General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[tractor12]

I've just received an assessment centre invite from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner for a direct TC, however, I accepted a training contract at another City firm about three weeks ago. As a result, I will not be able to attend, I applied on the 7th of June if anyone is interested and still waiting to hear back!

If only you were allowed to transfer the AC to another candidate!! Congratulations on the TC offer!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

As this thread is probably the busiest, I'd be grateful if everyone could have a look at the following and add their thoughts!

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....nd-navigating-tcla-your-input-requested.2528/

 

[Crastle]

Anybody done the Browne Jacobson telephone interview?

 

[Lawgirl123]

So i'm slightly confused. I saw that Macfarlanes recruit on a rolling basis so I called up grad recruitment in July (a couple of weeks before the deadline) and asked if it would be better to apply in October (next cycle). Grad recruitment said they thought so as unlikely I'd be invited to an AC as I was applying so late. I have since noted on here that noone has heard back from them anyway (including people who applied last year) so not really sure why grad recruitment said that!?

 

[S87]

So i'm slightly confused. I saw that Macfarlanes recruit on a rolling basis so I called up grad recruitment in July (a couple of weeks before the deadline) and asked if it would be better to apply in October (next cycle). Grad recruitment said they thought so as unlikely I'd be invited to an AC as I was applying so late. I have since noted on here that noone has heard back from them anyway (including people who applied last year) so not really sure why grad recruitment said that!?

Because the fill the places quite quickly through their VS. Even if firms recruit through direct TC, they are more likely to hire via VS...e.g. DWF

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

So i'm slightly confused. I saw that Macfarlanes recruit on a rolling basis so I called up grad recruitment in July (a couple of weeks before the deadline) and asked if it would be better to apply in October (next cycle). Grad recruitment said they thought so as unlikely I'd be invited to an AC as I was applying so late. I have since noted on here that noone has heard back from them anyway (including people who applied last year) so not really sure why grad recruitment said that!?

Just sounds like first-come first-served with them not being great at getting back to candidates that apply later.

 

[LegalNim]

So i'm slightly confused. I saw that Macfarlanes recruit on a rolling basis so I called up grad recruitment in July (a couple of weeks before the deadline) and asked if it would be better to apply in October (next cycle). Grad recruitment said they thought so as unlikely I'd be invited to an AC as I was applying so late. I have since noted on here that noone has heard back from them anyway (including people who applied last year) so not really sure why grad recruitment said that!?

Surely there can't be any harm in applying this cycle and next cycle?

 

[Lawgirl123]

Yes I applied anyway. I was just trying to understand why people who applied months ago also haven't heard anything and then others have said grad rec are getting back to us in a few weeks. Think it's probably a case of them filling up their places very early on and their communication with applicants being slow / poor as Jessica said.

 

[c1070]

So i'm slightly confused. I saw that Macfarlanes recruit on a rolling basis so I called up grad recruitment in July (a couple of weeks before the deadline) and asked if it would be better to apply in October (next cycle). Grad recruitment said they thought so as unlikely I'd be invited to an AC as I was applying so late. I have since noted on here that noone has heard back from them anyway (including people who applied last year) so not really sure why grad recruitment said that!?

I got rejected in May and applied to their direct TC in late March aha if that helps! And I do know of a few other rejections around May time!

I might be mis remembering but I think a few direct TC AC invites went out in May too

 

[cgs97]

Has anyone heard back from Sidley Austin and Covington & Burling?

Nothing from either yet

 

[Law2022]

Yes I applied anyway. I was just trying to understand why people who applied months ago also haven't heard anything and then others have said grad rec are getting back to us in a few weeks. Think it's probably a case of them filling up their places very early on and their communication with applicants being slow / poor as Jessica said.

I haven’t heard anything back and I applied in April! I am hoping to hear back within the next few weeks as the wait is killing me now

 

[Lawgirl123]

I got rejected in May and applied to their direct TC in late March aha if that helps! And I do know of a few other rejections around May time!

I might be mis remembering but I think a few direct TC AC invites went out in May too

Ah no sorry to hear. Most of the posts i've seen in relation to Macs are from people saying they haven't heard back yet but now I feel my point is slightly redundant haha!

 

[Asmee DC]

Anybody done the Browne Jacobson telephone interview?

Yes, I have! I still haven't heard back yet tho

 

[hktr]

I haven’t heard anything back and I applied in April! I am hoping to hear back within the next few weeks as the wait is killing me now

Ah no sorry to hear. Most of the posts i've seen in relation to Macs are from people saying they haven't heard back yet but now I feel my point is slightly redundant haha!

Hi both - my understanding is that Macs plan to do 2 direct TC ACs. One before the vacation schemes that has already taken place and one after the schemes. The last vacation scheme is scheduled to finish in mid August, so I imagine direct TC applicants will hear soon after that.

 

[Lawgirl123]

Hi both - my understanding is that Macs plan to do 2 direct TC ACs. One before the vacation schemes that has already taken place and one after the schemes. The last vacation scheme is scheduled to finish in mid August, so I imagine direct TC applicants will hear soon after that.

Thanks, this is very helpful indeed.

 

[Jenny]

Do firms provide feedback on the watson glaser test or give out results of the test? I'm particularly asking for Freshfields as I know Linklaters sends you the report if you ask them to. Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Do firms provide feedback on the watson glaser test or give out results of the test? I'm particularly asking for Freshfields as I know Linklaters sends you the report if you ask them to. Thanks!

Probably only if you ask - but even then a percentile ranking is a little abstract/doesn’t necessarily mean much, and so many firms don’t provide it because of the effort needed to explain what it means.

 

[Tintin06]

Waiting to hear from Macfarlanes and Travers for direct TCs but worried grades mean I'm at a disadvantage more generally.

GCSEs: 1 A, 4 Bs, 3 Cs
A-Levels: 3 As
Degree: 62.5% (Distinction in first year)

Basically, do I need more experience to compensate for poor grades?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Waiting to hear from Macfarlanes and Travers for direct TCs but worried grades mean I'm at a disadvantage more generally.

GCSEs: 1 A, 4 Bs, 3 Cs
A-Levels: 3 As
Degree: 62.5% (Distinction in first year)

Basically, do I need more experience to compensate for poor grades?

Nothing there suggests poor grades. Obviously depends more on your individual module grades too though

 

[Tintin06]

Nothing there suggests poor grades. Obviously depends more on your individual module grades too though

Module grades were:
1st year: 72, 71, 69, 68;
3rd year: 67, 65, 64, 64, 61, 59, 58.