TCLA General Discussion Thread #2 (2021)

[M1999]

Them questions that ask ‘would you rather submit a late piece of work but it be perfect or submit a work on time that is average’ what is the suggested answer?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Them questions that ask ‘would you rather submit a late piece of work but it be perfect or submit a work on time that is average’ what is the suggested answer?

Work will never be perfect - aiming for perfection isn’t healthy.

 

[M1999]

Work will never be perfect - aiming for perfection isn’t healthy.

Thanks Jessica!

 

[p9b]

So I am getting a bit worried because I have received my formal vac scheme letter and on it, it says they will contact employers for references. I currently work as a paralegal within a small firm and had already booked off my vac scheme week and said I was going on holiday as I did not want my employers to know. If I do not end up getting the training contract, it clearly shows my current employers that I have intentions to leave which I do not think reflects well. Has anyone been in a similar situation? If I call grad rec to explain this do you think they will understand me not informing my employers?

 

[Anon 11031]

So I am getting a bit worried because I have received my formal vac scheme letter and on it, it says they will contact employers for references. I currently work as a paralegal within a small firm and had already booked off my vac scheme week and said I was going on holiday as I did not want my employers to know. If I do not end up getting the training contract, it clearly shows my current employers that I have intentions to leave which I do not think reflects well. Has anyone been in a similar situation? If I call grad rec to explain this do you think they will understand me not informing my employers?

I'm sure that @Jessica Booker will have some advice on this.

However, I think the best thing to do in this situation is to be honest with your employer. Mainly because there can be conflicts of interest and, if I'm not mistaken, most employment contracts require you to disclose when you take up any other form of work. Which, arguably, a vac scheme is (especially considering lots of them pay).

I don't think it reflects badly on you in your current workplace. Ultimately, you have a desire to expand your career and become a solicitor. If they can't offer you that, then you would have had to gain that opportunity somewhere else anyway.

That's my take anyways. Having dealt with similar things in the past, I've always found honesty the best way to not find yourself in trouble!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

So I am getting a bit worried because I have received my formal vac scheme letter and on it, it says they will contact employers for references. I currently work as a paralegal within a small firm and had already booked off my vac scheme week and said I was going on holiday as I did not want my employers to know. If I do not end up getting the training contract, it clearly shows my current employers that I have intentions to leave which I do not think reflects well. Has anyone been in a similar situation? If I call grad rec to explain this do you think they will understand me not informing my employers?

You’ll typically need to declare employment within another organisation if you are working full time in one (even if you are using annual leave). Check your employment contract for your current employer.

Grad Rec is likely to expect you to tell your employer.

 

[Florawilliams]

Hey! need some help! I'm just about to apply for Ashurst's TC, but i see they have one with an early start (March 2023 i think). id rather apply to this but I'm applying quite late so don't want to ruin my chances? thank you so much if anyone has further details on this

 

[Sonia_Kawaii]

Hey! need some help! I'm just about to apply for Ashurst's TC, but i see they have one with an early start (March 2023 i think). id rather apply to this but I'm applying quite late so don't want to ruin my chances? thank you so much if anyone has further details on this

Hi,

Don't apply for March 2023 as that intake is being recruited on a rolling basis. They should be making offers at the end of this month. Apply for September 2023 instead as its the normal non-rolling recruitment

Grad rec from Ashurst confirmed this a few weeks ago on an Insta live with Vantage.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hey! need some help! I'm just about to apply for Ashurst's TC, but i see they have one with an early start (March 2023 i think). id rather apply to this but I'm applying quite late so don't want to ruin my chances? thank you so much if anyone has further details on this

I’d just apply for the vacancy you want to. Standards will be the same across intakes.

 

[Florawilliams]

Hi,

Don't apply for March 2023 as that intake is being recruited on a rolling basis. They should be making offers at the end of this month. Apply for September 2023 instead as its the normal non-rolling recruitment

Grad rec from Ashurst confirmed this a few weeks ago on an Insta live with Vantage.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !

 

[Florawilliams]

I’d just apply for the vacancy you want to. Standards will be the same across intakes.

thank u!

 

[Sonia_Kawaii]

THANK YOU SO MUCH !

