TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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My grades are decent I think, I got a high 2:1 (67%) at undergrad for law at a RG university. I then got a merit (66%) for a master's in corporate law from another RG university and a distinction on the LPC MSc.
I did find the Capp test for Linklaters a bit difficult and I have never passed a SJT test for a lot of firms so I do think my answers could have been inconsistent etc. Also, I don't know if you also did that assessment but there were WG-style questions at the end that were very difficult so maybe that played a part too!
Bro you got 99 on WG so I don't think the WG Qs on the Capp would have been an issue haha
They were a lot more difficult. I feel like the generic WG questions are always quite similar to the practice tests offered by CC/Freshfields etc but the questions at the end of the SJT I found harder and some were straight up guesses.
Had a friend who had similar and made the cut. No one knows how this firm selects. But I am confident your good WG score should put you in a good position with applications in other firms using WG.
I have only done 2 real WGs. Last year I did not progress with CMS and then this time for Links I seemed to score really high.
All I did for this WG was do the practice test on CC's website and I got 85% so I thought I should just do the Links WG right away.
Honestly, I do not know how I did it but I did make sure not to overthink and read the questions out aloud. Also, I would recommend YouTube videos about the WG from people who seem to have mastered them. Hope this helps!
I did the vac scheme with Linklaters last year.
For anyone wondering, they consider more the Capp test. When I did it, I considered their framework. However, there is no specific way to pass the test. For the WG the benchmark is quite low, you just need to pass it.
They also fast track a lot of people to the vac scheme AC from their own programmes, such as Pathfinder, Exclusive Open Days, and other programmes. Having a place in one of their programmes doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be fast tracked to their vacation scheme AC. However, it increases your chances by a lot. Completing their Forage internship is also a plus when applying.
They really look closely at your academic profile. Apparently, to increase the chances of an AC is to have at least a 65% or above in your university modules. Students with an average of 65% or higher are prioritised.
For anyone wondering, they consider more the Capp test. When I did it, I considered their framework. However, there is no specific way to pass the test. For the WG the benchmark is quite low, you just need to pass it.
They also fast track a lot of people to the vac scheme AC from their own programmes, such as Pathfinder, Exclusive Open Days, and other programmes. Having a place in one of their programmes doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be fast tracked to their vacation scheme AC. However, it increases your chances by a lot. Completing their Forage internship is also a plus when applying.
They really look closely at your academic profile. Apparently, to increase the chances of an AC is to have at least a 65% or above in your university modules. Students with an average of 65% or higher are prioritised.
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Are you sure? I submitted mine on the 24th and have not received the invite yet
- Sep 14, 2023
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if you can find a link, that would be even better so I would say to try and find some linkages. It does not necessarily have to be work experience, it can also be a personal experience or anecdote or anything about you that relates to what you are saying.
yes, I think it's worth bearing in mind that this period is super busy for GR, so it isn't unusual for there to be a slight delay in them sending the WG invites - they don't send them to candidates all at once. By automatic, I mean that everyone receives a WG invite eventually - they don't review your application answers before sending them out. Hope this helps!
When writing work experiences on application form, should I write it in bullet points as in CV or paragraphs?
- Sep 14, 2023
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Always use paragraphs for law firm applications! This is what they want in the applications. I would say that if you are unsure then it would be worth sending them an email just to confirm but paragraphs are way better!
Good luck with the cycle!
When writing in paragraphs, should I link my developed skills to the firms? Or its fine just to mention the skills I develop from work?
Hi thanks a lot for the feedback
Would you say that talking about work experience is always much better than talking about forage virtual work experience schemes, online courses or online lectures. I have complete a couple of legal work experiences at high street firms and whilst they have allowed me to experience various legal sectors, i am a little worried that it might seem like somewhat of a leap to link those to the practice areas of major commercial law firms.
In a "why this firm" question with a 250 word world limit, how much would you reccommend talking about personal experiences as opposed to showing research into the firm.
Jessica Booker
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- Aug 1, 2019
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I don’t think you need to explicitly link it to the firm. Either the details you are providing are relevant to the firm in some way or they are not. The reader is likely going to be able to read the skills from your description anyway and make the link. Plus the stuff you have done in the past hasn’t been done with this job application in mind, so linking it to the firm feels a bit forced.
Jessica Booker
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I would recommend thinking about this more as to what you feel is the most appropriate evidence rather than the nature of the evidence itself. It’s far more important to utilise the experiences you think you have learnt more from / gained the most skills from / have challenged you the most.
How much you talk about your personal experience depends on the connection to the firm. However, I always recommend the “why the firm” has a forward looking element to it - it isn’t sufficient to just talk about what you have done in past, it’s important to see yourself in the future in this role and explain why it is going to be the right opportunity for you. Plus your past experiences have to focus more on what’s motivated you to this point rather than highlighting what you have done/what skills you have developed.
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