TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[0livia.pope]

I’d just do it now tbh. My anxiety would not allow me to leave it for the last day😭. But if you’d want to give it after waking up fresh in the morning go for it especially if you don’t have a busy day tomorrow! Do what works best for you as 5pm is not early and I’m sure you’d be able to complete it before that

Would you be able to share if the VI prep time is timed/untimed?

 

[Law queries]

Hello,

I wanted to ask - in case I don’t meet the 2:1 criteria and have mitigating circumstances to support the same but do well in Capp test and WGT, do I have chance getting shortlisted at firm? How focused are they on grades?

Thanks!

 

[aphelion]

Ask and let us know the answer - because it's a joke if they don't.

When I went to their open day they reimbursed travel costs, so I would be surprised if they didn't do so for ACs

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Does anyone have any insight into Haynes and Boone - in terms of what to expect if you were a trainee at the firm? I can offer insight into other firms.

Hiya @👩🎓

It was a bit tricky to find detailed, recent information about Haynes Boone’s London office, even on resources like The Lawyer. Based on what I could see, they seem to be doing quite well in growing out their presence in the City. I'd highly recommend this profile in Chambers Student which sets out views/experiences of current trainees.

The firm is relatively new to the London market, having set up shop here in 2016. This was mainly to provide English law advice on international matters, and they've since grown significantly (with around 55 lawyers). The London office is now their fourth-largest office globally, after just a few years in the market. In fact, the firm had to move to bigger premises at 1 New Fetter Lane in 2019 due to this growth. The firm's merger with London-based shipping boutique Curtis Davis Garrard in 2016 was also a big strategic move, giving them deeper expertise particularly in shipping and energy matters (for which they're currently ranked Band 3 in the UK by Chambers UK).

According to their Chambers UK profile, the firm has developed quite a strong reputation in banking and finance, often acting on the lender side. Chambers currently ranks them highly (Band 2) for both their fund finance work, and their work in the lower/mid-market with lenders. More recently, they've expanded their capital markets practice by acquiring a large team from Memery Crystal. This shows a quite strong commitment to strengthening their transactional capability in London.

For applicants/trainees, you may want to keep their seat options in mind. The London office currently offers seats across contentious, finance & corporate, energy & shipping, and investment management practices. Overall (based on the few articles I've just skimmed through - they're all paywalled unfortunately), I think it's pretty clear that the London office looks like an increasingly important part of the firm's international strategy, and their recent moves suggest they're focused on continued growth and diversification in the City. Hope that helps!

 

[👩🎓]

Hiya @👩🎓

It was a bit tricky to find detailed, recent information about Haynes Boone’s London office, even on resources like The Lawyer. Based on what I could see, they seem to be doing quite well in growing out their presence in the City. I'd highly recommend this profile in Chambers Student which sets out views/experiences of current trainees.

The firm is relatively new to the London market, having set up shop here in 2016. This was mainly to provide English law advice on international matters, and they've since grown significantly (with around 55 lawyers). The London office is now their fourth-largest office globally, after just a few years in the market. In fact, the firm had to move to bigger premises at 1 New Fetter Lane in 2019 due to this growth. The firm's merger with London-based shipping boutique Curtis Davis Garrard in 2016 was also a big strategic move, giving them deeper expertise particularly in shipping and energy matters (for which they're currently ranked Band 3 in the UK by Chambers UK).

According to their Chambers UK profile, the firm has developed quite a strong reputation in banking and finance, often acting on the lender side. Chambers currently ranks them highly (Band 2) for both their fund finance work, and their work in the lower/mid-market with lenders. More recently, they've expanded their capital markets practice by acquiring a large team from Memery Crystal. This shows a quite strong commitment to strengthening their transactional capability in London.

For applicants/trainees, you may want to keep their seat options in mind. The London office currently offers seats across contentious, finance & corporate, energy & shipping, and investment management practices. Overall (based on the few articles I've just skimmed through - they're all paywalled unfortunately), I think it's pretty clear that the London office looks like an increasingly important part of the firm's international strategy, and their recent moves suggest they're focused on continued growth and diversification in the City. Hope that helps!

Hi @Ram Sabaratnam, thank you so much! This is incredibly useful to include in the application.

 

[capybara88]

Hi all, hope you're all well!

