TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[axelbeugre]

@Jessica Booker @axelbeugre- I am preparing for an interview and I'm wondering if 3min30 is too long for the 'Tell me about yourself' question? thanks!

I personally think that giving a specific number of minutes for an answer if quite counterproductive as you will understand, as you do when you speak to your friends and family, when you speak too much. I find it hard to believe that you will understand how many minutes you have to speak when the interview is going in a certain direction. I always say that you will understand if you are speaking too much from people's faces and body language. However, if you are a numbers person I would probably say 2-3 minutes max. This can also depend on how interesting your answer is to the interviewers.

 

[GB]

Can someone please tell me if I am being inefficient but I have just made a list (it's still growing thicccc) and I have like 50 questions the CRS VI could include. Then, I have to draft rough responses that I know won't take me longer than 60-90 seconds to say. I will be honest usually I wing interviews and hope for the best so I don't know if I am preparing properly for once 💀 or overdoing it.

Any thoughts/ tips? xx

Hope you don't mind me tagging you @axelbeugre

Hi, this sounds amazing I was wondering if you would possibly mind sharing the list of questions? It sounds really helpful! Please PM me if you can.

 

[Petallove1]

Is there anyone I could talk to in dms about something? I'm just feeling a bit terrible atm and I don't really have people to talk to about this process. Thanks so much

Feel free to give me a message!!

 

[axelbeugre]

Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words)

Guys, for this question, would you explain how the relevant skill would benefit your career as a solicitor with an example? Or, would you just use a STAR structure and explain what skill you have developed through your experience?

I’m asking this since the question doesn’t say “how” will ‘x’ skill support your career as a solicitor, so I’m not sure whether to explain that or not.

@Jessica Booker @axelbeugre

Thanks.

I would just answer the question and so talk about one example and describe the skills you have developed through that, like communication or attention to detail, and explain how those will help you succeed in your career as a lawyer. Rather than explaining this last point with an example, you can just emphasise how these skills are fundamental for a lawyer in general.

 

[GB]

Has anyone taken the CRS VI yet? I would like some tips please

Hi I was just wondering if you had any tips or advice after taking it?

 

[GB]

Anyone with any insights into the CRS VI or Trowers & Hamlins AC? I can help you with Forsters, BCLP, Travers and Maples Teesdale.

Hi I was wondering if you had any advice on the CRS VI after completing it?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Shoosmiths is a firm of individuals, with a culture that will actively allow you to grow your skills and challenge yourself. Focusing on one previous experience (in personal, work or study), what skills have you developed that will support your career as a solicitor? (300 words)

Guys, for this question, would you explain how the relevant skill would benefit your career as a solicitor with an example? Or, would you just use a STAR structure and explain what skill you have developed through your experience?

I’m asking this since the question doesn’t say “how” will ‘x’ skill support your career as a solicitor, so I’m not sure whether to explain that or not.

@Jessica Booker @axelbeugre

Thanks.

Just to stress this question is asking for multiple skills but one experience that highlights those multiple skills.

But a STAR format would be the best approach to this question because it is asking for one past example. You don’t have to explain how the skills will help you as a lawyer though - I would just focus on how you have developed them.

 

[R051E]

Has anyone heard from DWF leeds? Still got nothing….

I got a VI invite last Tuesday and I know someone did for the London office too

 

[J53]

Is there anyone I could talk to in dms about something? I'm just feeling a bit terrible atm and I don't really have people to talk to about this process. Thanks so much

Whats up? pm me

 

[johnnn821]

If I am not mistaken, its midday tomorrow.

Where did you get midday from?

 

[JLaw56]

Where did you get midday from?

They said this during the Open Day but I would double-check their website.

 

[law2022x]

If I am not mistaken, its midday tomorrow.

oo ok thank you so much, would have sent it in at 11.59 pm tomo if it weren’t for you! really appreciate it ❤️

 

[bangarangbass39]

I read on here that some people have had feedback from firms on 'how do you differentiate yourself from other applicants' questions where they've said it's not sufficient to speak about skills that you've developed and how they would be applicable to the role (makes sense, but also explains why I've had trouble with this question haha). I've tried to think more about intrinsic traits I have rather than skills, like curiosity for example. Is that a good way of going about it or is there a better approach? @axelbeugre @Jessica Booker

Which firms asked this question?

