TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[johnnn821]

Hey guys anyone heard back for Linklaters' Open Day?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thoughts on a 2 page covering letter? There really isnt anything that I would like to remove..

I would very much expect this to be too long. It’s not really about what you would like to include, it’s more about what are the few key messages you should include.

I suspect you are trying to include too much to show the variety of your experiences and motivations, but you will need to be more selective as to what is the most persuasive. Alternatively if you are limiting the number of points you are making, you are then going into too much detail.

Most cover letters can fit on one page, especially if they have no formal formatting. Many firms will explicitly tell you it cannot be more than 1 page as well. At most I think a page and a bit (no more than a page and a half) is more than enough.

There is a real risk that the longer it is the more likely it is not to be read either at all or thoroughly enough.

 

[Legalstalker]

Hey! Can you remember how long Clifford Chance took to send you your WG outcome? I remember last cycle they sent them like the day after so was just wondering if it's the same this year?

yep it was like a day or two

 

[rkmg2510]

Hey everyone,
Just wondering what your approach to the following question would be: 'Why do you want to be a solicitor at an international law firm? (350 words)' for HWF VS. Would you structure the answer in two parts broken down into a. why a solicitor and b. why at an international firm, or see it solely as focused on the international firm component?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker , I applied to Irwin mitchell yesterday and their preliminary questions asked if I had already started my LPC. when I clicked no, it said "if you have not completed the LPC when offered a TC, you will undertake the SQE as a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice'. Is there a major difference between these two routes and is there any place I can find out more info about them? (I also don't know how much of an impact this change will have on me since I am an international student).

The only difference between the routes is that as a graduate apprentice you work alongside completing your SQE studies. It is technically a shorter period to qualify compared to a year of studying and then two years as a trainee. As you are working from the outset and the graduate solicitor apprentice takes between 27-33 months (time is dependent on you being a law or non-law graduate), you will either need sponsorship or the right to work in the UK for more than 2 years though. A post-graduate work visa would not be a sufficient amount of time to cover an graduate apprenticeship (but it also tends to not be sufficient for a traditional TC too though).

 

[catlover123]

People that have done the W&C VI - how did you find it?

 

[F12M34L]

Hey everyone,
Just wondering what your approach to the following question would be: 'Why do you want to be a solicitor at an international law firm? (350 words)' for HWF VS. Would you structure the answer in two parts broken down into a. why a solicitor and b. why at an international firm, or see it solely as focused on the international firm component?

I got the same exact question. @Jessica Booker any thoughts?

 

[axelbeugre]

Hey everyone,
Just wondering what your approach to the following question would be: 'Why do you want to be a solicitor at an international law firm? (350 words)' for HWF VS. Would you structure the answer in two parts broken down into a. why a solicitor and b. why at an international firm, or see it solely as focused on the international firm component?

The way I would structure is broken down into two parts as you said: Why you want to be a solicitor and why at an international firm, focusing specifically on the international side of things.

Make sure to mention your reasons as to why you are interested in an international law firm and link them back to you. I think that the first part can be a little bit shorter than the second but all and all this would be the structure I would follow. This is because it exhaustively answers the question and it allows you to convey your genuine interest in the profession and at an international firm.

When picking your reasons for why an international firm, make sure to pick things that are very specific to HWF otherwise you would risk to be too generic and that might work against you.

I hope these tips help and good luck @rkmg2510

 

[Bubbles]

If a firm states on its website "please note we are unable to employ you unless you have the right to work in the UK at the date the role commences and for the duration of the contract" - does this mean they don't offer sponsorships?

This is Hill Dickinson btw - I can't find any info about sponsorships. If anyone knows their grad rec email address pls send it through!

 

[axelbeugre]

If a firm states on its website "please note we are unable to employ you unless you have the right to work in the UK at the date the role commences and for the duration of the contract" - does this mean they don't offer sponsorships?

This is Hill Dickinson btw - I can't find any info about sponsorships. If anyone knows their grad rec email address pls send it through!

Yes, that is exactly what they mean unfortunately!

 

[emilyding]

Does anyone else feel they are delaying applications and waiting for it to be perfect?

Any tips would be appreciated!

On the plus side - The video Interview for PwC was completed last week. Still waiting to hear back but usually it's mid-November.

when did you apply for PWC?

 

[Bubbles]

Yes, that is exactly what they mean unfortunately!

Thank you. It's just getting really hard to actually find firms I like that provide visa sponsorships. Quite unfortunate that I'm not interested in commercial law 😔

 

[Mike Wazaoski]

when did you apply for PWC?

18th October - Application sent
24th October - Video interview invite

 

[law2022x]

Anyone heard from Covington?

 

[emilyding]

Hi guys, I just got my WG report for Linklaters Open Day and the result is not favourable (below 50%) - this is my first time doing the test and does anyone have tips on how to improve it?

I know Linklaters doest't allow us to retake WG - provided my low score, should I still apply for their vacation scheme?

 

[Abgaal]

I also got my WG score back from Linklaters I got 15% Percentile but I got 23/40 questions right which means I scored 57% accuracy. Does that mean I passed the test right - I am confused??

 

[Abgaal]

Hi guys, I just got my WG report for Linklaters Open Day and the result is not favourable (below 50%) - this is my first time doing the test and does anyone have tips on how to improve it?

I know Linklaters doest't allow us to retake WG - provided my low score, should I still apply for their vacation scheme?

I don’t know if they look at your percentile or your actual answers - what did you get out of 40?

 

[Legalstalker]

I also got my WG score back from Linklaters I got 15% Percentile but I got 23/40 questions right which means I scored 57% accuracy. Does that mean I passed the test right - I am confused??

for linklaters i got 25/40 1% percentile. i couldn't tell you wat they want.

 

[Abgaal]

for linklaters i got 25/40 1% percentile. i couldn't tell you wat they want.

WHAT - that wouldn’t make sense - because your percentile goes hand in hand with how many answers you have gotten right I believe. The percentile shows how many people who have done the test ?? - this is so confusing honestly

 

[emilyding]

for linklaters i got 25/40 1% percentile. i couldn't tell you wat they want.

I got 26/40 and 30% percentil. The is so weird