TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[zainab.nadeem02]

Oh congrats
When did you get the offer ? Did they call you or sent an email ?

Thank you! They sent me an email on Friday.

 

[NLWH]

Has anyone got any insight into the WFW video interview? Any advice on how to prep?

Hi anyone can help with insights for WFW VI? Thanks

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

No - if its been explicitly described as a personal statement, it does not need any cover letter formalities. I would just go straight in with your opening sentence/paragraph.

Thanks Jessica! They also ask for relevant social media handles - which ones do you reckon are most appropriate to give in the application besides LinkedIn?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thanks Jessica! They also ask for relevant social media handles - which ones do you reckon are most appropriate to give in the application besides LinkedIn?

You don’t have to provide these if you don’t want to. There is never a requirement for you to provide your social media handles. But if you wanted to, you can provide any that you think are important to share whether that be LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter.

 

[Boating]

Anyone done a VS at V&E please message me?!

 

[OliviaPope]

Has anyone managed to get feedback from Gateley post AC? I’ve emailed three times and heard nothing back

 

[Apple]

Does anybody have any experiences applying for vac schemes as a graduate?

I just graduated and plan to apply for as many winter vac schemes as I can, but it feels odd as a graduate. I'm also not "doing anything" right now apart from sport and am worried it could come up in an interview, should that be a concern?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Does anybody have any experiences applying for vac schemes as a graduate?

I just graduated and plan to apply for as many winter vac schemes as I can, but it feels odd as a graduate. I'm also not "doing anything" right now apart from sport and am worried it could come up in an interview, should that be a concern?

Don't worry, I'm in the same position. In fact, I'm a year above you. Lots of people are in the same boat as us.

I'm sure it won't be a concern. You've just graduated (congratulations btw), so of course you're welcome to some time off before securing a TC with long hours.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anybody have any experiences applying for vac schemes as a graduate?

I just graduated and plan to apply for as many winter vac schemes as I can, but it feels odd as a graduate. I'm also not "doing anything" right now apart from sport and am worried it could come up in an interview, should that be a concern?

It’s really not weird - many thousands of people do it each year and many of those go on to secure vacation schemes.

I would try to keep yourself busy even if it is with part time work, volunteering, travelling etc, or even taking on informal forms of study/training. It will be a bit of a concern if you are doing nothing.

 

[FTS209990]

Bit of a weird Q but I’m doing my final VS next week, and I am also supposed to hear back regarding the outcome of my other VS and final TC interview the same week. I’m terrified of receiving bad news and letting it affect my VS performance and interview. Does anyone have any experience with this? Would it be unwise to mute my emails the whole week?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Bit of a weird Q but I’m doing my final VS next week, and I am also supposed to hear back regarding the outcome of my other VS and final TC interview the same week. I’m terrified of receiving bad news and letting it affect my VS performance and interview. Does anyone have any experience with this? Would it be unwise to mute my emails the whole week?

You’d probably need to not answer your phone and mute emails if you did, and then you risk not being contactable if they are offering you and need to discuss this with you.

Just because one firm doesn’t want to offer you a TC does not mean the next one will make the same decision.

 

[Jmk]

Hi anyone can help with insights for WFW VI? Thanks

You have 60-90 seconds to respond. 30 seconds to prepare. There’s actually a lot of time to respond so I wouldn’t worry. The questions are not hard

 

[sm99]

Does anyone else find it hard on a VS to connect/chat with associates and above? I never want to bother them because they seem so busy but don’t want to be marked down for lack of comms with the wider team that I’m placed in!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone else find it hard on a VS to connect/chat with associates and above? I never want to bother them because they seem so busy but don’t want to be marked down for lack of comms with the wider team that I’m placed in!

email them/send them a messenger on Zoom/Teams chat (or anything similar the firm has) and ask if they would have time to meet later in the week/programme.

 

[Equity'sDarling]

For SH, if you are unsuccessful for their VS post test, can you reapply for the TC in the same application cycle? If anyone knows, that would be amazing. I will email the graduate recruitment but knowing them I am unsure I will ever hear back

I think the test/process is exactly the same for TC and VS so I would be surprised if they consider someone for TC if they failed the test. (unfortunately)

 

[FTS209990]

Hi @Jessica Booker - is it necessary to contact my supervisors to introduce myself before the vac scheme begins? I've been given their full names but no email addresses. Thank you

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker - is it necessary to contact my supervisors to introduce myself before the vac scheme begins? I've been given their full names but no email addresses. Thank you

No - it’s not necessary to do this, especially if you have not been given their email addresses. You may find their emails addresses via the firm’s website though - most firms will have profiles of individual lawyers and their contact details.

It is fine to email them at the same time. I’d just keep it short/brief and have a purpose for contacting them.

 

[19.mfjones]

Hey all, once again asking for advice
What sort of feedback have you had from ACs?

Got rejected from my dream firm the other day and am absolutely heartbroken. Never had feedback from an AC before and I'm so scared they're going to say it's my personality. Sometimes when I'm nervous I cone across as slightly informal, but I was true to myself and it still wasn't enough. The feedback call is scheduled for next week the day before my grad, so not great timing either

 

[sm99]

Does anyone think there’s any relevance in tc interviews to note taking?
is no note taking good or bad and is frequent note taking good or bad?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone think there’s any relevance in tc interviews to note taking?
is no note taking good or bad and is frequent note taking good or bad?

No relevance whatsoever. It’s just how interviewers decide to approach things. Some note take, others don’t - it’s their preference rather than anything about you as a candidate.