TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Pennine Valley]

Cheers mate I’ve just applied for direct TC so hoping they’re slightly delayed behind DAS

the ACs are DAS specific

 

[lawbear123]

anyone heard back from gibson dunn?

 

[edpx8]

Anyone heard back from S&C? Still waiting after being put on-hold.

 

[Patrick]

PFO from HSF post-AC, onto the next.

 

[S87]

anyone heard back from gibson dunn?

Nope since September, they are now Gibson gone

 

[Jessica Booker]

Who has the 'final say' in an application cycle once you collate all the feedback? If you've got to AC, is it the partners? Is it GR? I'd love to learn how they select successful candidates for VSs.

Usually the Graduate Recruitment Manager/Head of Team, or possibly the Training Principal, but most likely GR as they are closer to the detail of the collected feedback and understand the wider dynamics that decisions on individual hires.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just anecdotally (a senior associate at Slaughters told me this) I've heard partners have significant influence if they really like or dislike a candidate.

I’d say anyone involved in the assessments has significant influence - they are assessing, so have a say on what they think.

 

[Jessica Booker]

A lot of the big US firms are like this too. If a senior partner likes you, you're most likely in. No senior associate or member of recruitment can challenge them.

I also have a few friends who have relatives at the MC firms from which they got their offers. I would give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they secured their TCs on their own merit, but behind closed doors, they'd brag about how their dad or uncle ultimately got them the job.

I think it's just how it is and it's one of those things that most likely won't change.

At least these firms recruit the other 99% of us fairly.

“Bragging” about a family member getting you a job is really weird in my opinion.

Basically completely diminishes your abilities and sets you up for people thinking you are most likely not going to be rubbish at the job.

How anyone can think this is something to brag about is beyond me 😂

The irony is that in the vast majority of firms, they got in of their own merit not because their family member influenced the process.

 

[axelbeugre]

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR VACATION SCHEME?

Now that the application season is coming to an end and many of you have received vacation scheme offers, a lot of questions around how to prepare for them. Some people are very excited but at the same time terrified to not convert their experience at the law firm of their dreams. This is completely understandable. When I got my vacation scheme offers, I was over the moon, at the same time though, a feeling of anxiety and fear overwhelmed me. What if I am not good enough for them? What if I do not understand anything they tell me to do? These were some of the questions that were in my head. I really needed some tips to understand how to prepare for a vacation scheme. Here are some tips that I think will help if you are feeling the same:

Enjoy this win!

It is important to enjoy this huge milestone that you have set for yourself for so long. As high-achievers aspiring lawyers it might be difficult to seat in our achievements for a bit and just enjoy the fruit of our hard work. However, take this time between receiving your offer/s and starting your vacation schemes to just enjoy your win and be proud of yourself for how far you’ve come. When I got my offers I was overjoyed but I felt like I had to do everything in my power to prepare as soon as I got them without really taking the time to realise that I actually achieved a huge goal of mine. So, I always encourage people to enjoy this goal!

Keep up to date with commercial news, news about the firm and practice areas you would want to explore at the firm

Something that should not change during your time before your vacation scheme is keeping up with commercial news. This is fundamental as it will allow you to be prepared when you start your training contract and be more commercial aware. I would advise to start reading news about the specific practice areas the firm you have a vacation scheme at excels at, as that will give you topics to bring up in partners and associates’ meetings. This can be done through many websites and podcasts like the FT. Additionally, using LinkedIn was very fundamental to me because I was able to follow the firms’ pages and read the deals and cases they were sharing, the clients they work with and familiarise myself with associates and partners’ journeys to the firms I was about to join for the vacation scheme.

Reach out to future trainees to hear about their experiences

I value this very heavily. Speaking to future trainees at the firms I had vacation scheme offers at was key. This allowed me to not be stressed before starting the vacation scheme as I knew what to expect throughout my time at the firm. Future trainees are the best source of information as they were in your same shoes years or even months before you so it is really important to hear what they have to say. Through interactions with them you will learn a lot about the firms, how to conduct yourself, what to expect in the weeks at the firms and how to enjoy your time too. They will also be able to talk about their personal experiences at the firms and share their tips as to how to prepare for the vacation scheme and how to convert.

Make a list of trainees, associates and partners you want to speak to at the firm

Making a list of trainees, associates and partners you are interested to speak to when you join the firm is extremely helpful. This does not mean that you are not going to speak to everyone else at the firm! It basically serves as a starting point for you to know who are some of the lawyers you might resonate with the most. One of the reasons I chose some lawyers and trainees with similar backgrounds to mine that I really wanted to speak to was that I was curious to hear their experiences and their journeys that brought them to the firm. I also wanted to know how the law firms were supporting their growth and development at the firm. When meeting them, I was able to ask tailored and interesting questions because I knew that I wanted to speak to them directly. I personally did this and it was very helpful to me and it also made me feel quite good because I got to know many people from different department and sectors, their work and their personalities!

 

[pfotherecord]

Nope since September, they are now Gibson gone

Perhaps Gibson Done??

 

[emily3827]

how quickly have people heard back from W&C post-AC

 

[s9111]

Does anyone know how long I can expect to wait before I hear back re my CMS VI? (Insight Scheme)

 

[GWJlaw]

I’d say anyone involved in the assessments has significant influence - they are assessing, so have a say on what they think.

@Jessica Booker Is there a specific marking criteria firms use when assessing candidates, e.g I know some firms use a scale 1-5 to rate your competency answers , or can it really be influenced by whether the assessors / grad rec liked you ?

 

[kmo20]

How long does W&C take to respond post-VI?

 

[S87]

Perhaps Gibson Done??

😂

 

[Amehta1]

How long does W&C take to respond post-VI?

I’m still waiting a week after doing it. I heard the wait is anywhere from a week to a month.

 

[0livia.pope]

Any advice for the 2bird VI?

 

[Seven]

Did anyone who progressed for Baker McKenzie spring receive the actual video interview link yet?

 

[OliviaPope]

Simmons PFO saying they are at capacity

 

[gggg]

RS pfo