General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[Ali2020]

Hi All,

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong?? I've been applying since January this year and have either been rejected, completed the online test and then rejected, passed an online test but then rejected or waited almost 5 months to hear back and then been rejected. I really thought that this year I would have secured a TC and I just feel pretty rubbish.

I have pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, reached out to individuals on LinkedIn who share a similar background to myself and have secured a TC, submitted what I thought were really strong applications and offered real mitigating circumstances where applicable. I thought that perhaps because of my strong experience (I've been working as a paralegal for the past 3 years) I would have a strong chance....but this doesn't seem to hold much weight.

I really have no idea where I am going wrong??

 

[Jaysen]

Hi All,

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong?? I've been applying since January this year and have either been rejected, completed the online test and then rejected, passed an online test but then rejected or waited almost 5 months to hear back and then been rejected. I really thought that this year I would have secured a TC and I just feel pretty rubbish.

I have pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, reached out to individuals on LinkedIn who share a similar background to myself and have secured a TC, submitted what I thought were really strong applications and offered real mitigating circumstances where applicable. I thought that perhaps because of my strong experience (I've been working as a paralegal for the past 3 years) I would have a strong chance....but this doesn't seem to hold much weight.

I really have no idea where I am going wrong??

I'm sorry to hear this.

How many firms have you applied to in total? And has anyone reviewed your applications?

 

[LS12]

Same (for winter VS). When did you apply?

I applied for Tc in May!

 

[dosblancos7]

I got rejected by W&C a few weeks ago(direct TC if anyone is wondering!)

Also, has anyone heard back from NRF regarding VS post WGT ? I done it last Friday, yet to hear back. When I applied for the summer vac(Feb), I was rejected 2 days post WGT if that is significant?

 

[dosblancos7]

I also got rejected from HSF so I know how you feel- if its any consolation, you can apply for another scheme this year if you've passed their online tests! I'm still waiting on NRF but its probably a rejection seeing as I haven't even got the WG link :')

Really?? That sounds like good news! Where is this stated?

I haven't got officially rejected by HSF, but on the portal it says company not interested..

 

[Lawgirl123]

I also got rejected from HSF so I know how you feel- if its any consolation, you can apply for another scheme this year if you've passed their online tests! I'm still waiting on NRF but its probably a rejection seeing as I haven't even got the WG link :')

I also applied to NRF (nearly two weeks ago) and havent heard a thing. I noted someone on this forum applied on Friday and already has a WG invite. I don't understand it at all!

 

[Lawgirl123]

I got rejected by W&C a few weeks ago(direct TC if anyone is wondering!)

Also, has anyone heard back from NRF regarding VS post WGT ? I done it last Friday, yet to hear back. When I applied for the summer vac(Feb), I was rejected 2 days post WGT if that is significant?

How long did you wait between application and WG invite? Thank you!!

 

[LS12]

Hi there, I believe I was in a similar situation. I was going through my applications and I even showed them to someone from the career service at my university. I thought my applications were very good, but they were not. What really helped me to see the difference between my application and successful applications was subscribing to TCLA Premium (I don't work for TCLA - this was my own experience). There is a thread where people are sharing their successful application there. It has really helped me to see how people are using their own experiences to show why law, or see how their writing style is much clearer than mine. I would also recommend Jaysen's app reviewing service. He literally gives you feedback on every single phrase/sentence and he managed to spot how I got one practice area's name wrong (the career service officer couldn't)! I think that reflecting on both Jaysen's feedback and comparing my apps with other's successful apps helped me to improve my writing style a lot. I can also see some results now. Last cycle, I could not get even an open day, this cycle I managed to secure a couple of open days with very good firms and I am confident that I will be more successful with my vac scheme apps as well.

