TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[elektrajenkov]

After the VI?

Yeah! I completed the VI for the Spring VS in the first few days of Feb.

 

[hopefulforatc]

Did anyone get the VI for the SH summer scheme. Those who only applied for the summer scheme.

 

[dieinabush]

When did you get their VI?

i think it was around mid november

 

[AlCapone]

Yeah! I completed the VI for the Spring VS in the first few days of Feb.

Same … and haven’t heard anything from them since

 

[bella98]

Did anyone get the VI for the SH summer scheme. Those who only applied for the summer scheme.

I applied very close to the deadline and I didn’t get the VI

 

[Cynthia14]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

Congratulations! How difficult to secure a VS!

 

[nliro85]

I applied very close to the deadline and I didn’t get the VI

For spring they sent me VI 2 weeks after the deadline then radio silence since doing the VI/Test 4 weeks ago.

 

[cattlawapps324]

Sorry about that! I have extended the deadline to Wednesday for the inconvenience. You can checkout here.

thanks so much!!

 

[hopefulforatc]

I applied very close to the deadline and I didn’t get the VI

same, I applied on 14th feb.

 

[bangarangbass39]

This is a great question. I think the reality is that it's not clear because firms will often use these terms interchangeably and different firms will prefer to use different words. As you saw with Chambers Student/All About Law, it can also be hard to categorise these firms accurately (what does it mean if a firm is called a 'national firm' when it has international offices?).

From graduate recruitment's perspective, my view is that the most important part is to show that you understand the type of firm you are applying to. If this is still clear, even if you use the 'incorrect word', I don't think this will be an issue. So if you mistakenly referenced a firm was regional, but the evidence you provided made it clear you understand the firm has a strong national presence, I wouldn't see an issue with this.

Okay great, thank you very much for the response! This is what I did in the first sections. I talked about its national dominance in the first paragraph but then said I liked to work for the firm because of its regional strengths in the 2nd paragraph and that I wanted to work in that said region (West Midlands/Birmingham). Tbf, I will just have to see what they respond with! Thanks Jaysen.

 

[yxngd2x]

I really don’t want to diminish anyone else’s achievements as know how hard people work, but what I find really difficult on here is when people post that they’re trying to decide between two VS offers or even being in the position to turn down one because of a clash with another.

I would kill for one VS. It’s my third cycle and I haven’t got one, yet I’ve seen people on here have multiple, then get an AC invite. I’ve seen someone on here with about 8 ACs this cycle alone.

I really don’t want to sound bitter or jealous but knowing people can seem to get a VS easily and are in the position to choose between offers while I can’t even get one after years just sucks.

I get your point, but you also don't see all the work that goes on behind the scenes or experiences they've had years in advance that might have prepared them unknowingly

 

[sxw517]

Has anyone heard back from Baker McKenzie post VI for summer vs?

 

[S87]

Hi, @Jessica Booker and @axelbeugre I am answering the following question "Why are your skills/attributes suited to a career at Paul Hastings? Why should we offer you a Training Contract? " However, I am not sure if am correctly tackling it. Should I mention that my ability/quality makes me suitable to succeed as a trainee at PH?

 

[lbiro98]

hello everyone! Does anyone know what to expect from Debevoise Open Day?

Hii, I was just wondering if anyone had replied? I have mine soon and I am soo scared ahah

 

[lbiro98]

Debevoise open day 🥺🥺🥺omg

Hii, I was just wondering if you had already had your open day? and if so, do you have any general tips? Anything would mean a lot as I am soo scared ahah

 

[axelbeugre]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

This is such an amazing way to keep others informed of your progress but also to show how hard it is to just get one offer, I can totally relate to this.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences as I think they will inspire, motivate and encourage others for future cycles.

Congratulations for obtaining a vacation scheme offer and I encourage you to keep working extremely hard and I am sure you will succeed in securing a training contract offer very soon!!

Good luck with everything!

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi, @Jessica Booker and @axelbeugre I am answering the following question "Why are your skills/attributes suited to a career at Paul Hastings? Why should we offer you a Training Contract? " However, I am not sure if am correctly tackling it. Should I mention that my ability/quality makes me suitable to succeed as a trainee at PH?

This is essentially a ''why me'' question and I think it pushes to talk about skills or attributes you have developed along the way, whether through university, extracurricular activities or professional experiences, and how these will help you to succeed as a future trainee.

Personally, depending on the word count, I would talk about 2/3 skills you have developed and link them back to how these will help you as a trainee. For example I used to mention how being a blog editor for the rule of law journal at my university made me develop attention to detail through different tasks. After the description of what I was doing, I included how 'attention to detail' in this case will help me succeed as a future trainee at the firm as I will have to pay attention to different documents and make sure they do not contain any errors and things of this nature.

I basically linked the skill I discussed to the task I would use at the firm. Additionally, you should also include a small paragraph answering the last part of the question, elaborating how these skills differentiate you from other people. For example I would discuss here how my language abilities allow me to interact and build relationships with people from different parts of the world and this differentiates me from other people.

I hope these examples help understanding an approach to the question.

Good luck with the application!

 

[Bubbles]

Browne Jacobson sjt, can someone please enlighten on me what the amberjack assessment is and why everyone on here seems to hate it? Never done one before

 

[Kld]

Well day's got better - after Russell Cooke PFO, got invite to Irwin Mitchell virtual assessment centre. Nervous as I HATE online!! Any general tips on virtual assessment centres and making the group exercise work?

 

[Illtakeanythingatthispoint]

Anyone heard back from Taylor Wessing Post-AC?