TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[trainee4u]

Hi all, has anyone done the Pinsent Masons Forage experience/ have any general advice on how to prioritise emails?

I'm prepping for their AC which has an inbox/in-tray exercise. PM's forage has a task where you need to review emails and rank the order you would respond to, so I think assesses similar things to the AC exercise.

The correct answers for how you should prioritise are really different from how I would go about it so I am seriously confused.

E.g. they say to prioritise responding to an email from a partner (sent 4pm the day before) asking for a summary of changes in the legislation in the next few days BEFORE
1) an associate's email saying they need something 'as soon as possible to ensure the bank can fund the deal by 2pm', and
2) an urgent email from your supervisor at 9am saying they need your help summarising something 'sufficiently ahead' of 11am

Am I missing something? I would honestly have put the email from the partner as not that urgent and can be dealt with by the end of the week. Does anyone have any insight as to why this order? @Jessica Booker

I just checked it, it is clearly nonsense/error.

The emails with the 'correct' order

1. a partner at 4pm yesterday (Tuesday) emailed to say they are meeting a client next Tuesday and has asked for a page of bullet points on cost impacts of new building legislation by next Monday midday, latest, to prep for said meeting.
2. you've been asked by an associate at 09:04 to compile a signature pack for a client to fund the deal in advance of 2pm bank closing
3. your supervisor has emailed at 09:01, marked urgent, saying that you need to download property for an unspecified number of titles from the Land Registry, from a spreadsheet, note the charges on those properties, compile this into an email, and send it to them "sufficiently in advance of 11am"
4. a trainee at 08:54 working on a new deal emailed to ask where is a template for property title red flags
5. a paralegal has some signed documents and asked yesterday at 7pm where to send them
6. graduate recruitment emailed yesterday at 5pm asking for a reply to a simple "which career fairs" could you attend by CoB today
7. a client email sent last night at 8pm saying that "following their purchase" last month, they want an email on the law on whether they have a right to drive over neighbouring land to access their property, and will then discuss by phone
8. an HR email to submit seat choices by next Wednesday at 3pm, sent this morning.
9. an HR survey on training effectiveness, specifically stated to take 20 minutes, and required by CoB next Monday, which was sent several weeks ago

Of these:

• item 1 is time-consuming, and not urgent, so is definitely in the wrong place
• items 2 and 3 are very urgent, and are clearly two top priorities. it's not really clear how long these will take, but I think they are in the wrong order, in that "sufficiently in advance" implies that this is not going to take you that long to do.
• items 4, 5, 6 can be answered quickly so should be. The priority order here is roughly correct, in that 4 & 5 might be holding people up.
• item 7 is time-consuming and can come after completing the trivial tasks and the two urgent tasks, and before item 1
• item 8 and 9 are probably in the wrong order? There might be reasons why you have not decided your next seat yet, and it's not clear why you'd answer this before you have to.

Overall it's a poor-quality task, as they don't give any feedback for their order, which I assume is down to a clerical/programming error.

I would go:

3
2
5
4
6
7
1
9
8

 

[NCTC2025]

Has anyone heard from Sidley Summer? Am aware its rolling and applied on deadline so was wondering whether theyd made any offers yet

 

[aphelion]

Does anyone have any tips for calming pre-AC nerves? I have ACs next week and the past few days have been so stressful, I'm trying to prepare as much as possible but there's only so much I can do and I feel like I just need to relax haha

 

[1234578]

Does anyone know if Wedlake Bell are still giving out interview invites?

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

Hi! Anyone who has heard from Linklaters so far - did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

I applied for the Winter Vacation scheme and got rejected from it, but graduate recruitment emailed me at the time and asked if I wanted to transfer my application to the Spring / Summer scheme as they thought my application was strong.