Congratulations on the improvement, and as a fellow applicant, thanks for being so honest. The reality is none of us really get it right straight away and applications are an art, it’s okay for all of us to not quite get it at times. Hope your vac scheme applications are super successful

 

[Evelina]

Rejected from sidley. Same thing has happened as with NRF. Submitted late one evening then two days later a rejection! They use the same platform for applications and now I am just so confused. I could appreciate this happening once and it being chance. I have higher grades than last year and two new works experiences and meet the A-level criteria. The only thing I can think of is that for Sidley I said that I had applied before but was not eligible that year. Could it be that they automatically filter out applications if someone has applied before? Frustrated because Sidley asked me to apply again this year but have rejected me very quickly despite me thinking my application was possibly the best I have written. Last year I got rejected after a few weeks despite not even being eligible that year and this time it has been less than 48 hours.

i have such a similar story! I got rejected from NRF this year after the WG even if last year they told me to apply again for the Vac scheme (i clearly do terribly on WGs). I'm still waiting to hear from Sidley but they told me to apply this year too.

Maybe there are some typos in your app somewhere?

 

[Legal_rawn]

i have such a similar story! I got rejected from NRF this year after the WG even if last year they told me to apply again for the Vac scheme (i clearly do terribly on WGs). I'm still waiting to hear from Sidley but they told me to apply this year too.

Maybe there are some typos in your app somewhere?

Have had multiple people check them and I re-checked and there is nothing wrong with them. Maybe I just applied too late who knows

 

[Ali2020]

I'm sorry to hear this.

How many firms have you applied to in total? And has anyone reviewed your applications?

Hi Jaysen,

I'm part of the TCLA Gold service and have had my applications reviewed by yourself and others outside of TCLA. I have applied to about 16 firms so far.

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong??

 

[cryingoverTCs]

I also got rejected from HSF so I know how you feel- if its any consolation, you can apply for another scheme this year if you've passed their online tests! I'm still waiting on NRF but its probably a rejection seeing as I haven't even got the WG link :')

I haven't heard this! Do you think you could send over where the info on this can be found?

 

[cryingoverTCs]

Does anyone know anything about PwC Legal? Specifically, the game based assessment?

 

[Mxkry]

I'm in literal tears. Made the brutal mistake of assuming Ashurst's deadline was 12pm tonight rather than midday. Spent four days on the application and really felt there was a strong chance of interview..

I submitted a hopeful email to grad recruitment and they gave me a chance to submit my application!

 

[Deleted member 320]

Just got an Ashurst rejection after applying in September 2019 and doing all the tests February 2020...

 

[D95]

Just received a rejection from one US law firm (I feel generous today, so I won't name and shame them).

That's all fine, but I made this application back in July 2019 ...

 

[Kablahc]

Hi All,

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong?? I've been applying since January this year and have either been rejected, completed the online test and then rejected, passed an online test but then rejected or waited almost 5 months to hear back and then been rejected. I really thought that this year I would have secured a TC and I just feel pretty rubbish.

I have pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, reached out to individuals on LinkedIn who share a similar background to myself and have secured a TC, submitted what I thought were really strong applications and offered real mitigating circumstances where applicable. I thought that perhaps because of my strong experience (I've been working as a paralegal for the past 3 years) I would have a strong chance....but this doesn't seem to hold much weight.

I really have no idea where I am going wrong??

As others have said asking someone else to review your applications is the best bet. But also consider what type of firms you're applying to. Sometimes it's totally inexplicable but certain firms just happen to not like your application - sometimes it's a personality thing, other times it's a they'd prefer different skills thing. It seems like you're pretty proactive but, it can really help to shoot an app to firms you might not usually apply for! For example I thought on my CV it looked really obvious I wanted to do PC work, but after talking to some others in the field I realised my USP and personality on paper at least fits commercial work better and that's part of the reason I kept getting rejected by PC specialist firms. You're probably doing this already but, just a thought that some apps to the unexpected might bring some unexpected results

 

[M1999]

How do people deal with rejection at the first stage, especially on an application you thought was very tailored etc. I do not really know where I’m going wrong because my grades are pretty good & my app has been reviewed

 

[orange32]

Hi, does anyone have experience with a holdup because of references not being submitted yet? Will the firm end up withdrawing/cancelling your application/offer if the situation drags on for too long? Is it advisable to write to the firm saying you will provide another referee if your referee cannot be reached after multiple attempts

 

[layk]

Was wondering if anyone could shed light on the Simmons & Simmons app - the work experience part only seems to let you write about 4 experiences and then there's a box for 'other relevant experiences'. How have people gone about this? Do you choose your four most relevant experiences then write about all the other experiences in the 'other experiences' box, and how many experiences are you allowed to write in the 'other experiences' box?