TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[VMS]

Anyone heard from debevoise?

Pretty sure someone on here said that last year they didn't respond until end of Jan/early Feb.

 

[Chris Brown]

Does


Those stats are super helpful, thank you! I was wondering if at the event they said how many of the (approx) 70 students across the Vac Schemes are made TC offers?

I can't seem to find anything online re how many trainees Skadden take on each year.

Yeah they mentioned they take on up to 20 trainees a year but that number can fluctuate slightly depending on the calibre of candidates. 🙂

They don’t have a direct TC route so it’s solely from the VS.

 

[ThelawgraduateX]

Hi @Jessica Booker I was wondering when citing cases that a law firm has worked on, is it okay to mention cases that they have worked on in the US (for an American firm) or would you advise that any cases that you cite in an application should be UK specific? Thank you!

 

[mariistm]

What are everyone's strategies to research how a firm is different from its competitors? struggling with this ahead of interviews!

 

[Lizzie_Sullivan]

How does it work being a Scottish law student applying for any english law firm VSs? Is it feasible or would you be majorly disadvantaged?

 

[Olivialee15]

What are everyone's strategies to research how a firm is different from its competitors? struggling with this ahead of interviews!

I also struggle with this but what I find helps me is starting from scratch. I take down the run of the mill details about the law firm first just so I have a basic idea of their reputation in certain practices, their values and maybe their international presence etc. From this info, I then go on to look the sectors that they specialise in - this way, naturally the firm will seem a little different from its competitors if that makes sense. If that's quite tricky as many top law firms are very very similar, Chat GPT can really help speed up the process when you're looking for a nice summary and its main competitors.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker I was wondering when citing cases that a law firm has worked on, is it okay to mention cases that they have worked on in the US (for an American firm) or would you advise that any cases that you cite in an application should be UK specific? Thank you!

I generally recommend finding something the London team has had involvement in. It can still be a US matter but should have some connection to the London office if you are trying to suggest that is the type of work you would be involved in.

 

[l789]

For those of you interested in application help I have a friend who is at a top US firm (Weil) as a first-seat trainee. He helped me with my applications this cycle and literally had AC invites from HSF, Skadden, GD (got a VS offer), Fieldfisher, White & Case & HFW. I have VI invites from Weil, Goodwin, Reed Smith (PFO), MB and still have apps pending like Paul Weiss, Debevoise etc. I owe that success to him. He has a natural talent for crafting applications on a one-to-one basis. I have suggested that the TCLA take him on as a paid consultant because I genuinely want all of you to be successful. My friend was apprehensive because as a trainee he doesn't have the time; however, I managed to convince him to offer a paid service helping people craft applications. For those of you interested in having him review your apps and work with you to tailor them PM me and I will connect you. Trust me it is worth it. He is good at giving VI and AC tips as well.

based on a recent picture I saw it seems to be around 30

Matthieu has said during multiple recent virtual events that the intake is 20 but they make exceptions if they find the right talent - so will take on more than 20 if they find excellent candidates/the right talent

 

[cjwx]

Is there anyone that applied to Eversheds Sutherland and passed the application phase that would be willing to send their answers to question? I want to see where I went wrong. I really liked my application for that firm, so now I'm second guessing all of my applications t. There is no feedback so it is so hard to tell what I did right and what I needed to improve. Maybe if I could see what others did, it might be easier to identify. The same for Clifford Chance please. I got BBB at A level (I didn't get to sit them because of COVID) I went to a Russel Group university and I received a 1st at University so I don't think it's my grades. It's not been the best cycle so far so I want to put my best foot forward with the limited amount of opportunities that are left this cycle.

 

[sapphireoreos]

PMC AC! Any insights would be much much appreciated xxxxxxxxxx can offer insights on Covington/HSF/Jones Day/CC ACs and Forsters/Goodwin/Mishcon/Willkie/B&B, W&C and CC (last year) VIs

Hey, was wondering which scheme this is for and which office you applied to?

 

[Chris Brown]

How many trainees do Willkie take legal cheek and the TCLA Directory seem to have contradicting figures

I went to their in-person insight evening and they said 6-7 trainees at present but that number could fluctuate slightly. 🙂

 

[AlegalA]

Could someone who is also doing a Withers interview please like this - I need to ask a question about your interviewer if that's okay!!

 

[aspiringsolicitor23]

Does anyone know if I need to put my AS Level on my application form when declaring 16-18 grades? Until recently I have just been putting my A Levels on and my EPQ. I forgot about my AS Level which is a C when my other grades are As and A*s so I don't know if it looks worse adding it or if this is something I don't have a choice in and need to declare. I would appreciate your thoughts on this @Jessica Booker, thanks.

 

[BillSikes]

Assessment centres for direct TCs!!

Should I email GR to ask when their assessment centre are being planned for if nothing has been shared on their website? Around early May I want to go travel for a bit 😭 but i don't want to make plans now and cancel them if I get invited to an AC or something.

They will be in June to collide with Vacation Schemes.

 

[FCL25]

Did my VI for AG on 6th Jan but haven't heard back yet. Has anyone else heard back and is it safe to assume a PFO if not?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

They will be in June to collide with Vacation Schemes.

thank u this is really helpful. Haven't applied to direct TCs before so not too sure how it works. So most of the ACs will be June/July period?

 

[mariistm]

I also struggle with this but what I find helps me is starting from scratch. I take down the run of the mill details about the law firm first just so I have a basic idea of their reputation in certain practices, their values and maybe their international presence etc. From this info, I then go on to look the sectors that they specialise in - this way, naturally the firm will seem a little different from its competitors if that makes sense. If that's quite tricky as many top law firms are very very similar, Chat GPT can really help speed up the process when you're looking for a nice summary and its main competitors.

thank you, that makes sense!

 

[Olivialee15]

This is a very specific question, but does anyone know if firms will ask for a year abroad transcript for VS even if the academic year was P/F. 1) I don't even know where I would access this and 2) would they withdraw an offer based on this (even though it does not count towards my final grade at all)?

@Jessica Booker

 

[fcac98]

Im doing an application with this question: Who are our main competitors and how do we differentiate ourselves from those?

They are a full service law firm, so was just going to say... other full service law firms? Seems like a poor answer.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[Jessica Booker]

This is a very specific question, but does anyone know if firms will ask for a year abroad transcript for VS even if the academic year was P/F. 1) I don't even know where I would access this and 2) would they withdraw an offer based on this (even though it does not count towards my final grade at all)?

@Jessica Booker

Yes, they may still need a transcript but that can be from your UK university.

They wouldn’t withdraw an offer based on this though as long as you had present it as a pass/fail grade on your application form.