TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[CallumJR]

Would appreciate any last minute advice for the FF AC

Fingers crossed, I am rooting for you!!!

 

[isTeapp]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

This is amazing! You should be very proud. Do you have any advice for Baker McKenzie’s AC?

 

[hopefulforatc]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

How many direct tcs did you apply? and how was the response for them?

 

[Chelsea1]

Hi guys, is it worth applying for a direct TC despite having no vac scheme experience/legal experience and being a 2nd year law student? Not sure if I would be wasting my time doing so if I can't even get onto a vac scheme

Maybe it would be better to wait until winter vac schemes open. Not sure...

 

[yasmars]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

12 ACs and 3 VS offers is very impressive, congrats!!

 

[NSC414]

Farrer & Co VS!!🥳

Did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

 

[bella98]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

Indeed, the advice does seem a bit impractical. When you consider the sheer volume of applications these firms receive, it's hard to imagine that making a fleeting digital connection or reaching out for advice will sway the odds in your favour.

These people are so busy with their daily responsibilities, and the reality is, without an existing, meaningful connection, the likelihood of them going out of their way to offer preferential treatment or dedicate time to crafting feedback for a stranger is, frankly, slim to none. I reached out to people for some AC insights (students or grads, not trainees) and only one person was super kind to help me, so what are the chances of trainees helping you re-write your application ahaha

Generally, I know who this influencer is and I personally do not like her content - she just posted “ POV: it’s your first week at a magic circle law firm” and only showed a ball. Is this what you did in your first week? 🥲

 

[Legalstalker]

Did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

Spring, I didn’t know there was a summer one lmao

 

[isTeapp]

Hi guys, is it worth applying for a direct TC despite having no vac scheme experience/legal experience and being a 2nd year law student? Not sure if I would be wasting my time doing so if I can't even get onto a vac scheme

Maybe it would be better to wait until winter vac schemes open. Not sure...

I honestly think it’s worth applying. I know plenty of people who got TC’s in their second year without doing any vacation schemes. The aim is to demonstrate your transferable skills.

 

[svmmi7]

Has anyone heard back from Bates Wells post-WG?

 

[trainee2025]

Hi guys, is it worth applying for a direct TC despite having no vac scheme experience/legal experience and being a 2nd year law student? Not sure if I would be wasting my time doing so if I can't even get onto a vac scheme

Maybe it would be better to wait until winter vac schemes open. Not sure...

I would echo what @isTeapp said but I’d advise checking the requirements for each firm carefully before spending a long time on an application.
For example, some firms say things like ‘we welcome direct applications from those with prior legal experience’ or ‘those who cannot complete a VS due to work or childcare commitments’ and things. Others advertise a direct TC route but basically don’t recruit though it (TCLA has a useful list for this). On the flip side, some firms (US with smaller London offices mainly) don’t even run a VS so the direct TC application in the summer is the route in. All things you can find out before dedicating too much time to it!

Also, summer direct TC windows and the winter VS window are typically regarded as separate application ‘years,’ so I wouldn’t regard that as a deterrent. You can apply for direct TCs without compromising your chances for winter VS I’m sure (in fact it might be good practice).

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs.

• Total applications this cycle ~ 20
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~ 7
• Awaiting to hear from: ~ 2 (BCLP TC & Hogan Lovells TC)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: Gowling & Fieldfisher
• Latest rejection: Mishcon De Reya
• Hardest rejection: Trowers & Hamlins - really liked the firm and grad rec, was gutted when I was rejected.
• Easiest rejection: Bird & Bird 🤣
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Gowling, Trowers & Hamlins and Fieldfisher. Shoutout to Mishcon’s grad rec for giving me extra time with my VI.
• Tedious Application Process: Bird & Bird
• Converted my 1st AC 🥹(had completed all of my apps for the cycle at this point)
• Converted my 2nd AC too 🥹 (had completed all of my apps for the cycle at this point)
• No 3rd AC….yet!
• Also secured spots at around 16 firm events online and in person, attended around 10, withdrew from 5 (could not be bothered any more) and was placed on the reserves list for 1.

 

[NJS]

Hi @axelbeugre @Jessica Booker do you both have any advice on how to approach pitching a new client for a firm?

 

[nliro85]

It is very firm specific unfortunately. I heard that some firms send emails whilst others call. I think it really depends but I did hear that the feedbacks are not as exhaustive.

Thank you and they said they will provide written feedback so I don't know what to expect. As I know some on the forum have had written feedback post AC and have found them generic so I am hoping it is not generic so that I know where I can improve.

 

[nliro85]

I haven't heard of this before but I would say that this might not be too bad;
- you have the feedback to hand to refer back to instead of being reliant on scribbling things down during the call
- you can (hopefully) get a pretty clear idea of what they are looking for in the AC/how it is scored. This is likely to be similar for many firms so you should be able to see where you can improve in the future.

I think if the written feedback raises any questions, they might be willing to clarify in a follow-up email as well if you felt comfortable asking. At least you're hopefully getting some useful written points even if not a full feedback call (which isn't always even that helpful depending on the firm).

This is reassuring to hear and yes get your point about it there for future AC's prep. Yes, agree I can raise any queries in emails if I want clarification on an aspect.

 

[Lawyering13]

those that’s done Bakers AC for Spring, DM me I did mine recently

 

[mattyh23]

Hey all, new to this, but absolutely stressing out after an AC question I had today.

I was asked if I could invite someone famous to a dinner party, who would I choose to invite. I panicked as had no clue, so said Jurgen Klopp (the Liverpool manager). I backed it up by wanting to know how he's inspired huge comebacks/motivates players from setbacks/resilience and would want to know how he came to a difficult decision to walk away from something he loves. I tried to link this to a law firm and said you'd face setbacks as a trainee and hard choices.

The interviewer didn't really react much but worried it's an immature/unsophisticated answer. Feel I've blown it from what is effectively an arbitrary question.

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Personally I think it's a great answer and I know they get fed up with the Mandela, Obama, Lord Denning answers. Didn't someone successfully get a TC giving Taylor Swift or taking about the Barbie Movie?

 

[mattyh23]

Personally I think it's a great answer and I know they get fed up with the Mandela, Obama, Lord Denning answers. Didn't someone successfully get a TC giving Taylor Swift or taking about the Barbie Movie?

Thanks I really didn't want to go with a cliche answer like the ones you mentioned but still feel mine seems like an answer a 12-year-old would give 🤣 Ah well, it's done now, so can't overthink it!

 

[holz567]

Hey all, new to this, but absolutely stressing out after an AC question I had today.

I was asked if I could invite someone famous to a dinner party, who would I choose to invite. I panicked as had no clue, so said Jurgen Klopp (the Liverpool manager). I backed it up by wanting to know how he's inspired huge comebacks/motivates players from setbacks/resilience and would want to know how he came to a difficult decision to walk away from something he loves. I tried to link this to a law firm and said you'd face setbacks as a trainee and hard choices.

The interviewer didn't really react much but worried it's an immature/unsophisticated answer. Feel I've blown it from what is effectively an arbitrary question.

Football isn't my thing so can't advise there but honestly agree that it sounds like a good answer!

You've backed it up and linked it to attributes a firm would look for and like @3000to1shoteverytime said, it's way better than the cliche answers firms will usually hear!