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

[Jessica Booker]

3 weeks post AC - Should I email or just wait for the outcome?

Three weeks is quite a long time. Email and just ask for when you may hear back.

 

[George Maxwell]

Those who have been successful at final stage interviews - roughly how much time did you spend prepping per day? And is one week ahead enough time to prepare fully? not that I have any other option lol

Hey @letmeintolaw,

Congratulations for getting progressed to a final interview stage! This is fantastic news.

I think @Beluga and @Sfernan21 have provided you with some fantastic advice. Thank you both for putting aside so much time to help out the community! I would echo what they have said about a week being plenty of time.

In terms of the 'right' amount of time to spend preparing, I think this really depends on where you are in your interview preparation. I don't think that generic answers will help much here. I would suggest checking out this and this post, before considering how long each stage would take you, then dividing this by the number of days you have before your AC. That being said, I would definitely weight the content-heavy/information-gathering stages earlier on in your preparation (as it is never fun acquiring new knowledge right before you have to apply it!).

I would also not panic if you do not think that you can feel 100% prepared in all aspects of your preparation ahead of your interview. I never felt 100% comfortable. That being said, prioritise the areas that you feel are more important and balance this with prioritising those areas where you feel weakest.

I hope that helps!

Please do let me know if I can be of any further help 🚀

Would anyone know if the firms that have already completed their ACs have finalised their spring/summer vac scheme attendees list by now? I got placed on the reserve list for one firm and I'm wondering if there's no chance of getting a vac scheme spot now if they've already filled up their vac schemes

Hey @commercialhoe-yer,

It is obviously impossible to tell. However, I would really advise against trying to pre-empt an answer/outcome at this stage (I do realise that this is easier said than done though). I know candidates who were offered vacation schemes very last minute due to cancellations (and this really does happen all the time as a result of prior TC acceptances etc.).

Fingers crossed you are called up. I hope you get the opportunity to show the firm that it was their mistake not to have invited you outright from the get-go 💪💪

New to the forum but would be grateful for some advice.

I recently accepted a TC with a city firm but, after going through my written app, I am getting a little bit worried over a couple things. In one instance I left out one of my GDL grades (it was actually one of my higher grades) off my application form. I did submit my transcript prior to the interview with the grade on there but I am not sure whether I should flag this or not.

Also, due to mitigating circumstances, I had to re-set a LPC exam (at the 2nd attempt). I briefly explained this to the firm during a call but am feeling anxious because my contract says I need to pass everything at the first attempt- will this be an issue during the background check? I would be extremely grateful for any advice/help here!

Hey @carlos2000x,

Welcome to the forum! I am going to tag @Jessica Booker on this as I think she will be best-placed to advise you.

Wishing you all the best

Withdrawing from the recruitment process entirely. Do I just email and say I am no longer interested in the scheme? Is there a good way to put that?

Hey @Tony Stark,

I think just letting the firm know that you are can no longer attend the scheme and therefore wish to withdraw would be appropriate. It is not a conversation to think too deeply about ultimately. Make sure that you remain polite, but equally remember that notifying the firm that you wish to withdraw your application is your predicament. You do not really even have to give an explanation, you could just politely ask that your application be withdrawn from the process.

I hope that helps

 

[amyemmm]

Gateley AC invite! 😍

 

[John Travoni]

Gateley AC invite! 😍

Which office is this for???

 

[Jessica Booker]

New to the forum but would be grateful for some advice.

I recently accepted a TC with a city firm but, after going through my written app, I am getting a little bit worried over a couple things. In one instance I left out one of my GDL grades (it was actually one of my higher grades) off my application form. I did submit my transcript prior to the interview with the grade on there but I am not sure whether I should flag this or not.

Also, due to mitigating circumstances, I had to re-set a LPC exam (at the 2nd attempt). I briefly explained this to the firm during a call but am feeling anxious because my contract says I need to pass everything at the first attempt- will this be an issue during the background check? I would be extremely grateful for any advice/help here!

The GDL grade is not an issue, especially if it is one of your higher grades. It would only be if it looked like you purposely missed it off that it would be a problem (which is unlikely if it was a good grade).

The LPC resit might be a bigger issue. Were you explicitly asked in the application whether you have ever had to resit an exam, and if so did you disclose it then?

