TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[axelbeugre]

How long do people usually take to prep for
an AC?

It really is a personal question and it depends on the circumstances, capabilities, and so much more. However, I personally used to spend less than a week, sometimes 2/3 days just because I had so many other commitments to attend too. Other people prepare for weeks and weeks. It also depends on the law firm, some might invite you to an interview the day after the email you and you need to be ready to prepare in a day or less than that sometimes.

 

[neonorange]

has anyone heard from withers or cleary?

Not to be Negative Nancy but I've assumed PFO from both at this stage.

 

[axelbeugre]

Hello All - had a technical question about AC written exercises and AC business case studies.

From peoples experience, how long have people had at ACs to read / answer these sections. What is a normal amount of time?

At my recent silver circle firm AC, we got 30 mins total for the written , 15 mins for the business case study (before then going in to chat with partners)

But I’ve heard places give an hour ! What’s the norm ?

It is firm specific unfortunately so there is no standard, some firms do not give you any time to prepare even so it really is a matter of being very adaptable and target your preparation to the different firms and their assessment procedure.

This is why talking to future trainees early on is really useful as you are able to target your preparation to fit that.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Anthony Collins PFO

 

[S87]

This is essentially a ''why me'' question and I think it pushes to talk about skills or attributes you have developed along the way, whether through university, extracurricular activities or professional experiences, and how these will help you to succeed as a future trainee.

Personally, depending on the word count, I would talk about 2/3 skills you have developed and link them back to how these will help you as a trainee. For example I used to mention how being a blog editor for the rule of law journal at my university made me develop attention to detail through different tasks. After the description of what I was doing, I included how 'attention to detail' in this case will help me succeed as a future trainee at the firm as I will have to pay attention to different documents and make sure they do not contain any errors and things of this nature.

I basically linked the skill I discussed to the task I would use at the firm. Additionally, you should also include a small paragraph answering the last part of the question, elaborating how these skills differentiate you from other people. For example I would discuss here how my language abilities allow me to interact and build relationships with people from different parts of the world and this differentiates me from other people.

I hope these examples help understanding an approach to the question.

Good luck with the application!

Thank you @axelbeugre

 

[axelbeugre]

I am applying for a in-house role and there are three supporting questions but there is also space to add a cover letter, I was wondering if I should prepare a cover letter too? The supporting questions are asking for my interest in the company and what skills I have that are relevant. If I do include a cover letter how long should it be? And how do I make it different to the supporting question? @Jessica Booker

I personally would prepare one and try to highlight things about yourself or the firm you did not have the chance to. Alternatively, if you did mention everything that you wanted to mention, put more emphasis on things you really want them to be aware of and that would make you a better candidate than the rest.

I think 400 words is probably appropriate for this kind of role, maybe less if you do not have too much to say.

It does have to be different from the other questions, and this can be done by emphasising more certain experiences or traits about yourself that will help you succeed in the role, or mention things you did not, for example awards, prizes etc, as well as more reasons as you would want to work at the firm in question.

 

[Zi48]

has anyone heard from withers or cleary?

Not to be Negative Nancy but I've assumed PFO from both at this stage.

Last year I didn’t hear from withers till the end of March, and had the interview early April, so it might not be a pfo

 

[holz567]

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

 

[Sharon Wu]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this addict was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

Number 6: (6a) Start a Tik Tok/Linkedin/Instagram or YouTube page telling people who have been rejected from TCs, how to get TC's even though you may not (when you start the post) have a TC yourself. (6b) Get 10K followers. (6c) Get a TC yourself. (6d) Tell everyone who still hasn't got a TC, (after doing what you suggest and much more), what to do to get a TC except what you actually did to get a TC 😝

 

[Bread]

Last year I didn’t hear from withers till the end of March, and had the interview early April, so it might not be a pfo

Was this for Spring or Summer?

 

[bangarangbass39]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

Lol 4 1000% never works. I connected to a trainee at a firm I applied for this year. We met online and we got on fairly well.

