TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[EliteWhovian]

January 8th, I would say, taking into account public holidays.

Thank you! I mixed up working and calendar dates oops

 

[GMAC]

Akin Gump PFO post-test, Skadden PFO, Weil PFO post-application, Linklaters PFO after getting 93rd percentile on Watson Glaser and Willkie PFO post-application OMG can law firms give me a break today please no more PFO's today.

What's a PFO?

 

[Seven]

What's a PFO?

A rejection. Humorously used by the legal community when a rejection email says "Thank you for applying but you have been unsuccessful" which translates to "Thank you but Please F*** Off"

 

[ljms]

... those Ashurst tests were something else

 

[ljms]

What's a PFO?

Rejection - please f off

 

[OliviaPope]

Found the Freshfields WG pretty bad😭

 

[addy2004]

Found the Freshfields WG pretty bad😭

How does it compare to other firms’ WG like CC and linklaters?

 

[OliviaPope]

How does it compare to other firms’ WG like CC and linklaters?

In my opinion those were a lot easier, I seemed to completely run out of time as well which I’ve never had before!

 

[lawapplicant]

If you're spelling it as Macfarlane's, I wouldn't bother doing the test stage.

‘Wouldn’t bother doing the test’

I think I would’ve done fine on the Watson Glaser part of the test tbh.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Speaking about Simmons, this is a dumb question but I want to know the latest I can do it:

I was invited to the test on Thursday 28th and starting from tomorrow (aka the 29th), I have ten working days to complete the test. When is the latest I can do it? I have a rough idea but I just want to double check

I’d take that as Friday 12 Jan if it says 10 working days started from the 29th December.

 

[ljms]

What's the consensus on using all 250 words per experience in the work experience section? I worked four different hospitality jobs during uni, and there are only so many ways I can talk about pulling pints.

My main work experiences following graduation are all in the region of 250 words.

 

[Chelsea1]

What's the consensus on using all 250 words per experience in the work experience section? I worked four different hospitality jobs during uni, and there are only so many ways I can talk about pulling pints.

My main work experiences following graduation are all in the region of 250 words.

Hi, I also worked four hospitality/fast-food/retail jobs during uni all with similar transferrable skills so I understand what you mean. In all my applications this year, I decided to lump all of those experiences together under one work experience header as "Part-time jobs (alongside degree) within Retail and Hospitality" - I used about 150 words to describe the different job roles I held, how may hours I worked, transferrable skills etc. I hope that helps in terms of not listing each hospitality job under separate headers!

Doing it the way I mentioned above was the only way that made sense to me so that I was not repeating the same things over and over

 

[EM23]

I find it quite funny (not in a positive way) that when I do apps for English offices I barely get through the first stage or so if I am lucky. However, when I do applications for the same firms but are based in Scotland (where I got my llb) I get much further through the process. I have experience in international firms so quite sad and doesn’t feel genuine when firms say they are open to those without an English LLB or career changers. Just my own experience

 

[Manuchelsout]

is the Reed Smith VI automatic

 

[Apple]

just SJT

This isn't true, there is numerical reasoning involved.

 

[Jessica Booker]

What's the consensus on using all 250 words per experience in the work experience section? I worked four different hospitality jobs during uni, and there are only so many ways I can talk about pulling pints.

My main work experiences following graduation are all in the region of 250 words.

You don’t have to use the full count. It’s only there for if it is needed, and for many roles a much shorter description will be appropriate.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I find it quite funny (not in a positive way) that when I do apps for English offices I barely get through the first stage or so if I am lucky. However, when I do applications for the same firms but are based in Scotland (where I got my llb) I get much further through the process. I have experience in international firms so quite sad and doesn’t feel genuine when firms say they are open to those without an English LLB or career changers. Just my own experience

If you have no ties to the location you are applying to, there can be concerns more about whether you will enjoy life outside of work, so that could be a factor as to why.

 

[user12345law]

‘Wouldn’t bother doing the test’

I think I would’ve done fine on the Watson Glaser part of the test tbh.

View attachment 5533 View attachment 5534

How do you find out this information? (on how you scored on WG)

 

[dms21]

Out of curiosity, how long are people taking to write each application (+ research)? and for those completing them in one day, how are you doing it? Just curious as I have so many due applications within the next few weeks so any help or tips would be great!

 

[Cynthia14]

This isn't true, there is numerical reasoning involved.

I have completed it but there isn‘t any numerical reasoning involved.