TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Shah74k]

Anyone heard back from NRF post-test?

 

[Z48]

@axelbeugre @Jessica Booker when receiving an email for an interview they told me I would be asked commercial questions. However, I am not too sure what exactly this might entail apart from competitors to the firm and current issues that law firms are facing. What other commercial questions could I possibly be asked?

Training Contract Interview Questions | 175 Practice Questions (2018)

We've produced these training contract interview questions to help you practice for interviews and assessment centres at law firms. Why? Well, we've arranged many mock interviews over the years and we see a substantial difference in performance after students have practiced real interview questions.

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

There’s a section on commercial awareness on this list of interview questions!

 

[Zaakir]

Hey, do you have any information on this? I’m slightly confused. It says 2 interviews with Senior associates and Partners and a written exercise in March. The email then goes on to say there will be assessment days in May. What will be happening in May?!

That’s what I’m trynna figure out 😭

 

[whambamshamalam]

I did both online assessments and didn’t hear back as well.

Good luck 🙏🏻

 

[aspiringlawyer27]

Has anyone who did Weil in-tray last week heard back, except the one i saw from yesterday?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I feel stupid asking this but my email says you have three days to prepare for the VI but the deadline is 00:00 on the 22nd. I would read that as needing to complete it before Wednesday evening but the three days would mean it should be Thursday evening, right?

It seems like I'm missing something obvious here but don't want to be in a situation where I go to sit it Thursday night and the deadline has passed! Any ideas @Jessica Booker?

Is the video interview on Launchpad? If so they always mean 23.59 on the date given.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker I was hoping to please get your help here. I am offered a spring VS, and I am in my final year. I was wondering If it was worth flagging to the GR that I am able and would like to start my TC (if offered) in 2025 rather than 2026. Is it worth telling them now, or should I wait until I am offered a TC?

I would wait until you are offered. They will have clocked you are in your final year and therefore could start earlier.

When you do raise it though, rather than saying you would like to start your TC in 2025, ask whether there is any opportunity to start in 2025.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is there anywhere to check firm’s VS conversion rates to TCs? Thank you for any help!

Unfortunately this data isn’t really stored anywhere but can change year on year anyway - so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Also conversion rates do not tell you how many people decline the offer, so things can be a little deceptive even if you do find them.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Axel, is it okay to ask this question to the firm's grad recruitment before making a decision (need to make on which scheme by friday), or will that look bad? Thanks!

The graduate recruitment team will get lots of questions from candidates post offer - this is not a problem at all. What is the question regarding?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica, this is just a general recruitment question not necessarily related to law firms.. if a company extends its application deadline (even more so on the original deadline day), is that a sign that they've received less applications than expected?

Not necessarily - it could be the reason, but it may be that the quality of applications is not strong enough or they are looking to improve the diversity of the candidate pool. It can also just be down to delays in the recruitment process which means there is no harm in keeping the application open longer.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Yep

if you are considering applying for a TC in that region, you could cover the personal reasons as to why you will move to the region longer term. But if it is just the view of doing the internship and then qualifying in the U.K., I wouldn’t cover the personal reasons (as they are short term).

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@axelbeugre @Jessica Booker when receiving an email for an interview they told me I would be asked commercial questions. However, I am not too sure what exactly this might entail apart from competitors to the firm and current issues that law firms are facing. What other commercial questions could I possibly be asked?

There are a number of different commercial awareness question in one section of our interview questions list:

Training Contract Interview Questions | 175 Practice Questions (2018)

We've produced these training contract interview questions to help you practice for interviews and assessment centres at law firms. Why? Well, we've arranged many mock interviews over the years and we see a substantial difference in performance after students have practiced real interview questions.

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[jenniferrrrrrr]

has dentons given pfo post VI?

 

[cattlawapps324]

The graduate recruitment team will get lots of questions from candidates post offer - this is not a problem at all. What is the question regarding?

Hi Jess,

I was going to ask if they inform candidates that they have secured a TC after each scheme or at the end of all three schemes. I was also going to ask if there is a higher chance of securing a TC if you do the earlier scheme (athough not sure if this is too direct).

thanks

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Jess,

I was going to ask if they inform candidates that they have secured a TC after each scheme or at the end of all three schemes. I was also going to ask if there is a higher chance of securing a TC if you do the earlier scheme (athough not sure if this is too direct).

thanks

The first question is fine - I don’t think there is any point asking the second one because 1) there won’t be just because it happens in a certain order and 2) if they did say that everyone would just clamber to get into that scheme over others (and probably change the ratio anyway by doing so). Just ask for the scheme dates that work best for you.

 

[cattlawapps324]

The first question is fine - I don’t think there is any point asking the second one because 1) there won’t be just because it happens in a certain order and 2) if they did say that everyone would just clamber to get into that scheme over others (and probably change the ratio anyway by doing so). Just ask for the scheme dates that work best for you.

thanks - how does it work then if they have a specified number of trainees that they recruit every year and recrut across three vac schemes and a direct TC route? do you reckon they have a specific target number that they select from each scheme? and do they always stick to the trainee intake number rigidly even if they have many more candidates that meet the benchmark?

 

[Tintin06]

Is there anywhere to check firm’s VS conversion rates to TCs? Thank you for any help!

Law careers.net shows Vacation Scheme places and TC numbers. It's not a perfect conversion guide but it is useful.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

thanks - how does it work then if they have a specified number of trainees that they recruit every year and recrut across three vac schemes and a direct TC route? do you reckon they have a specific target number that they select from each scheme? and do they always stick to the trainee intake number rigidly even if they have many more candidates that meet the benchmark?

How many training contracts does the firm offer?

 

[cattlawapps324]

How many training contracts does the firm offer?

33

 

[pb15]

Does anyone know when we’ll hear back from V&E post VI?