• How confident are you in your knowledge of the core LLB/PGDL subjects, including Contract, Tort, Trusts, Land, Criminal, and Public Law?

    TCLA is teaming up with BPP for a free interactive event designed to refresh your fundamentals, especially for those interested in or planning to take the SQE. We'll practise multiple choice SQE questions, with prizes for the highest scoring participants!

    Register Here

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Ram Sabaratnam

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
442
1,025
Hi there, I appreciate that this is mainly for vacation scheme discussion, but in light of recent VS rejections does anyone know the chances of securing a TC without prior legal experience/vacation scheme places etc?

Hiya @lawaspirant21

I think this really depends on the firm, but securing a training contract without a vacation scheme is definitely possible, although it can be a bit trickier without any legal experience at all. Most people I know who’ve successfully secured a TC without a vacation scheme have done so after gaining some paralegal experience. Two close colleagues of mine secured training contracts at Baker McKenzie and RPC without vacation scheme experience, but both had been paralegals for nearly a year before applying. If you're aiming for direct TC applications, I’d highly recommend trying to gain some relevant experience, whether as a paralegal or in related roles. Even business services, compliance, or regulatory roles can provide valuable experience that firms look upon favourably. Wishing you the best of luck with your applications!
 

Miss Chocolate

Legendary Member
Nov 27, 2023
281
378
Guys for Hill Dickinson, please can I check if the following means that your TC is only within one of those areas? Does this mean that if you want to join their health sector, your TC will not include seats in, say, marine work?

As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups.

Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?
 
  • Like
Reactions: marisachr

elsx

Valued Member
Nov 8, 2024
108
136
Guys for Hill Dickinson, please can I check if the following means that your TC is only within one of those areas? Does this mean that if you want to join their health sector, your TC will not include seats in, say, marine work?

As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups.

Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?
I think so yes
 

simplyfaith

Distinguished Member
Feb 13, 2022
60
434
Dear LinkedIn,

I am proud to announce that after tremendous effort and patience, I have secured a post-app Cooley PFO at 13:17.

I would like to thank their event representatives and the lawyer who spent 45 minutes with me on the phone, for this would have not been possible without them. Most importantly, I would like to thank myself. For producing a truly generic application, displaying an unrivaled lack of aptitude and conviction for technology law. Comment with the keyword "Conviction" to get my free guide on how you, too, can join the 99%

"You can do anything you set your mind to, man" - Eminem

(yes, I'm on that copium)
 

jojo23

Legendary Member
Sep 15, 2024
160
352
Dear LinkedIn,

I am proud to announce that after tremendous effort and patience, I have secured a post-app Cooley PFO at 13:17.

I would like to thank their event representatives and the lawyer who spent 45 minutes with me on the phone, for this would have not been possible without them. Most importantly, I would like to thank myself. For producing a truly generic application, displaying an unrivaled lack of aptitude and conviction for technology law. Comment with the keyword "Conviction" to get my free guide on how you, too, can join the 99%

"You can do anything you set your mind to, man" - Eminem

(yes, I'm on that copium)
This is how villains are made🤣🤣🤣
 

BillSikes

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Feb 16, 2024
261
301
Guys for Hill Dickinson, please can I check if the following means that your TC is only within one of those areas? Does this mean that if you want to join their health sector, your TC will not include seats in, say, marine work?

As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups.

Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?
Not sure - but they did use to run specific TC apps for each of those sectors - so I think it is likely that yes the seats will be specific.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miss Chocolate

Miss Chocolate

Legendary Member
Nov 27, 2023
281
378
Not sure - but they did use to run specific TC apps for each of those sectors - so I think it is likely that yes the seats will be specific.
So should I focus on teams just in one sector or take a more open-minded approach and say, well, if I get the TC in health, I would like to do idk regulatory work. If business services, corporate. And so on? I mean I am assuming you don't get to choose your sector?
 

Ram Sabaratnam

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
442
1,025
My ropes and gray answer is 325 words... do I need to pump those numbers up to reach closer to 500?😭😭

Hiya @jojo23

Just to add to what everyone's said (and also congrats on getting that word count up), I wanted to echo the great comments by @Amma Usman here to anyone still working on the Ropes application! With Ropes' question, it’s important not just to identify the traits you’re discussing but also to clarify what you mean by them (whether it’s adaptability, commercial mindset, or another key characteristic). Beyond that, you’ll also want to directly tie each trait back to how it enables lawyers to drive growth. That could be through explaining how each trait allows the firm to do such things as expand its client base, stay ahead of emerging client needs, innovating in legal services, or another way of creating value.

It’s definitely tricky to cover all of this in just 325 words, so well done on expanding here. For anyone else still working on the application, I think it’s totally doable before midnight. I’m sure with a little more refining, you’ll all be in great shape. Best of luck, and hope it goes really well! 😊
 

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Newsletter

Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.