TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Adithi]

Hi everyone, I have my Macfarlanes AC on Tuesday, and as I have not attended an AC before, so I would love any advice, anything I can do to prepare, as I feel severely underprepared

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @Adithi

I gave a little summary of Macfarlanes' AC here. Please just keep in mind that this was for the direct training contract during the 2022-2023 application cycle. Still, I hope it's helpful to you whilst you're preparing for your own AC. Good luck!

Hiya @ish12345


I wanted to give you some thoughts to consider for the Macfarlanes assessment centre. Keep in mind that this summary relates to their direct training contract assessment from two application cycles ago. Nevertheless, I hope my summary of the assessment centre is helpful to you!

1. The written exercise involves drafting two written documents. The time pressure here is particularly significant, and there are many issues to address. If you attempt to cover everything, you may run out of time. In terms of style, you'll also want to ensure that your documents are concise and professional. Tone and language are important in both documents, and you should ensure the documents are drafted with the relevant audience in mind.
   
   
2. The partner interview covers standard motivational and competency questions. As the community assistants have often said, you should prepare by considering your answers to such as why you are interested in the firm, why commercial law appeals to you, and your thoughts on current news topics. For competency questions, again, you should think of examples of where you've worked with (difficult) team members, demonstrated resilience, or faced a significant challenge in the past three years. Having thought about these examples in advance will ensure that your answers are well-structured during the partner interview.
   
   
3. The case study interview does not require legal knowledge, but a basic understanding of legal and commercial considerations will be helpful. You’ll be given two case studies, which could involve a business expansion scenario or a dispute. I'd encourage you to ensure that your responses are structured and supported by the materials provided, applying your commercial awareness where relevant. As with most case studies, your focus should be on logical reasoning rather than pre-existing knowledge.

The key throughout the assessment centre is clarity, structure, and maintaining professionalism in both written and verbal responses. I wouldn't worry too much about your prior knowledge of law, but again it could be helpful to familiarise yourself with basic commercial and legal concepts to help you reason through the case studies and written exercises in a logical and convincing manner.

Best of luck!

 

[noahsmiit01]

I

As a non-law student I'm in a similar position, I haven't done that much research but so far the only firm I have seen that doesn't require the PGDL is Baker McKenzie, somebody told me that was the case with BCLP but I don't think that is true. It's possible there are others, but ultimately I would just expect that you will have to do one

I’ve attended Bakers insight day and it’s actually true that they are not requiring for a non law student to do PGDL

 

[yuk0n]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

 

[Chris Brown]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

Huge congrats! 🐐​

 

[B101]

Hi everyone, I have my Macfarlanes AC on Tuesday, and as I have not attended an AC before, so I would love any advice, anything I can do to prepare, as I feel severely underprepared

PM’d you

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

Get in there and show them what you're all about! (So, so well done!)

 

[yuk0n]

Huge congrats! 🐐​

Cheers Chris- I hope you don't mind me saying this as I know it sounds a bit nosy/like I've been lurking lol, but you have been so incredibly supportive of members on this forum and I want you to know that I'm rooting for you.

 

[marioskekkos5]

Does anyone know what is the deadline for Stephenson Hardwood's placement scheme? it says on the 28th of February but is there a certain time?

 

[sapphireoreos]

Does anyone know what is the deadline for Stephenson Hardwood's placement scheme? it says on the 28th of February but is there a certain time?

I want to know this too—I’m frantically writing my application tonight (I have an essay that’s also due tomorrow that I haven’t finished drafting 😍)

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Does anyone know what is the deadline for Stephenson Hardwood's placement scheme? it says on the 28th of February but is there a certain time?

Hiya @marioskekkos5

The deadline on the candid/vantage platform currently states Friday 28 February 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). Good luck with the application!

 

[Adithi]

Does anyone know what is the deadline for Stephenson Hardwood's placement scheme? it says on the 28th of February but is there a certain time?

It’s 11:59 on the 28th, if you check the candid it’s there too!

 

[marioskekkos5]

Thanks guys! Lets try and pull a Real Madrid comeback in the last minutes then.

 

[yuk0n]

Get in there and show them what you're all about! (So, so well done!)

Thanks Ram! That's really kind and encouraging of you

 

[trainee4u]

It’s 11:59 on the 28th, if you check the candid it’s there too!

to be clear, that's 11:59pm, aka 23:59!

 

[kemmell]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica,
If I'm due to start my training contract in February 2027, do you have any idea of when would I start the SQE prep course?

 

[tcfighterrr]

Hey all! I would like to ask for some advice.
This week I got two post AC rejections- White & Case and Fieldfisher. I feel pretty terrible. I have one final AC to go before I am out of options, but needless to say, my confidence is rocked.
This is my first(ish) cycle of applications, but I am graduating and unsure of what I will be able to do afterwards, which is where my question comes in: I fully intend to try another cycle, but what should I do in the meantime? I am graduating from a really top uni and am worried it will look bad if I keep working in hospitality (and maybe even travel for a bit), so I am uncertain.
Any help appreciated! xx

 

[Chris Brown]

Damn Paul, Weiss’ revenues and profits have soared massively since last year. I guess their decision to establish a large-scale English Law practice came at the perfect time:

Paul Weiss PEP soars to $7.5m as revenue sees double-digit growth - Legal Business

$2.6 billion in revenue, $1.5 billion in equity partner net profits and $7.5 million PPEP are actually insane numbers! 😅😅​

 

[futureTS03]

Hey guys!
Has anyone completed the Ropes psychometric test before the ac? What should one expect? Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[Amakaa]

Happy Birthday TCLA 🥳🥳🥳🥳