TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[anonymous.15]

Cooley post-WG and Davis Polk PFO. Both expected but Cooley hurts 🥲😂

Davis Polk has sent out a lot of PFOS including me , who are they taking in then ????

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu Hi!! This isn't a strictly VS/TC question, but you have answered a similar question for me before so I was wondering if I could quicky get your thoughts on this. I am applying for paralegal roles at the moment. With some firms, the recruitment process is moving quite quickly and for some of them, I haven't heard back since submitting my application. I want to avoid having to accept an offer when I am still waiting on firms I would prefer. What's the best way of approaching these firms to get a response? Thank you!!

If you get an offer from another firm and you only have a short period before you have to respond to it, you should definitely let the other firms know. It is quite a common circumstance and many of them will be willing to speed up the process. In some cases, I have anecdotal evidence of firms actually looking more favorably on candidates in this situation - I have been told that certain Magic Circle firms have a policy to immediately progress to the final stage candidates with a an expiring TC offer from a reputable firm.

However, if you think the time you will have to consider an offer will be very short (say, less than a week) you might want to email the other firms once you got the final stage interview invitation. This is a less common situation, but I still expect at least some to try to be flexible. Regardless, I do not see any circumstance in which you telling them about the situation will be held against you, so I do not think there is any reason not to try it.

 

[anonymous.15]

I applied to Gibson Dunn on the 31st of Dec and haven't heard back yet. Does anyone know if they've started sending interview invites for apps submitted towards the end of Dec?

people have started receiving interview offers in nov and in dec , even the interviews were going on in jan , got my PFO from GD this week .

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I applied to Gibson Dunn on the 31st of Dec and haven't heard back yet. Does anyone know if they've started sending interview invites for apps submitted towards the end of Dec?

Heya I applied 2nd Sept lol and emailed them last week and they said they r still reviewing applications loll

 

[jta227]

Hi guys, this is gonna seem like a weird question. If you don't get anything in second year, ie, you have a Summer free on your CV, and you apply again for vac schemes in third year, are you at a disadvantage? Assuming grades remain consistent and you do some sort of informal experience in the summer?

I guess my question is, do firms look badly on candidates for not having done a vac scheme at the end of second year?

Generally, I don't think so. Obviously I can't speak for any specific firm or gradrec staff member, but there are plenty of people who don't get vac schemes in second *or* third year and get them subsequently. That being said, just because you don't have a vac scheme doesn't mean your summer has to be "free" - can do many productive things: volunteering, informal work experience/shadowing, doing a personal activity (blog/podcast/society etc.) or just having a job (even in Tesco).

 

[Star Light]

There are 4 vacation scheme 'slots' and I have selected the last one that runs. Do you think this put me at a disadvantage - I wanted to apply to the 3rd one out of 4 but the spaces were all filled up.

 

[lolololol]

has anyone heard from WFW post-vi?

 

[Cool pigeon]

There are 4 vacation scheme 'slots' and I have selected the last one that runs. Do you think this put me at a disadvantage - I wanted to apply to the 3rd one out of 4 but the spaces were all filled up.

No- just go with the one that works for you

 

[Cool pigeon]

Anyone else book the Skadden vac scheme on the 7th April?

 

[TCpleasex]

Hi guys, this is gonna seem like a weird question. If you don't get anything in second year, ie, you have a Summer free on your CV, and you apply again for vac schemes in third year, are you at a disadvantage? Assuming grades remain consistent and you do some sort of informal experience in the summer?

I guess my question is, do firms look badly on candidates for not having done a vac scheme at the end of second year?

I finished my law degree in 2022 & LPC in 2023. I never done any VS in undergrad or on the LPC & I have been progressed to the next stage for 2 firms this cycle so far.

I met some firms at a law fair through uni & a lot of them said they understand some students genuinely can’t attend through work or finances. I don’t think they necessarily mind if you’ve not done any VS as long as you can show why you are a suitable candidate for the role you’re applying to.

I haven’t been applying to US/MC so I can’t speak for them but this seemed the general consensus amongst other firms.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

If you get an offer from another firm and you only have a short period before you have to respond to it, you should definitely let the other firms know. It is quite a common circumstance and many of them will be willing to speed up the process. In some cases, I have anecdotal evidence of firms actually looking more favorably on candidates in this situation - I have been told that certain Magic Circle firms have a policy to immediately progress to the final stage candidates with a an expiring TC offer from a reputable firm.