Just wondering if there is still any hope for the Summer Scheme (as I've seen most PFOs have been for Spring), or whether a PFO is inevitable 😢 It has been so long since I applied that I've forgotten the contents of my application lol

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone have any tips for calming pre-AC nerves? I have ACs next week and the past few days have been so stressful, I'm trying to prepare as much as possible but there's only so much I can do and I feel like I just need to relax haha

It’s sounds counter intuitive, but take some time off and away from prepping and go and do something to completely take your mind away from it.

Giving yourself a mental break and refresh can do so much positive things to help you be mentally ready, especially if you have multiple ACs next week

 

[F2020202]

Don't feel disheartened! It's a really though process and acceptance rate at almost every single firm is at 1-3% so it's extremely competitive... It isn't about you specifically, it's just that at the end of the day, we are say 2000 to apply to one firm and they only have 15 spots, even if you made it to the top 16, you wouldn't get a place, so it all goes down to luck sadly... At the end of the day, you only need one firm...

I don't have the answers to all of your questions, but what I do know is that, at least that's what I would do if I don't manage to secure anything, you could apply to University of Law (or BP university) and study their LLM in SQE 1 & 2, and subsequently pass the SQE in order to at least secure that... Now of course, having a training contract would be a lot more advantageous as they would fund your studies, but if you are financially able to, I think me personally that's what I am going to do... Because technically if you apply for a graduate visa (which is two years), it's going to run from the time you graduate from your LLB technically... So if you graduate in 2026, you'll have until 2028 to secure something... On the other hand, if you do the LLM, you 1) would've passed the SQE and 2) can apply at the end of your LLM for the Graduate Visa, so basically until 2029... (BTW SOMEONE CORRECT ME IF I AM MISTAKEN IN THAT REGARD PLEASE, BECAUSE IDK IF IM 100% CORRECT)And then in the meantime, while passing the SQE and LLM, try to apply and also try to refine your applications further! PM me if you want, as I found a technique that really worked for me later on (which I wish I knew sooner and which helped me secure a VS at HFW this summer)...

Again, don't be disheartened, it's really though and really really competitive, so it isn't specifically you! Also, depending on where you are originally from or where you live, perhaps you may also try to apply for some sort of legal experience (depends on where that is though because getting something in Dubai is a lot easier than getting something if you live in Germany or France for instance...)

PM me if you want!

EDIT: also, me personally I would recommend applying to VS instead of DTC unless you really have a lot of legal experience (advice given to me from a 2nd year trainee); unless the firm specifically says that you wouldn't be eligible to apply..

PS. I am re-reading this and realising that it doesn't necessarily make so much sense, so apologies

you do make sense! Thank you for all your advice, it's genuinely helpful, and thank you for being so kind. I was down for a while and all your responses has made me feel less alone and congratulations on your VS!!!

could you elaborate a bit on the work experience bit? do u suggest I reach out informally to law firms in the ME, for example?

 

[F2020202]

Hi @F2020202 I completely understand how disappointed you are feeling right now, but try not to get too disheartened by it. The fact that you have gotten so close to a VS must make it all the more frustrating, but believe me that getting to this stage shows you are an exceptional candidate. While the mentorship scheme may have helped, the simple truth is that Freshfields would not have selected you to progress instead of 95% of other candidates if they were not convinced you were one of the best applicants they had seen. As such, you should see in this undoubtable proof that you have everything it takes to succeed, and that if you give it your best shot in the future you will definitely end up doing it.

On that point, I will try to give you my best advice for the future. I was in a similar situation to you in my first application cycle, but I did not even get past the application stage once. However, I was able to turn it around because I could channel all the negative emotions resulting from rejections to motivate myself to be more committed with my efforts than ever before. To explain what that came down to concretely: first, I started preparing during summer break and ended up making an in depth application writing plan, allocating all of my time for the next few months. Next, I acknowledged the fact that I would need to invest a lot more of my time into this endeavor than I did before, and was now looking at around 20-30 hours per week on average. This enabled me to write a lot more applications and to simultaneously invest a lot more time in each to ensure I had a achieved a high quality end product. Together with an increased amount of time spent going to law firm events, completing Forage experiences, and listening to commercial awareness podcasts, this improved my skills and odds immensely, leading to me ending the cycle with 3 TC offers. This is what I advise you to work on from the beginning of this summer - before that, focus on doing the best that you can in your exams to boost your academic credentials.

