TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
To be honest, I started applying for smaller/mid-size firms rather than 'BigLaw'. I did apply to the odd larger one, or a small intake US, but they weren't necessarily the typical ones we see on this forum. 9 time out of 10 my applications went past the written stage in my last 2 cycles
I also began working as a Paralegal after my LPC so I could better tailor my 'why law' questions with tangible experience from my role. I checked Legal 500, Chambers (any other directory etc.) to find firms that had good reputation in practice areas and I could see transactions they worked on. I could sell why x firm by having genuine research and linking it to my own experience of similar deals in a private m&a, real estate sphere.
Occasionally I would message a trainee at a firm. If you do this, ask ACTUAL QUESTIONS you want to know the answers to, and I never wanted to come across overly formal or sycophantic. For example, 'I'm interested in private m&a and small market deals. What can you tell me about that department/trainee role? What's the office setting like etc./?
I got my offer when I was 23 and I qualified 2 years later. On qualifying, I've never looked back. I could maker a collage with the hundreds of VC, TC, Paralegal applications I made but I don't need to anymore. I've got my career to look forward to.
It can be done and I can't stress how naff the process is. Re-evaluate what's worked (which is clearly a lot if you're getting to this stage), ask what practice areas, you like and start afresh. Don't give up!
@Jessica Booker I'd really appreciate your help with this question, please:
"Focusing on one of Reed Smith’s sectors, what current issues do you think will impact this sector? What opportunities or challenges could this present Reed Smith or our clients?"
Are they asking about an industry (ie oil & gas) or can it also be a practice area?
Many thanks
"Focusing on one of Reed Smith’s sectors, what current issues do you think will impact this sector? What opportunities or challenges could this present Reed Smith or our clients?"
Are they asking about an industry (ie oil & gas) or can it also be a practice area?
Many thanks
First of all - congrats on the AC! The process is so future driven it can be easy to forget to celebrate how far you have come on the way. If you can get to an AC then fundamentally you are doing everything right to get to that stage, as the initial stages are so competitive.
It took me 3 cycles of applying to get an offer, so you are not alone in feeling behind or not good enough. Ultimately, you didn't perform on the day, but this doesn't mean you wouldn't on a different day. I think at HSF non-law students are assessed slightly differently. I would seek out feedback - this may not have gone as bad as you think. Additionally, many firms do not access this way, so it won't necessarily be the same the next time. I am sure you will be successful soon!
hey i dont know how helpful it'll be but I just want to echo what everyone else is replying with, it most definitely is a future driven process and congrats to even getting to an ac; you're definitely doing something right given its such an incredibly competitive process
as most, I had the same feelings as you do after my first post-ac rejection and so like many, I can completely empathise with you on that aspect. when you get that rejection it kind of hits you like a truck as to how much effort has gone into this process and looking at a rejection like that can sometimes make it feel all futile! it took me a while to actually reflect on my ac before i jumped back into this cycle but its something id recommend you to do as well. try and be external when assessing your day, i used to break mine down and try and assess where i felt short once i took the emotional aspect out of it and honestly it might help motivate you to bounce back!
ig the silver lining in this is that now you actually have an experience w an AC, so when you get to your next and your next, you're already equipped with a set of experience that can help guide you! i always try and preach about how 'rejection is redirection' and honestly in this process, you have to faith in that and really believe that something better and something more suited is out there for you (at least i try to believe it!)
keep your chin up because it is an incredibly competitive process and jus remember if you did it before, you'll do it again and with this experience you'll do it right next time as well
try not to feel too disheartened, this whole process genuinely is a learning curve at the end of the daybest of luck, we're all rooting for you!! <33
Some of the responses on this forum appear to be veering into questionable territory, and I'm genuinely uncertain whether this is intended as satire or you are being serious...
I honestly do not have any advice but I can relate to this so much. The one and only AC I made came after doing WG, Verbal Reasoning and VI, but when the feedback came, it was like they were describing someone else. I wanted to learn from it but seemed like I was not fit for them at all, even though I made it to the final stage after passing all of their "assessment mechanisms"??? I guess it is a matter of applying to different category of firms and persistence.
It is completely normal to feel that way. I do all the time. I’ve done the firm internships, even mini pupillages, graduated with a high 2.1, went to a top 14 us school for my LLM and got a merit scholarship and I am getting nowhere, constantly wondering whether the past 7 years of my life were an utter waste. They weren’t, and neither were yours, but it’s hard to see that when you’re in the thick of it. Stay strong x
I 100% agree with @taylorkelce's comment. When there are so many qualified candidates at the AC stage, so many small factors will be taken into account to decide who gets an offer including whether the interviewer liked your personality or whether they think the firm's clients will like you, whether you fit in their diversity quota (both in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic background or university attended) and so on. It's not a 100% meritocratic process, which is normal given that interviewers are humans too
Absolutely, I completely understand the importance of fitting into the firm's culture and being client-centric and personable. However, TaylorKelce's analogy to a beauty pageant is quite misplaced. While it's essential to possess social skills and adapt to the workplace environment, it's entirely inappropriate and baseless to suggest that one needs to be 'ditsy and dumb'. Such a statement not only undermines the intelligence and capabilities of individuals but is also quite frankly, laughable...
This is a very, very strange and childish post. Completely nonsense and unhelpful for the forum (posted by a premium member too!?)
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Jessica Booker
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Roll on Friday is probably one of the most far from reality environments in the legal sector that you can possibly get. It’s purposely provocative and the articles, comments, threads, discussion boards all play up to that.
I actually work in corporate finance at the moment - funnily enough! So, not quite as detached as you might think...
Are you telling me that ROF's Bonkers Law Websites isn't PEAK journalism?
Firm blesses staff with 'unique' website profiles | RollOnFriday
Infinitely regressing heads, anyone?
I just did Arctic shore for NRf and really not sure about the whole process. I currently take anti-depressants that affect my brain processing speed. I react really slowly to everything and Arctic test requires you to be just really awake through out the whole test. Is this something I need to talk to the grad rec about?
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