 

[GXA123]

Gateley AC invite! 😍

Congrats! what office? and when did you get the email?

 

[Miki3999]

This is quite an odd question to ask, but I have my wisdom tooth coming out, and I have an interview coming up soon. Should I mention this at the start of the interview?

My speech is just really slowed that's all otherwise I keep biting the inside of my mouth 😂😢😭

I can recommend Corsodyl; it helped me a lot when I was having wisdom tooth issues - the swelling was gone in a day (this post is not sponsored)

 

[jamesbaillie]

gateley manchester AC

 

[djqb]

I can recommend Corsodyl; it helped me a lot when I was having wisdom tooth issues - the swelling was gone in a day

Thank you!

 

[legalgemma]

Withdrawing from the recruitment process entirely. Do I just email and say I am no longer interested in the scheme? Is there a good way to put that?

I had a similar experience and just withdrew on my online portal and then someone from grad rec rang me later in the day to ask whether it had been an accident. I told them that I had decided the firm wasn’t right for me but thank you for the consideration and they were really really supportive and kind about it and wished me luck in my other applications. I agree with whats been said don't overthink it at all! It'll also happen quite frequently so as long as you're professional about it it shouldn't be a worry

 

[unserious candidate]

Those who have been successful at final stage interviews - roughly how much time did you spend prepping per day? And is one week ahead enough time to prepare fully? not that I have any other option lol

I'd say I spend no more than 2-4 hours in total preparing, so I feel a week is more than enough.
Note: I would already have done some research on the firm when I was writing my application +usually would have collated some information from say, open days/speaking to current trainees/other events. I have this all in a word doc so I would just be refreshing my memory, fine-tuning my 'why the firm' answer, looking at recent news/developments, maybe go over some competencies etc. etc.

I probably have a very laid back approach to interviews though, I think whatever amount of prep makes you feel comfortable is sufficient.

 

[crispychicken]

Withers Interview!

 

[LawfulRust00]

Fladgate AC

 

[George Maxwell]

gateley manchester AC

Withers Interview!

Fladgate AC

Congratulations all! Chuffed for you!

 

[carlos2000x]

The GDL grade is not an issue, especially if it is one of your higher grades. It would only be if it looked like you purposely missed it off that it would be a problem (which is unlikely if it was a good grade).

The LPC resit might be a bigger issue. Were you explicitly asked in the application whether you have ever had to resit an exam, and if so did you disclose it then?

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for helping out here (and to George for pointing me in the right direction). Regarding the LPC re-sit, there was no section asking if I had re-sat an exam in the app, however, the transcripts I provided the firm prior to the assessment centre highlighted that it was passed at the second attempt.

During my phone call with graduate recruitment last week, they said it was not a problem and issued me said contract afterwards, but I am just worried that there may be issues during the background check. Specifically, I failed because of an external issue (which I explained to grad-rec) but, if the background check company flagged this and asked for proof, I have very little to provide as I discussed this with my university over the phone and they do not keep these things on file (according to them). Sorry for all the excess detail!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for helping out here (and to George for pointing me in the right direction). Regarding the LPC re-sit, there was no section asking if I had re-sat an exam in the app, however, the transcripts I provided the firm prior to the assessment centre highlighted that it was passed at the second attempt.

During my phone call with graduate recruitment last week, they said it was not a problem and issued me said contract afterwards, but I am just worried that there may be issues during the background check. Specifically, I failed because of an external issue (which I explained to grad-rec) but, if the background check company flagged this and asked for proof, I have very little to provide as I discussed this with my university over the phone and they do not keep these things on file (according to them). Sorry for all the excess detail!

It is the firm that makes the decision, not the reference check company. If you have had sign off from the firm, this won't be an issue.

 

[carlos2000x]

It is the firm that makes the decision, not the reference check company. If you have had sign off from the firm, this won't be an issue.

Thank you so much! Feeling so much better now.

 

[LawfulRust00]

EVERSHEDS VS OFFER LONDON OFFICE!

 

[TSH]

Anyone had a summer VS offer from White & Case?

 

[djqb]

Anyone had a summer VS offer from White & Case?

I think I saw someone on LinkedIn with an offer for the summer scheme