TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Someoneinlaw]

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.

Thank you so much 😊

 

[bobby]

Is anyone who did an AC with links still waiting on an intv result (post one week?) and any idea what it could mean (they said theyd get back to everyone max in a week) 😅

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker @anyone else (sorry if you're not supposed to tag multiple Forum helpers),

I recently received feedback from LL post-AC. Please can you advise on how you would implement the following advice, based on your experiences? It was explained clearly but as a non-law student from a first-generation background, I want to check that I'm not missing anything 😅

For context, there was a HR competency-based interview and a technical interview with Partners. I didn't perform quite well enough in either of them to progress.

1. Succinctness - an issue in both. In the Hr interview, I used the STAR technique but gave too much backstory and the interviewer didn't have enough time/was unable to ask follow up questions and build a rapport. The content itself was strong though and they could tell I prepared/put effort in.
2. Technical interview - evidence of ability to interpret (the legal points) of a term sheet - there were points I didn't pick up on/this was the weaker point even though I had high-level commercial thinking. This is what I REALLY am unsure of how to develop as a non-law student - beyond the (v helpful) case studies the TCLA subscription provides, what else would you advise?
3. Building a rapport - honestly I am such an introverted person (and I think I may be a masking autistic!) but feedback emphasised that they could see I was nervous but wanted a genuine conversation with me.

Honestly that's all there is, I'm still a bit confused on what else to do, because nothing explicit on my answers to motivational questions was given or how well I did do at picking up legal concepts, just that it wasn't good enough. Is it worth messaging them again to ask or should I not?

LL was really nice though in terms of the feedback

 

[sapphireoreos]

Travers smith, white & Case and bclp looking at firms with 300 word limits like:

Add Stephenson Harwood and their 1800 words (3 600 word questions) to that

 

[lawbear123]

congrats! may i ask when you completed/heard back written exercise?

6th feb but to clarify, i applied for the spring scheme and the slots had filled up so they moved me to summer!

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

 

[James Wakefield]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

In the same position. This is very likely to be a PFO I’m afraid.

They’ve already completed their first stage interviews, ACs and made offers for the Spring Vac Scheme as far as I’m aware.

 

[0livia.pope]

Surely it would make more sense for PFOs to be sent out before invites etc

 

[Adithi]

6th feb but to clarify, i applied for the spring scheme and the slots had filled up so they moved me to summer!

Hey, sorry to ask this again, but did u hear back for your AC on the 6th or your WE was on the 6th? I did my WE on the 6th too, so I’m wondering if it’s a PFO

 

[jasonbourne]

1) It’s just being non committal. The last thing they want is to bring in a whole load of trainees on the SQE and then for some random reason bring in a trainee on a LPC training contract (maybe mitigating circumstances) and everyone else to complain why they didn’t get that opportunity. I can’t really see firms offering the LPC route any more though - it’s a lot more hassle for them as there are many more regulations and processes they have to go through. I don’t know what angle there would be for arguing against completing SQE2 when everyone else is doing that stage, and especially where some of the diversity concerns with the SQE are much more associated with SQE1.

2) Firms generally don’t want trainees submitting their previous experiences as QWE, as it undermines their training contract. Unfortunately firms have little control over it though as the decision lies with you rather than them.

3) People are qualifying via the QWE/SQE route. But I am seeing plenty do people choosing to do this when they haven’t got an NQ role lined up. To be able to compete in the NQ job market, your two years of QWE needs to be of the same level, complexity, standard, variety and possible even with the same type of clients as those you will be competing for the NQ role with. You are not going to be able to step into a litigation role without litigation experience. You are going to struggle to get into large international firms if most of the litigation work you have done is with smaller, domestic companies or simple disputes. You therefore have to make sure your QWE allows you to compete for the jobs you are aiming for upon qualification.

Hi @Jessica Booker really appreciate this, thanks for the insight.

On point 2 - That makes sense from the firm's perspective, they wouldn't want their TC undermined in that sense. What if for instance, you don't submit previous experiences as QWE to avoid the firm's being put off by you and to therefore become more attractive to them? Most firms I have spoken to said they would just disregard the previous experiences I had as the 2-year TC programme is what they would use to sign off the QWE on their end. I guess most of what I'm saying, though, is in relation to how I would be viewed as a candidate regarding this, rather than the mechanics of how QWE actually works/what the firm's sign off as QWE.

On point 3 - So in that sense would that be a negative of the SQE, generally speaking, if you don't secure a TC and decide to qualify via previous experiences for QWE? Would it not be a struggle to get your foot in the NQ market as a fresh SQE graduate with little experience of the same level, complexity, standard and variety as other people I'll be competing with (people with NQ-level type experience and people like myself) no?

 

[jasonbourne]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

To my knowledge, Ashurst extended their deadline to the end of Feb (the latest they will get back to people), but that date is essentially the day they send out all of their PFO’s. It was like this for the WVS.

Travers Smith have started their interviews but so far I think only 4-5 people have had theirs (out of TCLA Forum users anyway). As for the other firms, I think it’s pretty much the same in that a lot of people are waiting, but not too sure tbh.​

 

[VacSchemer]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

RPC post-WG seems like a dead end ngl. But this is just my opinion because I’ve given up hope haha. I’m sure a lot of the others raised good points of them possibly giving out more AC invites but I’m not sure is all.

 

[FoxStella]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

 

[Chris Brown]

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

Huge congrats. 🥳

 

[BillSikes]

RPC post-WG seems like a dead end ngl. But this is just my opinion because I’ve given up hope haha. I’m sure a lot of the others raised good points of them possibly giving out more AC invites but I’m not sure is all.

Hard disagree. Cus it would be insane if they mass rejected all post-WG apps due to spaces being filled.

I have never experienced a firm do this at second stage in three cycles now.

They did say we’d hear back late Feb tbf to them.

 

[FoxStella]

Huge congrats. 🥳

Thank you!!!

 

[Chris Brown]

Hard disagree. Cus it would be insane if they mass rejected all post-WG apps due to spaces being filled.

They did say we’d hear back late Feb tbf to them.

I have seen a few people on this forum who applied to RPC and were progressed through their stages quite quickly and now have VS offers. Not sure if that was for Spring or Summer though idrk how RPC works, just going based off what I’ve seen on here. 🥲​

 

[zoobla20]

I saw a few people received holding emails on friday - there isn't an ac before the svs

The holding email was for still handing out VIs just in case there's any confusion there

 

[AZ97]

Anyone heard anything from weil today?