TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

Hi! Sorry to put this here but not sure where else to post! I love TCLA and its been a huge help for me, but I have struggled getting help from the support team. I lost access to my TCLA premium at least 5 months ago but am still being charged each month. I've put in 3-4 requests to have this fixed but still no luck getting a response (maybe the zendesk thing isn't working?). How can I get this fixed and possibly get my money back since it's a lot for me as a student :/

Hi there - please can you email me at [email protected] and copy in the usual Zendesk email and I will look into this today.

 

[Applebanana425]

Assuming we can disclose now.. CRS Spring VS actually can’t believe it 🥳🥳 so exciting can’t wait!!

Same - see you there!

 

[BuddyingLawyer744]

Has anybody heard back from MoFo? I applied ages ago and still have not heard back.

 

[TC129129]

Has anybody heard back from MoFo? I applied ages ago and still have not heard back.

I've seen on the forum people have had interviews

 

[Kodak123]

Hey @Jessica Booker, I’ve sent you a message at DM.

 

[Hana ♥]

Hi, has NRF gotten back to anyone yet (post AC)?

Yes, a few offers apparently (I don't have an offer yet)

 

[j.a55293]

Has anyone heard from WBD London office yet?

 

[summerk27]

Is anyone else attending the OC Talent Programme?

 

[FKJJ]

Hello anyone else heard about WBD Leeds office yet?

 

[fidrrygalka]

FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL WAITING FROM PAUL, WEISS POST-INTERVIEW:

Not sure if this is considered inappropriate but I just thought it would be nice for all of us if we do a simple 'experiment'... I'll explain.

For context, I know that PW has sent more interview invites that are now being held that extend at least until next week. They have filled all Spring places for sure and a few on the Summer scheme, so these interviews are going to be the ones that make up for the last couple of spots for Summer.

A few of us have sent emails to chase for a timeline for the outcome, based on legitimate personal reasons. As far as I'm aware, they haven't replied to any of us, nor sent out any PFOs post-interview.

Here's what I'm proposing:
- We can all react to this post that indicates whether we selected only Spring, only Summer, or both for our scheme preference. (Wow emoji for Spring, sad emoji for Summer, and angry emoji for both)
- We will wait until we eventually hear back from PW.
- We can then come back to this post and check if any of us have actually been offered a place on the Summer scheme.

Purpose of this 'experiment':
- To see if we are really being ghosted here or if we are basically being placed on something like a waiting list.
- To get a better understanding of how PW is reviewing interviews, e.g. whether they have basically decided to reject those who applied for Spring and are only deciding between those who chose Summer or both Spring and Summer.

I believe this is something we can do in our very limited power to get ourselves a clearer picture of how recruitment works for PW, albeit retrospectively, particularly when clarity is not offered to us.

Still ghosted post-app…. 😂😂😂😂 At this point i would just like to know why, if some PFOs have been given out already

 

[student353]

Still ghosted post-app…. 😂😂😂😂 At this point i would just like to know why, if some PFOs have been given out already

Have some pfos been given out?

 

[Mara]

At the rate PW are going, there should be like a support group for being aired by them…

“Hi my name is…. And I have fallen victim to PW”

 

[fidrrygalka]

Have some pfos been given out?

According to the earlier posts here there were, probably around a month ago if i remember correctly?

 

[student353]

According to the earlier posts here there were, probably around a month ago if i remember correctly?

Ah I thought pfos post interview, no worries

 

[fidrrygalka]

Ah I thought pfos post interview, no worries

Ahh sorry for confusion then!!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu!

Apologies if this is a bit of a silly question 😅 but if a firm asks you to write a bio for a VS (which will be added to a doc for the whole office to see) - how do you recommend structuring this? Thank you!

Hiya @KBanana


Not a silly question at all. In my experience, the structure of your bio will usually depend on how formal the firm expects it to be and whether they've provided specific instructions. For example, during my vacation schemes, some firms included clear prompts in their emails, asking us to mention specific details such as university attended, interesting facts about ourselves, or even our favourite movie or hobby. If the tone is intended to be more casual or friendly, you might want to introduce yourself in the first person, saying something along the lines of: "Hi! I'm Ram, a recent LLB graduate from UCL. I was born and raised in Canada, and in my spare time, I really enjoy pro bono volunteer work at my university's legal clinic, travelling, and visiting museums and galleries."

