TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[student353]

I’m sorry to hear about the VS application PFOs this cycle. I can imagine it has been incredibly disheartening to feel like the efforts put in have gone to waste. I don’t know if this will help in any way, but I am of a very similar age to you. I only began applying for VS after I had already graduated, so I also felt that I was really late and that time was ticking. I felt that I was super behind everyone else in my uni, who had already applied for VS and TC in their 2nd and 3rd year (law) and secured TC offers at major city law firms like Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills, etc. 🥲

I think It’s really important to bear in mind that everyone is on their own journey and whilst it’s tempting to compare ourselves to others who seem to have attained VS/TC sooner, all it ends up causing is more harm than good. The key thing to bear in mind is that the average age of a NQ is 30! This means on average people aren’t securing a TC until they are 26/27, which they start when they are around 28. In my opinion, there are huge positives when you start a TC slightly later, in that you are able to build up wider range of skills and experiences which are beneficial to the role of a trainee associate! 😅

Try not to lose faith in yourself! I know that is easier said than done, but the important thing to maintain throughout this entire process is resilience and determination. I think once you do secure that well deserved TC (which I know you will), it will feel that much better, knowing how much hard work was put in. Speaking of TC, I think it could be a good idea to try apply for some DTC applications over the Spring and Summer (March - July). Who knows, it may be that one of these DTC applications will convert into the TC offer! Best of luck with the rest of this application cycle my friend! 🙂​

I second this! I am 23 turning 24 this year, and it is only this year that I have secured my first VS. I think it is really easy to compare yourself with other candidates especially when you hear numerous success stories online and from people you went to uni with (I went to Cambridge and you hear all the time of people securing TCs from the magic circle firms and you wonder what you are doing wrong!!). But trust the process. You will get there, and the right firm will recognise what an asset you would be to a team!

You've got this, and remember you are on your own journey. I have no doubt you will get there; just try to keep positive!!

 

[RaniaH062002]

I’m sorry to hear about the VS application PFOs this cycle. I can imagine it has been incredibly disheartening to feel like the efforts put in have gone to waste. I don’t know if this will help in any way, but I am of a very similar age to you. I only began applying for VS after I had already graduated, so I also felt that I was really late and that time was ticking. I felt that I was super behind everyone else in my uni, who had already applied for VS and TC in their 2nd and 3rd year (law) and secured TC offers at major city law firms like Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills, etc. 🥲

I think It’s really important to bear in mind that everyone is on their own journey and whilst it’s tempting to compare ourselves to others who seem to have attained VS/TC sooner, all it ends up causing is more harm than good. The key thing to bear in mind is that the average age of a NQ solicitor is 30! This means on average people aren’t securing a TC until they are 26/27, which they start when they are around 28. In my opinion, there are huge positives when you start a TC slightly later, in that you are able to build up a wider range of skills and experiences which are beneficial to the role of a trainee associate! 😅

Try not to lose faith in yourself! I know that is easier said than done, but the important thing to maintain throughout this entire process is resilience and determination. I think once you do secure that well deserved TC (which I know you will), it will feel that much better, knowing how much hard work was put in. Speaking of TC, I think it could be a good idea to try apply for some DTC applications over the Spring and Summer (March - July). Who knows, it may be that one of these DTC applications will convert into the TC offer! Best of luck with the rest of this application cycle my friend! 🙂​

Thank you so much! that was really motivating. I won't give up!! But seeing all those LinkedIn posts about uni students getting TC's and VS is really disheartening sometimes 😅

 

[User5678]

Thank you so much! that was really motivating. I won't give up!! But seeing all those LinkedIn posts about uni students getting TC's and VS is really disheartening sometimes 😅

I’m sure you’ve got this!! you will get there eventually!

On a lighter note, I swear I’ve deleted linkedin for a while and I’m a final year student😂

 

[Heartofglass]

Welp that's all my VS applications rejected for this year. 22, turning 23 this year and not a single VS

I'm in the exact same age and situation as you are right now. But I have come to terms that maybe this is a blessing in disguise because of the SQE shenanigans out there. Maybe it's better for us to do 2 years paralegal then the SQE to ensure that we'll win.