 

[bangarangbass39]

My law apps were to BCLP (god save me), Travers, Fieldfisher, Clarion, Withers, Mishcon, & Farrers (Can you tell I like private client work lol) - despite how bad a rep BCLP has I've had a ton of great experiences with the firm and love working in CRE so sad I didn't get that 😭

My non-law apps were to PwC Audit, Savills & Knight Frank - I have ACs for all of these but dropped PwC on assessment centre day because their wage is less than I make now in a call centre which is CRIMINAL 😭😭😭

What’s the BCLP rep?! I thought it was quite an interesting firm that I missed out on applying for. The firms I’ve heard “bad rep” about is Slaughters, Kirkland, and Travers. Then again every firm has a bad quality about it. Also some of the complaints make me laugh. The pay complaint in particular.

 

[yxngd2x]

What does going for drinks with partners/associates after the VS have to do with it? I, and several others, were invited to the pub by our respective Associates/Partners at the end of the VS because we made the effort to get to know our supervisor and were personable, not because we knew some secret 'white person' handshake. Have you considered that the firm wanted to hire people who make an effort and are proactive, rather than look to pin responsibility on other people?

Why was the white person part necessary my bro🤣what’s w all this racial aggression

 

[SaLM]

what's the tea with Travers, I thought they were ok????

If you want some info on BCLP just head to rollonfriday - it's suggested the firm has a bad culture and they're retaining like 4 trainees out of a cohort of 14 suggesting financial difficulties - I did a AC with them in August and honestly everyone was really nice, the more research I did the more I found interest in their work and I did like them - but they didn't like me 😭

Yeah I've really liked every interaction I've had with the firm and all the work they do tbh but the horror stories from RoF and trainee counts paint a pretty bleak picture 💀

As for travers there's supposedly a pretty big firing of people in PE/Tax/Pensions and a lot of partners leaving 😢

 

[Deleted member 27336]

do Taylor W call / email with VS offer / PFO post AC?

 

[bangarangbass39]

what's the tea with Travers, I thought they were ok????

If you want some info on BCLP just head to rollonfriday - it's suggested the firm has a bad culture and they're retaining like 4 trainees out of a cohort of 14 suggesting financial difficulties - I did a AC with them in August and honestly everyone was really nice, the more research I did the more I found interest in their work and I did like them - but they didn't like me 😭

Travers was about diversity. This claim about their culture should be taken very lightly. But a close friend informed me about what they heard about the culture and former employees experiences.

I digged through glassdoor and there were a few comments about this, in particular r*cism some employees claimed to experience. I also researched their diversity stats and it was quite low. For the trainees taken in and kept on post qualification - I suggest reading their reports from the last few years.

Again I dunno what to make of it. I quite liked the sound of the work they do and the opportunities they have. I also have a friend who’s beginning training with them in the next year who quite enjoys what they do and the cohort they’ll be working with. But it doesn’t really address their potential internal issues with “r*cism”/diversity. I’m sure it’s an issue many firms have which is a lack of ethnic minorities signed on/staying on, and the isolation they tend to feel.

 

[fingersarecrossed]

Hey everyone!

I have received an invite to Addleshaw Goddard 's (AG 's) assessment centre (AC).

I was wondering if anyone had any insights or tips on preparing for it. I am incredibly nervous as it is the first AC I have secured.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[ab01]

What does going for drinks with partners/associates after the VS have to do with it? I, and several others, were invited to the pub by our respective Associates/Partners at the end of the VS because we made the effort to get to know our supervisor and were personable, not because we knew some secret 'white person' handshake. Have you considered that the firm wanted to hire people who make an effort and are proactive, rather than look to pin responsibility on other people?

Your comment was not necessary - Bolder.

From my own personal experience, many VS candidates are proactive and “do make an effort”, unfortunately because they are of a BAME or minority ethnic background, many partners and associates turn a blind eye and will only consider fellow “white counterparts”. FACTS!

There are many partners in elite law firms who sadly are quite narrow minded, and do not hold a “diverse mindset” shall I say the least.

Out of interest - did you secure that TC offer after a few beers?