TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[KSV]

When asked about your hobbies and interests at the end of an interview, do you need to specify what skills you may have gained through these interests? Or do we keep it simple and just answer the question/have a friendly conversation about it? For instance, I enjoy playing squash with friends every other weekend. But I don't know what more I could say about this in an interview?

 

[lolasparks]

Has anyone applied to DLA Manchester office?

 

[cjwx]

Heya

They have an event I think on the 26th November on all about law - it is to do with AI

I do not know if i am just making that up but i think that is the only one i could find!

I spoke to grad recruitment at one of their events and they said that the applications for their Open Days open nexr year (but i could be wrong)

Thank you! I just don’t understand why all of the events are next year when they recruit on a rolling bases and applications close in February.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you! If the practice areas of the firms is not necessarily very similar but they have similar training styles/core values/vibes, is that something worth mentioning? Or is it best to stick to practice.

You can align anything that is important to you whether it’s culture, training style, values, etc - it does not always have to be practice related.

 

[dxbbilly]

Are we just being silly still keeping hope? The VS starts in less than 4 weeks! Surely the most likely thing is just that anyone offered an AC place is just not on this forum?

true but i went to their open day and they said they're doing ACs all the way up to the week before so I am still hopeful even if it makes me look silly☹️😣

 

[Deleted member 37508]

At a recent AC I was asked to rank 3 of the others I had applied to other than the firm itself and why!

Pretty standard and understandable. Why would they give a vacation scheme spot to someone who is applying to a bunch of firms with no genuine interest in their firm.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

You can align anything that is important to you whether it’s culture, training style, values, etc - it does not always have to be practice related.

if we have spoken about a factor in for example why that firm do you think we should then not talk about it again in this area?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When asked about your hobbies and interests at the end of an interview, do you need to specify what skills you may have gained through these interests? Or do we keep it simple and just answer the question/have a friendly conversation about it? For instance, I enjoy playing squash with friends every other weekend. But I don't know what more I could say about this in an interview?

I sense if this is asked at the end of an interview they are just asking to get a sense of you as a person rather than a candidate.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

if we have spoken about a factor in for example why that firm do you think we should then not talk about it again in this area?

No - it’s fine to repeat that connection if both questions are asked. There is a slightly different emphasis where you are talking about other firms rather than their firm.

 

[supernaturalstudent]

Ok fab do you think we could hear over the weekend?

I'm not sure but I expect they'd reply during the week

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I'm not sure but I expect they'd reply during the week

Thank you! Just still waiting back to hear back from Dechert post written exercise and H&L post WG. Still holding out for these two WVS but think that’s stupid now really struggling w a lack of success w the WVS this year

 

[supernaturalstudent]

Thank you! Just still waiting back to hear back from Dechert post written exercise and H&L post WG. Still holding out for these two WVS but think that’s stupid now really struggling w a lack of success w the WVS this year

I'm also waiting to hear back from Dechert - don't worry too much!

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I'm also waiting to hear back from Dechert - don't worry too much!

Aw thank you so easy to begin to doubt yourself esp as the WVS starts in like a month!!

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Anyone know why Kennedy's, Irwin Mitchell and McDermott and Emery only have TC's for 2025/26 and not for 2027 yet?

 

[supernaturalstudent]

Anyone who has done a Dechert AC please message me ASAP

Did you receive an AC invite after successfully passing the written exercise? If so, may I ask when you did your written exercise?

 

[unknownnn7372]

do you think there will be more w&c wvs offers coming soon

 

[helloj]

do you think there will be more w&c wvs offers coming soon

dont they only have around 25 spaces per scheme?

 

[marie.leaven]

This may be a silly question but for some applications I can see a word limit of over 2,000 words - do firms really expect us to write this much? How many words do people usually average?

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

This may be a silly question but for some applications I can see a word limit of over 2,000 words - do firms really expect us to write this much? How many words do people usually average?

Some have 2000 characters not words.

Or did you mean 2000 words over a number of questions? I actually have to edit answers down to stay within the limits

 

[Deleted member 37508]

This may be a silly question but for some applications I can see a word limit of over 2,000 words - do firms really expect us to write this much? How many words do people usually average?

Reality a lot of these questions will over lap with other firms and you’d have an answer for them already. Extra curriculars, hobbies, something you’re interested in, teamwork, leadership etc. Therefore you’re not really writing 2000 every time. I’d suggest you make a word doc with answers to these questions and edit them as you see fit to each firm. Also explain a commercial story is one that firms use. These answer can be repeated and adjusted to each firms practice areas to show a link. Work smarter not harder.