TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jasonbourne]

1) It’s just being non committal. The last thing they want is to bring in a whole load of trainees on the SQE and then for some random reason bring in a trainee on a LPC training contract (maybe mitigating circumstances) and everyone else to complain why they didn’t get that opportunity. I can’t really see firms offering the LPC route any more though - it’s a lot more hassle for them as there are many more regulations and processes they have to go through. I don’t know what angle there would be for arguing against completing SQE2 when everyone else is doing that stage, and especially where some of the diversity concerns with the SQE are much more associated with SQE1.

2) Firms generally don’t want trainees submitting their previous experiences as QWE, as it undermines their training contract. Unfortunately firms have little control over it though as the decision lies with you rather than them.

3) People are qualifying via the QWE/SQE route. But I am seeing plenty do people choosing to do this when they haven’t got an NQ role lined up. To be able to compete in the NQ job market, your two years of QWE needs to be of the same level, complexity, standard, variety and possible even with the same type of clients as those you will be competing for the NQ role with. You are not going to be able to step into a litigation role without litigation experience. You are going to struggle to get into large international firms if most of the litigation work you have done is with smaller, domestic companies or simple disputes. You therefore have to make sure your QWE allows you to compete for the jobs you are aiming for upon qualification.

Hi @Jessica Booker really appreciate this, thanks for the insight.

On point 2 - That makes sense from the firm's perspective, they wouldn't want their TC undermined in that sense. What if for instance, you don't submit previous experiences as QWE to avoid the firm's being put off by you and to therefore become more attractive to them? Most firms I have spoken to said they would just disregard the previous experiences I had as the 2-year TC programme is what they would use to sign off the QWE on their end. I guess most of what I'm saying, though, is in relation to how I would be viewed as a candidate regarding this, rather than the mechanics of how QWE actually works/what the firm's sign off as QWE.

On point 3 - So in that sense would that be a negative of the SQE, generally speaking, if you don't secure a TC and decide to qualify via previous experiences for QWE? Would it not be a struggle to get your foot in the NQ market as a fresh SQE graduate with little experience of the same level, complexity, standard and variety as other people I'll be competing with (people with NQ-level type experience and people like myself) no?

 

[jasonbourne]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

To my knowledge, Ashurst extended their deadline to the end of Feb (the latest they will get back to people), but that date is essentially the day they send out all of their PFO’s. It was like this for the WVS.

Travers Smith have started their interviews but so far I think only 4-5 people have had theirs (out of TCLA Forum users anyway). As for the other firms, I think it’s pretty much the same in that a lot of people are waiting, but not too sure tbh.​

 

[VacSchemer]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

RPC post-WG seems like a dead end ngl. But this is just my opinion because I’ve given up hope haha. I’m sure a lot of the others raised good points of them possibly giving out more AC invites but I’m not sure is all.

 

[FoxStella]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

 

[Chris Brown]

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

Huge congrats. 🥳

 

[BillSikes]

RPC post-WG seems like a dead end ngl. But this is just my opinion because I’ve given up hope haha. I’m sure a lot of the others raised good points of them possibly giving out more AC invites but I’m not sure is all.

Hard disagree. Cus it would be insane if they mass rejected all post-WG apps due to spaces being filled.

I have never experienced a firm do this at second stage in three cycles now.

They did say we’d hear back late Feb tbf to them.

 

[FoxStella]

Huge congrats. 🥳

Thank you!!!

 

[Chris Brown]

Hard disagree. Cus it would be insane if they mass rejected all post-WG apps due to spaces being filled.

They did say we’d hear back late Feb tbf to them.

I have seen a few people on this forum who applied to RPC and were progressed through their stages quite quickly and now have VS offers. Not sure if that was for Spring or Summer though idrk how RPC works, just going based off what I’ve seen on here. 🥲​

 

[zoobla20]

I saw a few people received holding emails on friday - there isn't an ac before the svs

The holding email was for still handing out VIs just in case there's any confusion there

 

[AZ97]

Anyone heard anything from weil today?

 

[marisachr]

Hill Dickinson test invite

 

[lawyersum]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker @anyone else (sorry if you're not supposed to tag multiple Forum helpers),

I recently received feedback from LL post-AC. Please can you advise on how you would implement the following advice, based on your experiences? It was explained clearly but as a non-law student from a first-generation background, I want to check that I'm not missing anything 😅

For context, there was a HR competency-based interview and a technical interview with Partners. I didn't perform quite well enough in either of them to progress.

1. Succinctness - an issue in both. In the Hr interview, I used the STAR technique but gave too much backstory and the interviewer didn't have enough time/was unable to ask follow up questions and build a rapport. The content itself was strong though and they could tell I prepared/put effort in.
2. Technical interview - evidence of ability to interpret (the legal points) of a term sheet - there were points I didn't pick up on/this was the weaker point even though I had high-level commercial thinking. This is what I REALLY am unsure of how to develop as a non-law student - beyond the (v helpful) case studies the TCLA subscription provides, what else would you advise?
3. Building a rapport - honestly I am such an introverted person (and I think I may be a masking autistic!) but feedback emphasised that they could see I was nervous but wanted a genuine conversation with me.

Honestly that's all there is, I'm still a bit confused on what else to do, because nothing explicit on my answers to motivational questions was given or how well I did do at picking up legal concepts, just that it wasn't good enough. Is it worth messaging them again to ask or should I not?

LL was really nice though in terms of the feedback

The weird thing is that I know someone who got a LL scheme (not the VS) who is very detached/not personable at all, certainly less than me. I don't want to sound gossipy but I'm not sure how they got it and I didn't...

Hey, as someone who studied law I found that the Forage internships are really useful to get yourself familiar with legal documents such as term sheets, SPAs, employment contracts etc. The Slaughter and May programme literally provides you with an exemplar term sheet and goes through each section with an explanation. If you do enough of them, you’ll see that the exercises are very similar to what you get in ACs and you’ll be familiar with the documents involved in a transaction or shareholder agreement so it won’t be so foreign to you. Even though I studied law, of course we aren’t exposed to practical documents during our degrees, so Forage has really been helping me in that sense. Hope this helps and be kind to yourself, you got to a Linklaters AC which is defo something to be proud of

 

[MT1]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

Grad rec said last week that they still had a few places left on the spring vac scheme, so I wouldn’t lose hope just yet!

 

[bluescarf]

Hill Dickinson test invite

Same! Congrats Does anyone know where I can get help/practice for Amberjack tests?

 

[Mug Fan]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

 

[User5678]

Hill Dickinson test invite! Is this automatic?

 

[legallyells]

Hill Dickinson test invite! Is this automatic?

apparently it isnt, well done!! 🎉

 

[Chris Brown]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

Whoever decided that VI’s were a good thing to add to the graduate recruit process needs to seriously go outside and touch some f****ng grass imo. Worst idea to have ever been thought of smh. 🤦🏽‍♂️😂​

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

I don't know who needs to hear this but I f***ing HATE VI's!

Did one this afternoon, it wasn't even hard but I still c**ked it up. Literally my 3 dream questions, had great answers for each, end up spiralling in the last 10 secs. I pass the phone interviews (you know, with real people) every time but yet to pass a VI.

Le sigh. 😭

Same. How can I pass an AC and literally do embarrassingly bad in VI with one of my favourite firms in the same cycle? It really takes a different skillset