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

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James Carrabino

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Can anyone honestly tell me if direct TC applications are worth it? And if there are any firms that do not have a vacation scheme but recruit directly through a direct TC app?
They are definitely worth it! @AvniD and I both received our offers through direct TC applications :)
 
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James Carrabino

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What is the etiquette around thanking interviewers after an interview? I don't usually but I don't want to be perceived as rude if I don't!
@thirdtimelucky I would not worry too much about being perceived as rude, but at the same time it does not take long writing a thank you e-mail and so I figure that there is no reason not to! I wrote a post a couple of months ago about this here.

I hope this helps :)
 
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James Carrabino

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During a vacation scheme, are you required to inform grad rec if you have arranged coffee catch-up's with associates and partners? I ask because I understand there can be hundreds of lawyers at a firm and not all of them will have the opportunity to get in touch with grad rec and let them know that you have shown initiative or interest in their practice areas.
Grad rec may actually ask you to inform them (I had that happen on one vacation scheme) because sometimes they take feedback from the people you meet or do work for in order to gain a holistic picture of you as a candidate.

For other firms these informal coffee chats are purely a way of you learning about the firm and having the opportunity to gain information about specific practice areas that you may not get from the larger sessions, for example.

The good news is that usually firms will be pretty up front with you at the start of the scheme as to whether or not such meetings are assessed, or what is being taken into account in general when making TC decisions!
 
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OB

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    Hey, how did this go? Do you have any guidance as to the HR interview? What questions were you asked?

    Thank you!
    Hey! It was quite a chill interview but I had an AC elsewhere the same week so I didn’t prep as much as I should’ve! They’ll ask why law, why freeths, list their competitors, potential areas of law you’re interested in, and general competencies!
     

    Ollie_Law_1

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    Nov 30, 2020
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    Hi all!

    A quick query regarding conflict of interests for vacation schemes - do they exist?

    I have accepted three summer vacation scheme offers for commercial law firms in London over summer, but am not too sure what to do regarding conflicts of interest as all three specialise in similar areas. Do I need to inform the firms about this?

    TIA!
     
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    thirdtimelucky

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    hey guys, got the mishcon final interview tommorow. was wondering if anyone had done it and had any advice/insight?
    I did it in 2020. So I don’t know if my tips will be outdates but from my memory it was all set questions (so not really based on your application) the standard why law, why the firm (including what area you’re most interested which in my case was disputes), any cases they’ve done that you’ve found interesting, I was also ask about their pro-Bono work and about 10 mins on your chosen topic too which they will research before so be prepared to explain and be grilled on it! Again I don’t know if the process has changed since then, it may well have but that’s what it was like for me :)
     
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    legalgemma

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    Jan 11, 2022
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    Just had my last VI of this cycle. I fully understand the benefits of video interviewing from the recruiter's point of view but I just do not think it is fair or possible to assess whether someone is a suitable candidate based off SIX minutes of them talking into a camera. One faulty answer and you are out of the running, whether you are good enough or not. Interested to know other people's thoughts / experiences of VI?
     

    curious_cat

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    Mar 21, 2021
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    Hi all!

    A quick query regarding conflict of interests for vacation schemes - do they exist?

    I have accepted three summer vacation scheme offers for commercial law firms in London over summer, but am not too sure what to do regarding conflicts of interest as all three specialise in similar areas. Do I need to inform the firms about this?

    TIA!
    Yes you will have to inform the conflicts team of all legal work experience. You need to be completely transparent and upfront about this!
     

    SS1

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    Just had my last VI of this cycle. I fully understand the benefits of video interviewing from the recruiter's point of view but I just do not think it is fair or possible to assess whether someone is a suitable candidate based off SIX minutes of them talking into a camera. One faulty answer and you are out of the running, whether you are good enough or not. Interested to know other people's thoughts / experiences of VI?
    I hate them (with passion)! I believe they probably do work in terms of filtering candidates out, but I really don't think a VI performance is a true reflection of a candidate's skills or worth.
     
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