TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Star Light]

@Andrei Radu
Hi Andrei, your posts have been so helpful through my application process - thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.
I was wondering if you could help my with Sidley Austin and its competitors. I understand that they have big focus on finance and private equity - especially given their growth of private equity practice. Would I be right in saying their competitors would be Kirkland, Simpsons, Weil and Paul Weiss?
What is their wider reputation?
Thank you.

 

[👩🎓]

Does anyone know how long it typically takes to find out from HFW post-AC? (For the VS). Thanks!

I think it varies between different candidates as I've seen people hear back the next day but I heard back two weeks later when I did the AC last year.

 

[fidrrygalka]

Most of us who got invited to interview scored between 20-24 on the SJT. I think scoring anything above 20 will be fine. However, since Paul, Weiss assess test scores alongside written application, I think it would also depend on the quality of the application as well. I’m sure you’ll hear back positively soon! Best of luck. 🤞​

Lol I had a 23 and never heard back 😂😭 Fingers crossed for everyone still in the trenches

 

[g.cl.2020344]

I had 18/36 for PW, probably pfo then… did anyone here back from Morgan Lewis past TI

nothing post TI, they told me in my TI we should hear by the end of this week latest ...

 

[sibs23]

Off the top of my head:
- Slaughter and May
- Travers Smith
- Debevoise & Plimpton
- Winston & Strawn
- Jones Day

Checks out, as they are known to be a little more traditional generally, which seems to reflect in their recruitment methods.

Winstons used a WG last year (just to flag)

 

[future_traineesolicitor]

Is there any way to request feedback post-app to understand GR's reasoning? I did a VS app for a firm I worked for previously and the rejection doesn't really make sense.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

BCLP rejection post-(hour-long) interview 🥂 🥳

Sorry to hear that - if it makes you feel better, they seem like a sinking ship anyway. I predict BCLP will be the next firm to implode, we seem to have 1 every couple of years or so. Lots of partners seem to have jumped ship in the past couple of years.

....having said that, I will still make an application for a direct TC because beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Chris Brown]

Sorry to hear that - if it makes you feel better, they seem like a sinking ship anyway. I predict BCLP will be the next firm to implode, we seem to have 1 every couple of years or so. Lots of partners seem to have jumped ship in the past couple of years.

....having said that, I will still make an application for a direct TC because beggars can't be choosers.

I remember at their open day, someone asked why their trainee retention rates were so low and why BCLP seems like a sinking ship, and the partner basically dodged the question and waffled about how the firm is recognised for its training quality. Having said that, I may or may not re-apply for the DTC because 1) grad rec encouraged me to and 2) as you said, beggars can’t be choosers. 🥲​

 

[Ricky]

From BCLP GR:

"We are just wrapping recruitment on our Spring Scheme, and are now reviewing Summer Scheme applications. We will be back with you as soon as possible with an outcome."

 

[ren1110]

Most of us who got invited to interview scored between 20-24 on the SJT. I think scoring anything above 20 will be fine. However, since Paul, Weiss assess test scores alongside written application, I think it would also depend on the quality of the application as well. I’m sure you’ll hear back positively soon! Best of luck. 🤞​

Hi - is this score in relation to the pillars?

 

[Mug Fan]

@Andrei Radu
Hi Andrei, your posts have been so helpful through my application process - thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.
I was wondering if you could help my with Sidley Austin and its competitors. I understand that they have big focus on finance and private equity - especially given their growth of private equity practice. Would I be right in saying their competitors would be Kirkland, Simpsons, Weil and Paul Weiss?
What is their wider reputation?
Thank you.

The Lawyer podcast’s recent episode on lathams talked a lot about Sidley. Might want to give that a listen.

 

[AnnaHJ12]

Has anyone experienced the AC at Forsters yet? Just wondering if you have any insights on what it is like/what the interview, written exercise, case study involves? Nervous and excited, have it on Thursday - first AC!!

 

[trainee4u]

Is there any way to request feedback post-app to understand GR's reasoning? I did a VS app for a firm I worked for previously and the rejection doesn't really make sense.

Why doesn't it make sense?
You can email them or do a Subject Access Request, but the latter can be a bit OTT perhaps?

 

[ashwright]

There’s a relatively recent (2023) thread on the forum regarding this. I have linked it here - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/firms-that-do-not-require-the-wg.8071/

Thank you so much! That thread is exactly what I needed. Really appreciate your help Is there by any chance a similar list of firms without SJTs/VIs? Thank you so much

 

[jacksollaf]

I had 18/36 for PW, probably pfo then… did anyone here back from Morgan Lewis past TI

not yet, did mine last Thursday so hasn't been long yet

 

[ashwright]

Off the top of my head:
- Slaughter and May
- Travers Smith
- Debevoise & Plimpton
- Winston & Strawn
- Jones Day

Checks out, as they are known to be a little more traditional generally, which seems to reflect in their recruitment methods.

Amazing - thank you so much! I'll make sure to check them all out for next cycle

 

[jacksollaf]

Sorry to hear that - if it makes you feel better, they seem like a sinking ship anyway. I predict BCLP will be the next firm to implode, we seem to have 1 every couple of years or so. Lots of partners seem to have jumped ship in the past couple of years.

....having said that, I will still make an application for a direct TC because beggars can't be choosers.

That's so true! One of my questions at the end of the interview was about how they've been losing a lot of revenue and profit etc... and how the firm has been downhill for a while and what their strategy is in that regard... Technically, online the firm blames it on them leaving Moscow, so I specifically said that, obviously leaving Russia played a role in this, but besides this what are the other reasons (because leaving Russia isn't that convincing, especially considering that they're technically a US-UK firm...) But hey, one down, 19 applications to go 😂

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Amazing - thank you so much! I'll make sure to check them all out for next cycle

I'm guessing the firms with tiny intakes like King & Spalding, Brown Rudnick, and Proskauer Rose also aren't requiring any tests (not from personal experience unfortunately as I haven't applied to them).

 

[trainee4u]

My honest opinion on VIs [please feel free to dispute this] is that they don't measure the actual substance of your answers to the same extent as your ability to manage your time well, think on the spot, structure your answers and perform under pressure. I see VIs not as a time to show off general interview answers, but to show I can craft clean, coherent and balanced answers under time pressure in an uncomfortable environment. When I made that switch, I instantly started passing. [2 rejections, switched my focus, 3 passes]

I was musing on this last night. I was watching a youtube streamer, who has about 1500 videos each about 30-120 minutes, and in his more recent videos (compared to the earliest) he has a nice desk microphone, a better camera, and his introduction style sounds more fluent and confident.

I accidentally clicked on an older video, and while the main stream (the game being streamed) is identical in quality, the difference in video and sound quality of his voice/inlaid video of himself is very noticeable, and makes a big difference to the overall quality of the stream.

I was thinking therefore that it's likely that if you have a nice camera and microphone, then it's going to create an immediate better impression than if you are using just whatever your laptop comes with.

 

[trainee4u]

Received Akin Spring VS PFO at 16:06.