In my experience, being honest adds authenticity. The key point is addressing the steps you've taken to improve and work on that weakness and maybe giving a recent example.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
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Hi @Jessica Booker, hope you are well. I was just wondering whether you had any guidance on writing a CV for firms that dont have a proper application portal and want candidates to upload a CV (Cleary, Winston & Strawn). For Winston specifically, I cannot find anything on whether to include a breakdown of grades at uni/a-level.
I was also wondering how long these CVs should be. If this were any other job, I would normally have a single A4 page with about three bullet points for each experience entry, is this alright for legal CVs? I am just very used to filling in an allhires/vantage form at this point so this is quite unusual haha
Thanks!
I was also wondering how long these CVs should be. If this were any other job, I would normally have a single A4 page with about three bullet points for each experience entry, is this alright for legal CVs? I am just very used to filling in an allhires/vantage form at this point so this is quite unusual haha
Thanks!
Paul, Weiss’ co-head went on record to say that their staff won’t have a work-life balance loollllll
Respect the honesty
Respect the honesty
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I think this is more likely. To interview hundreds of candidates you need hundreds of interviewers and that’s going to be far less likely with a firm with only 150 lawyers across London and Brussels.
Hi can anyone please provide any insight Reed Smith VI?
Is it all competency or are there also motivations questions re why the firm/why law/news story of interest.
How long to answer also?
Is it all competency or are there also motivations questions re why the firm/why law/news story of interest.
How long to answer also?
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I did AC last year. Just very generic interview - why firm/law and loads of competency questions. Also a written task - but no group exercise. ACs done online.
does anyone know at all why ropes & gray doesn't have a work experience section? considering the commercial question doesn't ask for any linking back to ourselves, how can the firm know anything about us other than grades?
This really helps thanks. Can you remember if there was any questions about 'Why RS' or a question about a news story?
Is it necessary to talk about the culture of the firm in the 850 word personal statement? I talk about two practice area of Freshfields that I want to try but because of this much detail, I do not have space for the culture of the firm. Just wondering if it would be detrimental for my application
Almost as if that's what they care for...
Just realised I referred to 'Paul, Weiss' as Paul Weiss throughout my application after submitting... time to go to sleep :/
I also made this mistake in a few places so I’ve pretty much prepared for the immediate PFO. 
If I get past the first stage it’ll be a miracle.
If I get past the first stage it’ll be a miracle.
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I would second that but qualify it by saying don't be too honest and open- balance transparency with tact. Choose something that isn’t critical to the role- that is if your weakness is something like a lack of attention to detail, don't use it. Strategic weaknesses are good e.g. saying that you tend to take on too many responsibilities because you want to help where you can. This sometimes leads to feeling stretched. To address this, you’ve worked on setting clearer boundaries and using task management tools to prioritise effectively. You’ve found that this allows you to make more impactful contributions. In essence, you've realised the importance of ensuring you're doing a great job with ur core responsibilities before u take on extra work. Maybe add at the end: "I'm getting better at it every day, and I think it’s helping me do a solid job all around"
This is why it confuses me when a firm claims it has no minimum grade requirements but then still looks at your grades… 
Almost every single future trainee I have come across at these US firms all have AAA at A-level and a 1st. This is despite having ‘no minimum grade requirements’…
At least firms like Cleary Gottlieb are honest about their expectations: ‘AAA at A-level and a high 2:1 (68%) from a leading university’ which is pretty much just Oxbridge and RG.
It’s much better for firms to be transparent imo. At least then people know if they stand a realistic chance.
Almost every single future trainee I have come across at these US firms all have AAA at A-level and a 1st. This is despite having ‘no minimum grade requirements’…
At least firms like Cleary Gottlieb are honest about their expectations: ‘AAA at A-level and a high 2:1 (68%) from a leading university’ which is pretty much just Oxbridge and RG.
It’s much better for firms to be transparent imo. At least then people know if they stand a realistic chance.
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It's pretty silly anyway. They may overlook it.I also made this mistake in a few places so I’ve pretty much prepared for the immediate PFO.
If I get past the first stage it’ll be a miracle.
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