TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Seven]

How much weight does the VI question hold do people reckon? If you had a strong application and a weak VI, do you reckon that will massively count against you? Or as it’s only the one question, there will be less weight on it?

I’m not sure. Hard to tell but if your VI was weak, I think the question you should ask yourself is “If I removed the bad articulation and obvious nerves, was the actual content of my VI impactful?”

 

[amrita6399]

Has everyone that gave their Latham SJT, gotten a report? I did it yesterday evening and still waiting for the report.

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

Just got my Latham feedback report

Strengths: 1) detail oriented 2) Judgement
Development: 1) Personal responsibility

does anyone have anything different to this?

Strengths:

Analytical/Complex Thinking and Detail Orientated​

Professional development:

Self-Motivation​

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

What is your personal motivation for seeking a career in corporate/commercial law?

Does this question from Goodwin ask you to talk about both or just one of them?

 

[trainingcontract]

nrf just sent me a second, even more generic rejection after rejecting me post-ac lmao pls let me move on 😭😭😭

 

[MrHubertLouis]

I just did Pinsent Mason's Blended Test. Towards the end, my computer crashed a few times and so I had to close the browser. It didn't affect the VI portion. However, since they said at the beginning of the test that they record the entire process, is it worth contacting grad rec and letting them know about it?

 

[ADKM]

Just got my Latham sjt feedback

my areas of strength:
1) effective communication 2) self-motivation

area of development:
judgement

 

[LehmanBrothersRiskManagementIntern]

Has anyone heard from Akin post TI??

 

[s9111]

In my Latham Vac Scheme online test report I only received a top strength, nothing else. Anyone else?

 

[Hani156]

RE Pinsent Masons blended assessment - if it is untimed, will you be at a disadvantage if you spent more time completing the assessment considering they record the entire assessment? They advise to complete it in 1hr but I completed it in portions across 2 days tbh.

 

[Aaj03]

In my Latham Vac Scheme online test report I only received a top strength, nothing else. Anyone else?

This was what i got for the Open Day application then (top strength being resilience- later got a pfo), but somehow for the VS, I was able to get top strengths and a weakness.
I don't know if it signifies anything.

 

[s9111]

This was what i got for the Open Day application then (top strength being resilience- later got a pfo), but somehow for the VS, I was able to get top strengths and a weakness.
I don't know if it signifies anything.

Very odd

 

[flower]

Has anyone heard back for HL Lift Off?

 

[jplaw1010]

I just did Pinsent Mason's Blended Test. Towards the end, my computer crashed a few times and so I had to close the browser. It didn't affect the VI portion. However, since they said at the beginning of the test that they record the entire process, is it worth contacting grad rec and letting them know about it?

They don't record you personally, just the time taken to complete the assessment (I think). Someone please correct me if I am wrong hahah

 

[Jessica Booker]

What is your personal motivation for seeking a career in corporate/commercial law?

Does this question from Goodwin ask you to talk about both or just one of them?

I think they are just using the terms where they are fairly interchangeable.

 

[axelbeugre]

Slaughter and May SWE Interview invite !!
Omgggg🥺

Congratulations! Huge Achievement!

 

[axelbeugre]

For a 25 minute competency/motivation-based interview, how long should your responses be? I don't know if they're expecting real deep dives (4 mins per answer etc) or a quick run through two or three points per answer (around 2 mins).

I would say that a fairly quick response could work (around 2/3 minutes) and then, if they want to know more, they will ask you more questions about what they want to understand from your answers. I think in interviews it is quite straightforward to see if you are talking more than what they want you to so if you see that that is the case, I would cut my sentences short and wait for further questions on the topic concerned to discuss more (in case you wanted to share more things in an answer). This was usually what I did and it made the process much more natural.

 

[axelbeugre]

anyone heard back from gibson dunn? i applied at the end of november but haven't heard from them since

There are people who have obtained offers already of second stage interviews! I would say to still wait though as they might contact you, do not lose hope!

 

[axelbeugre]

when filling in the work experience section, it it necessary to include ALL work experience we've ever had?

I would not say so. I think it is important to select the ones you feel are more relevant and that shaped your professional persona if that makes sense. When I was applying I had many internships and experiences I could have discussed but I ended up choosing a certain number firstly because the application does not allow you to put more than 6 or 7 sometimes, secondly because some of them I felt would have not helped like others in explaining my diverse skillset.

Something I would also consider going off of my last point above is to select experiences that are able to showcase a diverse skillset that you can bring to the role of a trainee solicitor like attention to detail, communication skills, advocacy, written skills etc.. I feel like as long as you include work experiences that demonstrates all these skills and more, your selection will be effective in portraying an holistic picture of you.

 

[axelbeugre]

DLA Piper AC for London! My first ever AC, if someone could give me tips I would really appreciate it!!

Congratulations!! This is amazing and you should be so proud!

I shared some general tips here which I think could be quite useful to you! https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-151966

Good luck and congratulations once again!