General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[DrowninginSQE]

I'm in this position with NRF. Do you think it means rejection? Not sure why they can't just let us know.

Unsure. I emailed a while back and they didn’t respond. Last year I got the test back after 14 days and this year it’s been one month and 12 days.

 

[Staples]

Anyone still waiting to hear back from NRF post app & Hogan Lovells post WG?

Yes for HL, it’s taking a while...

 

[Staples]

I don’t think “all events” is appropriate. I would think about which ones have been selective and which have been about a particular subject more aligned to the firm you are applying to.

Critically evaluate whether you think an event really adds anything to your application.

That sounds sensible, thanks!

 

[Cantab_95]

anyone heard from A&O for direct TC?

 

[ibs97]

anyone heard from A&O for direct TC?

was told I would hear back by the end of last week when I emailed them 3 weeks ago but I still haven't heard anything back. Submitted right at the beginning of the august though so it's coming up to 3 months...

 

[j2134]

Nothing yet, but I was on the 59 percentile (average) of the HL WG so not expecting much tbh.

I was also in the 59th percentile in the WG, digger started going off outside my window as soon as I pressed start! (still not that good at them though) Do you know if you can still proceed with a mark like that if they like your application?

 

[Sekani Wraith]

I was also in the 59th percentile in the WG, digger started going off outside my window as soon as I pressed start! (still not that good at them though) Do you know if you can still proceed with a mark like that if they like your application?

You only need to score in the 18th percentile for them to consider your application.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

By the way, those applications that have charcter limits rather than word limits. spaces will be included within those character limits.

 

[Tushar]

Can somebody share here a successful Open Day application? I'd highly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Penelope]

Has anyone heard back after round 2 of the aspiring solicitors competition?

For anyone else still waiting, I just heard back! I’m through to the Quarter Finals, does anyone have any tips?

 

[lawgeek_301]

AC invite from Willkie Farr & Gallagher after completing VI - fyi for anyone else who applied I completed the VI on 15th October

Congratulations! I have to complete their VI this week, could you please tell me how it is like?

 

[Sekani Wraith]

Hi @Alice G, or anyone else that knows, does Freshfields consider open days as work experience? I know that some firms encourage you to put your open days in the work experience section and others don't, I am not sure which category Freshfields falls into.

 

[DrowninginSQE]

Hi @Alice G, or anyone else that knows, does Freshfields consider open days as work experience? I know that some firms encourage you to put your open days in the work experience section and others don't, I am not sure which category Freshfields falls into.

If you have more impressive work experience then that should be a priority. However, if you have open days it’s important to put that in but perhaps avoid US firms or firms that are drastically different because it makes your approach look quite scattergun.

 

[Sekani Wraith]

If you have more impressive work experience then that should be a priority. However, if you have open days it’s important to put that in but perhaps avoid US firms or firms that are drastically different because it makes your approach look quite scattergun.

Thank you, I have a vacation scheme at a US firm so maybe adding an open day from another US firm will do more harm than good.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you, I have a vacation scheme at a US firm so maybe adding an open day from another US firm will do more harm than good.

Prioritse any work experience (part time jobs, volunteering etc) over an open day.

 

[Sekani Wraith]

Prioritse any work experience (part time jobs, volunteering etc) over an open day.

Thank you, but can't I mention them all? There isn't a limit on how many experiences I can include, I have 6 entries including the open day.

 

[Karin]

Thank you, but can't I mention them all? There isn't a limit on how many experiences I can include, I have 6 entries including the open day.

What I did in my applications was putting all of the open days into one entry - you can do this provided that you have more experiences (part-time/full-time jobs, internships etc.). I think there is usually not that much to say about each open day anyway, so I would just do the one entry, list the open days, and say that it shows you took the time to research what career in law is about and it helped you make the decision to pursue (commercial) law in (international/city/regional) law firm.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you, but can't I mention them all? There isn't a limit on how many experiences I can include, I have 6 entries including the open day.

You can if you have enough space. It’s just what I would prioritise if you haven’t

 

[Sekani Wraith]

What I did in my applications was putting all of the open days into one entry - you can do this provided that you have more experiences (part-time/full-time jobs, internships etc.). I think there is usually not that much to say about each open day anyway, so I would just do the one entry, list the open days, and say that it shows you took the time to research what career in law is about and it helped you make the decision to pursue (commercial) law in (international/city/regional) law firm.

You can if you have enough space. It’s just what I would prioritise if you haven’t

Thank you both!

 

[George Rowe]

Can somebody share here a successful Open Day application? I'd highly appreciate it. Thanks!

I think if you sign-up to TCLA premium, they have a few examples uploaded.