TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Amma Usman]

For a competency-based interview, what are some questions I should prepare for?

Hey there @legal18,

Through the years, these are some of the questions I’ve seen pop up across industries I‘ve interviewed with:

Teamwork

1. Describe a time you worked in a team to solve a complex issue. What was your role and what did you learn?

2. Give an example of when you had to collaborate with someone with a different working style or opinion. How did you handle it?

Communication

3. Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex legal concept to someone without a legal background.

4. Describe a situation where you had to communicate difficult feedback or information. How did you ensure clarity and professionalism?

Attention to detail

5. Give an example of a time when your attention to detail prevented a serious mistake.

6. Describe a time you identified an error or inconsistency in a legal document or piece of work. What action did you take?

Organisation and time management

7. Tell me about a time when you had to juggle multiple deadlines. How did you prioritise your work?

8. Describe a situation where you were under pressure to deliver high-quality work in a short period of time.

Problem solving and commercial awareness

9. Describe a time you identified a legal or commercial risk. How did you approach solving it?

10. Give an example of a time when you had to think creatively to resolve a legal or academic issue.

Leadership and initiative

11. Tell me about a time when you took initiative to start or improve a project.

12. Give an example of a time you had to lead a team. What was the outcome and what did you learn?

Ethics and integrity

13. Describe a situation where you faced an ethical dilemma. How did you handle it and what did you learn?

14. Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision under pressure, balancing different responsibilities or values.

Resilience and motivation

15. Tell me about a time when you received criticism or faced rejection. How did you respond and what did you do next?


The way you answer these best is through looking at your past experiences in totality. Every experience matters so don’t discount anything you have previously done. They can all be linked to different scenarios. Essentially, the way I see it, if you know your experiences well (what you struggled with and what you found easy in order to achieve a particular outcome, how you applied those in real life, etc), then any question that comes your way, whether competency or not - can easily be answered by you.

When writing, it’s easier to use STAR, but when talking, still try to use it but in a more natural sounding tone. It’ll help tick off all follow-up questions that could be asked on the nature of the task itself, steps you took, or outcome.

 

[Flu1dity]

Just received a summer vac scheme acceptance for Mishcon de Reya, was a phone call. Best of luck to anyone waiting 😊

 

[Amma Usman]

Beale and co DTC partner and HR interview invite. The only thing mentioned in their email is the interview would be for 30 mins on teams.

Does anyone who did the interview for the firms VS know what the interview is like (commercial or motivation and competency based or a mix of both?)

many thanks!

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @ZNadeem @Jessica Booker

Hey!

I’d like to start off by saying that while 30 minutes sounds like a lot, in the interview world it really flies by. Typically, the first 3 to 4 minutes are spent on introductions. You’ll introduce yourself, the partner will introduce their practice area, and HR will likely explain their role and how the interview will be structured. That’s roughly 25 minutes left.

Since you haven’t been asked to prepare anything in advance, I personally doubt there will be a case study element. It will most likely be situational/motivational and competency-based. So definitely prepare for the usual questions such as why commercial law, why Beale & Co specifically, and what draws you to their work.

Make sure you understand their core practice areas in depth. If there are any gaps in your knowledge or things you cannot find online, those are great areas to ask the partner about during the interview. It shows curiosity and initiative. It is as much a learning opportunity as it is an assessment.

If you have been given the partner’s name, it is worth researching their background and some of their notable work. That way, you can ask thoughtful questions that show you have done more than surface-level research. If you have not been given their name, just familiarise yourself with the firm’s main practice areas and think about what you would genuinely want to learn more about, especially if the partner works in one of those areas.

Best of luck. You have got this. Treat it as a two-way conversation where you are also finding out if the firm is right for you.

 

[Amma Usman]

Just received a summer vac sheme acceptance for Mishcon de Reya, was a phone call. Best of luck to anyone waiting 😊

Congratulations! This is so amazing to hear. Hope you celebrate well

 

[BobThebIlly]

Hey everyone

I was due to sit my SJT/VI with SH by 5pm today but I had to withdraw last minute due to a sudden health issue. I am gutted about this because it was my only invitation post initial app and I put in a lot of work for the initial app.

I wanted to ask if this would hinder my application to SH in the future? Also would love to hear some advice for what to do now until law firm VS apps open again in September.

It was my first cycle this year (I’m a second yr student) and I haven’t secured a single AC let alone VS 🙏

 

[NMA]

Anyone know if you count as a 'student' for student discount purposes whilst studying the SQE?

 

[TCseeker101]

Just received a summer vac sheme acceptance for Mishcon de Reya, was a phone call. Best of luck to anyone waiting 😊

Yay me too!

 

[Kakaboo]

Hi everyone, I’m just feeling like poop. Can anyone give me som support or advice as to how to proceed.

I was recently rejected (after interview) from a very prestigious legal internship and have seen the offers go out on LinkedIn. So far I only have one week legal internship under my belt but I’m seeing other students with multiple spring weeks at investment banks and first year schemes and alongside one/two week work placements at city firms through social mobility schemes.

How on earth do I compete with that, when all I have to offer is probono experience and retail, and I’m seeing my peers with PE internships and a different internship each month of June July and August. Surely grad rec is going to take the candidate with a PE internship and multiple investment banking spring weeks and now a two week US firm work experience placement over someone with basic retail and probono experience.

Just feel like giving up and have no more willpower to send out applications when I’m going to look like nothing compared to these people.

I don’t understand how I could even stand a chance next to these people.

If u have got to interview, you already tick all their boxes

 

[splishsplash1234]

does anyone know ballpark what you need to score in Amberjack SJT's to progress to next stage? Does it vary from firm to firm?

