TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

[emilyrose99]

This is the exact same position as me lol ! I emailed grad recruitment yesterday just to enquire, but who knows ! Let's have faith, it's not a PFO just yet I submitted 2nd Dec

Please can you let me know if GR respond !

 

[TCApp2021]

Could someone clarify the following for me pls:

Do clients have different legal firms advising them on different matters- i.e. Firm A for litigation and contentious matters; Firm B for transactional matters? Or is it just one firm that represents them in all matters?

 

[thelovelygiraffe]

Just received an email from Milbank asking me to do a WG with no deadline indicated…
They never told us there would be WG in the admissions process so what should I consider the deadline to be?

the email just says:
Thank you for your recent application. We would now like for you to complete our online Watson Glaser test.

I’ve already been called for AC so I’m a bit confused about why I’m getting the WG now

 

[TC fiend]

Could someone clarify the following for me pls:

Do clients have different legal firms advising them on different matters- i.e. Firm A for litigation and contentious matters; Firm B for transactional matters? Or is it just one firm that represents them in all matters?

Can be both, can be different. Can also have different firms advising them on the same matter. A world of possibilities 😜

 

[GXA123]

Just received an email from Milbank asking me to do a WG with no deadline indicated…
They never told us there would be WG in the admissions process so what should I consider the deadline to be?

the email just says:
Thank you for your recent application. We would now like for you to complete our online Watson Glaser test.

I’ve already been called for AC so I’m a bit confused about why I’m getting the WG now

it could be a mistake

 

[Lian Lian]

A new day to keep refreshing emails! We can do this HAHAHAHAH 🤩 😭

 

[mckelly]

Just received an email from Milbank asking me to do a WG with no deadline indicated…
They never told us there would be WG in the admissions process so what should I consider the deadline to be?

the email just says:
Thank you for your recent application. We would now like for you to complete our online Watson Glaser test.

I’ve already been called for AC so I’m a bit confused about why I’m getting the WG now

I am with you here. I'm holding of completing it at the moment (can't atm any with an essay due), but it could just be a mistake so would recommend waiting for at least a little while

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I am with you here. I'm holding of completing it at the moment (can't atm any with an essay due), but it could just be a mistake so would recommend waiting for at least a little while

Just received an email from Milbank asking me to do a WG with no deadline indicated…
They never told us there would be WG in the admissions process so what should I consider the deadline to be?

the email just says:
Thank you for your recent application. We would now like for you to complete our online Watson Glaser test.

I’ve already been called for AC so I’m a bit confused about why I’m getting the WG now

I suggest ring up graduate recruitment or email them but I would normally ring them up as that is easier.

 

[Rob93]

I have an interview with Slaughter and May and have realised there was a spelling/grammar issue in my cover letter - is this something the partners might bring up? If so, how do I address it?😅

I highly doubt it will come up - if it was going to be an issue they wouldn't have invited you to interview. If they bring it up and you're feeling cheeky, point that out.

Really though, in the unlikely scenario that they press this point, I would say 'people make mistakes' and stick to my guns. There's a lot of talk around recruitment about attention to detail, lawyers can't afford to make mistakes but literally everyone makes mistakes. I have found errors on like 50% of the firm sites I've visited while doing research, and working in-house I have seen countless minor errors in client deliverables and communications from lawyers at some of the most august firms.

 

[thelovelygiraffe]

I suggest ring up graduate recruitment or email them but I would normally ring them up as that is easier.

yep i’ll do that, thanks!
@mckelly will keep u updated 👍

 

[gt1465]

I highly doubt it will come up - if it was going to be an issue they wouldn't have invited you to interview. If they bring it up and you're feeling cheeky, point that out.

Really though, in the unlikely scenario that they press this point, I would say 'people make mistakes' and stick to my guns. There's a lot of talk around recruitment about attention to detail, lawyers can't afford to make mistakes but literally everyone makes mistakes. I have found errors on like 50% of the firm sites I've visited while doing research, and working in-house I have seen countless minor errors in client deliverables and communications from lawyers at some of the most august firms.

thank you so much for this! I've noticed quite a few mistakes on firm sites too hahaha. Fingers crossed they don't mention it 😊

 

[Tony Stark]

Do you get WG results from Freshfields?

 

[Lian Lian]

Do you get WG results from Freshfields?

When I applied for their vac scheme last year, grad rec only emailed me that I was unsuccessful after completing the WG. If you want to get a report to find out your percentile, you will have email grad rec like me

 

[rose888]

How do we answer the interview questions what other firms have you applied to and why, if we have only applied to two firms that aren't the closest match? @Jessica Booker @George Maxwell

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, does anyone have any experiences undergoing Vero Screening, especially for TC? Please PM me if you have :’)

I have used them a lot from a recruitment perspective so feel free to PM me with your questions if that helps.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I was just in the middle of completing a WG and the page cut out and refreshed and logged me out. Its not letting me log back in because my email address has already been registered - I have emailed grad rec but I am panicking, will they send me a fresh link and let me do it again?

Most likely, yes they will just reset it for you. Technical issues happen from time to time and the usual process is just to reset the assessment.

 

[Rachael.Elisa]

Hi, for a question asking, "apart from law, what are you passionate about and why?", is this a section for me to talk about hobbies and interests or is it looking for something more intellectual, like issues/topics that I find important?

 

[George Maxwell]

How do we answer the interview questions what other firms have you applied to and why, if we have only applied to two firms that aren't the closest match? @Jessica Booker @George Maxwell

Hi @rose888,

Thanks for the question. This is a tricky one.

Firm choice can be (and arguably always is) very personal. I would argue so long as your reason for applying to each firm is independently strong, it should not be an issue that you have applied to a contrasting 'type' of firm.

The focus should be on your justification for applying.

For example, take a candidate that applied to two firms.

This candidate interacted with W firm in their first year at university, really liked their GR team and the trainees they spoke to inspired them. These are strong (initial) reasons for applying. Similarly, this person also applied to X firm because X are strong in disputes, having represented Y client who appealed to them because of Z, this would be a good reason to apply to this firm too.

If W had 50 overseas offices, yet X only had two in the UK, it is likely these firms are very different. Yet the candidate had strong reasons to apply to both as detailed above.

Firms can also appear very different in some ways, but actually be substantively similar in others. W and X might despite their contrasting international strategy, have particular strengths in disputes, or have a very small trainee cohort in London, or both offer eight seats to trainees during their training contract.

So long as you can give adequate justification and are able to demonstrate that you have thought your choices through thoroughly, you should be fine.

I also discussed this question on the Premium Forum here which might be helpful!

 

[AW_08]

Did anyone else get a mini-heart attack from Reed Smith's VI update email? 😅

I didn't get an email! What did it say?

 

[s10]

Can anybody who has done the Dechert VI advice me on what to expect?