TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

[apap]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

DMed you because I am in a similar boat.

 

[TortillaTC]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

Literally the same thing happened to me except I scored 1/9 in applied intellect lmao, but 776 in the other three and high in both verbal+numerical. Curious how they assess these versatile scores, I’m guessing they check every VI answer separately to get a better view of candidates’ real potential. I talked to some people in the past days and apparently RS has progressed people with very low scores before so I assume they don’t have a strict cutoff for Amberjack like other firms do.

In any case: verbal and numerical are completely separate, they’re just the results of your answers in the multiple choice. How you rank the scenario Qs is what gives you x/9 for the 4 areas, and since every Q concerns at least 2 areas, your answers can block each other out. You can get 7 for one area but 0 for another based on what your most and least likely options were.

I personally think this kind of testing makes absolutely NO sense and it’s just a way of filtering people out. Picking the “wrong” options for a number of Qs shouldn’t decide one’s career because it’s simply not representative of anything but a momentary decision. Of course they have to make a decision somehow on whom to progress but I’d literally prefer if they were just more selective in the first round..

 

[apap]

Literally the same thing happened to me except I scored 1/9 in applied intellect lmao. Curious how they assess these versatile scores, I’m guessing they check every VI answer to get a better view of the candidates’ real potential. I talked to some people in the past days and apparently RS has progressed people with very low scores so I assume they don’t have a strict cutoff for Amberjack like other firms do.

In any case: verbal and numerical are completely separate, they’re just the results of your answers in the multiple choice. How you rank the scenario Qs is what gives you x/9 for the 4 areas, and since every Q concerns at least 2 areas, your answers can block each other out. You can get 7 for one area but 0 for the other based on what your most and least likely options were.

Oh interesting!

I hope you're right about getting through to AC with low amberjack scores. I got 0 for creative force but demonstrated it in my VI.

 

[TortillaTC]

Oh interesting!

I hope you're right about getting through to AC with low amberjack scores. I got 0 for creative force but demonstrated it in my VI.

I think making it to AC with low scores is more like the exception than the rule but in any case RS seems to be on the flexible, lenient side when it comes to Amberjack. Else we’d have got rejected already and they wouldn’t bother assessing our VI at all.

 

[trainee4u]

Hi all, I just did the amber jack assessment for Reed Smith and got 0 in Applied Intellect despite scoring very highly in both verbal and numerical applied intellect. Can someone explain the difference between these and how there can be such a large gap between these two sections?

As an aside, I got the following:
Grit: 7/9
Applied intellect: 0/9 lol
Creative force: 6/9
Digital mindset: 7/9

Guessing I’m cooked haha

Amberjack has verbal and numerical questions. These have ZERO impact on the other four scores which are SJT.

Grit means - working all hours/not giving up
Creative force means coming up with creative solutions
Digital mindset essentially the same thing but using computers

So IMO these three attributes are quite strongly linked. OTOH "applied intellect" means "social skills", which doesn't really relate to the others at all.

 

[lovedalaw]

Hi all, just wanted ask your opinions on something. I've received TC offers in both London and Dubai. I'm just wondering what, as a trainee and at the start of my career, would be most beneficial.

For context, the firm in London is American, not very international but is prestigious and pays well. However, it would likely be a very intense work culture. On the other hand, the one in Dubai is very solid, very international and allows me to come to London for a seat at minimum. I'm really unsure on what to do and would appreciate some thoughts, as I only have a few days to respond to the offer.

 

[trainee4u]

Hi all, just wanted ask your opinions on something. I've received TC offers in both London and Dubai. I'm just wondering what, as a trainee and at the start of my career, would be most beneficial.

For context, the firm in London is American, not very international but is prestigious and pays well. However, it would likely be a very intense work culture. On the other hand, the one in Dubai is very solid, very international and allows me to come to London for a seat at minimum. I'm really unsure on what to do and would appreciate some thoughts, as I only have a few days to respond to the offer.

