General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Deleted member 4851]

I’d try to pull any favours you can to switch shifts around. I’d really advise not working - you really want to make the most of the scheme and have the most focus/energy for it. I understand it isn’t always as simple as that though.

Also, if you ask grad rec then some law firms will let you do the final interview on the last day of your vac scheme, rather than in the following weeks so that you aren’t having to take more days off for 20 minute interviews.

Thank you both for your responses

I hope that I will make it work in case I even get a winter vac scheme. I was just trying to plan what I could possibly do. I don't want to leave my job on bad terms as well or come across as unreliable as I will need their reference in the future. I am worrying from now because somehow I am so unlucky! I got my first open day ever this year and although I never work on this particular day of the week I was somehow on the rota so my employer was not really happy when I said I can't work that day even though I found someone to do the shift for me.

 

[whisperingrock]

You started this by being annoyed by Jess because she hadn’t responded to someone’s query over a Friday night. That’s just petty and unreasonable.

Whatever issues you’ve had in the past, I feel you’re coming into this forum with a big chip on your shoulder. It’s absolutely fine to be upset and of course graduate recruitment make mistakes, but there’s no need to be rude or take this out on the TCLA team.

Pointing out a bias by replying to a post isn't exactly taking anything out on somebody but apparently the threshold is quite low here. My sincerest apologies.

Edit: To echo your sentiment from yesterday: Thanks for the disagree vote too - very mature of you.

 

[cryingoverTCs]

Has anyone heard back for HSF Winter Vac?

I got a rejection after passing their test

 

[AH97]

@Jessica Booker

Bit of a random one, but I was wondering in what format do grad rec generally view your application? Is it in the same format of the document that you get when you click 'Save to PC' before sending, or something else?

 

[c1070]

If anyone is interested in the NRF front, last year I applied and was rejected within 48 hours and met all the criteria etc. This year I applied and was invited to WG. My app was significantly stronger this year, I’m a graduate so same eligibility so maybe last time it was just that my app was not up to scratch and got reviewed quickly!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker

Bit of a random one, but I was wondering in what format do grad rec generally view your application? Is it in the same format of the document that you get when you click 'Save to PC' before sending, or something else?

Good question - just a tricky one to answer!

It will vary from firm to firm. Some for instance will have certain “CV blind” processes that may redact out certain information you could see, but they can’t.

Also other information will definitely not be visible to the recruiter - for instance, you might be able to see your equal opps answers (gender/age/ethnicity etc) but they won’t see that on an individual application.

They may also see things in a different order to you. Main example is that you tend to see your personal details first, as it’s usually the first information you put in to create an account. The firm may not see this information at all (as it actually sits outside of your application, and only on your “account”), but sometimes firms can choose to reorder questions or sections when they “print” applications. This sometimes happens if there is more weighting on one part of the application or if they find people generally fall down on that section more.

But with these exceptions, generally I’d say they can see what you can see in the same format you can see it.

 

[Jen E C]

Hi all, I am applying for winter vac schemes but I am still no sure how it will work out in case I hopefully get one as I am working afternoons and evenings as well. Can anyone, who has had a virtual vac scheme, share some details about their programme in terms of hours? Did you normally worked 9-5 for example or were your days pretty much packed with something happening 9-9? Thank you

Just to reiterate what's already been said, I too would recommend avoiding other work as much as possible when doing a virtual vac scheme. I worked until 11pm each night for the ones I did and was shattered each day. The weekend was mainly spent prepping for the interview and assessments and catching up on a bit of sleep. If I was also working another job in those 2 weeks I think performance and enjoyment of the vac scheme would have suffered greatly.

 

[M1999]

All these posts about NRF rejecting you straight away are making me so nervous! :S
I can't even imagine how frustrating it feels

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

All these posts about NRF rejecting you straight away are making me so nervous! :S
I can't even imagine how frustrating it feels

I think this was what I was trying to avoid (albeit unsuccessfully). Rejection is horrible whenever it happens, I really wouldn't want people to go through a process of second guessing themselves purely because of when they hear back.

 

[Jenny]

Rejection from A&O winter vac scheme

 

[M1999]

For a question about what challenges are there in a legal sector- is it too generic to talk about tech (specifically a part of tech I will go into) & how law firms are keeping up with it. I feel that is the area I know most about but I don’t know if it’s too generic

 

[gg332dd]

Anyone whos made it to Linklaters AC, what did you get as your strong/weak attributes on the test?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

For a question about what challenges are there in a legal sector- is it too generic to talk about tech (specifically a part of tech I will go into) & how law firms are keeping up with it. I feel that is the area I know most about but I don’t know if it’s too generic

Sounds like it won't be generic if you are talking about specific tech

 

[Legal_rawn]

Anyone whos made it to Linklaters AC, what did you get as your strong/weak attributes on the test?

This year or last year?

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

Hi all, I am applying for winter vac schemes but I am still no sure how it will work out in case I hopefully get one as I am working afternoons and evenings as well. Can anyone, who has had a virtual vac scheme, share some details about their programme in terms of hours? Did you normally worked 9-5 for example or were your days pretty much packed with something happening 9-9? Thank you

In my experience, the VS was completely packed.

9-5 were standard hours for practice talks/Q&A and so on, but on top of that there was also heavily suggested virtual networking (not obligatory, but since it was virtual it was the only real extra way of showing additional interest), and enforced socials, so the office hours were more like 9-7.

As well as 'office hours', the tasks that we were given to complete were all extremely time-consuming, and were to be completed in our spare time, so I don't think I was ever finished before 22/2300 each night. That seemed to be the broad experience of other people on the scheme too. Weekends were equally busy, and the only "free" period was at the very end of the scheme - but by then you needed to use those few free hours to prepare for the TC interview.

That said, this particular MC firm has squashed their entire 4 week scheme into 2 weeks, and so some firms were less intense (a friend of mine on the same VS who had an additional VS at another MC firm said it was much more relaxed), but personally, I wouldn't want to risk having to juggle both a vac scheme and work. I was lucky enough to have an employer who gave me as much time off as required (the only upside to zero hour contracts), but I do appreciate not everyone has this option.

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

Anyone whos made it to Linklaters AC, what did you get as your strong/weak attributes on the test?

If you're interested in last year's experience (that got me an AC invite), my highest-scoring attributes were respect & working with others, my lowest scoring attribute was resource & work management.

 

[gg332dd]

If you're interested in last year's experience (that got me an AC invite), my highest-scoring attributes were respect & working with others, my lowest scoring attribute was resource & work management.

That's fair thanks! I got strongest motivation + resilience and weakest leadership preference. So we'll see how that works out

 

[Legal_rawn]

That's fair thanks! I got strongest motivation + resilience and weakest leadership preference. So we'll see how that works out

I too got an AC invite last year and got the same. Didn’t get working with others this year and got critical thinking instead so who knows!

 

[dosblancos7]

To those applying to Freshfields, is their vacation scheme only open to penultimate year law students, and non-law students? Seems so according to the website's wording.

 

[M1999]

Does anyone know if Ashurst reviews your app answers before sending you the test link?