No problem!

 

[acceleratedlaw]

hey guys, would anyone be willing to take a look at my personal statement for LPC (with LLM)? im very conflicted on the angle to take

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

hey guys, would anyone be willing to take a look at my personal statement for LPC (with LLM)? im very conflicted on the angle to take

Honestly wouldn’t worry about it too much, unless you are applying for some form of bursary/scholarship. It’s not really a competitive process.

 

[AspiringLaw2021]

Hey everyone, had my first day of a vac scheme today and I'm a little disappointed with some aspects of it. My associate supervisor emailed me to welcome me to the team and said that I'd probably be busy with intro sessions etc but to check in if things were quiet. I suggested a call just to introduce myself and she advised that they were free for a quick call in the afternoon.

I really don't feel like I gave a good first impression during the call - I had prepped questions but as she had wanted a quick call, I didn't really ask any of these (just asked about her background/the team/work allocation) and it just felt really rushed. I sent a follow up email thanking her for her time and to say that I look forward meeting with her in person later in the week (and briefly indicated some follow-up topics). Was this the right approach? Should I have persevered and asked the questions I had prepped?

I want to feel like I've made a good start to the scheme, and to be fair, the rest of the day when pretty well but I'm aware that the associate supervisor will probably be observing and gathering feedback that will feed into the TC decision.

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hey everyone, had my first day of a vac scheme today and I'm a little disappointed with some aspects of it. My associate supervisor emailed me to welcome me to the team and said that I'd probably be busy with intro sessions etc but to check in if things were quiet. I suggested a call just to introduce myself and she advised that they were free for a quick call in the afternoon.

I really don't feel like I gave a good first impression during the call - I had prepped questions but as she had wanted a quick call, I didn't really ask any of these (just asked about her background/the team/work allocation) and it just felt really rushed. I sent a follow up email thanking her for her time and to say that I look forward meeting with her in person later in the week (and briefly indicated some follow-up topics). Was this the right approach? Should I have persevered and asked the questions I had prepped?

I want to feel like I've made a good start to the scheme, and to be fair, the rest of the day when pretty well but I'm aware that the associate supervisor will probably be observing and gathering feedback that will feed into the TC decision.

I really wouldn't worry too much about this. It sounds like you did the absolute best you could with a curveball thrown your way and I am sure you made a better impression than you think you did!

 

[Dheepa]

Hey everyone, had my first day of a vac scheme today and I'm a little disappointed with some aspects of it. My associate supervisor emailed me to welcome me to the team and said that I'd probably be busy with intro sessions etc but to check in if things were quiet. I suggested a call just to introduce myself and she advised that they were free for a quick call in the afternoon.

I really don't feel like I gave a good first impression during the call - I had prepped questions but as she had wanted a quick call, I didn't really ask any of these (just asked about her background/the team/work allocation) and it just felt really rushed. I sent a follow up email thanking her for her time and to say that I look forward meeting with her in person later in the week (and briefly indicated some follow-up topics). Was this the right approach? Should I have persevered and asked the questions I had prepped?

I want to feel like I've made a good start to the scheme, and to be fair, the rest of the day when pretty well but I'm aware that the associate supervisor will probably be observing and gathering feedback that will feed into the TC decision.

Hey, absolutely nothing about what you said sounds like it went badly at all!
Things like not asking enough questions are not what supervisors focus their feedback on neither is it what makes or breaks a TC offer!

Don’t overthink these things - your supervisor was busy and there’s nothing more you could have done in the time she had for you. Stuff like this happens all the time on schemes. From the sound of it, you’ve gone out of your way to prepare some insightful questions and again I’m sure she is going to appreciate that effort too.

 

[Legalmel_99]

Has anyone heard back from Leigh day or kuits?

 

[lawstudent12345]

Just wondering if there is a guide on TCLA about using SWOT and PESTLE to analyse current affairs articles?

 

[Dheepa]

Just wondering if there is a guide on TCLA about using SWOT and PESTLE to analyse current affairs articles?

Hey, don't think we have a dedicated resource on this but this CC video breaks both of those frameworks down really well

There's also Jaysen's post here with a link to another external resource

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/swot-analysis-useful-read.2549/