TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jojo23]

General question if you've done an insight scheme with a firm- is it a good idea to include it in an application with another firm?

Shows interest and engagement in the industry so why not👀

 

[trainee4u]

Does anyone have any guidance on how to respond to a firm asking which firm you have accepted a training contract with?

I received a vacation scheme offer from Firm A but I also received a training contract offer from Firm B around the same time. I decided to accept the training contract offer with Firm B, so I emailed to withdraw from Firm A's vacation scheme. This was over a week ago, and Firm A acknowledged my email and wished me well for the future etc. Firm A has now emailed me today to ask which firm I've accepted the training contract offer with.

I don't really understand why they would be asking this? Does anyone have any advice?

Your response (or lack of one) needs to consider your best interests.

For example: firm B is your dream firm and you would not consider working for firm A instead: just ignore the email, you've already communicated with firm A professionally about why you have declined, and there's no benefit to you from sending them information that's irrelevant to them.

If you were interested in firm A still, I presume you would have asked for a DTC interview instead of declining the VS, so I'm assuming that ignoring is the best approach, but it's somewhat possible that they might be interested in you for DTC, so that could be something to consider.

 

[jfb]

Do you know how many people have heard back about the VS? I did my assessment last Friday and haven't heard back

I think I saw 3 people on here so far. And yeah same I did mine on Saturday.

 

[jfb]

Ahh have you received any emails from them since?

Not since I did the online assessment / VI.

 

[Jessica Booker]

General question if you've done an insight scheme with a firm- is it a good idea to include it in an application with another firm?

Definitely something to include - shows you are a competitive candidate and that you have pursued opportunities to learn more about the sector/career.

It will be important to demonstrate what you have gained from the insight day though.

 

[ohnoselim]

yep! I don't know if we should assume a PFO. looks likely. i don't think they send out anything in batches -- even with VI invites they were sent together, no?

im not sure i thought the vi's were sent in batches, i received my vi invite later, but maybe im being hopeful lol

 

[Chris Brown]

Some people got offers on Monday?

Yeah, a few people commented on this thread that they got a spring VS with Stephenson Harwood.

Do you know how many people have heard back about the VS? I did my assessment last Friday and haven't heard back

I think quite a few of us received SH VS offers on Monday. I am not sure exactly how many VS offers SH plan to make across all of their VS’, but I know at least 6-7 people on this forum got VS offers from them so far (all sent out on Monday). I think I read somewhere that it’s between 10-15 per VS? 🤔

I also took my assessment late last week and I heard back on Monday. I think it will depend on whether people applied for Spring VS only, or both Spring and Summer VS (but chose Spring as their first choice). I think I applied for all 3 VS’ because I’m super indecisive lmao. 🥲

Best of luck to everyone that is waiting to hear from SH either post application or post test. If you are waiting to hear back post application and applied for Summer VS, don’t worry if you haven’t yet received a test invite. I think SH are processing Spring VS applications first! 😅​

 

[HappyHippo]

A few of us received VS offers on Monday. Idk how many offers SH plan to make across all of their VS’, but I know at least 6-7 people on this forum got VS offers from them so far (all sent out on Monday). I think I read somewhere that it’s between 10-15 per VS? 🤔

I also took my assessment late last week and I heard back on Monday. I think it will depend on whether people applied for Spring VS only, or both Spring and Summer VS (but chose Spring as their first choice). I think I applied for all 3 VS’ because I’m super indecisive lmao. 🥲

Best of luck to everyone that is waiting to hear from SH either post application or post test. If you are waiting to hear back post application and applied for Summer VS, don’t worry if you haven’t yet received a test invite. I think SH are processing Spring VS applications first! 😅​

If you were offered spring could you change to summer? As that would limit spaces for those who applied to summer only if those with spring offers wanted to change to summer.

 

[legallyells]

does anyone have any advice on how to prepare for a commercial written task in a week?

 

[trainee4u]

Best of luck to everyone that is waiting to hear from SH either post application or post test. If you are waiting to hear back post application and applied for Summer VS, don’t worry if you haven’t yet received a test invite. I think SH are processing Spring VS applications first! 😅

I def would have applied to Spring or both, lol. No invite. Maybe they don't like repeat applicants!?

Also maybe I'm dumb, but SH uses Candid ATS (Vantage) and I think you can't view submitted applications. Am I wrong?

 

[James Wakefield]

Can anyone else no longer access their previous applications on Vantage?

 

[TCseeker101]

Can anyone else no longer access their previous applications on Vantage?

Funnily enough I tried to find one earlier and it wouldn't let me click on it!

 

[johnnn821]

Those who applied to Hill Dickinson did you receive the email about being allocated to a specific business group?

 

[floral.tcla]

anyone else still not heard back from HL post-wg for the summer VS? should I assume a PFO?

 

[trainee4u]

Can anyone else no longer access their previous applications on Vantage?

I just fiddled a bit and it appears it's now mostly impossible, but can sometimes be done.