Don't listen to me, but pretty sure London is preferable to Dubai for experience.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Yea otherwise I think they must get back to us next Monday? It’ll be 14/7 which is just one week away from the 21/7 AC

omg Burges Salmon just came back saying they’ll get back by next Wednesday which means there’ll only be 4 whole days to prep for the AC if it’s on 21/7 💀

 

[lovedalaw]

Don't listen to me, but pretty sure London is preferable to Dubai for experience.

How so?

 

[BillSikes]

How so?

Dubai is in UAE

London is in the UK - and is one of the financial/legal capitals of the world

night and day really for both career and just general life.

You can name the firms as well as it will be easier for people to advise. You have received job offers from law firms - not MI5!

 

[lovedalaw]

Dubai is in UAE

London is in the UK - and is one of the financial/legal capitals of the world

night and day really for both career and just general life.

You can name the firms as well as it will be easier for people to advise. You have received job offers from law firms - not MI5!

Very obviously wouldn't be wise to do that seeing as grad rec/future trainees/vac schemers look at these threads lol.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Very obviously wouldn't be wise to do that seeing as grad rec/future trainees/vac schemers look at these threads lol.

I would consider the practice areas, variety of work on offer, firm culture, hours, etc. They all matter beyond location imo, especially because the two firms are quite different. But in terms of location, maybe tell us more about what your concerns are?

In terms of accepting offers, would be great if Jessica Booker is here - think it would depend on the terms of the offer - you may be able to accept both and renege one later on?

 

[lovedalaw]

I would consider the practice areas, variety of work on offer, firm culture, hours, etc. They all matter beyond location imo, especially because the two firms are quite different. But in terms of location, maybe tell us more about what your concerns are?

Hi! Thanks so much for your response. I think I'm concerned that Dubai has a stigma attached to it in terms of like work intensity and so if I ever wanted to move back to London to work here, it would be near impossible.

 

[BillSikes]

Very obviously wouldn't be wise to do that seeing as grad rec/future trainees/vac schemers look at these threads lol.

I don't see why this is obvious tbh. They aren't going to revoke your offer.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi! Thanks so much for your response. I think I'm concerned that Dubai has a stigma attached to it in terms of like work intensity and so if I ever wanted to move back to London to work here, it would be near impossible.

I think for work intensity it depends on the firm itself more, and the employees are mostly foreigners anyway. Few Emiratis work there as far as I know. And I don't think it'll be difficult to move back but I'm no expert - if you practise / qualify into areas that are mostly transferrable then there shouldn't be a lot of problem, and there are many firms that have operations in both the UAE and London. Even if they don't a lot of them have clients from the region.

In terms of accepting offers, would be great if Jessica Booker is here - think it would depend on the terms of the offer - you may be able to accept both and renege one later on?
(sorry I edited my earlier response to include the above but maybe you didn't see it!)

 

[lovedalaw]

I don't see why this is obvious tbh. They aren't going to revoke your offer.

Ok!

 

[lovedalaw]

I think for work intensity it depends on the firm itself more, and the employees are mostly foreigners anyway. Few Emiratis work there as far as I know. And I don't think it'll be difficult to move back but I'm no expert - if you practise / qualify into areas that are mostly transferrable then there shouldn't be a lot of problem, and there are many firms that have operations in both the UAE and London. Even if they don't a lot of them have clients from the region.

In terms of accepting offers, would be great if Jessica Booker is here - think it would depend on the terms of the offer - you may be able to accept both and renege one later on?
(sorry I edited my earlier response to include the above but maybe you didn't see it!)

you're completely right thanks so much

 

[Law queries]

did anybody hear from TLT, i think their AC is scheduled in the week commencing July 14 right?

 

[KSM]

Hello, I’ve just completed Reed Smith’s SJT / VI. Whilst they said there is unlimited time, I understand that doesn’t mean it’s untimed. Whilst it recommended me 40 minutes, I believe I took about an hour and a half to complete it as I was trying to perfect my interview response for each question prior to recording my actual submission. From your experiences, do you guys think this will be scored negatively against my submission? My scores for the SJT were … just average with an alright spread across all of them.

 

[👩🎓]

Hi @Amma Usman. When it comes to the WG test, can you request firm benchmarks and do you have any advice on how to ace the test?