TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[holz567]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I had a VS last week and had the best time but since the scheme I’ve been overthinking aspects of it and what I could have done differently. On one assessed task, I know I made a couple of mistakes.

Are mistakes during written work likely to be detrimental during a scheme or do they not expect perfection if they are “trainee” level tasks? I know it’s out of my control but worried these sort of mistakes are exactly what they’re not looking for, so does it significantly harm my chances? I feel other than those, I did as best as I could on my VS and developed a strong relationship with my supervisor and trainee buddy, which should hopefully be beneficial?

 

[random6035]

@Jessica Booker As a recent graduate, should I self-fund the SQE so that I can keep applying for vacation schemes (and thus have a higher chance of securing a TC), or should I try to gain some work experience as a paralegal (but then only be limited to making direct TC applications)? I'm not sure if the benefit of being able to apply for ac schemes outweighs the work experience of being a paralegal (assuming I could even get a paralegal role)?

 

[hannah04]

@Jessica Booker How many pages should an ideal resume be if that is the only thing alongside grades + cover letter is asked for in a VS app?

Not Jessica but I think most firms say 2 pages max

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker How many pages should an ideal resume be if that is the only thing alongside grades + cover letter is asked for in a VS app?

No more than two pages. If it is just over a page, try to change the formatting so it fits on one page.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I had a VS last week and had the best time but since the scheme I’ve been overthinking aspects of it and what I could have done differently. On one assessed task, I know I made a couple of mistakes.

Are mistakes during written work likely to be detrimental during a scheme or do they not expect perfection if they are “trainee” level tasks? I know it’s out of my control but worried these sort of mistakes are exactly what they’re not looking for, so does it significantly harm my chances? I feel other than those, I did as best as I could on my VS and developed a strong relationship with my supervisor and trainee buddy, which should hopefully be beneficial?

Mistakes are made all the time by trainees and qualified lawyers. It’s not really about the mistakes but more about how you learn from them and try to then not repeat them in revised drafts or in subsequent work.

Perfection does not exist and so firms are not looking for it.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@Jessica Booker As a recent graduate, should I self-fund the SQE so that I can keep applying for vacation schemes (and thus have a higher chance of securing a TC), or should I try to gain some work experience as a paralegal (but then only be limited to making direct TC applications)? I'm not sure if the benefit of being able to apply for ac schemes outweighs the work experience of being a paralegal (assuming I could even get a paralegal role)?

You don’t need to do the SQE to be eligible for vacation schemes, and paralegal work will not completely stop you from vacation schemes either (it just maybe more difficult due to getting time off or conflict checks). Given this, I don’t think there is a direct benefit of one over the other. I would go with what works for you as thousands of good candidates do both each year.

 

[amy2002]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I recently had a presentation as part of a VS and because it helps with my confidence and nerves, I decided to memorise it. I didn’t forget my lines and felt it went well. The Partner watching also said he thought it was excellent but said as a future tip, it would sound more natural if I tried not to memorise it as I knew the content and could talk well.

I’m trying to hold on to the excellent part but will the memorisation count against me?

 

[Donuttime]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I recently had a presentation as part of a VS and because it helps with my confidence and nerves, I decided to memorise it. I didn’t forget my lines and felt it went well. The Partner watching also said he thought it was excellent but said as a future tip, it would sound more natural if I tried not to memorise it as I knew the content and could talk well.

I’m trying to hold on to the excellent part but will the memorisation count against me?

I doubt it will, from the sounds of it you delivered well since the partner commended you on it.

 

[amy2002]

I doubt it will, from the sounds of it you delivered well since the partner commended you on it.

Thank you They said my use of eye contact was good, commended me for staying in the time limit and said it was excellent overall but when there’s only two people in the room, not sticking to a rigid script is better. However, he also said he “understood why I did it”, suppose as a calm the nerves thing.

Imagine I’m wildly overthinking this and there is nothing inherently wrong with memorising a presentation?

 

[Donuttime]

Thank you They said my use of eye contact was good, commended me for staying in the time limit and said it was excellent overall but when there’s only two people in the room, not sticking to a rigid script is better. However, he also said he “understood why I did it”, suppose as a calm the nerves thing.

Imagine I’m wildly overthinking this and there is nothing inherently wrong with memorising a presentation?

A lot of people memorise I believe, some just make it look more natural than others. You’re applying for a trainee role so they would defo see the potential in you to perfect this overtime. Don’t stress, from the sounds of it you did great 😊

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I recently had a presentation as part of a VS and because it helps with my confidence and nerves, I decided to memorise it. I didn’t forget my lines and felt it went well. The Partner watching also said he thought it was excellent but said as a future tip, it would sound more natural if I tried not to memorise it as I knew the content and could talk well.

I’m trying to hold on to the excellent part but will the memorisation count against me?

