TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

Status
Not open for further replies.

axelbeugre

Legendary Member
Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Junior Lawyer
Sep 14, 2023
1,274
1,724
Holding myself accountable (again):

Willkie Farr & Gallagher ✅📼📝
Covington & Burling
Shearman & Sterling ✅
White & Case ✅📼
Milbank ✅
Ropes & Gray
Arnold & Porter
Sullivan & Cromwell
Latham & Watkins
Kirkland & Ellis
Skadden Arps ✅
Vinson & Elkins
Weil Gotshal & Manges
Akin ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅❌
Goodwin ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅
Paul Hastings
Ashurst ✅ 📝❌
Macfarlanes ✅📝
Mayer Brown ✅📝
King & Spalding?
Winston & Strawn?
Morgan Lewis ✅
Fried Frank (1st January)
Orrick
Dechert
Cooley
Morrison Foerster ✅
Slaughter and May ✅❌

✅ = application; 📝 = test/written exercise; 📼 = VI, ❌ = PFO.

Three PFOs, but honestly, the excitement you get even just getting an open-day invite or a VI makes it all worthwhile.
Amazing! And I agree, when I was applying I used to get so excited for VI or interview invites and it does make it all worthwhile so keep going!
 

Mike Wazaoski

Valued Member
Premium Member
Nov 12, 2018
114
180
Holding myself accountable (again):

Willkie Farr & Gallagher ✅📼📝
Covington & Burling
Shearman & Sterling ✅
White & Case ✅📼
Milbank ✅
Ropes & Gray
Arnold & Porter
Sullivan & Cromwell
Latham & Watkins
Kirkland & Ellis
Skadden Arps ✅
Vinson & Elkins
Weil Gotshal & Manges
Akin ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅❌
Goodwin ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅
Paul Hastings
Ashurst ✅ 📝❌
Macfarlanes ✅📝
Mayer Brown ✅📝
King & Spalding?
Winston & Strawn?
Morgan Lewis ✅
Fried Frank (1st January)
Orrick
Dechert
Cooley
Morrison Foerster ✅
Slaughter and May ✅❌

✅ = application; 📝 = test/written exercise; 📼 = VI, ❌ = PFO.

Three PFOs, but honestly, the excitement you get even just getting an open-day invite or a VI makes it all worthwhile.
How long do you spend on each application?
Do you have suggestions for balancing quality and volume?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sharon Wu

Tintin06

Legendary Member
Oct 23, 2019
533
1,247
How long do you spend on each application?
Do you have suggestions for balancing quality and volume?
A day. I'd suggest keeping your work experience material handy as well. Be careful though since some forms will allow you to write up to 250 words for work experience and some 150. I'd say make a calendar based on deadlines and your schedule.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mike Wazaoski

Mike Wazaoski

Valued Member
Premium Member
Nov 12, 2018
114
180
A day. I'd suggest keeping your work experience material handy as well. Be careful though since some forms will allow you to write up to 250 words for work experience and some 150. I'd say make a calendar based on deadlines and your schedule.
I have a bank of my work experience answers which definitely does help.

It’s the firm specific unique research which I feel takes longer!

Do you have key criteria that you use to compare the firms?
 

Ash2323

Distinguished Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Nov 2, 2023
56
115
Hello everyone! Anyone else a bit stuck on Gowling WLG's question: Why is ESG important to Gowling WLG, and how can lawyers proactively promote ESG best practices in the commercial world? (350 words)

Do we approach it as Gowling WLG as a business or more the ESG work they do for their clients?

Many thanks :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: axelbeugre

Ash2323

Distinguished Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Nov 2, 2023
56
115
'Not required' is a bit vague though? Would grad recruitment see it as a benefit to have a cover letter attached? Unsure on this.
Sorry it was just my wording that was vague, it is definitely not needed for vac scheme applications, my guess is they have the same format for all their job openings so that is why it is even there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: h79

Tintin06

Legendary Member
Oct 23, 2019
533
1,247
I have a bank of my work experience answers which definitely does help.

It’s the firm specific unique research which I feel takes longer!

Do you have key criteria that you use to compare the firms?
I look at practice areas using Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. I prefer Legal 500 because it mentions specific clients as well as practice groups. I also use The Lawyer (mostly pay-walled but the 'What The Lawyer Says' rundowns for each firm are incredibly useful, especially for financials like PEP or revenue growth (e.g. here's one I used for finding out about Sullivan & Cromwell). Legal Cheek and Chambers Student, and Roll on Friday are good. I hope this helps.
 
Last edited:

NJS

Legendary Member
  • Aug 21, 2021
    236
    335
    A day. I'd suggest keeping your work experience material handy as well. Be careful though since some forms will allow you to write up to 250 words for work experience and some 150. I'd say make a calendar based on deadlines and your schedule.
    Damn how can you do it in a day takes me more than that just to research a firm!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Sharon Wu

    EliteWhovian

    Legendary Member
    Junior Lawyer
  • Dec 8, 2022
    289
    785
    Holding myself accountable (again):

    Willkie Farr & Gallagher ✅📼📝
    Covington & Burling
    Shearman & Sterling ✅
    White & Case ✅📼
    Milbank ✅
    Ropes & Gray
    Arnold & Porter
    Sullivan & Cromwell
    Latham & Watkins
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Skadden Arps ✅
    Vinson & Elkins
    Weil Gotshal & Manges
    Akin ✅
    Gibson Dunn ✅❌
    Goodwin ✅
    Cleary Gottlieb ✅
    Paul Hastings
    Ashurst ✅ 📝❌
    Macfarlanes ✅📝
    Mayer Brown ✅📝
    King & Spalding?
    Winston & Strawn?
    Morgan Lewis ✅
    Fried Frank (1st January)
    Orrick
    Dechert
    Cooley
    Morrison Foerster ✅
    Slaughter and May ✅❌

    ✅ = application; 📝 = test/written exercise; 📼 = VI, ❌ = PFO.

    Three PFOs, but honestly, the excitement you get even just getting an open-day invite or a VI makes it all worthwhile.

    You know what, I've been pretty lazy so far despite saying I will apply to as many as I can before December. This is my sign! Absolute legend
     
    • Love
    Reactions: Tintin06

    zizszhplum

    Esteemed Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Mar 20, 2022
    93
    111
    @Jessica Booker @axelbeugre and anyone else, I would appreciate your advice! I recently started an in-house paralegal role that has given me a lot of amazing experience. Before this role, I was still very involved in extra-curriculars and some high-street law experience but of course my current daily responsibilities are most relevant to what a trainee might do at a commercial law firm. I am just wondering if, in an application with multiple written questions about my experience / my interest in commercial law / how I have displayed the firm's values etc. I focused solely on my current paralegal experience, is this too much? Should I still try and balance my answers with non-legal work experience in questions that ask how I have displayed the firm's values (as opposed to sticking to examples from the same workplace)? Hope this makes sense, thanks :)
     
    • Like
    Reactions: axelbeugre
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.