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

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I spent 4 hours proofreading my answer for 1 question that was 250 words on why this firm. I usually type up my first draft then proofread it again and again until it looks good.
It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a difference.
 
If a firm asks you “why did you apply for a Vacation Scheme with us” at interview after they have asked why the firm, should this be taken to mean why I am applying for that role in particular? For instance, getting more legal experience?
 
It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a difference.
Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
 
Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
mmm..I am part of Aspire and believe me I have received more help on here than Aspire! Spending 8 hours on a single file calls for mistakes! Print and read the file out loud 3 times, or just read it out loud a couple of times.
 
Yeah, I hear that. But I think a lot of it comes across - for lack of an appropriate euphemism - a bit 'needy' or adolescent. If you can't deal with the stress synonymous with the law application process (on your own accord) then you probably won't make a very good lawyer to start with. In short, yes it's a bit stressful, but it's nothing like the stressors you'll encounter during practice.
I'm currently practicing as an analyst and wish to convert. I'm doing my applications around my current role (which is highly stressful) and it's a walk in the park compared, but that's just my view. I've been to hell and back before, so I guess I must just be used to it.

Fair enough - I think you have the benefit of being experienced in a job already and have probably developed internal strategies to cope with your stress, which is one way to do it and can be applied to the law firm application process. I'm in a similar position, having previously been a secondary school teacher, which I found to be a stressful role. I see coming on here to have a bit of a vent as the equivalent of popping up to the staff room for some decompression 🤣
 
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mmm..I am part of Aspire and believe me I have received more help on here than Aspire! Spending 8 hours on a single file calls for mistakes! Print and read the file out loud 3 times, or just read it out loud a couple of times.
I would also advise to put it through a text-to-speech reader - I caught a number of errors each time when it was being read out that I probably would've otherwise missed.
 
Yes I agree with you but it is good to read it again and again as my friend who was part of AS Aspire said that Chris White said you should spend 8 hours proofreading your application. But I would say 2 hours is good enough.
8 hours to proof read one application?! That seems rather overboard. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that proofreading masters essays of 7.5-10k words let alone an app with maybe 1-2k words 😂
 
I'm probably going to sound stupid rn but how relevant is the metaverse concept to law firms? Because it's off going to have a lot of legal issues which underpin it as it begins but will law firms develop specific niches in this type of law? or would it come under something broader like technology or maybe alongside NFT type stuff? I've also noticed virtually no law firms have wrote or published anything about it which indicates what their approach will be to such a thing. sorry if I sound stupid again, this is not my area of expertise!!!
 
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It is definitely good to proofread, but at a certain point I would not stress too much about it! Once you have confirmed that there are no errors and that it broadly reads well, then the hours you spend refining one piece of phrasing probably will not make a differen
8 hours to proof read one application?! That seems rather overboard. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that proofreading masters essays of 7.5-10k words let alone an app with maybe 1-2k words 😂
Yeah, that's too much. Proofreading is a short exercise that ensures your work is free of errors, you shouldn't be looking to redesign your answer imo.
 
I'm currently practicing as an analyst and wish to convert. I'm doing my applications around my current role (which is highly stressful) and it's a walk in the park compared, but that's just my view. I've been to hell and back before, so I guess I must just be used to it.
I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
 
I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
Definitely agree with this- my stress isn't about the applications but more about what happens if I don't get a training contract. Being an international student in my final year, it would potentially become even more difficult as firms won't sponsor visas for vacation schemes and many law firms only accept TC applications through vacation schemes. While I am Canadian and can enter the UK without a visa, I can't work here so I really am limited with my options once my tier 4 visa expires in October.... ofc there is the graduate visa but that's pretty expensive to even apply for
 
I think this is a bit of a simplification. There is a clear financial privilege in being a career changer from a well-paid role like an analyst that it can be for many low-income law applicants who are doing stressful applications at the same time as facing a huge amount of uncertainty over their future career and life. A lot of the pressure I've personally felt has not been with the applications themselves but the constant worry over what will I do if I don't get one? I think putting things in perspective and not constantly stressing yourself out is important but I think people can have very legitimate fears in the application stage that may be significantly reduced if they begin practicing.
This is a very presumptive response.
 
Apologies if it came off presumptive - I don't assume you haven't come from a low-income background or that you haven't worked very hard / in a competitive way to get your role. But I don't think your experience can be perfectly analogous to the situations some applications find themselves in and how they may be perfectly able to handle stress in their future role in practice as compared to the stress they feel in the application stages.
 
I'm probably going to sound stupid rn but how relevant is the metaverse concept to law firms? Because it's off going to have a lot of legal issues which underpin it as it begins but will law firms develop specific niches in this type of law? or would it come under something broader like technology or maybe alongside NFT type stuff? I've also noticed virtually no law firms have wrote or published anything about it which indicates what their approach will be to such a thing. sorry if I sound stupid again, this is not my area of expertise!!!
It will be interesting if and when people increasingly spend large sums of money on digital property, essentially extending the current NFT use-cases or perhaps branching into different ownership models. I'm not sure how niche the practices will become, it will likely sit within broader 'digital economy' groups or similar for the foreseeable future.
 
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It will be interesting if and when people increasingly spend large sums of money on digital property, essentially extending the current NFT use-cases or perhaps branching into different ownership models. I'm not sure how niche the practices will become, it will likely sit within broader 'digital economy' groups or similar for the foreseeable future.

Thank you!!! Really helpful - as always :)
 
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