TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[trainee4u]

"Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss"

Very... interesting read, signed by Donald Trump. It refers to DEI practices at law firms, specifically PW, as discriminatory, signed by the president, these are crazy times. He called it unlawful!

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114197044617921519

The ban on PW working with the government has been withdrawn in return for them making concessions - no more DEI, and their pro bono to be directed towards Trump-approved causes (listed below).

Today, President Donald J. Trump agreed to withdraw his March 14, 2025 Executive Order regarding the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP law firm (“Paul, Weiss”), which has entered into the following agreement with the President:

1. Paul, Weiss agrees that the bedrock principle of American Justice is that it must be fair and nonpartisan for all. Our Justice System is betrayed when it is misused to achieve political ends.

Lawyers and law firms play a vital role in ensuring that we live up to that standard as a Nation. Law firms should not favor any political party when it comes to choosing their clients. Firms also should not make decisions on whom to hire based on a person’s political affiliation. To do otherwise is to deny some Americans an equal opportunity for our services while favoring others.

Lawyers abandon the profession’s highest ideals when they engage in partisan decision-making, and betray the ethical obligation to represent those who are unpopular or disfavored in a particular environment.

2. Paul, Weiss affirms its unwavering commitment to these core ideals and principles, and will not deny representation to clients, including in pro bono matters and in support of non-profits, because of the personal political views of individual lawyers.

3. Paul, Weiss will take on a wide range of pro bono matters that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints of our society, whether “conservative” or “liberal.”

4. Paul, Weiss affirms its commitment to merit-based hiring, promotion, and retention, and will not adopt, use, or pursue any DEI policies. As part of its commitment, it will engage experts, to be mutually agreed upon within 14 days, to conduct a comprehensive audit of all of its employment practices.

5. Paul, Weiss will dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services over the course of President Trump’s term to support the Administration’s initiatives, including: assisting our Nation’s veterans, fairness in the Justice System, the President’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, and other mutually agreed projects.

A lot of people are saying that PW should not have caved to Trump's demands, and that this reflects poorly on their values, although others would say that it shows that, for clients, PW's ruthlessness will get the job done for them. The problem with this position, however, is that in terms of law firm winning cases, PW appears to have simply rolled over and given Trump everything he wants, including an apparent acknowledgment that previous prosecutions/investigations of Trump were in some way wrong.

"The president is agreeing to this action in light of a meeting with Paul, Weiss Chairman, Brad Karp, during which Mr. Karp acknowledged the wrongdoing of former Paul, Weiss partner, Mark Pomerantz, the grave dangers of Weaponization, and the vital need to restore our System of Justice."

Here is a resignation notice from a junior Skadden associate

I just put in conditional notice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom… | Rachel Cohen | 165 comments

I just put in conditional notice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. I sent that notice firm-wide and anticipate the email will leak. I… | 165 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

She wanted Skadden to join with Perkins Coie (which has a London office and TC, but I'm not sure the dates?!) fighting against Trump's EOs, but Skadden, like most US firms, are just letting him do whatever he wants.

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The

www.whitehouse.gov

The dishonest and dangerous activity of the law firm Perkins Coie LLP (“Perkins Coie”) has affected this country for decades. Notably, in 2016 while representing failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie hired Fusion GPS, which then manufactured a false “dossier” designed to steal an election.

 

[camrxc]

Hi, could I ask if anyone knows what it means if slaughters contacts your referee?

 

[OrangeCherry1800]

After 3 years of application cycles, I received my first Vac Scheme offer today! A reminder to never give up!

 

[yeezyee]

got a SH vac scheme offer through the AS ethnicity pathway programme!! 🎉🎉 my first win!!!!! finally!!

 

[juanitasimi]

got a SH vac scheme offer through the AS ethnicity pathway programme!! 🎉🎉 my first win!!!!! finally!!

Thats amazing congrats - when did you hear back?

 

[mfuturetrainee]

there's an insight event being held for the vac schemers, if im unable to go, do you think it looks bad? @Jessica Booker

 

[paralegaltotrainee]

Additionally, waiting to connect helps you understand the trainees' preferred styles of communication and their capacity to engage, ensuring any conversations you have later on LinkedIn feel natural and comfortable for both parties. Good luck with the vacation scheme! 😊

Just before @Ram Sabaratnam can also come back to you, I agree with Jessica in that there is no need to do so before the scheme starts. For most of my schemes, I did not either, and it was never an issue. However, if you do want to reach out to some people so that there are some friendly faces there on day 1, I also do not think there would be any downside as long as you ensure you are polite and genuine about your intentions.

