I’m in exactly the same boat!! I’m also worried because I start work as a paralegal in the city next week 😭 and not sure if I did get to AC I would now be able to get the time off so last minute
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
Controversial but I agree. The #1 thing some firms look for when hiring trainees is if they like you, not necessarily if you are the smartest. And its not always the Partners that dont like you - you can get great feedback from your partner/associate interviews but GR may dislike you for whatever reason. This was exactly the case for me when I applied as a trainee for the firm I paralegal at. My department was shocked when I didnt get it, especially since my interview feedback was really good. After speaking internally to people from other departments, the consensus was that GR just didnt like like me, even though my performance as a paralegal had been great thus far and I did very well in my interviews - my point is, it’s not always your performance that they dont like. It might be various factors outside of your control, some may be unconscious biases GR or an interviewer hold against you. Or you might just not fit the trainee profile for that specific cohort.
And to reflect the point above - I agree, they dont always hire the smartest people. Colleagues have confirmed this as well. They hire the people that are easiest to work with, which definitely doesnt have to mean the smartest. Which is why so much emphasis is put on group tasks in some firms.
You still have time! The deadline is 31 December. I applied 8 November last year.
This is interesting. I didn’t know GR had that much power to decide who they like or not. In the end partners and associates will have to work with the trainee and like them so why would GR’s subjective option matter so much?
the only reason that would come to mind is that GR know the kind of person that would be liked in the firm? but then that goes against the claim many firms make regarding welcoming a diverse set of characters.
They want the most trainable trainee, not necessarily the smartest. Its nice if its both, but from what Ive seen and from what colleagues have said, they want 1) the most trainable and 2) the easiest to work with.
Might not be the same in every firm, but it was definitely the case in mine. And there’s firms where GR is the main deciding factor in hiring a trainee.
And in theory they should know who fits the firm profile best, but in practice a lot of the GR teams tend to be younger than the trainees with only a few years of experience in recruitment…with the exception of the head GR who is more senior.
it’s a really stupid reality. Especially since the paralegals who work in these firms are so much more qualified for the jobs than the 2-3rd yr students that get the offers. There’s no comparison in terms of knowledge and abilities. It all comes down to likeability and trainability in some/many places.
I am still waiting! I have friends who completed and passed the Online Assessment later than me have already got the rejection email. So i guess no news is good news?🤷🏻♂️
I received an interview invite last week (Wednesday), and have the interview this Friday. For a little more context, I applied on 8/10.
Yes. I also wonder if once a firm sees someone as a paralegal it’s hard to go beyond that (like being in a sort of friend zone). I just think some firms will always have a bias for younger people who can get it first time. I don’t mean to be harsh, but how many paralegals set out to do that job? Again, it’s not a criticism of anyone who does it, but I just know some firms like S&M and FF seem to really like hiring people fresh out of university (I think US firms value real world experience more as it’s more work being a trainee at a US firm from what I’ve found). I’m 26 (still in this game because I can’t get anything right first time, or the second or the third or the fourth) and I often think long and hard before applying to firms. My pitch is essentially that I’m not the smartest (62% in my degree), but I’m good at making money, earning more than pretty much any trainee out there and law firms are businesses. It’s a stark reality, but you really do have to impress everyone, including GR who are the gateway to the Partners. Funnily enough, I got feedback from a VS that I basically just ignored the paralegals and the other Vac Schemers and wasn’t a team player. I’m not a team player: I took my exams as an individual and am now self-employed, but this is still an important quality. I’ve applied for firms with smaller intakes because I don’t like big groups and also I want a higher NQ salary without this being diluted and reduced by having loads of fellow NQs.
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Sure, but from a firm's perspective, you can't afford to be paying NQs or Trainees to run the whole GR process, can you? It's a tick box exercise, largely. I made lots of mistakes in the first few years of applying. HR, GR exist to help the firm, not you. That said, there are some super stars out there who go out of their way to provide actionable pointers, like the Shearman guy. Also, I actually think subjective processes are better. The WG often has quite arbitrary cutoffs. They didn’t have in the past and law firms did just fine. It’s just a lot, honestly.
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Congrats -- that's awesome!
I only applied two days after you... Hope that's not a troubling sign...
I also applied on the 10th and have not received anything! slightly worrying!!
I applied on 29/09 and still haven't heard. Sidley's turnaround time is meant to be quick so I am worried
hi @prospectiveswitcher
I am sorry to hear! I am sure better things r coming you way
May I ask when did you apply
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