TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[NJS]

Nope, assume you haven't? I think it could be anytime this week from what they said, unless you were told differently.

I was told the same, they said they make the decision pretty quick didn't they

 

[trainee4u]

was going to apply to kingsley napley work experience but its a month of unpaid work ?!?!? in london ?!?!? u expecting me to be working for free while paying my rent and no longer having student loan ?!!!??💀

and u cant do it if u have a TC so i shall be optimistic and hope i will secure a TC either there or elsewhere by the time of the work experience in september🫠

Yeah I declined to apply for Ashfords' VS for the same reason. Unpaid, but "travel expenses" that wouldn't cover my hotel, no thanks.

 

[gazdgazd11]

Yeah I declined to apply for Ashfords' VS for the same reason. Unpaid, but "travel expenses" that wouldn't cover my hotel, no thanks.

Ive done one unpaid vacation scheme and I spent so much money on the hotel etc. I think it’s ridiculous. If you can’t pay attendees for a vac scheme then don’t offer it?? Just do direct tc? I really think these firms are appalling

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Received a TC offer this afternoon! They called me (no email) and I did my AC early Feb

Well done! What an amazing way to start off your week!?

 

[lawstudent2]

I do not think the 15-miunte time slot necessarily indicates that the firm actually expects the interview to ask for that long. It may be that they only plan to ask 3-4 questions and are accounting for potential 2-3 minute answers, introductions, and potential delays when calculating how much time they should book to make sure one interview does not overlap with the one scheduled next.

As for the questions they could ask, I do not expect they could go much further beyond the following:

• The general motivational ones: probably the why commercial law, why firm, why you are all fair game
• Application strategy questions: what other firms have you applied to, why would you prefer Macfarlanes
• Firm research questions: could be simple ones such as explaining what their main practices areas do or how a current issue impacts them, but also more complex questions around the firm's strategy and market position.

Finally, in terms of preparation advice, I think it is similar to what I would say for most interviews, in that practicing as much as you can and then critically assessing your performance is the right way to go about it. The one point of difference I would mention is that with phone interviews, since your interviewer will not be able to see you and infer anything from body language and expression, you should focus a lot more on improving the clarity of your oral communication.

Thank you that's really helpful

 

[Toomanypfo]

Anyone heard from brabners post VI?

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

@Jessica Booker Hi jessica! Just wanted to ask a Q about the VS accelerator programme - how long is it?

Edit: Also whether the VS exercises have been uploaded. If not, then by what date can we expect to have this content available? Just asking so I can be strategic about purchasing the Gold subscription!

Hi! Just bumping this forward again!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi! Just bumping this forward again!

The programme will run through to late May 2025.

The vacation scheme exercises will be available later this month.

 

[lawbear123]

Is anyone doing the March Skadden Scheme?

 

[slot123]

I remember a couple of weeks ago or something someone posting on here a list of firms that offer a decent number of direct training contracts but I can’t find it anywhere does anyone have a link for it please?

 

[tianna09]

was going to apply to kingsley napley work experience but its a month of unpaid work ?!?!? in london ?!?!? u expecting me to be working for free while paying my rent and no longer having student loan ?!!!??💀

and u cant do it if u have a TC so i shall be optimistic and hope i will secure a TC either there or elsewhere by the time of the work experience in september🫠

i was so put off that KN didnt offer anything for the work experience but my uni offers grants to students who are offered vac schemes and work experiences in london so to me its free lol (prime girl math)

 

[Someoneinlaw]

Would anyone be interested in having commercial awareness conversations maybe once a week? Just exchange of commercial knowledge in form of a discussion( anything learnt from a commercial podcast, a course on forage , TCLA…etc , news articles , commercial scenario, we would practise application of SWOT and PESTLE , mastering concepts of commercial terms I.e shares, bond etc ) . I believe this will be useful in terms of practising discussing commercially as opposed to just reading. Will be helpful for case studies /commercial scenario interviews as well. Also good for accountability cause you’d not want to come to the discussion clueless knowing you’d actually have to say something 🥴
Just need at least one person for this! Please send me a PM. (Serious minded person only and preferably someone who doesn’t have a training contract offer yet)🙂

 

[Zi48]

I remember a couple of weeks ago or something someone posting on here a list of firms that offer a decent number of direct training contracts but I can’t find it anywhere does anyone have a link for it please?

Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2024-2025

Hi folks! To help you develop a well-rounded application strategy, we’ve put together the following thread highlighting where firms typically recruit from—whether it's through vacation schemes or direct training contract routes. We've organised firms into four categories: Firms which recruit a...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hello! I am just completing an assessment now and I have been asked about recent changes in the legal industry which may affect the firms business. As this is my first application round and I am still very new to all this - would talking about the recent Spring Statement be good? I know it is not strictly the legal industry but obviously it will have impacts
Any advice would be amazing!

Hiya @CupOfTea17

I think you're right to question whether the Spring Statement (which is fundamentally a fiscal policy update) would count as a change in the legal industry per se. Most of the content in the Spring Statement (e.g. updates on inflation, tax thresholds, public spending plans) impacts the broader economy rather than the legal industry directly. Unless the question specifically invites you to discuss external developments that might impact the firm’s business, it might not be the strongest fit. If the question asks about changes in the legal industry, then you’ll want to focus on things like:

• Regulatory shifts (e.g. the SRA’s changing stance on hybrid working or tech use)
• Changes in litigation funding and regulation (see here)
• Law firm mergers, new practice areas, or the increasing interest that PE firms have in acquiring law firms

If the question is phrased more broadly (e.g. “changes in the market” or “news affecting firms and their clients”), then you can definitely mention something from the Spring Statement. However, I'd encourage you to focus clearly on aspects that affects a firm’s key clients and business.

Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions!

 

[M_m]

This may be a weird question, but how likely are you to convert your first VS?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

This may be a weird question, but how likely are you to convert your first VS?

Hiya @M_m

Although I try not to get too bogged down with this question, I think it really depends. Some people do convert their very first vacation scheme (I know a few! Not me though, lol), and for others, it takes a second or third go. I've also never seen conversion stats disaggregated to tell you how likely you are to get a TC on your first attempt at a VS. Moreover, if your scheme is at a firm that offer a large number of training contracts, the numbers can be a bit misleading. Even if maybe 60–70% of vac schemers end up getting offers, that figure also includes people who get offers elsewhere and so choose not to accept the offers they might receive at your firm.

Instead of trying to beat the odds by gaming how likely it is you'll convert on the first attempt, I'd say just focus on bringing your best self to the vacation scheme. That is fundamentally all you can do (and often, that’s more than enough). I'm sure @Jessica Booker would have much more wise things to say, so I'll tag her here too.

 

[M_m]

Hiya @M_m

Although I try not to get too bogged down with this question, I think it really depends. Some people do convert their very first vacation scheme (I know a few! Not me though, lol), and for others, it takes a second or third go. I've also never seen conversion stats disaggregated to tell you how likely you are to get a TC on your first attempt at a VS. Moreover, if your scheme is at a firm that offer a large number of training contracts, the numbers can be a bit misleading. Even if maybe 60–70% of vac schemers end up getting offers, that figure also includes people who get offers elsewhere and so choose not to accept the offers they might receive at your firm.

Instead of trying to beat the odds by gaming how likely it is you'll convert on the first attempt, I'd say just focus on bringing your best self to the vacation scheme. That is fundamentally all you can do (and often, that’s more than enough). I'm sure @Jessica Booker would have much more wise things to say, so I'll tag her here too.

That makes sense. I’m just a bit anxious because I only have one VS and don’t think I can go through another cycle 😅

 

[lolololol]

does anyone know what time the baker Mckenzie tc deadline is?

 

[Jessica Booker]

This may be a weird question, but how likely are you to convert your first VS?

I'd stress that firms run vacation schemes to try and recruit trainees, so generally you have a good chance of converting.

However, your chances are going to be dependent on too many variable factors, including your individual performance, which will make it impossible for anyone to determine what any vacation schemer's actual chances of converting are. Once you then factor in the things you cannot control (other vacation scheme students' performances, how many TCs to VS there are, and a whole range of other points) its becomes far too complicated to even try to consider what your chances would be.

 

[lolasparks]

Hey did anyone apply to the summer legal internship for bbc and heard anything back after the second stage?

Just the email saying they will get back to us before the 4th!