TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Deleted member 23778]

It looks like my application season for this year might be over with no VS/TC offers. I have good A-Level marks (4xA*) and a (non-law) degree from Oxford and lots of extra-curriculars. I think my biggest weakness in my applications is a lack of legal-specific experience, for most of university I believed that I wanted to work as an economist so I didn't accumulate much of the CV law-stuff.

After doing lots of research over the last few months, I am certain that I want to work in commercial and competition law so will reapply next year. Does anyone have any tips of what I could do between now and then, as a graduate student, to improve my chances for next year. Specifically how can one gain the relevant experience? It feels really hard to get any real insight into commercial work when you're not already working at a commercial firm (a very draining catch-22).

Good luck everyone!

Hi, just my two cents.

Firstly, impressive list of achievements! Definitely achievements that would be attractive to the very best law firms

Secondly, I really do not think you *need* legal experience to get a TC and definitely wouldn't need that to get a VS offer. I have attended so many law firm events where lawyers/grad rec reiterate the fact that they know getting legal experience is difficult. What they look for is a manifest interest in commercial law and sharp intellect (through good grades, which you clearly demonstrate).

To demonstrate an interest in commercial law, what I did was to attend a bunch of insight events. I think I attended about 20 events the past two years. Look to apply for competitive insight days as well. I also completed forage internships. This was enough to get me a TC interview invite at Slaughter and May. I had not done a VS before this interview. Of course, it is important to be able to speak about what you learned from these and how they reinforced your interest in commercial law.

Secondly, I think you should be able to show transferable skills. i.e.:how are the things you have already accomplished relevant to law/ how would they make you a good lawyer? In doing this, you would show that you actually know the role of a lawyer and have thought deeply about it- making it clear that this new career trajectory isn't just a whim which can easily change.

There are lots of interconnections between law and economics and so I do think it would be quite easy to come up with a compelling 'why law?' response which shows clear reasoning.

I hope this is useful. Goodluck!

(I also came from a quasi-economics background and have now gotten MC offers this cycle, so just know this is very doable!).

 

[Katy12345]

Grad rec trying to do damage control when it’s so much better to be honest and transparent about it. I went to a semi-top RG but I went there solely because it was the closest RG to where I live. I wasn’t in a financial position of moving really far from home. Of course I loved my uni and course but my options were quite limited. It’s sad that people with potential are immediately rejected because they didn’t go Oxbridge/LSE/Imperial. It’s minor though it’s their loss at the end of the day. 🥲🥲​

One of their current trainees went to the University of Manchester so I definitely think they consider RG’s especially as they are a sponsor of MULS

 

[l789]

Hi, just my two cents.

Firstly, impressive list of achievements! Definitely achievements that would be attractive to the very best law firms

Secondly, I really do not think you *need* legal experience to get a TC and definitely wouldn't need that to get a VS offer. I have attended so many law firm events where lawyers/grad rec reiterate the fact that they know getting legal experience is difficult. What they look for is a manifest interest in commercial law and sharp intellect (through good grades, which you clearly demonstrate).

To demonstrate an interest in commercial law, what I did was to attend a bunch of insight events. I think I attended about 20 events the past two years. Look to apply for competitive insight days as well. I also completed forage internships. This was enough to get me a TC interview invite at Slaughter and May. I had not done a VS before this interview. Of course, it is important to be able to speak about what you learned from these and how they reinforced your interest in commercial law.

Secondly, I think you should be able to show transferable skills. i.e.:how are the things you have already accomplished relevant to law/ how would they make you a good lawyer? In doing this, you would show that you actually know the role of a lawyer and have thought deeply about it- making it clear that this new career trajectory isn't just a whim which can easily change.

There are lots of interconnections between law and economics and so I do think it would be quite easy to come up with a compelling 'why law?' response which shows clear reasoning.

I hope this is useful. Goodluck!

(I also came from a quasi-economics background and have now gotten MC offers this cycle, so just know this is very doable!).

Amazing … congratulations!

Thank you for sharing this

 

[Deleted member 23778]

Amazing … congratulations!

Thank you for sharing this

Welcome!

 

[VVV]

Anyone heard from W&C post AC this week?

 

[VMS]

Update just received my 8th this week 😂

I'm so sorry, it's such a shame that all of those have come at once. I hope you have a much better weekend and have the time to take a break from apps!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I understand and I am sorry to hear that. Maybe this is an area that can be improved in the student finance system and increase the number of scholarships. I would hate for someone to work so hard and have to settle for a lower-ranked / unpreferred university because of financial reasons.

There are hundreds of thousands of domestic students who do this each year.

50% of first degree students attend a university in their home region. Not all will do this for financial reasons, some will also do it on purpose to remain close to home - for instance you see a much higher proportion of domestic ethnic minority students attend a local university than you do white counterparts, especially certain female ethnic minorities who typically will have higher family demands to stay local.

So for many it’s just not easy to up and move to a well respected university elsewhere in the country.

It’s great if you live in London or other major U.K. cities where you may have options to go to a local university that is highly respected, but if you live in places like Hull, Falmouth, Bangor, Grimsby, travelling hundreds of miles to your nearest “highly ranked” uni is just not an option for many.

 

[Chris Brown]

Where is the implication I made that you had your university place handed to you? You’ve literally proved my point - universities make contextual offers so all universities are accessible to all.

Universities aren’t accessible to all though. My point was that some people have the potential to succeed at elite RG universities and have the academic grades to meet their entry requirements, but due to financial circumstances, they are unable to access these institutions due to the higher costs of living. As a result, they end up going to their local university (often a non-RG). I was fortunate in that I had a RG uni closer to my hometown (one of my offers), so I went there and loved my time there as well. It’s still considered a mid-tier RG, but I don’t think anybody would consider it on the same level as say Oxford, Cambridge or LSE.

