TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[The-PFO-Collector]

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

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

 

[dieinabush]

Anyone have any idea when Stephenson Harwood usually get back to applicants with regards to their Spring and/or Summer Vacation scheme?

i did their winter vac scheme and they got back to me around 2 weeks before the start of the scheme

 

[Jaysen]

Hi Jaysen,

I don't think this is working anymore - price comes to £60 when I clicked on it. Is there a coupon code? Thanks!!

Sorry about that! I have extended the deadline to Wednesday for the inconvenience. You can checkout here.

 

[Jaysen]

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

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

Love this format!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Morning @Jessica Booker and @axelbeugre: Does TCLA have an example cover and/or CV template that could be used as a base for writing one? Thanks in advance

There are some CV templates here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/cv-templates.2296/

There is a general template for cover letters here: https://targetjobs.co.uk/static/dac...5c3/vacation-scheme-cover-letter-template.pdf

 

[elektrajenkov]

Anyone have any idea when Stephenson Harwood usually get back to applicants with regards to their Spring and/or Summer Vacation scheme?

I emailed them about a week or so ago for an estimated timeline (because I'd have to move to London for it so would like a little warning) and they said 2 weeks (so end of this week in theory) is the estimate for hearing about Spring, but I'm not holding out hope that they stick to that 🤣

 

[Aga123+]

There are some CV templates here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/cv-templates.2296/

There is a general template for cover letters here: https://targetjobs.co.uk/static/dac...5c3/vacation-scheme-cover-letter-template.pdf

Thank you 🙏

 

[hopefulforatc]

i did their winter vac scheme and they got back to me around 2 weeks before the start of the scheme

When did you get their VI?

 

[hopefulforatc]

I emailed them about a week or so ago for an estimated timeline (because I'd have to move to London for it so would like a little warning) and they said 2 weeks (so end of this week in theory) is the estimate for hearing about Spring, but I'm not holding out hope that they stick to that 🤣

After the VI?

 

[Jaysen]

I was looking at a draft of my motivation for wanting to join a firm that I handed in a long time ago. (i'm not sure if it was the official one I handed in). I realised in my first paragraph I kinda bombed it. In it, I said that it was a regional firm when it's considered a national firm. I also said that I want to work in a firm that has a strong multi-jurisdictional environment (whatever the f that means). Lol don't judge, sometimes we have shakey starts and performances.

I just wanted to clarify on the differences between a National and Regional firm. there's so much crossover that sometimes I get confused about how a firm should be classified. I realise a rule of thumb is to go by what the firms say about themselves but it's hard to keep up when you read multiple sources about the firm that say different things.

For example, Chambers Students and AllAboutLaw will say Pinsent Masons, Addleshaw Goddard and CMS are national firms. But they are also international, particularly CMS because it was created by a merger with a German firm. A lot of the time these firms will say they are "global or international".

Mills and Reeve and Womble Bond Dickinson are considered national but M&R is referred to highly for its regional strengths and base by multiple sources. Sometimes it will be mentioned as a Regional Firm. Also, WBD is a US-based firm.

I know it's pedantic but I'm worried these minor references are super important for GradRec when reviewing. Do you think I will be forgiven if I make this sort of mistake when it's not wholly true or false?

With the multi-jurisdictional bit, I realised I should have been clearer because the firm is national and has no offices abroad but it regularly advises clients in different jurisdictions such as South Africa. It's not grouped as an international firm though.

Any advice?! Lol, I hope what I've said makes sense.

This is a great question. I think the reality is that it's not clear because firms will often use these terms interchangeably and different firms will prefer to use different words. As you saw with Chambers Student/All About Law, it can also be hard to categorise these firms accurately (what does it mean if a firm is called a 'national firm' when it has international offices?).

From graduate recruitment's perspective, my view is that the most important part is to show that you understand the type of firm you are applying to. If this is still clear, even if you use the 'incorrect word', I don't think this will be an issue. So if you mistakenly referenced a firm was regional, but the evidence you provided made it clear you understand the firm has a strong national presence, I wouldn't see an issue with this.

 

[bangarangbass39]

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

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

Congrats on the Vac Scheme offer!

 

[holz567]

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

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

Didn’t know you had an offer, congrats, so well deserved!! Which firm is it for?

 

[elektrajenkov]

After the VI?

Yeah! I completed the VI for the Spring VS in the first few days of Feb.

 

[hopefulforatc]

Did anyone get the VI for the SH summer scheme. Those who only applied for the summer scheme.

 

[dieinabush]

When did you get their VI?

i think it was around mid november

 

[AlCapone]

Yeah! I completed the VI for the Spring VS in the first few days of Feb.

Same … and haven’t heard anything from them since

 

[bella98]

Did anyone get the VI for the SH summer scheme. Those who only applied for the summer scheme.

I applied very close to the deadline and I didn’t get the VI

 

[TC seeker]

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

• Total applications this cycle ~ 47
• Rejections post app: ~ 10
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~20
• Awaiting to hear from: ~15
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 1
• AC's this cycle: 2
• VS offers: 1 (Spring)
• Latest rejection: Goodwin
• Hardest rejection: Gowling WLG (I attended their whole webinar series!!!)
• Easiest rejection: Weightmans (I didn’t want to move up North anyway)
• Ghosted me: Stephenson Harwood, EY and Freeths
• Best Grad Recruitment: Baker McKenzie, Paul Hastings and Ropes & Gray
• Tedious Application Process: EY (I wouldn’t apply again)
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 3 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 10 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 22 applications

Congratulations! How difficult to secure a VS!

 

[nliro85]

I applied very close to the deadline and I didn’t get the VI

For spring they sent me VI 2 weeks after the deadline then radio silence since doing the VI/Test 4 weeks ago.

 

[cattlawapps324]

Sorry about that! I have extended the deadline to Wednesday for the inconvenience. You can checkout here.

thanks so much!!