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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

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For everything you think you did wrong, write down something you think you did right, even if it seems quite small/minor.

I suspect the “wrong” things you are highlighting are also minor in the grand scheme of things, so at least it gets you to put some balance into your thinking.
Thank you so much, Jess! Great advice.

Also, I'm probably overthinking things but my interviewer mentioned I'd hear about the outcome of my TI -- and thus invite for AC -- at the end of Dec as they're still at the early stages of the recruitment process. She didn't mention, however, that I'd also have to wait because the firm's partners need to review my commercial question before I can proceed to the AC.

Should one infer that I didn't pass the TI stage or am I reading too much into an off-hand comment? Sorry for the silly question!
 
Thank you so much, Jess! Great advice.

Also, I'm probably overthinking things but my interviewer mentioned I'd hear about the outcome of my TI -- and thus invite for AC -- at the end of Dec as they're still at the early stages of the recruitment process. She didn't mention, however, that I'd also have to wait because the firm's partners need to review my commercial question before I can proceed to the AC.

Should one infer that I didn't pass the TI stage or am I reading too much into an off-hand comment? Sorry for the silly question!
You are definitely reading too much into it. They said they won’t get back to you until the end of the month. There was nothing about your interview that was determining that - instead their recruitment process and that they would still need to review your commercial question. It’s not even an off-hand comment - I would expect them to explain the next stages and what needed to be considered. I would expect all candidates interviewed around the same time as you were told the same.
 
@Jessica Booker

If you are told you’d hear an outcome in 7 working days from today but the 7th day is Christmas Day do I assume the firm would be closed throughout Christmas week and I won’t hear back until January?

In addition if an interviewer speaks about the AC and next steps does that mean I’ve done well or is that just a mandatory thing to say. (I am a huge over thinker) 😭
 
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I was looking through the thread w/ Ropes & Gray Grad Recruitment (below) and saw that they won't accept applications from LPC students/graduates...it seems unnecessarily harsh and not logical (especially if individuals are willing to forfeit their exemption and do the entire SQE).

Has anyone emailed them to verify if this is the case or if this rep just got it wrong?

Bizarre and absurd to say the least.

Considering someone willing to self fund shows great commitment to law and willing to discount the LPC shows great commitment to wanting to be at that firm come what may.

And if they got a high mark in the LPC, pretty much proven they are ready to practise law and pass the SQE with few issues.
 
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When talking about achievements, is it okay to talk about non-academic ones/what can actually be considered as an achievement? Apologies for the very broad question but if anyone has any examples, I would appreciate it!
 
Bizarre and absurd to say the least.

Considering someone willing to self fund shows great commitment to law and willing to discount the LPC shows great commitment to wanting to be at that firm come what may.

And if they got a high mark in the LPC, pretty much proven they are ready to practise law and pass the SQE with few issues.
Agreed, hoping Ropes & Gray is the only firm doing this!
 
Bizarre and absurd to say the least.

Considering someone willing to self fund shows great commitment to law and willing to discount the LPC shows great commitment to wanting to be at that firm come what may.

And if they got a high mark in the LPC, pretty much proven they are ready to practise law and pass the SQE with few issues.
Literally.

I am not going to respond on the Ropes & Gray chat anymore because I honestly cannot deal with another “beat around the bush” answer from the firm that does not make any logical sense regardless of how they spin it.

I am 100% convinced that this decision has been formed off the back of one of their graduate recruitment team saying “how do we reduce applications because it’s taking a long time for us to review them, boo us”

I remember thinking highly of the firm and their vision for their recruitment practices, back when they had a smaller team and in fact had an amazing conversation with the manager where we actually spoke on this particular point. I am disappointed by the U-turn - not just for me, but what this basically means for those that invested in their own studies.

Boo them, their loss guys.

Good luck to those who can apply though (the salary is great, and their meeting rooms have American candy in them - as for business strategy - I’ll leave that open to interpretation).
 
Literally.

I am not going to respond on the Ropes & Gray chat anymore because I honestly cannot deal with another “beat around the bush” answer from the firm that does not make any logical sense regardless of how they spin it.

I am 100% convinced that this decision has been formed off the back of one of their graduate recruitment team saying “how do we reduce applications because it’s taking a long time for us to review them, boo us”

I remember thinking highly of the firm and their vision for their recruitment practices, back when they had a smaller team and in fact had an amazing conversation with the manager where we actually spoke on this particular point. I am disappointed by the U-turn - not just for me, but what this basically means for those that invested in their own studies.

Boo them, their loss guys.

Good luck to those who can apply though (the salary is great, and their meeting rooms have American candy in them - as for business strategy - I’ll leave that open to interpretation).
If someone self funded the JD and passed the bar in the US, they'd be welcomed with open arms.

Just goes to show how much of a cartel and racket the UK legal training system is.
 
I got through to interview / AC stage for W&C WVS and after a rejection they said they "advise only making one application per recruitment cycle"
Apparently, you can reapply through the TC route - if you applied for VS and unsuccessful (as I've read people have done on this forum). I can imagine for your case, it would be different considering you got to AC and were unsuccessful.

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