It would have been stronger if it was delivered more naturally (as the partner mentioned) but I don’t think it is necessarily detrimental, otherwise the partner wouldn’t have said it was excellent.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Imagine I’m wildly overthinking this and there is nothing inherently wrong with memorising a presentation?

It is not that there is anything wrong with doing this. You will just be much more persuasive in terms of presenting yourself as confident on the topic if you present your answer, rather than script it.

 

[mattyh23]

Hi @Jessica Booker - I just had a SVS and I had the best time other than I struggled to build any kind of rapport with my trainee buddy.

I tried to make the effort but they were either busy or just short with me. I got along well with everyone else on the team and the scheme but just not my trainee buddy. Will this negatively impact my chances of converting? I was still polite and remained enthusiastic yet there wasn’t much I could do :/

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker - I just had a SVS and I had the best time other than I struggled to build any kind of rapport with my trainee buddy.

I tried to make the effort but they were either busy or just short with me. I got along well with everyone else on the team and the scheme but just not my trainee buddy. Will this negatively impact my chances of converting? I was still polite and remained enthusiastic yet there wasn’t much I could do :/

It is highly unlikely to be an issue. You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend.

 

[Givemeatcplease]

I’ve just completed a VS and concerned about my overall performance. I loved the firm and am desperate to convert but a few things I did probably could have been better:

1. I had one piece of assessed work where we had options of clauses to delete, and I’m sure I selected the wrong one. The rest of the work was fine, that was just a sizeable error.

2. I asked for feedback from my supervisor for a piece of work I did and she said she wouldn’t have enough time to go over it and worried not asking again makes me look proactive.

3. I didn’t ask enough questions during the lunchtime sessions that grad recruitment asked.

4. I only arranged one coffee chat, when others in my cohort were doing five or six. I’m worried this suggests a lack of enthusiasm.

5. I asked in a group exercise if we should put something to a vote, which people shutdown.

6. In a written assessment, I threw in my own knowledge which I realise was incorrect (I said a company was based in Delaware when it wasn’t)

I feel my scheme was strong other than that and I managed to build a strong rapport with my supervisor, who thanked me for my enthusiasm at the end, and my trainee buddy said he was “sure I’d be fine” in relation to converting.

Don’t know if I’m reading too much into each of these points and in combination they won’t look good. Any thoughts @Jessica Booker or is this a huge case of overthinking?

 

[holz567]

A lot of people memorise I believe, some just make it look more natural than others. You’re applying for a trainee role so they would defo see the potential in you to perfect this overtime. Don’t stress, from the sounds of it you did great 😊

Thank you, that’s really put me at ease

 

[holz567]

It would have been stronger if it was delivered more naturally (as the partner mentioned) but I don’t think it is necessarily detrimental, otherwise the partner wouldn’t have said it was excellent.

Would a Partner often say something is “excellent” as just a token phrase that’s said to most people? I know that may seem silly.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I’ve just completed a VS and concerned about my overall performance. I loved the firm and am desperate to convert but a few things I did probably could have been better:

1. I had one piece of assessed work where we had options of clauses to delete, and I’m sure I selected the wrong one. The rest of the work was fine, that was just a sizeable error.

2. I asked for feedback from my supervisor for a piece of work I did and she said she wouldn’t have enough time to go over it and worried not asking again makes me look proactive.

3. I didn’t ask enough questions during the lunchtime sessions that grad recruitment asked.

4. I only arranged one coffee chat, when others in my cohort were doing five or six. I’m worried this suggests a lack of enthusiasm.

5. I asked in a group exercise if we should put something to a vote, which people shutdown.

6. In a written assessment, I threw in my own knowledge which I realise was incorrect (I said a company was based in Delaware when it wasn’t)

I feel my scheme was strong other than that and I managed to build a strong rapport with my supervisor, who thanked me for my enthusiasm at the end, and my trainee buddy said he was “sure I’d be fine” in relation to converting.

Don’t know if I’m reading too much into each of these points and in combination they won’t look good. Any thoughts @Jessica Booker or is this a huge case of overthinking?

I’d stress your perception might not be reality. I sense you are finding the smallest faults rather than taking a balanced approach to reviewing your performance.

The supervisor said they didn’t have time for feedback. That is with them, not with you.

You asked questions in the session. It isn’t a competition to ask more questions.

The same goes for coffee chats. Coffee chats are there to utilise time when you haven’t got work to do - they shouldn’t be prioritised and people doing 5-6 could risk spending too much time doing them.

Just because an idea was shot down in a group exercise doesn’t mean it wasn’t a useful contribution.

The written exercise is going to assess far more than getting something wrong.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Would a Partner often say something is “excellent” as just a token phrase that’s said to most people? I know that may seem silly.

No. There is no reason to say something was good or bad if it actually wasn’t. It’s easier/better to say nothing at all about how someone performed if anything.

 

[sm99]

So so happy as I have just been offered a TC with Gateley after a successful VS!!! Here for all the 2020 grads✨🫶🏼 3 years of this cycle sh*t and I can finally put it to rest!!!