For a law firm to only accept applications from these certain elite universities knowing that talent isn’t limited to just Oxbridge or LSE, for example, is unfair in my opinion. I have seen people with A*AA at A-level and they went to their local university. A firm like Ropes & Gray seems to have the policy that if someone isn’t a student or graduate of an elite RG, it’s an automatic rejection. I don’t think that’s the fairest policy to have. I think what needs to be seen is universities offering more needs-based scholarships. That way, the best students are gaining entry into these elite institutions (regardless of their background). This isn’t reality right now. Whilst contextual offers help remove some of the barriers to entry, there is so much more that needs to be done in my opinion.​

 

[A worried graduate]

Can anyone tell me if I should begin to look at direct TCs or go for the Vac Schemes that are left?

I have no paralegal experience if that is of relevance.

 

[Broadwater]

Universities aren’t accessible to all though. My point was that some people have the potential to succeed at elite RG universities and have the academic grades to meet their entry requirements, but due to financial circumstances, they are unable to access these institutions due to the higher costs of living. As a result, they end up going to their local university (often a non-RG). I was fortunate in that I had a RG uni closer to my hometown (one of my offers), so I went there and loved my time there as well. It’s still considered a mid-tier RG, but I don’t think anybody would consider it on the same level as say Oxford, Cambridge or LSE.

For a law firm to only accept applications from these certain elite universities knowing that talent isn’t limited to just Oxbridge or LSE, for example, is unfair in my opinion. I have seen people with A*AA at A-level and they went to their local university. A firm like Ropes & Gray seems to have the policy that if someone isn’t a student or graduate of an elite RG, it’s an automatic rejection. I don’t think that’s the fairest policy to have. I think what needs to be seen is universities offering more needs-based scholarships. That way, the best students are gaining entry into these elite institutions (regardless of their background). This isn’t reality right now. Whilst contextual offers help remove some of the barriers to entry, there is so much more that needs to be done in my opinion.​

I know for a fact that one of the vacation schemes last year had 1/3 Non-RG attendees

 

[RSK]

anyone still waiting to hear back from latham?

 

[Chris Brown]

I know for a fact that one of the vacation schemes last year had 1/3 Non-RG attendees

Were the non-RG attendees from St Andrews, Bath and Loughborough? If so, it’s pretty much the same difference. If not, then that’s good to hear honestly. I wonder how many of the non-RG VS’ received TC offers though. Most of the current and future trainees I have come across on LinkedIn went to Oxbridge, Durham, LSE, KCL and UCL. 🥲​

 

[CCLaw]

anyone still waiting to hear back from latham?

I submitted my application in November after attending their open day; at this point I feel like giving up. This waiting game is actually killing me.

 

[rishifrompierpoint]

Just got the video interview for CC SPARK, does anyone have any tips and advice in regards to the delivery, body language and structure of answers? Thanks.

 

[AlegalA]

I don't think the QS university rankings are considered relevant in the UK. They are very key for example for applicants from foreign countries seeking scholarships where there is a requirement for "top 100 worldwide" or whatever.

However, I would avoid citing them in the UK. They are deliberately gamed by universities seeking foreign students and do not necessarily use relevant measures.

In addition, while undergraduate university is a strong indication of academic ability, the fact is about half (?) of English corporate lawyers do their legal education at a degree mill (Ulaw, BPP), so the idea that corporate clients are concerned that you learned about Shakespeare (or whatever your undergraduate degree was in) from the best profs at the best uni is a little unlikely. Plus general rankings don't reflect individual subject expertise.

Oh no, tbh I agree and I agree with @Chris Brown's take that only hiring from "elite" unis lacks obvious context, and a holistic view as to how/why people choose their universities.
I was simply arguing that saying Birmingham isn't one of the top universities seems wrong, when they are scored so highly in the UK (given they had spoken about ranks) and that they are a Russell Group uni. (And obviously I am aware that they're not oxbridge or the likes).

 

[summerk27]

Anyone heard back from CRS after video interview for London/Guildford placement schemes?

 

[trainee4u]

Oh no, tbh I agree and I agree with @Chris Brown's take that only hiring from "elite" unis lacks obvious context, and a holistic view as to how/why people choose their universities.
I was simply arguing that saying Birmingham isn't one of the top universities seems wrong, when they are scored so highly in the UK (given they had spoken about ranks) and that they are a Russell Group uni. (And obviously I am aware that they're not oxbridge or the likes).

Sure, it was really a reply to his post, I just couldn't bring myself to reply directly.

 

[sapphireoreos]

Did anyone else get a CRS holding email? (Applied for summer VS)

 

[josiemusgra]

Hi, if I were to renege a vacation scheme offer because of clashing scheme dates, should I be honest with the graduate recruitment that it was because of another vacation scheme, or should I come up with other reasons like family emergencies? Also, although I think it's not plausible, would it be worth asking if I can do a vacation scheme for 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks because of the clashing dates? Thanks!

 

[trainee4u]

Hi, if I were to renege a vacation scheme offer because of clashing scheme dates, should I be honest with the graduate recruitment that it was because of another vacation scheme, or should I come up with other reasons like family emergencies? Also, although I think it's not plausible, would it be worth asking if I can do a vacation scheme for 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks because of the clashing dates? Thanks!

I think it would make more sense to ask for the two weeks than to simply cancel without trying. I would express it as a desire to experience both, rather than a preference for the other!