TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2022-23

[Adrian_S]

Cleary PFO, but also Goodwin interview invitation

Edit: applied to Goodwin on 28 December

 

[Rolyp]

Anyone heard back from ashurst post ac?

 

[jennifer]

just wondering if anyone has been successful for HSF AC and was not contacted within the next day? T-T

did my AC for summer VS last week and am losing hope

 

[F99]

Anyone heard from Bakers post-AC for Spring?

 

[K2002]

Anybody heard from Curtis post app

 

[alexchristos]

Anyone heard back from ashurst post ac?

Do you know if Ashurst has completed all of their ACs?

 

[Aspiringcorporatesolicitor]

Anyone know how many people Ashurst invite for their ACs and how many get taken in for the VS?

 

[Katie_H_22]

Is it really ill-advised to apply for direct training contracts, without any vacation schemes under your belt? I didn't apply for any vacation schemes because I wasn't happy with my CV (I'd just left a pretty dodgy company before Christmas, and I didn't want to have my 'currently doing' as 'seeking work'). I also couldn't find a proof reader before the deadlines....

Has anyone secured a TC without any vac schemes? I've done a handful of mini pupillages in commercial/chancery and mixed civil/property sets before, if that helps at all - though I know it's a very different day-to-day than a city lawyer.

 

[gabynosaure]

Is it really ill-advised to apply for direct training contracts, without any vacation schemes under your belt? I didn't apply for any vacation schemes because I wasn't happy with my CV (I'd just left a pretty dodgy company before Christmas, and I didn't want to have my 'currently doing' as 'seeking work'). I also couldn't find a proof reader before the deadlines....

Has anyone secured a TC without any vac schemes? I've done a handful of mini pupillages in commercial/chancery and mixed civil/property sets before, if that helps at all - though I know it's a very different day-to-day than a city lawyer.

I went to a few open days and although the majority of trainees there had done vacation schemes before, some had never done any and had only ever applied to direct TC so there's hope! (this was in big city law firms as well)

 

[Rolyp]

Do you know if Ashurst has completed all of their ACs?

Yeah they have

 

[Jessica Booker]

My international fellas do you guys know if arnold & porter sponsors work visas?

On their application form it says 'Please note that we are not able to act as a visa sponsor. Should your application be successful, you will be asked to provide proof of your visa eligibility to complete the duration of a Vacation Scheme or Training Contract.' so they don't sponsor visas for sure right?

Yes, by the sounds of it they don't have a licence to apply for visas or their policy is not to use that licence for VS or TC roles.

 

[itjusttakesoneappoutof23230293 and counting]

Is it really ill-advised to apply for direct training contracts, without any vacation schemes under your belt? I didn't apply for any vacation schemes because I wasn't happy with my CV (I'd just left a pretty dodgy company before Christmas, and I didn't want to have my 'currently doing' as 'seeking work'). I also couldn't find a proof reader before the deadlines....

Has anyone secured a TC without any vac schemes? I've done a handful of mini pupillages in commercial/chancery and mixed civil/property sets before, if that helps at all - though I know it's a very different day-to-day than a city lawyer.

I have not secured a TC yet but obtained final round interviews/ACs with several big firms (including Hogan Lovells, BCLP and Stephenson Harwood etc.) before without any vacation scheme experience. I just leveraged my work experience and demonstrated I had transferrable skills, which was predominantly non-legal (as a career changer). The firms you apply to I would really recommend that you speak to individuals at the firm - I found that AS professional chat portal really helped with this - as I would put a comment about the firm's culture from what the AS professional said in my 'Why that firm' to show that I had tried to thoroughly research the firm. Obvs I'm still applying so I can't say that I've been successful through a direct TC but I have had more interviews from direct apps than VS apps.

 

[Raynz]

Is it really ill-advised to apply for direct training contracts, without any vacation schemes under your belt? I didn't apply for any vacation schemes because I wasn't happy with my CV (I'd just left a pretty dodgy company before Christmas, and I didn't want to have my 'currently doing' as 'seeking work'). I also couldn't find a proof reader before the deadlines....

Has anyone secured a TC without any vac schemes? I've done a handful of mini pupillages in commercial/chancery and mixed civil/property sets before, if that helps at all - though I know it's a very different day-to-day than a city lawyer.

Some people cant take time off work to attend a 1 or 2 week VS and firms are aware of this hence why they have a direct TC route.
VS are a great way to gain an internal perspective into the day-to-day life of a solicitor so if you can spare the time, its definitely recommended. The plus side is that you can apply your experience into your future applications and help you decide whether you enjoy the firm/work.

 

[Momo]

I have not secured a TC yet but obtained final round interviews/ACs with several big firms (including Hogan Lovells, BCLP and Stephenson Harwood etc.) before without any vacation scheme experience. I just leveraged my work experience and demonstrated I had transferrable skills, which was predominantly non-legal (as a career changer). The firms you apply to I would really recommend that you speak to individuals at the firm - I found that AS professional chat portal really helped with this - as I would put a comment about the firm's culture from what the AS professional said in my 'Why that firm' to show that I had tried to thoroughly research the firm. Obvs I'm still applying so I can't say that I've been successful through a direct TC but I have had more interviews from direct apps than VS apps.

Hi, what is AS professional chat portal?

 

[Sarah T]

Hi, what is AS professional chat portal?

When you register with Aspiring Solicitors you can contact both lawyers and trainees who have volunteered to be professional ambassadors. There is a page where you can view their profile by firm or diversity characteristic.

 

[hannah04]

Is it really ill-advised to apply for direct training contracts, without any vacation schemes under your belt? I didn't apply for any vacation schemes because I wasn't happy with my CV (I'd just left a pretty dodgy company before Christmas, and I didn't want to have my 'currently doing' as 'seeking work'). I also couldn't find a proof reader before the deadlines....

Has anyone secured a TC without any vac schemes? I've done a handful of mini pupillages in commercial/chancery and mixed civil/property sets before, if that helps at all - though I know it's a very different day-to-day than a city lawyer.

I wouldn't be discouraged to apply for direct TCs just because you don't have a VS - VS to TC is a common route but it doesn't make sense for everyone in their career trajectory. I think for some firms some kind of legal experience is very much preferred because it shows you've applied your interest in a practical setting and have developed relevant skills - I think yours definitely suffice, even though it isn't at a city firm it's still legal experience and definitely talk those up in your applications and maybe mention how they informed your decision to pursue commercial law instead.

 

[Logan1101]

Has anyone heard back from Travers for summer vac scheme? I heard they send out invites in April?

 

[adamBS]

Yeah they have

Can I ask how you know this? Their official line is that they are still considering until 17 February.

 

[emnlawyer]

hey, is this for the diversity access scheme? if so, could you please let me know when you’ve completed their assessment?

Hey, its for their TC!

 

[Momo]

I wouldn't be discouraged to apply for direct TCs just because you don't have a VS - VS to TC is a common route but it doesn't make sense for everyone in their career trajectory. I think for some firms some kind of legal experience is very much preferred because it shows you've applied your interest in a practical setting and have developed relevant skills - I think yours definitely suffice, even though it isn't at a city firm it's still legal experience and definitely talk those up in your applications and maybe mention how they informed your decision to pursue commercial law instead.

Are legal internships outside the UK considered to be sufficient legal experience? I did a month in a bank, a month for a mini-pupilage, 3 months at an international law firm and 4 months in-house.