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

Status
Not open for further replies.

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,335
19,148
Hi all, I would appreciate some advice here.

I did an interview at firm A for a direct TC a few days ago, and whilst scheduling the interview, the HR told me: "Please let me know if you do have other offers and need to make speedy decisions, we would be happy to expedite the process."

Today, I received another interview invite from firm B (scheduled on 16 March). Do you think this is sufficient reason to reach out to the HR of firm A and inform them of the upcoming interview in the hopes that they expedite the process (despite this not being an "offer")?

As interview preparations can be quite time-consuming, I really hope to hear back from firm A before 16 March so that if accepted, I do not have to attend the interview at firm B at all. But then again, I am aware that an interview invite is not an offer, so it may be premature to be reaching out to firm A at this point.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this, thanks!

@Jessica Booker
No - it’s only if you got an offer that they need to know.
 

lawvc2021

Star Member
Nov 13, 2021
33
224
I am in the very fortunate position of having been offered a VS yesterday and offered another VS today. However, the dates I have been offered for the VSs clash. I know one of the two firms is running multiple VSs this summer. Would it be rude to ask if they have space on the other dates so I can complete both VSs?
 

SCN

Valued Member
Junior Lawyer
Feb 20, 2020
109
366
I am in the very fortunate position of having been offered a VS yesterday and offered another VS today. However, the dates I have been offered for the VSs clash. I know one of the two firms is running multiple VSs this summer. Would it be rude to ask if they have space on the other dates so I can complete both VSs?
Not rude at all! And it doesn't hurt to ask either as grad rec will be aware that candidates are likely to have multiple VS offers
 
  • Like
Reactions: AvniD and lawvc2021

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,335
19,148
I am in the very fortunate position of having been offered a VS yesterday and offered another VS today. However, the dates I have been offered for the VSs clash. I know one of the two firms is running multiple VSs this summer. Would it be rude to ask if they have space on the other dates so I can complete both VSs?
No - this isn't rude at all and is actually very common. Graduate Recruitment will be used to having these conversations.

Just be prepared for the fact that they might not be able to move you across and that you may need to turn down one of the two offers.
 

Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,335
19,148
My graduation date is in the second week of the VS I was offered this morning. Is it okay for me to ask for a day off for it? When should I do this?
If it is something like a graduation, many firms will be willing for you to take a day off. However, there is no guarantee that they can offer this to you, and it will be subject to what they have planned for that day.

There is no harm in asking though. Be willing to suggest you’d be willing to make the time up over the rest of the week if required (for instance if they don’t give you annual leave or you don’t accumulate enough annual leave to cover it).
 
  • Like
Reactions: rose0904

Abii

Legendary Member
Junior Lawyer
Feb 1, 2021
280
871
has anyone got any advice for answering 'why you/what makes you stand out?' in an interview?
Personally I think the best/strongest answer to this is the honest answer. Take some time to reflect on what is unique to you or a particularly strong attribute. Is it your work ethic demonstrated through a job and studies, is it your ability to balance many things at once, is it that you continuously seek out goals and achieve them. Language skills etc. it has to be an answer that you can provide evidence for. What about you makes you you!
 

average_jo123

Esteemed Member
Junior Lawyer
Sep 11, 2021
96
187
did anyone receive a PFO from latham post vi/
Hi @breadpitt , yes I have.

London summer vac scheme deadline: 02/01/22
Applied: 29/12/21
Completed CAPP assessment: 04/01/22
Completed VI: 23/01/22
PFO post-VI: 03/03/22

I did email them on 26/02/22 requesting for an early response though (because of another offer I have), so that may be why they've gotten back to me with the post-VI PFO relatively early. Hope this helps.
 

average_jo123

Esteemed Member
Junior Lawyer
Sep 11, 2021
96
187
Firms expect people to get multiple offers. They should be having these conversations with candidates all the time. It is not an issue to disclose other offers to graduate recruitment. The exception might be if they are at vastly different firms (eg high street criminal firm vs US PE firm).

Firm B might not confirm the dates for the exact reason you are asking. They may have to balance lots of conflicting offers and therefore may be trying to wait it out and find the best set of dates possible. However there could be a whole host of reasons why they can’t confirm the date yet - it may even be down to the graduate recruitment team’s availability and being unsure whether they will be available in the summer to cover the scheme dates.

Telling them doesn’t necessary expedite the process though. It’s just another variable they end up having to consider when they are told. How much consideration they put on it is hard to determine.

You can accept and then renege an offer so you could accept both offers and turn down one of them if the scheme dates clash.
Thank you so much for this @Jessica Booker. Really appreciate it.
 

summer207

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Junior Lawyer
Jan 22, 2021
135
486
has anyone got any advice for answering 'why you/what makes you stand out?' in an interview?
@Abii already gave a great response! As a starting point, think about what skills/attributes you possess, evidence to support this and how that makes you fit for for the role you’re applying/makes you unique.

For a firm, I actually ended my answer for ‘why you’ by relating the points I made to some of their values (I didn’t prep this beforehand but whilst answering, I realised my points could easily fit into their values and used it to elevate my answer). Hope that helps!
 
  • ℹ️
  • Like
Reactions: Jessica Booker and Adrian_S

21wajsz

Legendary Member
  • Dec 3, 2020
    135
    641
    Really? Maybe they meant for the spring? I completed my JS in late January
    They cancelled the Spring Scheme unfortunately as they want the whole scheme to be in-person. So there are only 2 Summer Schemes which they started assessing for in early/mid-February (My AC was 17 February and it was the 4th out of the 8 AC's they were running). There were approximately 8-10 on each AC.
     

    Tony Stark

    Distinguished Member
    Junior Lawyer
  • Feb 23, 2021
    64
    204
    Thanks everyone who advised me about accommodation in London! I've been able to find some hotels with good transport links and some uni halls :) However, I haven't been able to find any student facebook chats for stuff like this, so by chance does anyone know/is anyone in a FB chat for vac schemers looking to go splits on accommodation this summer? Please pm me!
    Please post if you find one.
     

    kat_

    Valued Member
    Premium Member
    Nov 14, 2020
    115
    186
    for questions like 'why this firm' and 'why do you want to be a lawyer' do I need to prepare different answers than the ones I have written in my cover letter? or is it alright that I expand on them?
    I've always expanded on my answers but never been successful so I'm just wondering.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated:)
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.