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

[lawstudent321]

Did anyone who has secured a Vacation Scheme attend the AS 'HeadStart into Vacation Schemes'? I had a place but couldn't go so I was wondering if there was anything useful to take away from it. Any advice would be appreciated as I have my first VS starting in 2 weeks!

 

[AI]

Has anyone heard back from DAC Beachcroft after the VI?

 

[Bethany]

Does anyone have any thoughts / insights on Hogan Lovells as a firm?

Really great firm! For being a big city player, it’s not as ‘cut throat’ as people would assume. Everyone’s friendly, they offer great training, great partner approachability and the hours are not bad at all (obviously team dependant)

 

[Elinc21]

Has anyone heard back from DAC Beachcroft after the VI?

I haven’t heard anything yet!

 

[OliverF77]

Anyone else been put on the reserve list for AC for Shoosmiths post VI, or have been in the past? Wondering if there is point still holding out hope

 

[kr253]

Anyone else been put on the reserve list for AC for Shoosmiths post VI, or have been in the past? Wondering if there is point still holding out hope

I'm in the same position this year so can't offer any advice but can sympathise! Vaguely amusing that the email said I may be invited at short notice when it's already only a week away - how much shorter can it get..!

 

[chillblue]

Hi, i am new on here so hopefully posted in the right place. I have a vacation scheme for Gateleys soon and wonder if anyone has any tips having done one there or somewhere similar? thanks in advance

 

[lolamcd1]

If a paralegal role has the option to upload a cover letter (only a CV is compulsory) - is it necessary to write one? Sorry if an irrelevant question for this thread!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

If a paralegal role has the option to upload a cover letter (only a CV is compulsory) - is it necessary to write one? Sorry if an irrelevant question for this thread!

If it is through a recruiter then I would avoid it but if it is through a direct application you can if you want.

I usually don't do it and have received interviews both directly applying and through a recruiter.

I think writting a cover letter is a waste of time.

 

[futuretraineecity]

Is it standard to bring a laptop with you on your first day of a vac scheme?

 

[KLittle95]

I'm in the same position this year so can't offer any advice but can sympathise! Vaguely amusing that the email said I may be invited at short notice when it's already only a week away - how much shorter can it get..!

Anyone else been put on the reserve list for AC for Shoosmiths post VI, or have been in the past? Wondering if there is point still holding out hope

Also on the reserve list - seems a rather large one!

 

[LongSufferingLawGrad]

Is it standard to bring a laptop with you on your first day of a vac scheme?

Hey - you'll be given all the IT equipment you need, likely on the first day.

Took my Mac with me on the first day of VS with W&C, for example, which was unnecessary, as we were all given new, secure laptops with access to Firm IT infrastructure + headsets and a mouse.

Hope that helps!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it standard to bring a laptop with you on your first day of a vac scheme?

No - there is usually no need to do this unless you have been informed by the firm to do so.

 

[OliverF77]

I'm in the same position this year so can't offer any advice but can sympathise! Vaguely amusing that the email said I may be invited at short notice when it's already only a week away - how much shorter can it get..!

At this rate you’ll be given an hours notice lol

 

[Asil Ahmad]

In regards to Dentons application question Tell us about a challenge you have overcome that showcases your ambition and drive?

I know I have asked about this before and have received feedback and advice from this forum.

I wanted to know if these 2 examples show a challenge.

I was going to talk about mentoring high school students by helping them with their studies by 2 grades and the student was easily distracted.

My second example is durin g university I impoved my grades as I was not good at essays.

Wanted to ask would either of these examples be good answer for this question.

 

[kr253]

At this rate you’ll be given an hours notice lol

Here's hoping 😂

 

[AvniD]

In regards to Dentons application question Tell us about a challenge you have overcome that showcases your ambition and drive?

I know I have asked about this before and have received feedback and advice from this forum.

I wanted to know if these 2 examples show a challenge.

I was going to talk about mentoring high school students by helping them with their studies by 2 grades and the student was easily distracted.

My second example is durin g university I impoved my grades as I was not good at essays.

Wanted to ask would either of these examples be good answer for this question.

I think the way you have phrased these examples currently showcases your resilience and patience better than your drive and ambition. I'm not usually picky about examples and generally feel that any work as long as you're able to explain your thought process behind them and get them to fit what the question is asking, but my advice for this one is going to be a little different and more detailed.

Firstly, I'd say to introspect a bit on your experiences to find examples where you set a goal (ambition) and the way/ways you tried to succeed at it (drive). So if you take your second example, the way I'd phrase it to meet what the question is asking is by stating how you set a goal to achieve a certain grade (rather than to improve your grades) and how you went about this.

Secondly, structure would be really key here. Start off by stating your goal/ambition (getting an XYZ grade) ➡️ what motivated you to achieve this goal (wanting to do well academically for XYZ reason, you wanted to improve from previous year or improve your essay writing skills etc.)➡️ the steps you took to achieve this goal ➡️ any challenges you faced in doing so and how you overcame them ➡️ round off by stating the outcome of your efforts.

Does this make sense?

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I think the way you have phrased these examples currently showcases your resilience and patience better than your drive and ambition. I'm not usually picky about examples and generally feel that any work as long as you're able to explain your thought process behind them and get them to fit what the question is asking, but my advice for this one is going to be a little different and more detailed.

Firstly, I'd say to introspect a bit on your experiences to find examples where you set a goal (ambition) and the way/ways you tried to succeed at it (drive). So if you take your second example, the way I'd phrase it to meet what the question is asking is by stating how you set a goal to achieve a certain grade (rather than to improve your grades) and how you went about this.

Secondly, structure would be really key here. Start off by stating your goal/ambition (getting an XYZ grade) ➡️ what motivated you to achieve this goal (wanting to do well academically for XYZ reason, you wanted to improve from previous year or improve your essay writing skills etc.)➡️ the steps you took to achieve this goal ➡️ any challenges you faced in doing so and how you overcame them ➡️ round off by stating the outcome of your efforts.

Does this make sense?

Thank you very much for this it is really helpful and I was thinking they were not that specific to the question of showing drive and ambition. I will see how I can showcase the mentoring example in a way that shows ambition and drive.

Also I missed your arrows they are always helpful.

 

[AvniD]

Thank you very much for this it is really helpful and I was thinking they were not that specific to the question of showing drive and ambition. I will see how I can showcase the mentoring example in a way that shows ambition and drive.

Also I missed your arrows they are always helpful.

Glad to know this was helpful @Asil Ahmad! I was on annual leave for the past few weeks but it is really good to be back to the forum (and my arrows!) 😊

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Glad to know this was helpful @Asil Ahmad! I was on annual leave for the past few weeks but it is really good to be back to the forum (and my arrows!) 😊

As always thank you very much. I did not know you was away as I have off the forum for a while was focusing on getting a paralegal now but now need to focus on getting that TC thropugh direct TC route.