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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

TCpleasex

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 23, 2025
    24
    70
    Has anyone heard from Womble Bond since applications closed. I assumed they sent the test automatically but have not heard anything yet.
    It says on their website that everyone who applies and is eligible for the TC will be sent the test. I think they check everyone’s applications over and those who are eligible will be sent the test so I’m assuming this is what they’re doing now.

    Hopefully we have the test next week.
     

    andrewk

    Active Member
    Nov 17, 2024
    10
    24
    Does anyone know whether Cleary Gottlieb allows you to do their VS if you've already accepted a TC with another firm? As in, is there a term in the contract which says that? (Same questions with Latham and HSF as I've still got ACs left with them)

    I'm happy to not be public about accepting the TC and 'hiding' this during the vac scheme, as long as I don't get sued for breach of contract 😅
     
    • ℹ️
    Reactions: Chris Brown

    Apple

    Legendary Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Jul 23, 2023
    248
    545
    Does anyone know whether Cleary Gottlieb allows you to do their VS if you've already accepted a TC with another firm? As in, is there a term in the contract which says that? (Same questions with Latham and HSF as I've still got ACs left with them)

    I'm happy to not be public about accepting the TC and 'hiding' this during the vac scheme, as long as I don't get sued for breach of contract 😅
    IDK whether you can do that, but it feels a bit inconsiderate to prospective applicants who are seriously considering a TC there who would now be deprived of a place.
     

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    597
    1,971
    IDK whether you can do that, but it feels a bit inconsiderate to prospective applicants who are seriously considering a TC there who would now be deprived of a place.
    I think people would want to weigh up their options and by doing multiple VS and having multiple TC offers, they could then make a more informed decision. 🙂

    I’m sure Cleary Gottlieb would make offers to everyone who ticks their boxes so I don’t think there would rly be anyone deprived of a place. Then again idk much about Cleary Gottlieb so maybe they have a particular process which is similar to Debevoise & Plimpton. 🫤

    I just think people don’t rly know at the beginning of the application cycle where they will end up so it’s not right to say whether they are being inconsiderate. 🥲
     
    Last edited:

    jta227

    Legendary Member
    Nov 10, 2024
    144
    280
    IDK whether you can do that, but it feels a bit inconsiderate to prospective applicants who are seriously considering a TC there who would now be deprived of a place.

    Devil's advocate: sometimes people with signed TCs are still considering the firms they will have VSs at later on but had to sign the earlier TC because there was a 2 week limit - no-one will let an offer just slip by when they're not guaranteed to get one later!

    Also an unlikely but possible scenario: someone signs 1 TC, fails the SQE and now they have to start from scratch with no experience whereas if they had done those vac schemes they could probably jump back into direct TC apps easier.
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    15,316
    21,390
    Does anyone know whether Cleary Gottlieb allows you to do their VS if you've already accepted a TC with another firm? As in, is there a term in the contract which says that? (Same questions with Latham and HSF as I've still got ACs left with them)

    I'm happy to not be public about accepting the TC and 'hiding' this during the vac scheme, as long as I don't get sued for breach of contract 😅
    Firms are not going to sue you for breach of contract. There is no financial sense in doing so.
     

    Apple

    Legendary Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Jul 23, 2023
    248
    545
    Devil's advocate: sometimes people with signed TCs are still considering the firms they will have VSs at later on but had to sign the earlier TC because there was a 2 week limit - no-one will let an offer just slip by when they're not guaranteed to get one later!

    Also an unlikely but possible scenario: someone signs 1 TC, fails the SQE and now they have to start from scratch with no experience whereas if they had done those vac schemes they could probably jump back into direct TC apps easier.
    I think the SQE scenario is a reach, but having multiple TCs to weigh up your options is something that slipped my mind. I interpreted it as them just wanting to do the schemes.
     

    andrewk

    Active Member
    Nov 17, 2024
    10
    24
    I think the SQE scenario is a reach, but having multiple TCs to weigh up your options is something that slipped my mind. I interpreted it as them just wanting to do the schemes.
    Yes for context the TC offer that I have received expires in a month. I do want to keep my options open but I understand Cleary has a 25% conversion rate so it doesn't make sense for me to pass up on the TC offer
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    15,316
    21,390
    I completely understand this, but I was wondering whether Cleary might report me to the SRA if I breach one of their terms? Or whether they might be a bit annoyed in general.
    They are not going to report you to the SRA either. Even if they did, the SRA is no longer a signatory to the voluntary code of best practice for the recruitment of trainee solicitors (they left about a decade ago), so I don't think they would even care about this even if it was attempted to be reported. But I can't see firms even reporting it to the SRA - no one did this when the SRA was part of the code!

    Graduate Recruitment move on pretty quickly when someone reneges on them. The only time they can get be more concerned is if they have spent money on your training, include being liable for your sponsored GDL/LPC/SQE courses/assessments, even where you have started the onboarding processes for them let alone started them.

    The most likely outcome is you just annoy them (assuming they find out) and are unable to proceed with their offer where you are in breach of contract.
     

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