TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter TCLA Community Assistant
- Start date
-
- Tags
- vacation scheme
does anyone have any advice for how you'd go about structuring the following question, please, because it asks for soooooo many things in a short word count. I will give you a virtual cookie!
‘In no more than 500 words, please tell us about your extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility and an achievement of importance which you are most proud of. How will these experiences help you excel as a Clifford Chance lawyer? Please note your interviewers will have access to this answer only at interview should you be invited to an assessment day. The rest of the assessment process is entirely CV blind.’
good luck
don't ignore this pls 🥸
‘In no more than 500 words, please tell us about your extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility and an achievement of importance which you are most proud of. How will these experiences help you excel as a Clifford Chance lawyer? Please note your interviewers will have access to this answer only at interview should you be invited to an assessment day. The rest of the assessment process is entirely CV blind.’
good luck
don't ignore this pls 🥸
Last edited:
a way to cut down numbers in what seems like a blatantly discriminatory way.... targeting disabled/neurodivergent people to cut numbers is crazy💀
I never got a response either. Maybe I’ve dodged a bullet here. Pretty shoddy from the firm, honestly.
Next thing it will be targeting anyone who went to state school or who was a first gen student. I think it’s a poor reflection on them tbh.
Doing all of this to cut down numbers is crazy work but it’s their loss not ours at the end of the day. 🙂
Doing all of this to cut down numbers is crazy work but it’s their loss not ours at the end of the day. 🙂
Last edited:
i didn't take that initiative unfortunately, i had too much trust in them! not sure how else to take this message in their email other than not taking the assessment, even if it was due...
'If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email us on ukearlycareers@freshfields.com to let us know what adjustments you require. We will consider your particular needs and implement any reasonable adjustments as far as possible. Please do not attempt to complete the test until you have heard back from us.'
freshfields wants to be a boys club again i guess😍
yeah... they were good with all of this when i applied only last year, quick replies and i got through to AC... this year there must be different grad rec
Imagine if it’s not anyone on graduate recruitment and instead it’s some dodgy automated AI system… 😱
Filter out all the disabled and state school applicants in a flash. 💥
Filter out all the disabled and state school applicants in a flash. 💥
Last edited:
TCLA Community Assistant
Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
- Aug 1, 2019
- 15,525
- 21,760
Given the number of people mentioning this (I have had several private message me too), I have contacted the firm's recruitment team to try and see if there is a way to resolve this. I will update everyone if I hear back.
thank you for this🙏🙏, it's really frustrating how firms to put on a huge song and dance about how diverse and inclusive they are just for them to turn around and treat people who need the support like they are at the bottom of the pile and not even worth responding to.
Slightly embarrassed to admit this but after 4 years of applications, I have finally got through to the final stage of a vac scheme application for the first time and get to speak to actual people from the firm. 
No idea how to prepare but been told to celebrate the small wins a bit more so here we are. I'll give it my best 🫡
No idea how to prepare but been told to celebrate the small wins a bit more so here we are. I'll give it my best 🫡
Last edited:
I recently saw an article about freshfields with some secondment drama with two sisters both in the same trainee cohort…
If it is true it reeks of nepotism and everything that goes against meritocracy in my opinion!
Can’t forget to include the word *allegedly* though just to be on the safe side.
Can’t forget to include the word *allegedly* though just to be on the safe side.
Last edited:
I don't want to name drop, but am interested to hear your guys' thoughts on this...
At my AC, I was interviewed by an associate and partner. Both were very nice, but I was taken aback by the partner's phone use throughout my interview. I understand these lawyers are extremely busy, but seriously? He noted a few words down every 5 mins or so, and asked the first couple of questions. It then became a conversation between just the associate and I. This completely threw me off, and I panicked through the rest of the interview because I was worried about why he was not paying attention. He was looking and typing on his phone for a good 2/3rds of my interview, and quite honestly, I found this rude. Again, I understand how busy partners are but why offer to interview if you cannot afford the time to actually give a candidate your full attention?
At my AC, I was interviewed by an associate and partner. Both were very nice, but I was taken aback by the partner's phone use throughout my interview. I understand these lawyers are extremely busy, but seriously? He noted a few words down every 5 mins or so, and asked the first couple of questions. It then became a conversation between just the associate and I. This completely threw me off, and I panicked through the rest of the interview because I was worried about why he was not paying attention. He was looking and typing on his phone for a good 2/3rds of my interview, and quite honestly, I found this rude. Again, I understand how busy partners are but why offer to interview if you cannot afford the time to actually give a candidate your full attention?
I think they do this on purpose to test how you react to it. Not sure what they are assessing by doing this. 🥲
I have heard of this being done at other firms and whilst it is odd it makes some sense.
I do wonder though whether they do this in an interview with a neurodivergent person who might not always be able to recognise this is the case.
I have heard of this being done at other firms and whilst it is odd it makes some sense.
I do wonder though whether they do this in an interview with a neurodivergent person who might not always be able to recognise this is the case.
Last edited:
thank you so much for this, I only heard good things about them tbf but this confirms it
I really hope your AC went well!
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
- Sticky
- Sticky
