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

[BioSTEM]

Bird & Bird summer VS offer!

 

[Deleted member 11671]

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]

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)

 

[Deobicaratexol0804]

Hi! Have you tried calling graduate recruitment?

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)

I am assuming you mean March rather than May?

 

[APPLE619]

I am assuming you mean March rather than May?

Oop yes haha

 

[Legalmel_99]

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

 

[Jessi H]

Hi there! Just receive vi invitation from Fox Williams. Anyone who have completed it before could you please dm me!🙏 Really need some hints to prepare on this. Thank you so much!

 

[Jessi H]

Hi there! Just receive vi invitation from Fox Williams. Anyone who have completed it before could you please dm me!🙏 Really need some hints to prepare on this. Thank you so much!

 

[Rob93]

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]

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).

 

[YUKI1201]

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!

 

[kr253]

Has anyone heard back this week from OC about Bristol Summer Vac Scheme post final AC? Rejections or offers?

Not Bristol and not VS (lol) but also still haven't heard or seen anybody hearing back post final AC for direct TC for Reading

 

[5678]

Do we have a forum that talks about vacation scheme experiences please?

 

[S87]

Do we have a forum that talks about vacation scheme experiences please?

I do not know but you can create one

 

[emilyrose99]

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?

 

[A494]

Has anyone else still not heard back from CRS (London office)?

 

[ssolicitorz]

As a means of update for those still waiting as well, I emailed Dechert as I haven't heard back since completing my VI and written task. They told me they were still in the process of reviewing interviews and written tasks. Hopefully we'll hear back soon

 

[aspiringlawyer123_]

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

 

[emilyrose99]

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

Thank you !

 

[OB]

Has anyone been successful in getting further clarification on feedback from Gowling?