TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

I applied to the London office and enquired about when we can expect to hear back. Grad rec said they're still reviewing apps and aim to get back to candidates within 10 weeks of the app deadline. I'm expecting a pfo. I think they have so many candidates further down the pipeline who've completed VIs, I think realistically, London spaces will fill up fast.

 

[vstchunter]

I dont think my maintenance grant will fully fund living costs during PgDL, what options do I have? ANyone got experience getting loans fro high street banks?

 

[legallawyer]

AG AC invite! Super nervous and happy all at the same time. Any tips would be greatly appreciated (can exchange for my very best well wishes only as this is my first AC this cycle 🤣)

 

[YS391]

Received an email from shoosmiths which made my heart jump out of my chest... only for it to say we will get back to you soon 💀

For direct TC?

 

[jojo23]

For direct TC?

Nah, vac scheme although you get assessed for both???

 

[Legallywhatever]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

 

[Tintin06]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

Good luck for Stephenson Harwood, mate.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Anyone with experience working for a charity/social enterprise/CIC or any other relevant socially minded business structure?

 

[trainee4u]

I dont think my maintenance grant will fully fund living costs during PgDL, what options do I have? ANyone got experience getting loans fro high street banks?

You can do it as an MA and get a postgrad loan from the government.

Are you required to study at a particular uni or campus?

 

[Chris Brown]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

Their deadline is the 28th and whilst they review on a rolling basis, you can technically send your application on deadline day and they would still review it (they don’t make any offers before the deadline). It’s 4 days till deadline day, so technically you could do 600 words per day (i.e., 1 question per day) and still get the application in on time. If you only have one day, I don’t know for sure whether it’s feasible to do 1,800 words in that time. However, I did manage to write 3,000 words in 24 hrs for an online medical law exam in final year so it’s certainly doable. Best of luck with it! 🙂​

 

[trainee4u]

received a "PFO some more, ya filthy animal", from Cleary.

Applied 30th October. Received PFO 31st October. Received identical PFO today.

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi, has anyone applied for Paul Hastings' vac scheme? Any ideas on their grade requirements or tips for the application?

Their website says they look for a 2:1 or 1st at undergraduate level and a majority of A grades at A-level, which I’m guessing means AAB. I think they use rare recruitment though and do take into consideration MC, so idk how strict that requirement is. 🤷🏾‍♂️

I’m working on my application for it atm and I am hoping to get it sent within a few days. 🙂​

 

[Chris Brown]

it's easy to overanalyse to make ourselves feel better because it gives meaning and keep us sane and makes us feel like we're heading in the right direction, but I do think grad recruiters enie mine mine mo this sh*t sometimes ffs.

I am convinced graduate recruiters have a name generator/spinning wheel thing and the first 100-200 names it produces are the people that get AC; everyone else is auto rejected. It defo seems like they enie mine mine mo this sh*t. Oh well it is what it is. 🥲🥲​

 

[Jessica Booker]

I dont think my maintenance grant will fully fund living costs during PgDL, what options do I have? ANyone got experience getting loans fro high street banks?

Lots of people take the MA/LLM versions of GDL courses to then apply for student finance.

There used to be commercial loans many years ago but the banks stopped giving them out. I haven’t really seen or heard of many professional development loans since unfortunately.

 

[simplyfaith]

I am convinced graduate recruiters have a name generator/spinning wheel thing and the first 100-200 names it produces are the people that get AC; everyone else is auto rejected. It defo seems like they enie mine mine mo this sh*t. Oh well it is what it is. 🥲🥲​

Job automation, huh?

 

[jojo23]

How feasible is it to write 1800 words in a day? Asking for a friend (it’s me, I’m the friend)

Ask the homies (chatgpt, deep seek and, Gemini) to help 👀

 

[Chris Brown]

Lots of people take the MA/LLM versions of GDL courses to then apply for student finance.

There used to be commercial loans many years ago but the banks stopped giving them out. I haven’t really seen or heard of many professional development loans since unfortunately.

How would this work for people who perhaps can’t take out student finance or loans due to religious or cultural reasons? Would a firm be able to provide that person with additional financial support or would that future trainee be stranded? 🥲​

 

[jta227]

How would this work for people who perhaps can’t take out student finance or loans due to religious or cultural reasons? Would a firm be able to provide that person with additional financial support or would that future trainee be stranded? 🥲​

Firms likely will hear you out on a case by case basis. Though I'm sure for several people, the preferable option would be to get an additional part-time job rather than rack up more debt anyways - so a firm might ask why you aren't doing this. I would assume the richer firms would potentially give more money, I have seen on some firms' websites that they can do this based on individual need but I don't recall the exact firms.

 

[Chris Brown]

Firms likely will hear you out on a case by case basis. Though I'm sure for several people, the preferable option would be to get an additional part-time job rather than rack up more debt anyways - so a firm might ask why you aren't doing this. I would assume the richer firms would potentially give more money, I have seen on some firms' websites that they can do this based on individual need but I don't recall the exact firms.

This could be an option but then some firms don’t want their future trainees to work while studying the sqe so it becomes a problem with that aspect as well. Also, it could prevent or reduce the chances of that person passing the sqe exams first time if they need to work part time while studying. Some firms expect the sqe be passed on the first attempt. I guess it depends on each firm and their position on it but it would be good to see needs-based sqe or pgdl grants (in addition to the standard amount firms offer to all future trainees). I guess in light of the increased focus on diversity and social mobility, with some firms setting specific targets for it, there may be an incentive to offer these things as standard to those who need it. 🤷🏾‍♂️​

 

[jta227]

This could be an option but then some firms don’t want their future trainees to work while studying the sqe so it becomes a problem with that aspect as well. Also, it could prevent or reduce the chances of that person passing the sqe exams first time if they need to work part time while studying. Some firms expect the sqe be passed on the first attempt. I guess it depends on each firm and their position on it but it would be good to see needs-based sqe or pgdl grants (in addition to the standard amount firms offer to all future trainees). I guess in light of the increased focus on diversity and social mobility, with some firms setting specific targets for it, there may be an incentive to offer these things as standard to those who need it. 🤷🏾‍♂️​

If a firm doesn't want their trainee to work then they'll give them more money - the firms with low grants don't tend to be the same firms that say this I think (if they did they'd be either obvious hypocrites or obvious elitists). I relate to your point as the SQE grant has actually been a major factor in deciding between firms for me.