 

[efm99]

Hi everyone, does anyone (particularly Jessica Booker) have insight on not hearing back at all after a video interview? I completed it in late Feb, and did not worry too much about not hearing, as I know it can take a long time and HR has a lot on their plate. However, last month I sent an email and then another this week, as it's been 3 months. I didn't get a reply to either of them.

I, of course, take this as a rejection since the vacation scheme is in a month making me assume ACs are over. My question is whether there is generally a reason why they do not send an automated rejection to a candidate like they did for other candidates - ie is this just an unfortunate reality of too many applications for HR to get through, or is the cause something else?

Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi everyone, does anyone (particularly Jessica Booker) have insight on not hearing back at all after a video interview? I completed it in late Feb, and did not worry too much about not hearing, as I know it can take a long time and HR has a lot on their plate. However, last month I sent an email and then another this week, as it's been 3 months. I didn't get a reply to either of them.

I, of course, take this as a rejection since the vacation scheme is in a month making me assume ACs are over. My question is whether there is generally a reason why they do not send an automated rejection to a candidate like they did for other candidates - ie is this just an unfortunate reality of too many applications for HR to get through, or is the cause something else?

Thanks!

This is going to be one of two things, but with really poor communication from the firm. I would really expect better, especially given you have asked them to update you a couple of times:

1) They have your application and video interview on hold. It is possible they have paused their recruitment or alternatively are waiting to see how other programmes/applicants get on before deciding on your application/candidacy.

2) They have made a decision on your application and have failed to communicate this to you. I suspect this is the more likely given the vacation scheme is in a month's time.

It is not to say that (1) isn't possible. I have worked in firms where they were making last minute decisions and conducting last minute recruitment processes/interviews to either backfill roles that have been reneged/declined, or where recruitment has been conducted exceptionally late due to lack of resource internally to do it earlier. However, given the timings, I suspect its unfortunately (2), which is just really poor recruitment standards and candidate engagement set by the firm (in my opinion!).

 

[Amma Usman]

Anyone know if you count as a 'student' for student discount purposes whilst studying the SQE?

I am quite unsure about this, but I believe so. I think most student discount providers will include the universities that provide SQE services, and you can register accordingly using your student email address.

 

[Amma Usman]

does anyone know ballpark what you need to score in Amberjack SJT's to progress to next stage? Does it vary from firm to firm?

I agree with @Chris Brown. It varies depending on the firm and the values they prioritise more. Of course, all values will be important, but some may be looked at more closely than others. I have done SJTs that have looked very similar off the bat of it, and passed some, but missed some. For some firms, it also varies per the recruitment year for things like verbal/numerical reasoning tests, as the threshold will differ based on applicant performance. One thing that helped me (as hard as it actually is to do this), is to not look at the numbers. With SJTs, trust your gut - it’s almost always more right than you think, and will not fail you most times. Try to not look at the numbers and just try your best. With situational assessments, there will often be more than one correct answer, so try starting off by mentally cancelling out one’s that are obviously incorrect and directly go against any law firm’s values/goals. This will help narrow down your options, consequently increasing your speed. Secondly, verbal and numerical reasoning tests need more practice - Assessment Day was one source that helped me, but there are loads of others online.

Good luck, I know you will nail them...!

 

[Amma Usman]

Yay me too!

Congratulations! Love to see it….. smashing it @TCseeker101 @Flu1dity

 

[trainee4u]

Anyone know if you count as a 'student' for student discount purposes whilst studying the SQE?

depends which purposes you mean.
the regulations are "full-time, 1 year or longer" for council tax exemption. However, this is certified by the university, not the provider, so a 9-month course is likely for example to be treated as "1 year" (being a whole academic year). However, a 3-month SQE1 course would likely not be.
separately. for things like student beans it's usually sufficient to have an active university email and there is no requirement for proper documentation as this is more marketing than a formal entitlement. However they will likely state "full-time student", which a 3-month course would still be (if not being studied part-time!).

 

[Dogsoooo]

Anyone heard back from Arnold & Porter direct TC application?

 

[Law queries]

Anyone heard back from Arnold & Porter direct TC application?

By when do they usually get back, if you have any idea?

 

[tarastar]

Is it disadvantageous to refer to the role as 'trainee' or 'trainee solicitor' in training contract applications when the (US) firm refers to them as 'trainee associates'? Would be great to hear your thoughts! @Andrei Radu

 

[efm99]

This is going to be one of two things, but with really poor communication from the firm. I would really expect better, especially given you have asked them to update you a couple of times:

1) They have your application and video interview on hold. It is possible they have paused their recruitment or alternatively are waiting to see how other programmes/applicants get on before deciding on your application/candidacy.

2) They have made a decision on your application and have failed to communicate this to you. I suspect this is the more likely given the vacation scheme is in a month's time.

It is not to say that (1) isn't possible. I have worked in firms where they were making last minute decisions and conducting last minute recruitment processes/interviews to either backfill roles that have been reneged/declined, or where recruitment has been conducted exceptionally late due to lack of resource internally to do it earlier. However, given the timings, I suspect its unfortunately (2), which is just really poor recruitment standards and candidate engagement set by the firm (in my opinion!).

Thank you for your thoughtful response. It is a silver circle firm, so I am a little surprised at the poor communication, but I know mistakes happen.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is it disadvantageous to refer to the role as 'trainee' or 'trainee solicitor' in training contract applications when the (US) firm refers to them as 'trainee associates'? Would be great to hear your thoughts! @Andrei Radu

No - this will not be an issue even if you are applying to a US firm.

I would try to use the term that the firm uses if you can, but “trainee” or “trainee solicitor” is a standardised industry term and it won’t be seen as a negative if you use either of these instead.