TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Any advice on how to stop catastrophising post-AC/ interview?? I can’t stop thinking about my responses and how I should have answered some questions differently. 😭

For everything you find to focus on that’s a negative, force yourself to identify a positive to balance it out, even if it seems small (you got there on time, you smiled, you asked some interesting questions). You’ll be hyper focused on small details of the negatives, so doing the same for the small positive details isn’t that different, it’s just at the opposite end of the positivity spectrum!

 

[NMA]

Congrats! When did you apply?

1 Jan!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When you get questions about if you could invent a law etc what would it be - is this a way to showcase what area of law you like or am I silly for thinking it’s the perfect chance to add some personality into a boring VI? 😭🤣

Could be either opportunity really (and seen both approaches work well) - do whatever feels right for you!

 

[r.hol123]

Hey I applied for Addleshaw VC London a while back and still haven't heard anything - what could this mean? I have a friend who received a PFO earlier Jan

same still waiting

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

For an upcoming AC, the info says the lawyers who interview you have sight of your initial application form. Would anyone suggest then coming up with new answers for 'why me' & 'why the firm' etc? Quite liked my answers on the app but don't want to negatively impact myself by repeating what they have already read! Hoping I could use them as a foundation anyway.

Definitely do need new answers (that would actually be a bit weird) but I would expect the answers to be more in-depth than the detail in your application. So the themes can be the same, but I would present a more detailed analysis/evidence to support those themes.

 

[Tamaranou]

Last year RS sent a similar email saying they’d get back to us by the end of the week. They got back to us at around 4/4:30 pm on the Friday.

Did they get back with rejections only or did some people get an AC invite?

 

[Deleted member 17013]

has anyone got a w&c spring rejection post-vi?

Nah they're taking the mickey tbh

 

[tcplease2345]

Last year RS sent a similar email saying they’d get back to us by the end of the week. They got back to us at around 4/4:30 pm on the Friday.

Were there any AC invites?

 

[SolicitorHopeful]

Did they get back with rejections only or did some people get an AC invite?

They responded to everybody about whether or not they made it to the next stage.

 

[SolicitorHopeful]

Were there any AC invites?

Yeah they were. It was the same situation last year with everyone sharing their anxiety on TCLA 😅

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

Mishcon VI completed. Could have done better but it could have gone worse too. I estimate it's a coinflip at best 🤣

However, TCLA and the community has been invaluable throughout the whole experience. Thank you guys!

 

[tanamontana]

For the question ‘what differentiates us from other law firms’ in a VI, should you approach this question from the point of view of clients (so why would a client choose X firm over another), or relating to people choosing to work at firm/internal point of view?

 

[futuretrainee202X]

1 Jan!

Also, just a follow up, do you know if A&P tends to send interview invites in batches or in one go?

 

[bella98]

Hogan Lovells please call meeee

Okay so I didn’t get the call and I see a pattern here that I don’t like 😭

Here's the thing: had HSF and Macfarlanes ACs on Tuesday, they called successful candidates on Thursday, and then—plot twist—sent me a PFO on Friday. Someone, please, I'm begging, find me a wizard, a genie, or a four-leaf clover to break this curse!!

 

[NMA]

Also, just a follow up, do you know if A&P tends to send interview invites in batches or in one go?

no idea sorry mate

 

[mfuturetrainee]

Okay so I didn’t get the call and I see a pattern here that I don’t like 😭

Here's the thing: had HSF and Macfarlanes ACs on Tuesday, they called successful candidates on Thursday, and then—plot twist—sent me a PFO on Friday. Someone, please, I'm begging, find me a wizard, a genie, or a four-leaf clover to break this curse!!

u will hear good news!!! IM PRAYING FOR U

 

[Apple]

Okay so I didn’t get the call and I see a pattern here that I don’t like 😭

Here's the thing: had HSF and Macfarlanes ACs on Tuesday, they called successful candidates on Thursday, and then—plot twist—sent me a PFO on Friday. Someone, please, I'm begging, find me a wizard, a genie, or a four-leaf clover to break this curse!!

Im in the exact same boat, AC on Tuesday and just waiting and praying for that phone call so badly.

 

[Lawyer500]

I personally have done that and I got the offer two hours after my email when I applied last year. I would only recommend doing this when a considerable amount of time has passed (after the two weeks mark in my opinion).

would you recommend to explain that you have other offers coming in or just politely ask for an update? Thanks!

 

[axelbeugre]

would you recommend to explain that you have other offers coming in or just politely ask for an update? Thanks!

Yes, if you do have them definitely, however you should stress how doing a scheme at this particular firm is what you want the most, that was my approach at least.

 

[goggles123]

Thank you!

I got the gist from it that it wasn’t unlimited and they wanted it done within a few minutes?

Was I wrong?🫠

 

[Deleted member 22634]

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

I didn’t even get the first holding email 😭😭😭