TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ricky]

is kirkland rolling? if it is i won't be applying as deadline is 1st of Jan. thanks!

No, and they close on 31/12. I will be submitting my Sunday or Monday.

 

[BonanzaBih_]

for the VI portion of the Mayer Brown job sim, how long is the prep/answer time?

 

[Bread]

No, and they close on 31/12. I will be submitting my Sunday or Monday.

Pretty sure Kirkland is rolling

 

[Ricky]

Pretty sure Kirkland is rolling

TBF I got this information from someone in the WhatsApp group lol...

 

[Farhan65756]

Does anyone have any insight for the Trowers & Hamlins online test? I read that it assesses your strengths as a lawyer. Is it a strength based assessment?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Hi all, which U.S. firms are known to be strict on grades? I currently have Debevoise, Sidley, V&E, Orrick, Covington, and Ropes & Gray on my list. Should I avoid any of these with a mid 2:1 overall🥹

I got an AC at Covington last year with a mid 2:1 (law) so assume they’re fine - I did have quite scattered grades though and mitigating circumstances so don’t know if that impacted things

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I remember that Paul Hastings' TC is rolling but the deadline is in June or July. Anyone know when is a good time to apply and when grad rec usually progresses applicants?

I thought it was non-rolling? Certainly was last cycle

 

[yasmars]

I got an AC at Covington last year with a mid 2:1 (law) so assume they’re fine - I did have quite scattered grades though and mitigating circumstances so don’t know if that impacted things

Do you have strong A Levels?

 

[fcac98]

for the VI portion of the Mayer Brown job sim, how long is the prep/answer time?

I did it a few weeks ago, I remember it being untimed but might be good to get a second opinion.

 

[fcac98]

Has anyone received any feedback after doing the HL WG test? Or has anyone got through to the next round?

 

[seaweed.bond]

I was on the Insight Day a few weeks ago and they do not recruit on a rolling basis!

If you don’t mind me asking, did Grad Rec confirm if they offer Training Contracts from their Placement Scheme? Or do you have to apply for both roles separately (or just apply to the Training Contract role itself) ?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

For Stephenson Harwood, I swear their Spring VS deadline was like 31/01 at one point? Have they changed it to 28/02? I know that previously they had issues with their website so want to check. The closing date is too close to the Spring scheme dates so feeling unsure

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I generally say to aim for around 1400-1600 across the four questions. One answer might be longer than another but I generally feel like you don’t want it to be much more than this amount it total as it’s going to be a lot to read.

Hi Jessica, you've said 1400-1600 across the 4 questions but the final question is 'Please include any other information that you consider to be relevant to your application', is it necessary to answer this question? Since there's no word count for the other questions I feel like I won't need to include anything in this box and it wouldn't make sense to split information between this question and another just for the sake of having a more even spread of the word count and putting an answer in this box - can you please advise?

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Do you have strong A Levels?

A*AA

 

[TC129129]

Hi all, which U.S. firms are known to be strict on grades? I currently have Debevoise, Sidley, V&E, Orrick, Covington, and Ropes & Gray on my list. Should I avoid any of these with a mid 2:1 overall🥹

I did a Vac Scheme at White & Case last year with a low 2.1

 

[MH05]

If you don’t mind me asking, did Grad Rec confirm if they offer Training Contracts from their Placement Scheme? Or do you have to apply for both roles separately (or just apply to the Training Contract role itself) ?

I don’t really remember tbh I didn’t ask directly. They told all of us on the insight day we should only apply to the TC.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, you've said 1400-1600 across the 4 questions but the final question is 'Please include any other information that you consider to be relevant to your application', is it necessary to answer this question? Since there's no word count for the other questions I feel like I won't need to include anything in this box and it wouldn't make sense to split information between this question and another just for the sake of having a more even spread of the word count and putting an answer in this box - can you please advise?

You don’t have to answer this question but I would question whether there could be something in this answer. I’d say for around 80-90% of candidates they have something to include in this which doesn’t naturally fit into other application questions or they haven’t had the opportunity to present elsewhere.

 

[bsh]

Hi @Jessica Booker, following our phone call, I was wondering if you could please send or attach here any written exercise resources you think may be useful in preparing for Willkie's written assessment and Latham's written exercise for their AC. I would be keen to have a go at practising both with feedback if possible - which paid service and options would be best to select?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hi @Jessica Booker, following our phone call, I was wondering if you could please send or attach here any written exercise resources you think may be useful in preparing for Willkie's written assessment and Latham's written exercise for their AC. I would be keen to have a go at practising both with feedback if possible - which paid service and options would be best to select?

Congratulations on both! Can i ask if the AC for Latham is for spring and if so, when did you apply? Thank you!

 

[M_m]

Hi everyone! This is slightly off topic, but I’m an international student who did both my schooling and law degree abroad. While I am applying for VS and TCs this year, I also want to have a firm backup plan. I’ve reached out to a few law firms, and given that my law degree is not a qualifying degree in the UK, they would require me to finish the PGDL. Do you think it would be wise for me to self-fund the PGDL this year in case I don’t get a TC? Would it be beneficial in any way?