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

[John Travoni]

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

Thank you!

When did you complete the online test if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[OB]

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!

 

[James Carrabino]

Hi everyone, my new weekly interview insights post on how to approach motivational interviews is up and the master post is updated

 

[Asil Ahmad]

For all those who receive Baker WG invite congratulations and good luck you lot made my day even though I am slacking with applications right now you lot have motivated me to do some direct TC applications.

Also I finally got Gibson rejection but we move on.

 

[Homer]

hey guys, got the mishcon final interview tommorow. was wondering if anyone had done it and had any advice/insight?

 

[Ollie_Law_1]

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!

 

[thirdtimelucky]

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

 

[legalgemma]

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?

 

[Deleted member 11671]

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]

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.

 

[Ollie_Law_1]

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

Thank you!!

 

[OB]

Does everyone get the offer of a 15 min feedback call post-app with Trowers?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

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!

They can exist. Ultimately you could be doing a vacation scheme with one firm one week on one side of the deal and then work for another firm the other side of the same deal the next week.

Many law firms will generally ask you to complete some form of conflicts check.

For those that don't, you would be expected to highlight anything you thought might be a conflict (it's better to highlight it and to be told not to worry about it, rather than not!).

Hundreds of people do multiple schemes each year though, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[ellensdaleoriginal]

Has anyone heard back from Greenberg post first-round interview?

 

[Legal Chick]

Has anyone heard from Latham for the direct TC

 

[Law1099]

Can’t believe I’m finally saying this.. I just got off the phone with GR and after four cycles, I’ve finally got myself a training contract with a great international firm!

I cannot tell you how many times I have cried and wallowed in how disappointed I have been through all the rejections. I had been rejected at every stage in the process and each time it hurt more than the first. I felt demotivated that some people got 4+ vacation schemes in their first year and I had no such luck. Truly it had nothing to do with my potential, it was a mixture of learning, a whole lot of luck and waiting for the right moment for you.

 

[GXA123]

Can’t believe I’m finally saying this.. I just got off the phone with GR and after four cycles, I’ve finally got myself a training contract with a great international firm!

I cannot tell you how many times I have cried and wallowed in how disappointed I have been through all the rejections. I had been rejected at every stage in the process and each time it hurt more than the first. I felt demotivated that some people got 4+ vacation schemes in their first year and I had no such luck. Truly it had nothing to do with my potential, it was a mixture of learning, a whole lot of luck and waiting for the right moment for you.

Congratulations! so happy for you <3

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Can’t believe I’m finally saying this.. I just got off the phone with GR and after four cycles, I’ve finally got myself a training contract with a great international firm!

I cannot tell you how many times I have cried and wallowed in how disappointed I have been through all the rejections. I had been rejected at every stage in the process and each time it hurt more than the first. I felt demotivated that some people got 4+ vacation schemes in their first year and I had no such luck. Truly it had nothing to do with my potential, it was a mixture of learning, a whole lot of luck and waiting for the right moment for you.

Posts like this make my day!

Congratulations - it is fantastic news and I am delighted for you. Perseverance is such an important quality to have in a legal career and it's clear you have bucket loads of it. I always play down how much luck factors in to this process - I reckon people make a lot of their own luck with their determination and hard work. Sure random luck will have been in there somewhere, but nowhere near as much as the efforts you have put in to get what you want.

Well done and all the best for your upcoming career!

 

[Law1099]

Posts like this make my day!

Congratulations - it is fantastic news and I am delighted for you. Perseverance is such an important quality to have in a legal career and it's clear you have bucket loads of it. I always play down how much luck factors in to this process - I reckon people make a lot of their own luck with their determination and hard work. Sure random luck will have been in there somewhere, but nowhere near as much as the efforts you have put in to get what you want.

Well done and all the best for your upcoming career!

Thanks so much for your help Jessica (and everyone else on the forum)!

I agree - one of my favourite quotes is ‘hard work puts you where the good luck finds you’!

 

[thirdtimelucky]

Can’t believe I’m finally saying this.. I just got off the phone with GR and after four cycles, I’ve finally got myself a training contract with a great international firm!

I cannot tell you how many times I have cried and wallowed in how disappointed I have been through all the rejections. I had been rejected at every stage in the process and each time it hurt more than the first. I felt demotivated that some people got 4+ vacation schemes in their first year and I had no such luck. Truly it had nothing to do with my potential, it was a mixture of learning, a whole lot of luck and waiting for the right moment for you.

Well done!! This is brilliant news