Don't usually post on here but I wanted some advice from ppl that I'm sure have been in a similar position! I recently had an AC at my dream firm and I just haven't been able to stop replaying what I said over and over again in my head, finding faults with it, wishing it had gone better. How do you all force yourself to kind of move on after interviews?

 

[camrxc]

Hi @Andrei Radu! Was wondering if you might be able to tag in some posts you’ve done in the past on the kinds of things that differentiates slaughter and may

 

[Chris Brown]

Hello,

I wanted to ask - in case I don’t meet the 2:1 criteria and have mitigating circumstances to support the same but do well in Capp test and WGT, do I have chance getting shortlisted at firm? How focused are they on grades?

Thanks!

I imagine it depends on the firm. I’m assuming this question is for Linklaters, who use both the Capp Test and WGT. To my knowledge, they ask for consistent 2:1 across all modules. They take into account MC, but they are quite focused on grades tbh. There are other firms like Travers Smith and Slaughter and May who are also very fixated on grades. I think firms like BCLP, CMS, DLA Piper, Irwin Mitchell, Hill Dickinson and Osborne Clarke don’t have a minimum A-level or degree requirement at all (although I’m not 100% sure if this is the case). Most firms will ask for a 2:1 but will consider MC. This means that they will still consider an applicant even if their overall degree average falls slightly below (e.g., high 2:2). I think if the rest of your application is strong alongside having strong test scores, most firms would definitely still consider you. Best of luck with all of your applications this cycle!​

 

[Maddy]

Hi! Did anyone hear back from Aspiring Solicitor's Sky work experience?

 

[Babablacksheep]

Does anyone have any tips for the AMEX VI?

 

[jfb]

does anyone know how much a bad automated report post SJT is going to impact a VS when done alongside a decent video interview. just panicking as I felt the traits it said I was lacking weren't true to me at all, and the ones I did 'better' on are less like me and would hate for this to be the reason I don't get it!

 

[gazdgazd11]

Guys I need help, what can I expect from a negotiation exercise? Help meeeee

 

[Jessica Booker]

Guys I need help, what can I expect from a negotiation exercise? Help meeeee

Highly recommend this thread for guidance on negotiation exercises:

Definitive Guide to Assessed Negotiations! *Monday Article Series*

Hi All! Please see below my Guide to Assessed Negotiation Exercises at Assessment Centres and during Vacation Schemes. This guide has been built from my own experiences of assessed and real-world negotiations as well as having consulted with Grad Rec specialists. This is also the first in a...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[TCseeker101]

Tips for the Mischon case study and interview would be much appreciated! Please DM me

 

[student353]

25/36 high numerical and high verbal for the SH SJT; hopefully that'll be enough

 

[ayiiii05]

Hey, this used to be me. I will be honest, TCLA premium resources helped me More than anything. You get access to successful apps and courses on how to write them and More. I swear im not sponsored! I know not everyone can afford it but if you can, I recommend getting it for one month and going through their courses and successful applications database. This really changed the game for me. I used to barely get past the app stage, whilst this year I got 3 ACs and had multiple VIs/second stage tests. Good luck!

PS. However, there are many free resources.
I think the biggest thing is to REALLY research the firm (I know this sounds generic) and to master your answers to basic questions like why law etc.

Thank you!

 

[ayiiii05]

Hi @ayiiii05 I will link here the Guide to Building a Winning Applications Strategy I have written a couple of months ago, as it describes in a lot of depth what I think led to my success after also getting rejected everywhere in the previous cycle.

Thank you Andrei!

 

[bangarangbass39]

Has anyone done the Bates Wells AC for the Vac scheme? Has anyone heard back?!

 

[Kakaboo]

I have an assessment centre on Tuesday- how many questions is good to ask partners in an interview and any advise on what these should be? Also do all assessment centres give out information the day before? They’ve said nothing

 

[jojo23]

Thoughts post sh test:
I'm really bad at these tests, and it's frustrating because I know it's what lets me down. It feels like every time I do them, I'm wasting the opportunity because even managing to get this far has been a struggle all these years.

More amusing/positive thoughts:
I felt my voice shaking so much during the video interview I thought there was an earthquake 🤣
The video interview went pretty well (the first question threw me off a little, and I messed up 1 word). I did mess up my words slightly but I think overall delivery was good
I'm hoping the vi offsets the test score but I can't say I'm hopeful?