TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[LillyandSilver]

How do interviews based on the application form vary from blind interviews? What kinds of questions can I expect? I assume less competency but will they really question things like my motivation for applying and/or throw in some unexpected questions?

From my experience, there are a set number of questions which are kind of standard, like why law, why a solicitor and not a barrister (depending on your work experience), why did you choose your A levels, why did you choose your degree? Then they normally throw in an "I see you have this on your CV, can you tell us more about it? What did this entail? How did you get the experience? What did you learn from it? Is there anything that you would do differently? I've had some rogue questions thrown in, like one place asked "Would you consider yourself a competitive person?"

 

[bangarangbass39]

From my experience, there are a set number of questions which are kind of standard, like why law, why a solicitor and not a barrister (depending on your work experience), why did you choose your A levels, why did you choose your degree? Then they normally throw in an "I see you have this on your CV, can you tell us more about it? What did this entail? How did you get the experience? What did you learn from it? Is there anything that you would do differently? I've had some rogue questions thrown in, like one place asked "Would you consider yourself a competitive person?"

Interesting questions, which firms asked these questions? I'm interested.

 

[laby201]

How do people obtain off-cycle internships/shadowing experiences?

I know these opportunities exist because people on LinkedIn have random work experience entries where the dates don't align with vac scheme dates or the work experience lasts for over a month. How do they find out about these and how can I?

Unless you're lucky, I'd say there's a strong chance it's nepotism based.

I emailed about 15 firms last summer asking for a week of informal work experience and didn't hear back from 14 and 1 said it wasn't something they offered. I just think the legal sphere is so competitive these days that unless you have connections or get onto an arranged scheme, work experience is incredibly difficult to come by.

I had a housemate last year who managed to source two weeks' worth of work experience. Unsurprisingly, that was obtained through a friend of her dad's. Connections are needed in many instances, unfortunately.

 

[Winter]

Interesting questions, which firms asked these questions? I'm interested.

I believe its moreso dependent on your interviewers. Some interviewers would be more interested in this more than others if the firm operates on a CV-open policy.

 

[Winter]

I know about the legal nepo babies but is there any other way.

I know schemes like 10000 black and able interns exists but just wanted to see if there are any other similar schemes.

The Brokerage, Generation Success Mentoring, SEO London and upReach do a good job of advertising legal internships and providing exclusive ones too.

 

[bangarangbass39]

How do people obtain off-cycle internships/shadowing experiences?

I know these opportunities exist because people on LinkedIn have random work experience entries where the dates don't align with vac scheme dates or the work experience lasts for over a month. How do they find out about these and how can I?

You have to dig deep. But more often than not (when it comes to shadowing Gov Professionals/Counsels/etc) it's through "networking". Typically they know someone who knows someone. Some people with this experience will say it's because they "just sent an email in" with their CV, but it's only allowed because they can mention that they know someone that the professional/company networks with.

I realised this when I got my mentor at the start of my MA. He runs a Social Strategy firm in LDN. He informed me that in big roles for internships (not organised), they usually ask interviewees who they know etc. They wanna vet you out for your connects! This was made more clear when my diss supervisor gave me access to academics he knew from all over the country. And once I met them, they mentioned more people that they knew so it became a snowball effect. Sadly that's how it works. You mostly get access to these things because of your connection. I have not encountered anyone who gained an off-cycle experience without knowing someone. That's not to say that an alternative approach doesn't exist, but I have not seen anything outside of this. Grad scheme and general internships are the best bet!

I was so upset not securing a grad role or internship during uni, especially compared to my friends. But when I asked how they got their gigs the overwhelming amount got it because of their parent's STRONG connections.

My friend got a Wank of England Internship cause his mom's a big-time journalist for the BBC and had connects in the company - now he's on the grad scheme. Another friend interned for her Dad's journalism NGO (which he founded), and now she's in PR. The list could go on and on.

 

[smileymay1234]

Has anyone got Weil Pfo post-ac?

did you do both interview and in tray already??

 

[smileymay1234]

anyone done Weil in person interview & not done an in tray ?

 

[academicweapon121]

has anyone heard from foot anstey/ know when we should expect to hear back ?

 

[Lawyer500]

Mishcon holding email this morning. Funny because before receiving it I was convinced they'd only send it to people they want to progress to the next round but now I don't know what to make of it 😅

I’m 99% sure it’s to do with when you submitted the VI, just to keep clear communication with the candidates, I think it could even be an automated one as mine was sent about 2 weeks after I submitted! I don’t think it has anything to do with if you’ve progressed or not!

 

[Deleted member 31343]

My friend got a Wank of England Internship

Nice! 😭

 

[Winter]

Wait I know Generation Success, I saw them advertised on LinkedIn but I thought they were a scam 😭 idek why their website seems innocent.

Hahaha, yeah they're legit. I signed up to them recently earlier this year.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Nice! 😭

He's a bit of a Wanker Banker

 

[Mace2121]

Same, congrats!

Congrats!

What type of questions did you get in the VI?

 

[tcplease2345]

Any word from SH summer vacation scheme?

 

[Hopefultrainee22]

Does anyone know if VIs are assessed holistically? I feel I did well on 2 of the 3 questions but less well on another and can’t get it out of my head.

Is your application considered at this stage too or is that discounted and it’s solely the content of your VI? I feel like I continually stumbled throughout one of the questions, repeated myself and feel that doing that on one of the questions has killed my chances.

Do you know how they’re reviewed @Jessica Booker?

 

[laby201]

Does anyone know if VIs are assessed holistically? I feel I did well on 2 of the 3 questions but less well on another and can’t get it out of my head.

Is your application considered at this stage too or is that discounted and it’s solely the content of your VI? I feel like I continually stumbled throughout one of the questions, repeated myself and feel that doing that on one of the questions has killed my chances.

Do you know how they’re reviewed @Jessica Booker?

I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine they're considered holistically? If you've performed well on two of the questions, unless the competition was really fierce, it would seem harsh to penalise you if one answer was weaker. Stuttering and repetition is normal (if expected) in a VI because they're unnatural. As long as there was substance to your answer and it was structured well, you probably did better than you think

However, I don't think your application comes into it at this stage. You've got through the VI based on the strength of your application so believe the VI is determined on its own merit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this though!

 

[tcplease2345]

I'm not entirely sure but I'd imagine they're considered holistically? If you've performed well on two of the questions, unless the competition was really fierce, it would seem harsh to penalise you if one answer was weaker. Stuttering and repetition is normal (if expected) in a VI because they're unnatural. As long as there was substance to your answer and it was structured well, you probably did better than you think

However, I don't think your application comes into it at this stage. You've got through the VI based on the strength of your application so believe the VI is determined on its own merit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this though!

From what I know the application is not considered.

 

[EqualityNonNegotiable]

I’m 99% sure it’s to do with when you submitted the VI, just to keep clear communication with the candidates, I think it could even be an automated one as mine was sent about 2 weeks after I submitted! I don’t think it has anything to do with if you’ve progressed or not!

I'm not sure this is correct. I submitted my VI in February yet there are people who did theirs in December and haven't received the holding email. That said, I think it could simply mean they've now reviewed the VI and made their decision either way.

 

[Kenomy]

Yes I just did, is this the next stage? The website says there is an SJT so I am a bit confused

I suspect it is but not 100%. I think @Jessica Booker would be a better authority as to that.