There's no default recommended template, but I believe you should go for something which cuts the unnecessary formalism and goes to the point. As @Jessica Booker said, you want to show interest in connecting with them as people, so I don't think there's any benefit from writing in a very 'robotic' manner - I know that at least in my case, I get slightly annoyed when approached on LinkedIn with very long and buzz-wordy messages. So I would go for something like:

• Hi ... (name of relevant trainee/junior associate) my name is ... and I will be joining ... (name of firm) for a Vacation Scheme on ... (dates). I just wanted to introduce myself and see if I could ask you a few questions about how to best prepare/tips for converting/the work that you to and how to better understand the firm.

Ideally, this should be enough to get a conversation started. If it goes particularly well, you can then consider asking for a short phone call to develop your connection further.

Thank you so much - this is super helpful! I was thinking more in terms of reaching out on LinkedIn to schedule coffee chats before the scheme starts. If that is advisable at all or if I should wait until the scheme starts?

 

[paralegaltotrainee]

After 3 years of application cycles, I received my first Vac Scheme offer today! A reminder to never give up!

Well done - congrats !! 🥳

 

[OrangeCherry1800]

Well done - congrats !! 🥳

Thank you so much!

 

[Bread]

anything from winston & Strawn post app? judging by last year's forum they sent the WG about a month after the deadline but it's been almost two months now 😅

 

[paralegaltotrainee]

Hi @Ram Sabaratnam , do you have any advice or tips for the Cooley vac scheme? I’d really appreciate any insights on how you found the scheme and the firm, as well as any tips for success. Thanks in advance! 😊

 

[student353]

After chasing up, finally a PW pfo post-interview. The message said nothing about feedback so I do not know if I should request any.

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

Paul, Weiss PFO too post-interview - at least the email was nice!

 

[student353]

Paul, Weiss PFO too post-interview - at least the email was nice!

true, I wish they would offer feedback though; we got to the last stage!

 

[Bread]

true, I wish they would offer feedback though; we got to the last stage!

I understand your frustration. I find that the outcome of so many of those interviews (i.e. the not purely commercial/technical ones) is based on how the candidate gets on with the interviewer, which is obviously hard to pinpoint objectively..

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

true, I wish they would offer feedback though; we got to the last stage!

Me too! I thought about asking if they would offer it, but I feel like if they didn’t include it in the email it is unlikely…

 

[trainee4u]

here's the Trump letters to the law firms about their DEI policies:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/Law_Firm_Letters_-_03.17.2025.pdf

They state:

* firms rapidly increased their % of women, LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority partners/associates
* this took place so rapidly that it is likely to have been illegally discriminatory against non-minorities
* this was done for financial gain: e.g., Microsoft awarded bonuses to law firms meeting diversity targets
* "It appears likely that Cooley disparately provides access to certain privileges of
employment (training and leadership development) based on its employees’ race or other protected
characteristics."
* they ask for Excel spreadsheets with GPAs & race of candidates applying to diversity programmes.
* it refers to a paid 8-10 week internship programme, "SEO law", as excluding whites, and asks about this.
* it asks whether GPAs to filter candidates were applied differently by race
* it asks whether recruiters were asked to source minority candidates

etc.

It is sent to

A&O Shearman, Debevoise & Plimpton, Cooley, Freshfields, Goodwin Procter, Hogan Lovells, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, McDermott Will & Emery, Milbank, Morgan Lewis, Morrison & Foerster, Perkins Coie, Reed Smith, Ropes & Gray, Sidley Austin, Simpson Thacher, Skadden, White & Case, and WilmerHale.


Although MC firms were contacted, this applies only to their US offices.

 

[BBsharkk]

After chasing up, finally a PW pfo post-interview. The message said nothing about feedback so I do not know if I should request any.

Same here. I emailed them nonetheless, but ngl the recruitment process was kinda weird given that they are marketed as the best PE firm without a single technical element or question 🤣

 

[thelawstudent]

still no news for most from NRF post - AC?

 

[anna57492]

Anyone heard back from rwk Goodman post vi? I believe their first scheme starts in April but they haven’t gotten back to applicants yet?

Had an interview invite this week