TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker i have an AC with a magic circle firm next week but also have a vacation scheme with a US firm in the summer.

Will I get into issues justifying why I took a US firm vacation scheme when interviewing at the magic circle firm? If so, do you have any advice?

Not “issues” but you are likely to be quizzed about why them over the US firm or the pros/cons of each firm.

 

[t.loader]

Has anyone done the Ropes AC?

 

[DivyaBasan]

Hey guys, has anyone heard back from Reed Smith after AC?

 

[folklor3]

Hey, does anyone know when they said we’d hear back from Forsters post AC. I know they told us at the end but can’t remember the exact time that was said

Think next week or the week after

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

genuine question: is it appropriate to wear classic doc martens to an interview?? they have a regular sole, plus my trousers would cover the laces so it's only the yellow stitching that would be visible,, i know it's not ideal but i've heard it might snow on the day and really don't want to end up with frost bitten feet

Yes, this should be fine if they are a regular sole.

 

[SuccessfulSolicitor]

During a virtual AC written exercise, are our cameras supposed to stay on?

You were recorded?! If that happened for me they’d just see me trying not to cry, sweating and cursing the written exercise for being so long

 

[SuccessfulSolicitor]

Any tips for AC interviews?

Don’t be nervous! You made it this far! Just be positive and do your research

 

[Law Student]

Don’t be nervous! You made it this far! Just be positive and do your research

I’m so nervous, I don’t even know what to wear

am I meant to wear a blazer or can I just wear a blouse and trousers? Also, will it matter if my coat isn’t smart because I will take it off anyway?

 

[Fd321]

genuine question: is it appropriate to wear classic doc martens to an interview?? they have a regular sole, plus my trousers would cover the laces so it's only the yellow stitching that would be visible,, i know it's not ideal but i've heard it might snow on the day and really don't want to end up with frost bitten feet

I did with a suit and I don’t see anything wrong with it, they just look like brogues

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

During a virtual AC written exercise, are our cameras supposed to stay on?

They will usually tell you if they do or don’t, but generally I would say they are kept on, especially if it is on an assessment platform like TopScore

 

[SuccessfulSolicitor]

I’m so nervous, I don’t even know what to wear

am I meant to wear a blazer or can I just wear a blouse and trousers? Also, will it matter if my coat isn’t smart because I will take it off anyway?

I’d say a smart blouse or at least something with a collar should be good. I wouldn’t worry too much about the coat. Unless it’s a trap star jacket or Jean jacket, I don’t think they’ll care.

 

[Bubbles]

You were recorded?! If that happened for me they’d just see me trying not to cry, sweating and cursing the written exercise for being so long

No! I have an AC tomorrow and was just wondering if cameras would stay on haha (never done an AC before)

 

[app03]

anyone have any advice on how to approach 'your greatest weakness' question in a partner interview?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

anyone have any advice on how to approach 'your greatest weakness' question in a partner interview?

Pick something you are actively working on to improve or work on. Weaknesses are fine to have but it’s important to show how you either are working to improve them or how you ar learning to work around them.

 

[SCM]

Does anybody know how many people Travers Smith/Macfarlanes interview relative to how many get the VS? Thanks!

 

[rayemuse]

How does one answer Tell me abt a time you worked under pressure/were under a lot of pressure? I brought up a work example but then interviewer was like nah can you give another one. But besides having to juggle uni work/occasional society event/job applications (which Idt I can mention) all at once I can’t think of what to say :/

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anybody know how many people Travers Smith/Macfarlanes interview relative to how many get the VS? Thanks!

The only people who will know this is the graduate recruitment team. It’s not info regularly shared/stated.

However, most firms will be somewhere between 1 in 2.5 to 1 in 4 vacancies to candidates interviewed. The lower end will be if there have been earlier recruitment stages such as testing/video interviews etc.

That figures is designed for people who no-show, withdraw their candidacy, or decline the offer though.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

How does one answer Tell me abt a time you worked under pressure/were under a lot of pressure? I brought up a work example but then interviewer was like nah can you give another one. But besides having to juggle uni work/occasional society event/job applications (which Idt I can mention) all at once I can’t think of what to say :/

Pressure doesn’t just have to be about time commitments, it can be about the responsibilities you have to deliver.

The key part of this is explaining why it was a pressurised situation for you. Someone who doesn’t have knowledge on something may find the situation more pressurised than someone who does. Someone who likes presenting may not find a situation of presenting their ideas to a group of people the same as someone who doesn’t like it.

Working in a law firm you are going to be under significant pressure a lot of the time, and firms need to be confident you can deal with that pressure as it’s not going to be a one off. Think about times you have been uncomfortable/concerned that you weren’t up to delivering what you were supposed to/meeting other people’s expectations and how you managed to still achieve what you needed to do and deal with managing those negative feelings of pressure.

 

[sunnyd]

Hi, would it appropriate to email the recruitment team of Mayer Brown and ask them if we’ll receive a response any time soon? I haven’t received any correspondence since the online SJT/Verbal Reasoning. Could anyone give me their opinion on this please @Jessica Booker

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi, would it appropriate to email the recruitment team of Mayer Brown and ask them if we’ll receive a response any time soon? I haven’t received any correspondence since the online SJT/Verbal Reasoning. Could anyone give me their opinion on this please @Jessica Booker

How long have you been waiting?