If the bio is expected to be more formal or professional, I find that writing it in the third person usually is helpful. In that case, I'd say something like: "Ram Sabaratnam is a recent LLB graduate from University College London. In his spare time, he enjoys writing for the Justice Gap and volunteering at his university’s refugee law clinic." It may be worth clarifying with graduate recruitment team directly, just to make sure you write the bio in a way that matches the firm's expectations. You can just confirm with them how formal the tone should be and if there is any particular word count they have in mind.

Hope that helps!

 

[LawJourney101]

How long after an AC do we find out from Hogan Lovells? I understand that people tend to hear back within a couple of days if they are successful. (looks like I haven't been).

 

[VMS]

Assuming we can disclose now.. CRS Spring VS actually can’t believe it 🥳🥳 so exciting can’t wait!!

CRS Spring VS! Does anyone have tips or resources to prepare for a pre-VS written assessment?

Same - see you there!

Same!!! See you all there! Let me know if you want to connect on LinkedIn before

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi! Just wondering what do students normally do if they fail to secure a TC or VS in their Final Year. Do they self-fund the SQE or do most take a gap year and spend the year applying to all firms? What would you suggest for an International Student (considering they need to apply for the Graduate Visa and also universities).
I would like to hear your thoughts on this. A friend of mine is a Final Year and he is wondering what to do next, considering that he is graduating this summer and he is an International Student.

Thank you so much!! @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

As @Jesscia Booker said, there is not a right or wrong answer as this will be highly dependent on one's circumstances; moreover, I definitely do not think the choice is a 'decisive' one, in that there are plenty of people who succeed with both approaches. That said, if I were in this position, the following would be the central factors in my decision-making:

1. How easily can you self-finance? Would parents or family be able (and willing) to cover it, or would you need to take any debt? If the latter, this would be a huge minus. However, even if you can self-fund, if this will make a significant dent into your/your family's savings, this is also a factor to consider.
2. What does your applications history look like? Have you gave it your all (making lots and lots of high quality applications, have through research on each firm, went to firm events, kept up with commercial awareness etc) consistently and still not succeeded? If so, perhaps it is a good idea to do the SQE to boost your candidate profile - since there would not that much you can do independently of such a boost to significantly improve success chances. If however your application cycle efforts have not quite been up to the (quite high) standard I was describing above, perhaps it is worth another shot; particularly as if you do not do the SQE you would have a lot more time to invest to ensure you do everything right and maximize your chances to score well in every assessment criterion.
3. Would there be anything else I can and want to do besides applications if I do not self-fund the SQE, or would this just be a 'gap year'? Of course, another job/do a postgrad would clash with the idea of not doing the SQE to have all the time in the world for applications. However, if you could take on a part-time role or enroll in a course that is not very demanding (at least during the main application cycle months), this could serve the SQE's function to boost your candidate profile.
4. What firms are you targeting? Apparently, different firms care to a different extent whether you have already completed the SQE. While the cost-saving involved would likely be a benefit in the eyes of any firm, the level to which this will increase your chances will vary. Anecdotally, US firms in particular but MC firms as well tend to care less about it; whereas more mid-market firms tend to care more. The reason would be that the former category simply have a significantly stronger financial position, and as such, the savings involved in not having to sponsor your SQE would be more of a drop in a bucket than for the latter.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu!

Apologies if this is a bit of a silly question 😅 but if a firm asks you to write a bio for a VS (which will be added to a doc for the whole office to see) - how do you recommend structuring this? Thank you!

Has the firm given you an example or any guidance on how to write it? A lot of firms do so that your writing is going to be fairly consistent with other vacation scheme students. If they have given this to you, then always follow their structure and guidance first.

If they haven't provided anything to you, then something like the following length would be appropriate:

Jess studied Economics and Social Studies at the University of Manchester, graduating with a first-class honours in 2004. Since then, she has worked in the Early Careers sector for a range of companies across the legal, professional services, investment and FMCG sectors. Before her career, Jess was a Chef, working in various pubs and also as a Chalet host in the French Alps. She continues to love both cooking and skiing, as well as trying to keep up with her hyperactive dog, Dennis. Jess looks forward to understanding more about the firm's clients during the vacation scheme, as well as learning more about the firm's diversity initiatives.

It might be that they want you to write in the first person though - I have just written in the third person due to habit!

Ultimately try to include:

- Key and relevant facts about your background
- 1 or 2 key achievements (I included my degree classification)
- Something about your interests - what you do outside of work/study
- Something interesting about you - maybe something more unique (why I always throw in the fact I was a chef)
- If you feel comfortable doing so, something slightly light-hearted or that could be a conversation starter (why I reference my dog. Dennis!).
- Adding some kind of reference as to what you hope to gain by attending the scheme