TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Worldstar223]

Cleary PFO post-AC

Sorry to hear. When did u do the AC? Was it for spring or summer?

 

[tiredtree]

HSF vac scheme offer but they’ve only given me 3 days to respond, including this weekend, and I have to notify S&M who I interviewed with to see if they can speed up my outcome - any advice?

 

[Zaraa.x]

Any insights on the Lewis Silkin AC would be highly appreciated please 😭 can I also be pointed in the right direction for resources I can use to prep for written exercises please (btw I don’t have access to TCLA premium). Thank you ✨

 

[Tintin06]

Holding myself accountable (V&E, W&C rejections)

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅❌
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅❌
Latham ✅❌
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅❌
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅❌
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅❌
Morgan Lewis ✅📞
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅📝
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅❌
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝❌
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 📞 = telephone interview; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell, possibly White & Case.

 

[ysr567]

Is the 15 entires a mix of work experience and extra curriculars or just 15 extracurriculars ?

It's a mix of both!

 

[NJS]

Holding myself accountable (V&E, W&C rejections)

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅❌
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅❌
Latham ✅❌
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅❌
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅❌
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅❌
Morgan Lewis ✅📞
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅📝
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅❌
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝❌
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 📞 = telephone interview; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell, possibly White & Case.

White & Case told me you can only make one app per cycle?

 

[Jessica Booker]

HSF vac scheme offer but they’ve only given me 3 days to respond, including this weekend, and I have to notify S&M who I interviewed with to see if they can speed up my outcome - any advice?

One of two approach - chase Slaughters for a decision on Monday or accept HSF with the view that you could renege on them at a later date if you were offered Slaughters and decided to go with them over HSF.

 

[Jessica Booker]

It's a mix of both!

I wouldn't put your extracurriculars in your work experience and just put your work experience in only if you have that many entries.

 

[aphelion]

I haven't yet. Same timing as you. I expect it might come later today as they tend to send these emails out later in the afternoon.

Lol okay I was wrong no AC slot confirmation from Taylor Wessing it seems 😂

 

[Looper88]

Sorry to hear. When did u do the AC? Was it for spring or summer?

Summer, did it Wednesday.

 

[YS391]

Has anyone heard from Wedlake Bell for the Summer Vacations Scheme? Any idea when they usually get back to applicants?

 

[emma.d]

Feeling so demoralised at the moment, any tips? Weil PFO post-VI, haven't received a VI for CRS... just praying my Willkie written exercise pulls through as feel like it's my last shot at success this cycle.

Currently self-funding the PGDL - modules are harder this term, and even falling behind on that. Feel like I'm wasting my time, money and energy.

This is my first cycle and honestly applaud you all who have done this multiple times. Sending everyone love and luck 🫶

 

[ysr567]

Not sure if anyone has applied but has anyone done the VWV video interview?

 

[l789]

It's a mix of both!

Oh, I always felt 10 maximum is sufficient!

At the CC open day grad rec said that having so so many work experience entries doesn’t make it any easier for them to read.

I’ve seen contradicting points as people say to list all your entries but at the same time… it does feel that 12/13/14 is a bit much.

I also see a lot of people fluff up their LinkedIn and have about 30 or more experiences in their experience section but I honestly don’t know how they manage to translate all of that into their vac scheme application.

I’d say pick the 10 juiciest work experiences and then sprinkle the rest of your extra curriculars into the skills questions or other related questions.

 

[theruleofno]

Holding myself accountable (V&E, W&C rejections)

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅❌
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅❌
Latham ✅❌
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅❌
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅❌
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅❌
Morgan Lewis ✅📞
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅📝
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅❌
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝❌
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 📞 = telephone interview; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell, possibly White & Case.

I think you should focus on quality over quantity going forward.

 

[BillSikes]

Just started my CRS research and now I really like the firm lol... lets hope I can write a good enough application in a night

LOL I remember seeing this at the time and thought the exact same. I also have not received CRS VI - there is a lesson to be learned here for sure!

 

[Apple]

I suppose so. I was thinking about last minute things like maybe falling ill the day of the AC or something. Would a firm be able to reschedule at short notice? Sometimes they have limited AC days and SVS/TC places. 🥲🥲

I've been rescheduled 2 days before an AC by sending an email.

 

[xxx]

Oh, I always felt 10 maximum is sufficient!

At the CC open day grad rec said that having so so many work experience entries doesn’t make it any easier for them to read.

I’ve seen contradicting points as people say to list all your entries but at the same time… it does feel that 12/13/14 is a bit much.

I also see a lot of people fluff up their LinkedIn and have about 30 or more experiences in their experience section but I honestly don’t know how they manage to translate all of that into their vac scheme application.

I’d say pick the 10 juiciest work experiences and then sprinkle the rest of your extra curriculars into the skills questions or other related questions

In my experience 8-10 max. If the experiences are similar i.e. tutoring/ forage/ open days group them.

 

[emma.d]

LOL I remember seeing this at the time and thought the exact same. I also have not received CRS VI - there is a lesson to be learned here for sure!

Tbf that is very very true!!

 

[jacksollaf]

I think you should focus on quality over quantity going forward.

Honestly, in principle, I agree with you, but I genuinely think you can have both quantity and quality. I'm pretty sure @Tintin06 focused on quality as well—it’s just incredibly competitive. At the end of the day, you only need one firm to offer you a VS or TC, and proof of that is me, because I also applied to 65 firms, rejected from 60% so far, but still secured a VS at HFW (+ currently awaiting the outcome of my interviews with Gibson Dunn and Norton Rose Fulbright, while also preparing for another interview with BCLP next week).

I’m NOT saying this to brag—I just want to highlight that, yes, I’ve been rejected by most firms like @Tintin06 , but not because of a lack of quality on both of our parts, but simply because of how competitive the process actually is; acceptance rate is at an average of 1.5%... You can put your heart and soul into 5 applications, even 10, and still get rejected from all of them... It's just a matter of getting lucky, whatever sticks sticks... It just takes time and you can only work at one law firm at the end of the day, so @Tintin06, be patient and I promise you'll get something!!