TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[B.B.]

Damn, congrats to you! I haven’t received anything from them so I’m guessing it’s a rejection for me lol

Thank you! The interviews will take place on 27th and 29th Feb, so maybe they will get back to you next week! 🤞

 

[laby201]

Any guidance on what to make of the Bakers SJT feedback report? What would be considered a good outcome?

Seen a bit of a discussion about SJTs and the reports today and having done Baker’s yesterday and plenty of others this cycle, I’ve learned not to read into them too much as we’ve no idea how they’re really assessed.

I’m sure you have to hit a certain benchmark, but some firms will view them holistically alongside your application, others may want one of the pillars to be particularly strong and overlook others; we just don’t know. In any event, I never really pay too much attention to the reports as they always seem to contradict each other, despite being based on the same qualities. Reed Smith thought my grit was a 7/9 and Baker’s thought it was a 3/9.

I think none of us really know how they’re assessed, so I just answer honestly and try not to overthink it. If they don’t like you off that, then oh well.

 

[lawtrainee]

Thank you everyone for your advice - it is really appreciated! Wishing you all the best luck

 

[laby201]

Thank you everyone for your advice - it is really appreciated! Wishing you all the best luck

Thought I would chip in as honestly the months post-graduation where I couldn’t get a legal position when all my friends were getting them was really challenging. The hardest part is most places seemed to be completely unresponsive, which sucks when you put a good amount of effort into a CV/cover letter.

I’ll caveat all this by saying I don’t think having a non-legal position after graduation is an issue. Firms know how difficult it is to secure legal work experience given how saturated the current market is and emphasise the skills you can pick up in other fields. So, even if you end up in hospitality, consultancy, recruitment, banking, whatever it may be, you’ll still develop valuable skills that will boost your applications!

However, if you are looking for legal jobs specifically, the only advice I can really give you is not be particularly fussy and apply for everything you see that you feel you’d be qualified for. Whether that’s a paralegal, legal admin, legal secretary, anything is a good starting place and feel it’s all about getting your foot in the door. LinkedIn/Indeed are always a smart bet on where to begin your search; I know a few others on here have recommended FlexLegal and that another route!

I wouldn’t be too fussed about the area of law either - I’m currently in insurance law, which certainly isn’t my main field of interest, but it’s still been useful experience that I’ve learned much from and can speak about on applications.

All in all, I’d just say stay persistent and grab any opportunities you can. Best of luck!

 

[lawtrainee]

Thought I would chip in as honestly the months post-graduation where I couldn’t get a legal position when all my friends were getting them was really challenging. The hardest part is most seemed to be completely unresponsive, which sucks when you put a good amount of effort into a CV/cover letter.

I’ll caveat all this by saying I don’t think having a non-legal position after graduation is an issue. Firms know how difficult it is to secure legal work experience given how saturated the current market is and emphasis the skills you can pick up in other fields. So, even if you end up in hospitality, consultancy, recruitment, banking, whatever it may be, you’ll still develop valuable skills that will boost your applications!

However, if you are looking for legal jobs specifically, the only advice I can really give you is not be particularly fussy and apply for everything you see that you feel you’d be qualified for. Whether that’s a paralegal, legal admin, legal secretary, anything is a good starting place and feel it’s all about getting your foot in the door. LinkedIn/Indeed are always a smart bet on where to begin your search; I know a few others on here have recommended FlexLegal and that another route!

I wouldn’t be too fussed about the area of law either - I’m currently in insurance law, which certainly isn’t my main field of interest, but it’s still been useful experience that I’ve learned much from and can speak about on applications.

All in all, I’d just say stay persistent and grab any opportunities you can. Best of luck!

This is really helpful - thank you so much

 

[hungry_for_TC]

Morgan Lewis VS interview!!! It's in a week and I'm honestly pooping myself but happy as it's the only firm I applied to last month heheeeee

 

[IwantaVacSchemePlz]

Anyone passed a VI and floundered their words in one of the questions? Think I got detailed points in all mine but I kept stuttering 😭

 

[NMA]

is that arnold &porter? do you have an interview?

