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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

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axelbeugre

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Does anybody have tips to convert a VS? I would really appreciate any advice! ☺️
First of all congratulations in obtaining one, this is such an amazing achievement, especially given how competitive this cycle was. You really should be proud of yourself. And I also applaud you for still keeping yourself accountable and start preparing for it since the work never stops until you sign the training contract!

I have shared a couple of resources on how to convert a vacation scheme in this post, I hope these will be useful: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/macfarlanes-vac-scheme.8601/post-174236
 
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axelbeugre

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Following on from the discussion on memos yesterday, do these tend to have an introduction, or is an executive summary an introduction, then you just go into your points with headings?
It really depends on what the law firm wants you to do and the structure they want you use, but generally speaking the executive summary will serve as an initial introduction to the memo.

However, it it depends on what they told you. Try to respect everything that they suggest you should do and include.
 

AlegalA

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Hi,
Is answering a question wrong very blatantly in an AC gonna completely cost me my chances at getting the VS?
There was a question an associate asked and I just didn't really understand, and I asked her to repeat it once already and still it didn't really make sense so I started answering AWFULLY, and I thinkkk I got somewhere at the very end but it was just bad overall... Do I still have a chance or not really?
 

Jaysen

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  • Feb 17, 2018
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    Hi,
    Is answering a question wrong very blatantly in an AC gonna completely cost me my chances at getting the VS?
    There was a question an associate asked and I just didn't really understand, and I asked her to repeat it once already and still it didn't really make sense so I started answering AWFULLY, and I thinkkk I got somewhere at the very end but it was just bad overall... Do I still have a chance or not really?
    You definitely still have a chance. The interviewer will take your whole performance into account, largely because an interview is not a test of whether you don't make any mistakes.

    The exception to this is if the question was about 'why this firm?' or 'why commercial law?', where it's very important to give a convincing answer, but it doesn't sound like this was the question.
     

    lawgurl90

    Star Member
    Jan 3, 2024
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    So I got a VS offer, and the dates were running in the summer and in spring. I accepted the dates for the summer. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I can't make the summer dates now. I've emailed them to ask them to move me to spring. Does anyone have an idea how flexible firms are with such requests?
     

    starbright

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    Dec 18, 2021
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    First of all congratulations in obtaining one, this is such an amazing achievement, especially given how competitive this cycle was. You really should be proud of yourself. And I also applaud you for still keeping yourself accountable and start preparing for it since the work never stops until you sign the training contract!

    I have shared a couple of resources on how to overt a vacation scheme in this post, I hope these will be useful: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/macfarlanes-vac-scheme.8601/post-174236
    Thank you!
     
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    AlegalA

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    You definitely still have a chance. The interviewer will take your whole performance into account, largely because an interview is not a test of whether you don't make any mistakes.

    The exception to this is if the question was about 'why this firm?' or 'why commercial law?', where it's very important to give a convincing answer, but it doesn't sound like this was the question.
    amazing that's really reassuring thank you
     
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    Jessica Booker

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    Aug 1, 2019
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    Hi @Jessica Booker, I’m considering relocating back to my home country after graduation and applying for VS from there. Will having a non-UK address on my application forms place me at a disadvantage at the application form stage?
    Will you still have the right to work in the UK after you graduate or will you need a form of sponsorship to work during a VS?
     

    ja_mibe

    Active Member
    Mar 7, 2024
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    Just done my first ever interview. I think, considering this, it went reasonably okay. I felt like I was waffling a little at some points, and definitely not the most eloquently I've ever spoken! But hopefully it wasn't too bad. I only struggled with one question where my mind went blank (did not help that my house-mates all came in at that moment and weren't exactly quiet about it) but I then came back to it at the end of the interview and said that I actually had some thoughts on the question now, and then we were able to have a discussion about what I said.

    @Jessica Booker I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how this would come across. Do you think this would redeem me somewhat or do you think it's more of a case of negative marks against me for getting flustered initially and not being able to answer the question at the time? In any case, do interviewers look past one question that the candidate was unsure of how to answer, or is this pretty detrimental? Just know I'm going to be overthinking this now!
     
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