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

[GOI983]

I wouldn't worry, this is my first cycle and I can safely say that the only thing I've learnt for certain is that you can never be sure what GR are actually looking for 😄

Yeah you’re right, but I think 3 below averages may cost me, despite the 2 averages. I also got attention to detail, social adaptability as my strengths, alongside worth ethic…

 

[AspiringSolicitor99]

Hi @Jessica Booker I received two winter vacation scheme offers that conflict and have decided to take one over the other but wanted to seek your opinion on the matter. Regarding the other offer that I'm declining, I want to request to be deferred to the spring or summer runs of their vacation scheme. However, the spring one conflicts with another offer I've already accepted (although I am equally interested in this firm and the one I already accepted an offer with) and the summer run of the scheme will clash with other vacation schemes with firms I intend to apply to and am more interested in pursuing a vacation scheme with. Should I (a) request to be shifted to spring and potentially renege on either the firm I already accepted a vacation scheme with or this one, (b) request to be shifted to summer and potentially renege on this firm if I receive an offer from a firm I am more interested in, (c) just decline the offer or (d) something else entirely?

I understand that they may not be willing to defer my offer at all and will accept it if that is their decision, but am thinking about what I should do if they are willing to defer the offer. It's slightly annoying that so many firms run their vacation schemes on the same dates even though the summer break is so long!

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[bibss]

I did the A&O SJT yesterday and just got the email saying I passed.

I don’t know why but I thought someone would review our scores manually. It looks like it’s all automatic as I don’t think grad recruitment work on a Sunday.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I did the A&O SJT yesterday and just got the email saying I passed.

I don’t know why but I thought someone would review our scores manually. It looks like it’s all automatic as I don’t think grad recruitment work on a Sunday.

It is pretty standard for these things to be automated if they know what their benchmark should be.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

For Clifford Chance application as the word count is 600 words would 585 words be way below the word count or is that okay. I mean I read the LinkedIn post about the CC grad recruitment member and wanted to know if I should add a few more words or not.

 

[Rob93]

For Clifford Chance application as the word count is 600 words would 585 words be way below the word count or is that okay. I mean I read the LinkedIn post about the CC grad recruitment member and wanted to know if I should add a few more words or not.

I use the same rule of thumb I would for uni essays - aim for at least ~90% of max word count. 585/600 should be fine

 

[GXA123]

For Clifford Chance application as the word count is 600 words would 585 words be way below the word count or is that okay. I mean I read the LinkedIn post about the CC grad recruitment member and wanted to know if I should add a few more words or not.

I think you are good

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I use the same rule of thumb I would for uni essays - aim for at least ~90% of max word count. 585/600 should be fine

I think you are good

Thank you both for this it is really helpful.

 

[LongSufferingLawGrad]

Just curious - average response time after interview?

 

[GXA123]

Just curious - average response time after interview?

there isn't tbh, sometimes it takes from hours to days to months to never hearing back

 

[Jessica Booker]

For Clifford Chance application as the word count is 600 words would 585 words be way below the word count or is that okay. I mean I read the LinkedIn post about the CC grad recruitment member and wanted to know if I should add a few more words or not.

That will be fine - they won’t notice the difference of 15 words.

The post will be more when people use significantly fewer words.

There is no point bulking it out just to create verbosity.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just curious - average response time after interview?

It will depend very much of a set of individual circumstances. Could be anything from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks.

 

[LongSufferingLawGrad]

It will depend very much of a set of individual circumstances. Could be anything from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks.

Thank-you! I'm coming up to a couple of weeks after interview now and am excited to hear back!

How do grad rec make a decision on who to invite onto VS - I'd be grateful for your insight!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

That will be fine - they won’t notice the difference of 15 words.

The post will be more when people use significantly fewer words.

There is no point bulking it out just to create verbosity.

Thank you very much for this and I agree.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank-you! I'm coming up to a couple of weeks after interview now and am excited to hear back!

How do grad rec make a decision on who to invite onto VS - I'd be grateful for your insight!

Put simply, it’s who performs the strongest in the assessments you complete. What specifically that performance is assessing will vary between firms, so is difficult for me to comment on. But generally it will be a mixture of transferable skills, motivations and personal characteristics.

 

[skmx]

For anyone who is yet to do the CMS VI - it is 60 seconds to prep + 60 secs to respond. You also manually move onto each question so you can take breaks in between I also recommend using Google chrome over safari (if using Apple) as it runs smoother!

 

[vacschemeapss]

For anyone who is yet to do the CMS VI - it is 60 seconds to prep + 60 secs to respond. You also manually move onto each question so you can take breaks in between I also recommend using Google chrome over safari (if using Apple) as it runs smoother!

Thanks! And how many questions, and what about- if you don't mind?

 

[layk]

Travers PFO weirdly looks like able to reapply in Summer

Does this mean grad rec haven't reviewed our apps and we could potentially hand in the one we've already written for the winter VS for the summer?

 

[Dwight]

Will CC get back to TC applicants after the deadline day?

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Will CC get back to TC applicants after the deadline day?

Yes