They bragged about how they assisted applicants in their pursuit for Vac Schemes. I thought hey why not ask if they’d like to read through what I wrote - they said no and that it’s because they “didn’t receive any help during their application cycle”.

 

[neonorange]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

I have a connection at a silver circle who reviewed my application for their winter vac scheme and said it looked really strong/helped with "improvements" but I still got a post-app PFO so take from that what you will! I do agree though that unless you have a connection most people just don't have the time or energy to help strangers - one "hey can you take a quick look at this" quickly becomes four follow ups and I personally would not have the inclination to invest so much time into someone I didn't know.

 

[holz567]

I have a connection at a silver circle who reviewed my application for their winter vac scheme and said it looked really strong/helped with "improvements" but I still got a post-app PFO so take from that what you will! I do agree though that unless you have a connection most people just don't have the time or energy to help strangers - one "hey can you take a quick look at this" quickly becomes four follow ups and I personally would not have the inclination to invest so much time into someone I didn't know.

I don’t even blame them either. Trainees are going to very busy people and helping a stranger try and advance on an application is a lot of effort unless you’ve already got a connection or built some rapport with them.

 

[Zi48]

Was this for Spring or Summer?

I think summer

 

[hopefulforatc]

I have a connection at a silver circle who reviewed my application for their winter vac scheme and said it looked really strong/helped with "improvements" but I still got a post-app PFO so take from that what you will! I do agree though that unless you have a connection most people just don't have the time or energy to help strangers - one "hey can you take a quick look at this" quickly becomes four follow ups and I personally would not have the inclination to invest so much time into someone I didn't know.

yea doesn't make a huge difference. If it has to happen it will.

 

[bangarangbass39]

I don’t even blame them either. Trainees are going to very busy people and helping a stranger try and advance on an application is a lot of effort unless you’ve already got a connection or built some rapport with them.

For sure! I think some shouldn’t give advice/present themselves as willing to. I realise Trainees are the best marketers. Great at selling to you they are open and available but in reality they aren’t. I don’t blame tho.

I think if people want help it’s best to speak to recruiters and careers advisors at uni. It might seem fruitless but they’re the ones who are headhunting, read applications the most and know what a good one looks like. Trainees aren’t always the best because in reality they don’t know what specifically did or didn’t get them through the door. I mean ppl get given great ratings post Vac Scheme or post application stage and still don’t secure an Interview/CV.

 

[ADKM]

Inspired by @Legalstalker and @Sharon Wu, I also want to share my application journey so far. To anyone reading this, if u feel ur behind the 8 ball, I hope this post comforts u. I’m a graduate, having worked in hospitality, sales (covering groceries, footwear & apparel, home furnishings), legal, and volunteering, I still haven’t gotten a tc and will never lose optimism of getting one until I get one.

Total apps submitted (across 2 cycles)- 26
PFO post apps- 20
PFO post 2nd stage- 3
Firms waiting on- 3
AC reached- 0
Hardest rejection- W&C as I gave a lot of thought on drafting a concise, bespoke cover letter so this one particularly hurt 😭
Easiest rejection- shearman & sterling as I heard some not-so-great stories about them

Plan going forward- currently working as a sales assistant but have a new offer lined up with a global AI training and collection company in London (will start from 19 march). Given all the hype surrounding AI, hopefully this role gives me some good experience ahead of the new season.

As I have some legal experience under my belt, I’m planning on submitting few direct apps in the summer.

Congratulations on ur VS offers @Legalstalker and @Sharon Wu, very well deserved 🥳🥳 hope u both convert it

 

[Jessica Booker]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

In most instances, you won’t be visible to GR teams even if you do connect with them on LinkedIn.

They are generally connected with hundreds/possibly thousands of other people and their timelines are far busier than you can ever be “visible” to them. And that’s even assuming they have the time to be active on LinkedIn.

 

[HLL]

Someone previously mentioned acquiring work experience in finance and pe to put one in a stronger position next cycle. As someone from a law background, I wonder what types of internship role in finance/pe I could look at. Have never thought of this route before so appreciate any insights!

 

[lookingforaTC]

Anything from Marriott Harrison?