TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

Hey guys! I need advice for DAC Beachcroft application. I'm really confused about the layout.

On the first page, they have three boxes fill in.
The first on is called "personal summary" and is described as "your personal summary is your opportunity to summarise your key skills and achievements and include positive words that describe you as a person. Highlight the roles you have held and your key achievements to date. Avoid anything that narrows down your options too much unless you are only applying to very specific roles".
The second is "interest and hobbies", described as "We understand people have a range of hobbies outside their working lives - let us know what you do in your spare time".
And the third is to do with personal and professional referees.

None of these have a word count.

On the second page, we are requested to upload our CV.

The "instructions" on their website only say:

• The application window closes on 31st January 2025 – to apply you will need to upload a current CV

I'm confused mostly about the first question to be honest. I can obviously take out my interest and hobbies from my CV and expand on them in the text box, given they're not a huge part of it, but isn't the first question asking about what I've written in my CV?
Also, given there's no word count what would you recommend I aim for?

Any advice would be amazing @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam , or if anyone's gone through their app process and has any insight, that would be super helpful!

Thanks guys

Just to jump in before @Jessica Booker or @Ram Sabaratnam get the chance to respond, I think you should write about your experiences and interests without worrying too much about overlaps with the information in the CV. The CV is meant to contain a short and factual summary of your experiences, while both the first and second sections are meant to give you the opportunity to expand on them a lot more. As such, it should not be very repetitive, especially if you write the answers section using a STAR structure and try to be reflective as to what these experiences and interests say about you as a candidate/person.

As for the word count issue, I would not necessarily have any 'target' word count, but I would normally look for something in the range of 300-600 words. I think your key focus here should be to extract the greatest possible value from your experiences while ensuring you observe the same norms of conciseness, formal writing style, and clear structure as if there was a strict word count.

 

[floral.tcla]

what is there any point in applying for mishcon if I haven't already???

 

[James Wakefield]

what is there any point in applying for mishcon if I haven't already???

Yeah most people will be talking about Spring on here, for which the deadline has already passed. Summer is fine.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

@Jessica Booker
A firm I'm applying to is asking "Have you used AI in preparing your application? If so, how? If not, why not?" I have used AI to spell check and to ask if my answer is structured and easy to read, but not for anything else. This is mainly just because I did research myself and attended webinars, and I genuinely think AI-generated text would have made my application worse. The firm in question does a lot of work in technology and AI startups, etc. Would my answer be something that the firm would view as negative or see it as me being distrusting/not open-minded to AI?

 

[A worried graduate]

Anyone here know much about restructuring (not law) at EY?

 

[BillSikes]

Blocked that toenails guy. what an odd bloke.

 

[Toenails]

Blocked that toenails guy. what an odd bloke.

what have i done?

It’s 2024 stop assuming genders

 

[Mug Fan]

For those who received a telephone interview with Fieldfisher, how soon after completing the test did you hear?

I heard the following week. Did the test on a Saturday and heard back the following Friday.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

 

[Tintin06]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

They have a small word count. Maybe mention two practice areas instead. 100 words is enough for that.

 

[NCTC2025]

Hello!

I'm a bit concerned about a potential inconsistency in my Goodwin application. My primary reason for applying is my interest in Intellectual Property. However, when listing other firms I've applied to, I mentioned a strength in the Life Sciences sector.

Given the 100-word limit, I couldn't include this in my main reason. Would this be seen as a significant inconsistency, or is it acceptable to prioritize one area of interest over another?"

I dont think thats an inconsistency. In fact its even better that you have multiple interests in the firm. The Early Careers team will definitely understand that you cant fit everything into the first question given the 100-word limit so I think expanding on your interests in the other firms section is ideal. Might be a good idea to include strength in IP in the other firms question too just to tie it back as your primary reason.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

They have a small word count. Maybe mention two practice areas instead. 100 words is enough for that.

Thank you!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

I dont think thats an inconsistency. In fact its even better that you have multiple interests in the firm. The Early Careers team will definitely understand that you cant fit everything into the first question given the 100-word limit so I think expanding on your interests in the other firms section is ideal. Might be a good idea to include strength in IP in the other firms question too just to tie it back as your primary reason.

Thank you!

 

[MMy2c]

Hi, does anyone know what the ashurst online assessment for vs is gonna be like? is there any practice test we could try online? I am super bad at math and I am not sure if that would make me disadvantaged

 

[Tintin06]

Hi, does anyone know what the ashurst online assessment for vs is gonna be like? is there any practice test we could try online? I am super bad at math and I am not sure if that would make me disadvantaged

This helped me for Arctic Shores:

.

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Hoping for positive news for everyone this week! 🤞🏼🙏🏼

 

[LawAspirer]

Hello, could someone be so kind and offer some advice for the Dentons Video Interview? This is the first time I've gotten to this stage and I'm not sure what to expect. Thank you

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Hello, could someone be so kind and offer some advice for the Dentons Video Interview? This is the first time I've gotten to this stage and I'm not sure what to expect. Thank you

Heya congrats! I’m waiting to hear if I’ve got through to this stage, if you don’t mind, when did you hear back about progressing after the test?

 

[erderlylars]

Any news from mishcon for VIs for spring VS?

 

[cwhite233]

Hi all, just have a question regarding the following Goodwin application question - 'Please briefly summarise anything else that you would like to add which you think is relevant to your application. This can be positions of responsibility, extra-curricular activities and achievements or academic awards or scholarships. Max 200 words'

I finished my undergraduate degree in 2019 and my law degree in 2022, so I was wondering whether it makes sense to include any extracurricular activities (particularly related to the latter degree such as pro bono volunteering) that I have done during these degrees or whether the question is more so geared towards my current extracurriculars and positions of responsibility.