However, if you think the time you will have to consider an offer will be very short (say, less than a week) you might want to email the other firms once you got the final stage interview invitation. This is a less common situation, but I still expect at least some to try to be flexible. Regardless, I do not see any circumstance in which you telling them about the situation will be held against you, so I do not think there is any reason not to try it.

Thank you so much, this was really helpful!! I think if I make it to the final interview, I will email the firms that are ghosting me 😭

 

[londonlawyer]

Does anyone have an idea of what the interview at Debevoise is going to be like? It's a commercial article discussion but varied experiences from 2019-2020 TCLA posts.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi guys, for an application to a commercial law firm, if it asks you why do you want to become a solicitor? should you focus on becoming a solicitor in general or should you tailor your answer towards being a commercial solicitor

I think your primary focus should be on why you want to be a solicitor - so make sure to show (i) why do you want to work in the legal field - what interests you about law?; (ii) why do you want to be a legal practitioner, as opposed to, say, an academic?; and (iii) why do you want to be a solicitor rather than a barrister?;

Nonetheless, I think it is desirable to go beyond this and also include the commercial element. You can do this directly, as in a normal why commercial law answer, or indirectly. For instance, if you discuss the client-facing nature of the solicitor's job, you could explain how you are particularly motivated to work with businesses and help them with their growth. However, you should first ensure that the primary "why solicitor" element of your answer is properly addressed, and only then move on to consider how you can make it better by adding the commercial part.

 

[Tintin06]

So so happy for you!!!!

Thank you - hope you’re doing well.

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Does anyone have an idea of what the interview at Debevoise is going to be like? It's a commercial article discussion but varied experiences from 2019-2020 TCLA posts.

It’s been very consistent for the last few years.

It’s an FT article (from within the last few years, so chances are, you won’t have read it before). They first ask for a summary. Then, they ask follow up questions about the article. They score you out of 5 on a bunch of metrics like your summary, your clarity etc.

The rest of the day isn’t assessed. But, you’ll speak with a couple of a trainees and meet some associates and partners, who will feedback if you’re rude lol

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

It’s been very consistent for the last few years.

It’s an FT article (from within the last few years, so chances are, you won’t have read it before). They first ask for a summary. Then, they ask follow up questions about the article. They score you out of 5 on a bunch of metrics like your summary, your clarity etc.

The rest of the day isn’t assessed. But, you’ll speak with a couple of a trainees and meet some associates and partners, who will feedback if you’re rude lol

Do they weave in competency/motivational questions during the formal interview or is it purely based on the article?

 

[Andrei Radu]

if one got offered a tc after their spring vac scheme, can they still attend a summer scheme at another firm?

I think normally you can - I have actually been in this situation before, as I received my TC offers from Milbank and Willkie in the spring but went on to do my Davis Polk and Slaughter and May vacations schemes in the summer. You should not have any issues with doing your summer schemes unless you sign the TC offer before the summer vacation scheme and one of the following applies:

1. The firm offering the TC has included a clause to the effect that you are prohibited from doing work experiences with other firms (which is quite uncommon in my experience); or
2. The firm offering you a VS in the summer makes the offer conditional on you not having signed a TC offer before (though sometimes there can also be flexibility on this point).

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Do they weave in competency/motivational questions during the formal interview or is it purely based on the article?

Nah, it’s purely based on the article! The articles are very short too, like 1-1.5 pages of A4 and almost double spaced text.

They’ve been fairly easy topics in previous years too. I think they’re more concerned with how well you can articulate (which I guess makes sense for a more contentious-focused firm)!

 

[opticskibidi]

Morgan Lewis telephone interview 😁😁😁😁

 

[Nine]

Hi! Would anyone have any insight on A&O Shearman’s AC? This is for the ME office so I’m not sure if the AC would be different but there is a case study and a scenario-based interview. Any advice would be appreciated I’ve done an AC at Slaughter and May, VI for W&C, AG, SH ME and I’m happy to share details!

Hi - @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker! Just trying to bump this up, it’s my first time doing a case study type AC and I’d appreciate any advice Thank you very much !!!!