TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TrainingContract2024]

Hi everyone, just got an Invitation to complete Legal High Potential Assessment from Dentons. I would appreciate any insights on this.

i found the culture and values section of their website incredibly helpful for the assessment. it's quite similar to a&o shearman’s sjt, but slightly longer. all the best. i was also curious if this is for the summer vacation scheme. thank you!

 

[kokoprep]

hey is freshfields WG happens on which platform and is it timed?

 

[rose_tinted]

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!

Thank you! Peversely, I found it quite fun, once the nerves had calmed down!

This might not be very original advice, but it's something I drew on yesterday during my interview and used to suggest to candidates when I was recruiting.

I write down each question I'm asked before answering. You can buy yourself thinking time (and also say 'hmm, give me a moment to ponder this one' for the tougher questions). It also really helps keep me focused while answering, rather than just yakking away and going off track!

 

[g.cl.2020344]

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?

Heya, I can completely relate to this! This happened to me in a final round interview for a Magic Circle firm in 2023!! I got the vac scheme and was later told it was a tactic to see if you would crumble or rise to the occasion!!!

 

[James Wakefield]

.

Heya, I can completely relate to this! This happened to me in a final round interview for a Magic Circle firm in 2023!! I got the vac scheme and was later told it was a tactic to see if you would crumble or rise to the occasion!!!

How do you rise to the occasion in such a situation, is it just about keeping your cool and carrying on with the interview?

 

[nathan5996]

Does Greenberg send pfos? I read somewhere on the thread that they don’t send them? I applied mid December and haven’t heard back!

Somewhere on their website it says the deadline for when they will get back to successful candidates, if you haven't heard in the week following I'd assume PFO.

 

[floral.tcla]

500 words is NOT a short word count.
typical word count is 250 words.

it seems that you're being asked:

1) talk about your hobbies, and how they would help you as a lawyer
2) talk about your positions of responsibility, ditto
3) talk about an achievement of importance, ditto

so you might say:

1) I play chess, this helps me with strategic thinking, important as a lawyer. I also participate in chess clubs where I network and meet new people. This has provided me with useful contacts and expanded my social circle.
2) I am leader of the university chess club. I have responsible for budgeting, organising events, and fundraising. these skills are relevant as a lawyer. [explain in more detail.]
3) I won the university chess tournament. this required me to practise for years and also make strategic decisions. this shows my dedication and determination and my intellectual ability, important as a lawyer.

It does mention that it's blind, so if you mentioned your university name, then your application would probably be deemed worthless, and likewise avoid mentioning employer/law firm names, etc.

ok thank you!
I know the word count is long but typically questions only ask you to focus on one thing, so comparatively, to me this seems like quite a short word

 

[user9809]

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?

Same thing happened to me during my final interview on a vs. Was so distracting

 

[allenpopi]

anyone who s done w&c AC, is the interview technical at all? or just motivational/competency

 

[fidrrygalka]

Hey! That’s the first post for me. PW SJT…. High verbal, high mathematical, and then shit hits the fan with 7,3,6,7 in the pillars. feeling weird because i’m a highly empathetic person but this result makes me look like i ain’t feeling anything for my coworkers 🤣 cmon…..

 

[OliverTwist]

hey is freshfields WG happens on which platform and is it timed?

It was GFB last year

 

[OliverTwist]

So the consensus is, if we haven't heard back from Cooley post-WG, its most probably a PFO?

That's a bummer

 

[Jessica Booker]

**UPDATE FROM FRESHFIELDS REGARDING REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS TO ASSESSMENTS**

If you contacted the firm for reasonable adjustments for an online assessments and did not receive a response and therefore could not take the assessment, please contact Laura Blackledge directly on:

Laura.blackledge@freshfields.com

Please do not contact Laura for other queries. This is specifically for those who have had issues with responses to their requests for reasonable adjustments.

 

[jojo23]

I imagine it does make up the majority of applications - but no, I applied for Cheltenham. Have you heard anything back?

EDIT - realise I'm posting in the wrong thread. I applied to CRS for a direct TC, not VS. Oops! but if by chance you have applied for TC too, lmk : )

Ahh, fair enough, I applied for the vacation scheme since I have no legal experience i thought it'd be safer for me to go down this route. I haven't heard anything yet either 😒

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Really hope Forsters get back to us soon post VI!

 

[law121]

I’ve given up on RPC…are they going to get back to us anytime soon😭

frr theyve been so silent...i think its gonna be a pfo coz no way theyre gonna send out more AC batches

 

[andrewk]

Anyone got any tips on Goodwin AC after doing it last year? I remember grad rec saying there was a commercial article, is this quite technical? Appreciate any insights

 

[legalxp2]

Akin AC
Goodwin VI
Weil VI
Willkie Written Task
Linklaters
HSF VS
Reed smith AC
Addleshaw Goddard VS

12 applications, 5 ACs, 4 rejections

HSF & AG VS

Dechert WE, Macfarlanes AC, CMS VI and W&C VI rejection

Waiting for Weil, Linklaters and Goodwin tc.

I’ve done Akin, Macfarlanes, HSF and AG Assessment centres.

Hi what was the timeframe for hearing back from Akin. Recently received a holding email

 

[EA95]

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 🫡

Congratulations, there is nothing embarrassing about that. Everyone is on their own time and journey. Good luck with the final stage.

 

[NJS]

Off topic, but does anyone think the quality of ziplaw has fallen off, the whole appeal of it was linking it back to law firms but now all they do it’s just give a paragraph summary of a story with no analysis