Yes, next week

 

[MrHubertLouis]

Seen a bit of a discussion about SJTs and the reports today and having done Baker’s yesterday and plenty of others this cycle, I’ve learned not to read into them too much as we’ve no idea how they’re really assessed.

I’m sure you have to hit a certain benchmark, but some firms will view them holistically alongside your application, others may want one of the pillars to be particularly strong and overlook others; we just don’t know. In any event, I never really pay too much attention to the reports as they always seem to contradict each other, despite being based on the same qualities. Reed Smith thought my grit was a 7/9 and Baker’s thought it was a 3/9.

I think none of us really know how they’re assessed, so I just answer honestly and try not to overthink it. If they don’t like you off that, then oh well.

Same here, I did two SJTs with the same pillars and my results were completely opposite.

 

[Petallove1]

Thanks for the replies! As a non-law student, I am struggling to apply to paralegal jobs given I have limited experience in commercial law. It is hard as law firms want legal experience, but to get this experience I need to already have had previous legal work. Apologies if this doesn't make sense and all advice welcomed!

In my experience to get a foot in the door is email your CV and create a short but sweet ‘cover letter’ style email about why you like the firm and why you think you’d be a fit. Best to target smaller firms. If one of them likes you, chances are they might have something for you. Only takes one and if it’s a small firm can build from there. Ik it sounds annoying when everyone on here are applying to VSs and TCs at huge firms, but this has been a successful method for literally all my friends who I did the law conversion with and can then move to a bigger firm w paralegal experience or can use it as legal experience for TCs. Hope that’s useful

 

[Petallove1]

Mishcon holding email

 

[adrk1234]

Mishcon holding email

I've done the VI but yet to recieve one of these, you reckon I should be concered or probably looking too deep into it?

 

[yeezyee]

i did the bakers vi... the more i think.. the more im like uh oh. i think i tried to make the questions a little too much into the questions i wANTEd them to be. but ahhhh its a learning experience. fingers crossed i guess!

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

I've done the VI but yet to recieve one of these, you reckon I should be concered or probably looking too deep into it?

Same here I’m very concerned 🤣

 

[EllaClayton]

Anyone passed a VI and floundered their words in one of the questions? Think I got detailed points in all mine but I kept stuttering 😭

Yes I completely stuttered my way through a VI question, it was ironically about my strengths where I was saying strong communication skills… but I acknowledged it by saying it was a little ironic and laughed, and just carried on. I still got through to the next stage, because it’s about your holistic approach to all the questions and I like to think you can show your resilience if you don’t let yourself get caught off by it. Maybe they also appreciated I could laugh about it though 😂

 

[TakeAChanceOnMe]

I am a bit confused with Orrick's application questions. They are asking for a cover letter but also why commercial solicitor and why Orrick questions, how am I supposed to differentiate my responses for this?

Did anyone work out when Orrick's vacation scheme runs? It doesn't seem to be on their website - it only says 'in the summer.' I realise the chances of securing it are small, but it would be good to know when we mentally need to block off...

 

[yasmars]

Did anyone work out when Orrick's vacation scheme runs? It doesn't seem to be on their website - it only says 'in the summer.' I realise the chances of securing it are small, but it would be good to know when we mentally need to block off...

Have you heard back?

 

[Cynthia14]

For people who are waiting for NRF post test, this is their response:


Thank you for your email.


You should expect to hear from us by 8th March.

Did you asked them or is it a automatically email？

 

[axelbeugre]

Thanks so much for the reply! Would recommend connecting with trainees as opposed to associates? @axelbeugre

That is what I did personally so I probably would recommend that but associates are fine too but they are very busy most of the time so they might not even respond to you, but if there is someone you are interested in talking I would suggest to message them and see.

 

[BM99]

Did you asked them or is it an automatically email？

I asked them