So:

1. all submitted and unsubmitted applications appear at https://portal.vantageapp.io/applications
2. unsubmitted ones will have a 'complete' button.
3. submitted ones they've specifically disabled it on the server side, so the ID that you would need to view the application is not there in all cases
4. in the Stephenson Harwood 'thank you for submitting' email it would say "You can view your application by logging into your Vantage account and going to the My Applications page. VIEW MY APPLICATION "
5. however this link is just a redirect to https://portal.vantageapp.io/applications and you can't get in
6. if you sign up for a firm's page at Candid ATS/Vantage at least a week before the deadline but don't submit they will likely send a reminder email. this appears identical, but is not - it doesn't go to portal/applications, but instead directly to the link to your application.
7. this will be https://shlegal.app.candidats.io/profile/create/[GUID] for SH, and e.g., https://michelmores.app.candidats.io/profile/create/[GUID] for Michelmores
8. My SH app is still viewable, but ALL my others (whether active or PFOed) appare not to be.
9. In addition to the 'please complete your submission' email, you can also find the correct link in your browser history - just type in "app.candidats.io/profile/create", and you'll find all the (recent! within your browser history) links to view your applications, but most probably disabled!!!

 

[legallyells]

howden partner interview!

 

[User5678]

Those who applied to Hill Dickinson did you receive the email about being allocated to a specific business group?

Yes correct, I got the business group. Almost had a mini heart attack when that notification popped up😂

 

[Chris Brown]

For the GDL, you generally don’t need to be in London. It’s not a bespoke course, so if their course provider has different locations, I strongly suspect you’d be able to do it at any of the locations.

It would only be of the firm has a very bespoke conversion course that you might be limited to London.

If you are commuting into a course in London, then your maintenance grant is likely to be based on you being in London.

Hi @Jessica Booker,

If a firm stipulates that all future trainees should do the SQE together (in-person) at BPP or ULaw London (depending on who they have partnered with), and they offer a maintenance grant worth X (e.g., £20,000), is it ever possible for firms to offer additional financial support to people who live very far from London AND are from a socially mobile background? It seems that most firms offer a standard maintenance grant to all future trainees, which doesn’t take into account personal or financial circumstances?

Do you know of any instances where city law firms have offered additional support, either as a grant/bursary or interest-free loan? How do firms deal with future trainees who may be of a particular faith or religion, where they can’t take out on an interest-based loan from student finance, due to their religious beliefs? Also, is it true some firms request their future trainees to not work part time whilst studying the SQE? If so, how do people usually survive in London (I don’t really know how expensive London is but I have heard it is really bad, especially rent prices)?

Apologies for the long question. 🥲🥲​

 

[Apple]

This might sound like a silly question, but how do people prepare for VS? How do you know what to do during a VS? Is there anything that I should be doing now in advance of a VS? I haven’t worked in a city law firm before so I’m starting to overthink this whole process lmao. Any advice would be appreciated. Please help. 🥲🥲

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam​

if you qualify, Aspiring Solicitors have a free programme that has webinars, 1:1 calls etc - all centred around preparing you to convert the VS to a TC.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker,

If a firm stipulates that all future trainees should do the SQE together (in-person) at BPP or ULaw London (depending on who they have partnered with), and they offer a maintenance grant worth X (e.g., £20,000), is it ever possible for firms to offer additional financial support to people who live very far from London AND are from a socially mobile background? It seems that most firms offer a standard maintenance grant to all future trainees, which doesn’t take into account personal or financial circumstances?

Do you know of any instances where city law firms have offered additional support, either as a grant/bursary or interest-free loan? How do firms deal with future trainees of a particular faith or religion, where they can’t take out on an interest-based loan from student finance, due to their religious beliefs? Also, is it true some firms request their future trainees to not work part time whilst studying the SQE? If so, how do people usually survive in London (I don’t really know how expensive London is but I have heard it is really bad, especially rent prices)?

Apologies for the long question. 🥲🥲​

In most instances, it is going to be unlikely that additional funds would be allocated on a means-tested basis. Firms set their maintenance grants at levels they think are reasonable for everyone no matter what their circumstances. There might be some firms that offer this, but it isn't something I have heard of enough for it to be common.

Sometimes firms offer additional financial awards but they tend to not be means-tested. It can be if you have achieved something (e.g. a certain grade in your degree) or if you want to put money towards a particular initiative that will help develop certain transferable skills (e.g. learning a new language/doing a volunteer project).

Some firms do offer interest-free loans or salary advances, but the salary advances are typically only given in the 1-2 months before starting a TC rather than at the start of the SQE. Interest-free loans could be agreed earlier on.

We do know some firms stop their future trainees from working part-time - many don't though, and so many future trainees do have part-time jobs (like some people in the TCLA team) to top up their income.

Some firms also offer interim work in the holidays or periods between courses to help boost people's income, whether that's directly with the firm or asking the temp agencies they work with to support their future trainees with finding appropriate temp work.

You should speak to your TC firm if you have got any concerns about being able to afford living in London during the SQE to find out how they can support you and what their policies are on things like working part-time.