Now, to address some of the more pointed questions/issues you raised:

• As an international student you can still legally stay in the UK without sponsorship by getting a graduate visa, so I do not think that you should worry about it too much now.
• You can retain the basic ideas behind your fundamental motivations for commercial law and the firm in the personal statement. However, you should try to write a new one, adding insights and points based on new experiences and research. You should also just aim to improve the quality of your writing even if you do not have many substantive points to add.
• The 2025 winter vacations schemes would be considered next cycle, so you can apply. Just take care to check there is no overlap with term dates.
• Unless you have substantial legal work experience and also the specific firm is know to recruit a substantial percentage of its trainee cohort from this route, I would advise you to stick to the VS applications.
• I would consider the option of applying for paralegal positions, as those can often boost your candidate profile and lead for an easier passage into a TC.
• I think you can respond to the email by indicating your continuing interest in the firm and that you should also ask for feedback. However, I would not explicitly ask to still be considered, as firms normally will just waitlist you themselves if they are willing to do that.

thank you so much for your response! I think it made me tear up a little lol. These are incredibly helpful and I will keep these in mind. You had also mentioned some commercial awareness podcasts. Which ones would you recommend? Also, besides open days, is there any other way I can show a link to the firm, like with the mentoring scheme, for example?

 

[KBanana]

Hi! Anyone who has heard from Linklaters so far - did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

I applied for the Winter Vacation scheme and got rejected from it, but graduate recruitment emailed me at the time and asked if I wanted to transfer my application to the Spring / Summer scheme as they thought my application was strong.

Just wondering if there is still any hope for the Summer Scheme (as I've seen most PFOs have been for Spring), or whether a PFO is inevitable 😢 It has been so long since I applied that I've forgotten the contents of my application lol

literally in the exact position 😅 I'm assuming pfo since I saw someone say Links' last set of ACs are running next week

 

[Chris Brown]

thank you so much for your response! I think it made me tear up a little lol. These are incredibly helpful and I will keep these in mind. You had also mentioned some commercial awareness podcasts. Which ones would you recommend? Also, besides open days, is there any other way I can show a link to the firm, like with the mentoring scheme, for example?

Most firms have virtual internships on Forage so if you haven’t completed those yet, they are a great way of demonstrating an interest in the firm. I think they also can count as work experience because you are completing trainee style work. I know all the Magic Circle firms have virtual internships on Forage. Some US firms and Silver Circle firms also have virtual internships on Forage. 🙂

Most firms host virtual events in partnership with other organisations (e.g., Legal Cheek, AllAboutLaw, TCLA, LawCareers.Net, etc.) which are also ways to show links to a firm. In most cases, these events are practice area webinars, application workshops and Q&A with some of the firm’s trainees, associates and partners. These events are really good for tailoring an application to each firm that you are looking to apply to. 🙂​

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

literally in the exact position 😅 I'm assuming pfo since I saw someone say Links' last set of ACs are running next week

I saw that too 😅 I guess a PFO may be imminent...

 

[AS24]

Yes - you can renege on a job offer quite easily unless you have taken any financial support from them ahead of joining.

Thank you @Jessica Booker

 

[F2020202]

Most firms have virtual internships on Forage so if you haven’t completed those yet, they are a great way of demonstrating an interest in the firm. I think they also can count as work experience because you are completing trainee style work. I know all the Magic Circle firms have virtual internships on Forage. Some US firms and Silver Circle firms also have virtual internships on Forage. 🙂

Most firms host virtual events in partnership with other organisations (e.g., Legal Cheek, AllAboutLaw, TCLA, LawCareers.Net, etc.) which are also ways to show links to a firm. In most cases, these events are practice area webinars, application workshops and Q&A with some of the firm’s trainees, associates and partners. These events are really good for tailoring an application to each firm that you are looking to apply to. 🙂​

Thank you!!

