TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
- Start date
Did anyone hear from Dentons post-app for London VS? 😊
One I clearly have not developedAttention to detail is a key trainee skill
Just got an AC invite too but no details at all about the tasks or if it’s online or in person.
It's super important to find the traits a firm is looking for before a test if they list those somewhere. Other than that, what helped me most was when I combined all my previous feedback reports to see which metrics were my lowest -- I took notes on their suggestions for improvement and mapped them to what a relevant question might be and how I should answer (some aren't that clear but you can get a sense of what characteristics you should demonstrate more in general!).
I also did the JobTestPrep SJT pack, there's one for 'Graduates' and I'd say a good amount of the practice Qs on there are similar/applicable to the law firm SJTs! They give a breakdown of each answer and why it's more or less appropriate, and what skills it demonstrates, which was so helpful for deciphering what metrics are tested in each. There are also some great free practice tests I found on this forum, the one I remember was from HSF which you can find here: https://careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/global/en/uk/early-careers/apply
I don't know if any of these suggestions are universally accurate, and I'm definitely not an SJT expert, but just wanted to share what worked for me to at least understand the process better and feel more 'in control' of what traits I'm trying to convey!!
Congrats on the AC! My email said it was a virtual assessment centre and more information would be given the week before it happens (the only date option I have is 22 Feb). There's info on the Dentons website though that the AC has two key exercises: the Written Exercise & Role Play, and the Case Study & Final Interview.
- Sep 14, 2023
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I totally understand this and I used to do the same thing last year but I think that it is really important to focus on other areas of your life, whether it is work or university, friends and family and that helps massively. After my interviews, I immediately jumped into university work and that helped massively with forgetting about the interview performance until the calls!! I think it is important to focus on the positive aspects of all of this: you had an interview/assessment centre at a great firm, something that not many people can say to have, and you gave it your all!
To those who received a second holding email from Reed Smith what does it say? If it says "Thank you for completing your assessment for our Vacation Scheme 2023/24 role. We will be in touch soon with an update on your application." its not a holding email, its an automated response
W&C VI! It's my first VI so a bit nervous. If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it!
I would, you'd be surprised at the number of firms that fail to put clocks in the rooms during timed exercises...
Can anyone who has done the CMS VI confirm that it is 60 secs of thinking time and 90 secs to answer? 🙏
Thank you for this. This is really helpful and fingers crossed it worksIt's super important to find the traits a firm is looking for before a test if they list those somewhere. Other than that, what helped me most was when I combined all my previous feedback reports to see which metrics were my lowest -- I took notes on their suggestions for improvement and mapped them to what a relevant question might be and how I should answer (some aren't that clear but you can get a sense of what characteristics you should demonstrate more in general!).
I also did the JobTestPrep SJT pack, there's one for 'Graduates' and I'd say a good amount of the practice Qs on there are similar/applicable to the law firm SJTs! They give a breakdown of each answer and why it's more or less appropriate, and what skills it demonstrates, which was so helpful for deciphering what metrics are tested in each. There are also some great free practice tests I found on this forum, the one I remember was from HSF which you can find here: https://careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/global/en/uk/early-careers/apply
I don't know if any of these suggestions are universally accurate, and I'm definitely not an SJT expert, but just wanted to share what worked for me to at least understand the process better and feel more 'in control' of what traits I'm trying to convey!!
- Sep 14, 2023
- 1,275
- 1,708
I think it depends on the sectors you would choose. I had to do a presentation for a mentoring scheme I was part of and the presentation was based on the same question. The way I tackled this was choosing a sector I thought the firm should have focused their energy and resources in, for instance AI and technology, something that the firm was not focusing on at the time. Within that sector, I picked one client and I basically highlighted three reasons why the client would be beneficial to the firm and three factors about the firm (in terms of key characteristics about the firm, maybe its focus on a particular practice area that would be beneficial to the client) that will attract the client.
Of course you can use different structures and all will work as long as you manage to find a sector that the firm is developing at the moment and within that sector you find a client that might help the firm financially and also give them notoriety in the market.
I hope this is helpful and good luck with all your assessments!
- Sep 14, 2023
- 1,275
- 1,708
This is such great advice! I am sure people will find this very useful!It's super important to find the traits a firm is looking for before a test if they list those somewhere. Other than that, what helped me most was when I combined all my previous feedback reports to see which metrics were my lowest -- I took notes on their suggestions for improvement and mapped them to what a relevant question might be and how I should answer (some aren't that clear but you can get a sense of what characteristics you should demonstrate more in general!).
I also did the JobTestPrep SJT pack, there's one for 'Graduates' and I'd say a good amount of the practice Qs on there are similar/applicable to the law firm SJTs! They give a breakdown of each answer and why it's more or less appropriate, and what skills it demonstrates, which was so helpful for deciphering what metrics are tested in each. There are also some great free practice tests I found on this forum, the one I remember was from HSF which you can find here: https://careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/global/en/uk/early-careers/apply
I don't know if any of these suggestions are universally accurate, and I'm definitely not an SJT expert, but just wanted to share what worked for me to at least understand the process better and feel more 'in control' of what traits I'm trying to convey!!
It’s 30 seconds of thinking time and 90 seconds to answer 😊
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