TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

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Hi guys, unfortunately, I have not been successful this cycle because I only started thinking about a legal career in December... I am a third-year non-law student, and I have been offered a place to do an MA at the University of Cambridge (really fortunate). Still, I can't decide between doing that or applying for paralegal opportunities? Would a MA hurt my chances, or am I better off getting experience in Law? Any help would be appreciated! I just lost at what to do atm :) Currently, I have only a month's experience working in a solicitor's office, that I did at Sixth form.
Go for the MA and try to get some part time legal experience. I'm from Cambridge too (doing a PhD) and it was extremely difficult to secure paralegal experience because I'm working full-time on my research. I approached many small firms but due to the pandemic they didn't have any positions. Finally, an independent barrister took me on and although the mini-pupillage was supposed to last a week, I ended up working with her for nearly a year! I worked with direct access clients who didn't have a solicitor, so I had to help with tasks a paralegal/trainee solicitor might have done. The bottom line is, follow your educational aspirations regarding the MA and be creative about how you secure more recent legal experience.
 

APPLE619

Star Member
Dec 6, 2021
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If you dont mind sharing, was it an offer or rejection? And also when did you do the AC? Nobody's contacted me in over 3 weeks ffsss
it was an offer and I completed the AC on the 7th of May! If nobody has contacted you in 3 weeks I defo suggest emailing them. Everyone I know who did the AC heard back within 3 days (acceptance or rejection)
 

Legalmel_99

Legendary Member
Jan 16, 2021
354
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I realise I may not have helped with my earlier posts on this conversation earlier.

I'd encourage everyone to normalise every outcome of how many vacation scheme offers someone gets.

We are talking about a process with so many variables, that the one thing that is really tricky to do is to say what an "average" is. We aren't taking anything into account as to why that average number might be what it is either.

None of that is helpful in my opinion.

From doing this for nearly 18 years, my experience is:
  • Many people get 0 vacation schemes, even across multiple cycles.
  • Many people get 1-2 offers, whether it be across one or multiple cycles
  • Many people get a lot of offers, sometimes in a really short period or time, in others other multiple years
All of those outcomes are normal in my opinion.
Completely agree with this!

1st cycle - 0 offers
2nd cycle - 0 offers 1 AC
3rd cycle - 3 offers had to reject one due to a clash but didn’t convert either VS to a TC
4th cycle (now) - 1 offer
 

Rob93

Legendary Member
Dec 29, 2020
627
1,677
Hi guys, unfortunately, I have not been successful this cycle because I only started thinking about a legal career in December... I am a third-year non-law student, and I have been offered a place to do an MA at the University of Cambridge (really fortunate). Still, I can't decide between doing that or applying for paralegal opportunities? Would a MA hurt my chances, or am I better off getting experience in Law? Any help would be appreciated! I just lost at what to do atm :) Currently, I have only a month's experience working in a solicitor's office, that I did at Sixth form.
Loads of people with whom I did the GDL had MAs, many from oxbridge, and I got the impression that for most it was an asset - they largely were going to the bar, which I gather places a bit more value on that kind of thing, but conversely is far more selective on net than the vast majority of city firms.

I'm extremely encouraging of people doing a stint as a paralegal - helps to keep one humble, if nothing else - but doing a masters you're genuinely enthusiastic about will always be a good use of your time.

And as mentioned, getting Cambridge on your CV (assuming you didn't already go to Cambridge or Oxford at undergrad) is pretty much always good for your career.
 

Jessica Booker

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Graduate Recruitment
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Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
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Unrelated question to the current thread, but I wondered how easy or hard it is to renege on a TC offer you accepted? Really interested to hear from @Jessica Booker and your thoughts on this?😅
How hard it is depends on how far you are in the process of training. Basically if you have started the process of onboarding to law school (GDL/LPC/SQE course) then you are financially tied to that firm. Although it’s not impossible to still renege at that point, if you do, you typically need to be prepared to pay back any potential fees immediately. That could include any course that you haven’t started but have committed to (eg you have started the onboarding process for that course).

If none of the above applies, then it’s easy to renege. You literally just withdraw your acceptance, in the same way you would withdraw from a recruitment process you haven’t got to offer stage with yet. Just don’t expect the firm to do you any favours again in the short term (eg for the next 3-5 years).
 
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YUKI1201

Valued Member
  • Mar 3, 2021
    124
    519
    PFO from w&c to finally end my application cycle. Having had interviews from 3 firms and flopping them all, I’m feeling seriously deflated. Does anyone have any tips/assurance to provide? I rly need it 😭
    Have you tried asking for feedback from the firms? If not I'd suggest doing so :)
    I've had 5 ACs with 3 offers 1 rejection in this cycle so far, one yet to respond; I'm in NO WAY an expert in this but I'm happy to share my modest personal insights and tips if you'd like - feel free to PM me!
     

    emilyrose99

    Star Member
    Nov 3, 2018
    48
    137
    Hi all, for anyone who has done an HSF AC, are the scenario questions similar to case studies in that you could ask for a moment to jot down and collect your thoughts, or is it more of a discussion in which it would feel disjointed to stop and write down your thoughts in a case-study style?
     

    aspiringlawyer123_

    Legendary Member
    Dec 11, 2021
    126
    356
    Hi all, for anyone who has done an HSF AC, are the scenario questions similar to case studies in that you could ask for a moment to jot down and collect your thoughts, or is it more of a discussion in which it would feel disjointed to stop and write down your thoughts in a case-study style?
    It is a discussion but you could definitely ask for a few moments to collect your thoughts if you need to - they wouldn’t mind this :)
     
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