 

[aphelion]

Welp that's all my VS applications rejected for this year. 22, turning 23 this year and not a single VS

I would echo a lot of what @Chris Brown said in his reply to you. I'm 24 turning 25 and this is my first year with any VS offers (and my first year getting any ACs since my second year of uni, which was in 2021). I know how frustrating it can be - it feels like everyone in my uni cohort has started their TCs or are doing their pupillages at amazing firms/chambers while I'm still grinding away.

Everyone is on their own journey though and I'm a true believer in the idea that no experience gained is a waste. Everything you do, even if it feels like you're falling behind and losing time, will help make you a better candidate. For example, my gap year put me behind my peers by a year, and I hated the minimum wage care home job I did for that year, but I talk about it in interviews all the time. A few years lost at the start also really means nothing when you consider the context of a decades-long legal career.

The biggest thing is to believe in yourself and keep pushing, and also to surround yourself with people who believe in you. If you can have parents, friends, partners, colleagues etc. rooting for you, it becomes so much easier to keep going. Basically, if you can find a way to develop near-delusional levels of optimism, it helps a lot.

All it takes is one yes!!!

 

[legalskills44]

Quick question - if a law firm requires you to take a conversion course with a specific provider, do they tend to care where you take it across the country or are they normally flexible? Thank you!!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Apologies for any confusion on this (that is my fault), the Accelerator is only for Gold subscribers due to the bespoke 1-2-1 advice provided as part of the programme (which is in addition to the 1-2-1 calls and application reviews generally included in Gold).

Thanks so much! Do you know when the Vac Scheme tasks/classes will start?

 

[Ninakarolina44]

How long do Travers take to respond post-interview vac scheme? And are unsuccessful candidates emailed or called?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Quick question - if a law firm requires you to take a conversion course with a specific provider, do they tend to care where you take it across the country or are they normally flexible? Thank you!!

If the provider has different locations, they tend to not worry about where you do it. I have known with some firms that maintenance grants to be slightly lower if you are not going to be based in London though, so that may be something to check with the firm at the offer stage/before you accept.

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

If the provider has different locations, they tend to not worry about where you do it. I have known with some firms that maintenance grants to be slightly lower if you are not going to be based in London though, so that may be something to check with the firm at the offer stage/before you accept.

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

 

[jta227]

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

Might depend on the firm but I don't think this is the case generally - you can use the grant for whatever you want and the grant is tied to the location of study only. If you have to attend classes in London and live slightly outside it then that's actually a further reason to require the money to pay for travel.

Many more senior lawyers don't even live in London, they move to a more quiet commuter town/somewhere on the outskirts of London with their family, but they still make a London salary!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks so much! Do you know when the Vac Scheme tasks/classes will start?

The webinars have already started, as well as the 1-2-1 calls, which are available now to book into. The first webinar is recorded and available on the courses platform if you were unable to attend.

The vacation scheme exercises will be available from last April.

 

[Jessica Booker]

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

For the GDL, you generally don’t need to be in London. It’s not a bespoke course, so if their course provider has different locations, I strongly suspect you’d be able to do it at any of the locations.

It would only be of the firm has a very bespoke conversion course that you might be limited to London.

If you are commuting into a course in London, then your maintenance grant is likely to be based on you being in London.

 

[fairbourne]

does anyone know if Haynes Boone recruits on a rolling basis?

 

[OrangeCherry1800]

anyone heard from OC?

 

[chlawstudent]

Anyone who did Cripps AC last week heard anything yet?

 

[Kodak123]

Anyone heard back post AC for ropes?

 

[jojo23]

Nothing from stephenson harwood guys?

 

[Applebanana425]

anyone heard from OC?

They are taking their time! (unless offers are already out)

 

[jfb]

Nothing from stephenson harwood guys?

Nope! I am refreshing my emails constantly. I think because some spring people heard on Monday I have hope we'll hear soon but who knows...