TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

Hi guys, please what’s the best way to address a partner , an associate and a client when writing an email or a letter to them in a written exercise? So for instance would you say “Hi …..” or “Dear ….” , for a client, would you say Mr or Mrs / Hi… followed by their names / Sir or madam?

I normally used 'Hi [name of the addressee]' if there was implied familiarity from the details of the written exercise or if they were someone in the firm who was not very senior. If they were either a client or a partner/counsel and familiarity was not implied, I simply used 'Dear [name of the addressee]'. I never included a Mr/Mrs/Ms or sir/madam as I did not want to make any assumptions about gender or marital status. From my vacation scheme experiences, the emails I have seen associates send looked much the same in terms of address form, so I am quite sure this is an ok approach to follow.

 

[fitzer401]

Linklaters PFO

 

[kuuks_]

Any news from PW?

did everyone still waiting apply for summer?

 

[Kodak123]

Quick Q- I’m final year non law and will do my PGDL in Sept. I have a vac scheme offer and an AC coming up for another firm- should i enrol myself at ULaw for September just in case I can’t convert my vac scheme and still have a spot there? @Jessica Booker thank you!

I know this is for Jessica, but I’d strongly advise so. I was in the same position last year, and didn’t convert my vac scheme into TC. However, my final TC interview was at the end of August, so I think just depends on when your vac scheme is? If it’s earlier, and you get a decision before September, then no need to enroll just now.

 

[Andrei Radu]

I have managed to get past application stage for a few firms even though I am certain I had some typos and spag errors (White & Case, Willkie, BCLP and Paul, Weiss). I missed the , for Paul, Weiss at least 3x in my application and I have an interview soon. I’m lowkey worried they might ask about it. 🥲​

I remember the graduate recruiter at Paul, Weiss said that for the first stage application review they would have an automatic spelling and grammar check. If you passed that, I doubt they would focus much on it at a later point. I do however believe this applies more broadly. I had a few typos in 3/6 of the applications that led me to an AC and was never asked about. Moreover, I did mock interviews for a number of different people who had upcoming ACs and were worried about a typo or spelling error and once again this was never raised in an interview. I think at the stage of the AC most firms do not do much more than taking a quick look over the application - so if the typos were missed by them at a stage when the written answers were a lot more in focus, I doubt they would find them now.

 

[SamiyaJ]

did everyone still waiting apply for summer?

I applied for both spring and summer!

 

[Steakbake]

Not one but 3 Linklaters PFO emails. Think I got the message 😂 😂

 

[0800KP]

Linklaters PFO Summer VS

 

[Chouette]

Not one but 3 Linklaters PFO emails. Think I got the message 😂 😂

They are acting funny this season - I did not even apply for anything, but got 2 rejections for the WVS - when I tried emailing them to ask like… what is going on - they sent me 3 different emails telling me I have applied. I did not even use their website this application season

 

[NCTC2025]

Linklaters PFO - was 77% with a tick so can finally put that rumor to bed! Also got 99th percentile for WG but did bad for SJT so clear which one they value more!

 

[jacksollaf]

I just received 3 PFOs from Linklaters… thanks for the emphasis 😂😂😂😂

 

[jacksollaf]

Linklaters PFO - was 77% with a tick so can finally put that rumor to bed! Also got 99th percentile for WG but did bad for SJT so clear which one they value more!

How are you able to get 99% on WG????? That’s amazing, what am I missing 😂😂😂

 

[Andrei Radu]

Is it a good idea to use notes on Word on the side during an online Zoom interview ? don't know if they will notice my eye sight shift constantly between the notes and them ? @Jessica Booker or anyone w any thoughts ! @Andrei Radu

If you constantly look at notes to try to read out answers you had previously written down or because you had not memorized any relevant substantive points, I think this would not be a good idea. It is quite unlikely you would be able to fool the interviewer that you are formulating your thoughts as you are speaking. Even if you were somehow successful, you would presumably then have to do a VS/further interview in an in person context, where you would not be able to make use of such materials anymore.

In my view the only justified use of notes (presuming the firm does not make any explicit provision against this) is to give you some reassurance that in the worst case scenario, where you completely blank out, you have something to rely on to remind you of what you had prepared. Thus, my advice is to prepare as if there was no possibility of using notes, and then make use of them only if you have forgotten some key idea that was mentioned there.

 

[Woody Woodpecker]

Linklaters PFO - was 77% with a tick so can finally put that rumor to bed! Also got 99th percentile for WG but did bad for SJT so clear which one they value more!

They are acting funny this season - I did not even apply for anything, but got 2 rejections for the WVS - when I tried emailing them to ask like… what is going on - they sent me 3 different emails telling me I have applied. I did not even use their website this application season

This is so weird, I have no email from them did they send out a blanket one? I am expecting PFO very shortly I haven't asked for my WG test score but am sure it isn't great...

 

[0livia.pope]

Patiently waiting for my 3 emails now lol

 

[NCTC2025]

How are you able to get 99% on WG????? That’s amazing, what am I missing 😂😂😂

Thanks! I consistently scored 50-60% in my past two cycles but for some reason it just clicked this cycle and I scored in the 90s for a few firms. I guess having done the test for 3 cycles in a row just ingrains the concepts into you 😭 . The WG course on TCLA was super helpful too though!

 

[hateno]

Linklaters PFO - was 77% with a tick so can finally put that rumor to bed! Also got 99th percentile for WG but did bad for SJT so clear which one they value more!

How do you know if you did poorly at SJT? I did not understand anything from the feedback report. I scored in the 95th percentile for WG - either the WG scores have no bearing whatsoever or the SJT is disproportionately weighted which I think is a little messed up. Honestly feeling very dejected, the whole application feels like a joke and lottery game at this point.

 

[0livia.pope]

Patiently waiting for my 3 emails now lol

Yep 77% with a tick means nothing!

 

[NCTC2025]

How do you know if you did poorly at SJT? I did not understand anything from the feedback report. I scored in the 95th percentile for WG - either the WG scores have no bearing whatsoever or the SJT is disproportionately weighted which I think is a little messed up. Honestly feeling very dejected, the whole application feels like a joke and lottery game at this point.

I answered with too much personal responsibility and got collaboration as my biggest weakness. Given Linklaters had collaboration as one of their big 4 in their framework, could feel the PFO coming a mile away. Collaboration is also arguably the quality firms look out for most so really shifted my SJT approach after taking Linklaters one back in November.

 

[legallady123]

Links PFO too. I did the WG without any prep (my first in 2 years) and got 30th percentile 😆 but my SJT report seemed positive. I knew when I saw the WG result that I wasn’t progressing lol