 

[Bloo]

I just checked it, it is clearly nonsense/error.

The emails with the 'correct' order

1. a partner at 4pm yesterday (Tuesday) emailed to say they are meeting a client next Tuesday and has asked for a page of bullet points on cost impacts of new building legislation by next Monday midday, latest, to prep for said meeting.
2. you've been asked by an associate at 09:04 to compile a signature pack for a client to fund the deal in advance of 2pm bank closing
3. your supervisor has emailed at 09:01, marked urgent, saying that you need to download property for an unspecified number of titles from the Land Registry, from a spreadsheet, note the charges on those properties, compile this into an email, and send it to them "sufficiently in advance of 11am"
4. a trainee at 08:54 working on a new deal emailed to ask where is a template for property title red flags
5. a paralegal has some signed documents and asked yesterday at 7pm where to send them
6. graduate recruitment emailed yesterday at 5pm asking for a reply to a simple "which career fairs" could you attend by CoB today
7. a client email sent last night at 8pm saying that "following their purchase" last month, they want an email on the law on whether they have a right to drive over neighbouring land to access their property, and will then discuss by phone
8. an HR email to submit seat choices by next Wednesday at 3pm, sent this morning.
9. an HR survey on training effectiveness, specifically stated to take 20 minutes, and required by CoB next Monday, which was sent several weeks ago

Of these:

• item 1 is time-consuming, and not urgent, so is definitely in the wrong place
• items 2 and 3 are very urgent, and are clearly two top priorities. it's not really clear how long these will take, but I think they are in the wrong order, in that "sufficiently in advance" implies that this is not going to take you that long to do.
• items 4, 5, 6 can be answered quickly so should be. The priority order here is roughly correct, in that 4 & 5 might be holding people up.
• item 7 is time-consuming and can come after completing the trivial tasks and the two urgent tasks, and before item 1
• item 8 and 9 are probably in the wrong order? There might be reasons why you have not decided your next seat yet, and it's not clear why you'd answer this before you have to.

Overall it's a poor-quality task, as they don't give any feedback for their order, which I assume is down to a clerical/programming error.

I would go:

3
2
5
4
6
7
1
9
8

I was going crazy understanding this - thanks so much for looking at and giving such detailed comments!!

 

[NMA]

That means a lot - thank you. I mostly just need a break.

Just have to keep going mate, I was exactly in your position. After my 3rd VS that I didn't convert, I thought screw this. But it's true that if you can get a VS, you can get a TC, you just unfortunately have to keep applying and applying. All the struggle will be worth it in the end once you get that call - every now and then I look back at a memory from uni when I had to leave at 5am to get a 4.5 hour train to London to attend a whole day AC, commute back in the evening and get a rejection email right before I started a shift at my part-time job. The rejections are brutal, but experience is experience and you only need one to say yes.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Has anyone heard back from Stevens & Bolton or Fox Williams?

 

[seashanty]

Does anyone know the AC to VS rate for HSF?

 

[ohnoselim]

silly question but if a firm says i have until midnight on tuesday 25th feb to complete a VI, does this count the tuesday can i submit like tuesday midday?

i literally have little time for this because of back to back work so the only time to complete it is the tuesday, but is this safe to do?

someone pls confirm because my brain is all over the place

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Does anyone know the AC to VS rate for HSF?

I've been told about 25-30%

 

[Jessica Booker]

silly question but if a firm says i have until midnight on tuesday 25th feb to complete a VI, does this count the tuesday can i submit like tuesday midday?

i literally have little time for this because of back to back work so the only time to complete it is the tuesday, but is this safe to do?

someone pls confirm because my brain is all over the place

is the video platform Launchpad? If so, they mean 23.59 on the date stated rather than 00.00