken place and one after the schemes. The last vacation scheme is scheduled to finish in mid August, so I imagine direct TC applicants will hear soon after that.

Thanks, this is very helpful indeed.

 

[Jenny]

Do firms provide feedback on the watson glaser test or give out results of the test? I'm particularly asking for Freshfields as I know Linklaters sends you the report if you ask them to. Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Do firms provide feedback on the watson glaser test or give out results of the test? I'm particularly asking for Freshfields as I know Linklaters sends you the report if you ask them to. Thanks!

Probably only if you ask - but even then a percentile ranking is a little abstract/doesn’t necessarily mean much, and so many firms don’t provide it because of the effort needed to explain what it means.

 

[Tintin06]

Waiting to hear from Macfarlanes and Travers for direct TCs but worried grades mean I'm at a disadvantage more generally.

GCSEs: 1 A, 4 Bs, 3 Cs
A-Levels: 3 As
Degree: 62.5% (Distinction in first year)

Basically, do I need more experience to compensate for poor grades?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Waiting to hear from Macfarlanes and Travers for direct TCs but worried grades mean I'm at a disadvantage more generally.

GCSEs: 1 A, 4 Bs, 3 Cs
A-Levels: 3 As
Degree: 62.5% (Distinction in first year)

Basically, do I need more experience to compensate for poor grades?

Nothing there suggests poor grades. Obviously depends more on your individual module grades too though

 

[Tintin06]

Nothing there suggests poor grades. Obviously depends more on your individual module grades too though

Module grades were:
1st year: 72, 71, 69, 68;
3rd year: 67, 65, 64, 64, 61, 59, 58.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Module grades were:
1st year: 72, 71, 69, 68;
3rd year: 67, 65, 64, 64, 61, 59, 58.

Assuming your third year was this year, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

Obviously depends what your second year grades are like too though.

 

[Anthony Abloh]

Do firms provide feedback on the watson glaser test or give out results of the test? I'm particularly asking for Freshfields as I know Linklaters sends you the report if you ask them to. Thanks!

Freshfields doesn’t

 

[Tintin06]

Assuming your third year was this year, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

Obviously depends what your second year grades are like too though.

I only did exams in first and third year and graduated last year.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I only did exams in first and third year and graduated last year.

If you are at Oxford, you’ll still be expected to provide any informal assessment grades (eg mods) taken in your second year.

For someone like yourself, it may also be important to do so.

 

[Tintin06]

If you are at Oxford, you’ll still be expected to provide any informal assessment grades (eg mods) taken in your second year.

For someone like yourself, it may also be important to do so.

Like mock exams? I see.

I did have mitigating circumstances in third year but I'm conscious that I might come across as making excuses in applications.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Like mock exams? I see.

I did have mitigating circumstances in third year but I'm conscious that I might come across as making excuses in applications.

Yes - mock exams. I have always requested these from candidates who didn’t provide them on an application.

Feel free to PM me about the extenuating circumstances if that’s easier.

Genuine extenuating circumstances are not excuses.

 

[D]

I wouldn't worry too much about your WG Scores, this is because each firm uses the WG differently. Some have a "base" you must beat, others will use it as a competitive process.

Many last year wrote to Linklaters to get their scores. I have a feeling when I did the CC WG I got a result at the end too.. it was a while ago so that may have changed.

 

[Samar]

Email from Akin Gump:

Thank you for your application for a training contract at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Due to the success of our 2020 Vacation Scheme we are no longer able to offer interviews for our 2022 training contract. However, if you are still interested in joining us, please submit a new application in October when the system opens again.

 

[Andrewp]

Anyone heard from Weil or Mayer Brown?

 

[champ591]

Just saw a post on TSR saying that someone got an invite to FF’s AC today. They completed the WG a month ago - FYI to those who’re waiting!

 

[D]

Email from Akin Gump:

Thank you for your application for a training contract at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Due to the success of our 2020 Vacation Scheme we are no longer able to offer interviews for our 2022 training contract. However, if you are still interested in joining us, please submit a new application in October when the system opens again.

For those who apply direct to US firms, this response is worth noting. Most of these firms do recruit exclusively from their VS, even though they accept direct applicants. I think getting a TC direct is more the exception rather than the rule.

Sorry to those who put the effort in! At least you have a good base for next years app

 

[Jaysen]

For those who apply direct to US firms, this response is worth noting. Most of these firms do recruit exclusively from their VS, even though they accept direct applicants. I think getting a TC direct is more the exception rather than the rule.

Sorry to those who put the effort in! At least you have a good base for next years app

It's frustrating that some firms don't update their website indicating they're no longer accepting training contract applications (rather than waiting after the application to tell a candidate). Can be a big opportunity cost for candidates.

For the more niche American firms, I think it's well worth emailing first to see if they're still considering direct training contract applications, even if they don't indicate otherwise on the website.

 

[Samar]

It's frustrating that some firms don't update their website indicating they're no longer accepting training contract applications (rather than waiting after the application to tell a candidate). Can be a big opportunity cost for candidates.

For the more niche American firms, I think it's well worth emailing first to see if they're still considering direct training contract applications, even if they don't indicate otherwise on the website.

I actually emailed them in April and was told to apply sooner rather than later as they were about to start considering the direct TC apps. So I applied the next week. Then emailed for another update in June and was told they will get back to applicants after the deadline.

So just to add to Jaysen’s comment - they might say they are looking but then might not.