TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[bella98]

I just attended a two-hour event with Macfarlanes, only to discover I can't apply to them EVER again!

So, I had an AC for the direct training contract last year and was planning to reapply this cycle. I understood that reapplying in the same cycle wasn't allowed, but I didn't realise it meant I couldn't ever apply again. Grad rec said that if you've been unsuccessful at the vacation scheme assessment centre, you could still apply for the direct training contract. When I asked about my situation, having been to the direct training contract assessment centre, they said I couldn't apply again. Does this mean I'm also ineligible to apply for the vacation scheme? I'm really confused 😭

 

[Andrei Radu]

Evening 🙂 I plan on applying to Taylor Wessing and have completed all of my answers in a word doc. I note that their Spring VC application closes on the 1st of November, and the summer one closes on December 1st. Seeing as they recruit on a rolling basis, would I be at a disadvantage to apply to the spring VC seeing as there are only 8 days left? Thanks in advance.

Hi @legallady123 I think that if there is any disadvantage, it will be only a very slight one. In many cases, for myself included, a sufficiently high-quality application was progressed although it was only sent in the last day of the rolling period. Moreover, rolling firms also receive the vast majority of applications in the last 3-4 days before the deadline. Thus, your application should still stand out from the crowd in the right way in regards to the submission time.

However, if you are just concerned with absolutely maximizing success chances, you could also consider just submitting the application for the summer scheme - that way, you would be sure to count as an 'early bird'. However, this success chances calculus is further complicated by the claim that, all other things being equal, winter/spring schemes can be slightly less competitive than summer schemes because (i) some international students cannot apply for them; (ii) some students who can apply might choose to prioritize summer schemes instead because those will not take away form the exam revision time; and (iii) that the summer schemes application deadlines are later in the cycle and thus allow for more applications from people who procrastinated or just started their applications later.

My personal opinion is that there is no sensible or even potentially accurate way of trying to calculate such abstract odds. If I were in your place, I would simply apply for the period that is more convenient for me.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Anyone who applied to slaughters- how much pre firm contact did you have.

The presentation evening is all booked up for my uni and I’m worried I won’t have enough personal insights for my application.

I had only attended one event (a presentation evening with my university) before applying in the last cycle and still received a VS offer. I would say that if you have at least one interaction (whether in person or virtual), you should not worry too much about this. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns in seeking out more and more interactions, and as far as I know Slaughter and May is not know to place particularly high emphasis on this criterion.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Does anyone know when we will hear back from DLA post video interview? I was told I passed and that I would be shortlisted for the AC. This is the first time I have seen something like this haha. I just expected to get to the AC if I passed the VI.

I remember I was also quite surprised when I saw the 'shortlisted' email last year and I remember I felt very restless in the period between that and the moment I received the actual AC invite. I think for me that was a roughly 3-4 week period, although this included Christmas time, which might have influenced timings. However, this can vary between years and can depend on when the firms plans to schedule the ACs. As such, if in your case it takes longer to respond, I would not necessarily interpret that as a likely rejection.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Just got Capp report back from Linklaters, strengths were working with others and resilience, weakness was leadership preference. Anyone have any insights on this? Im worried scoring badly for leadership doesn't look good (i.e., lacking confidence/initiative), but not sure what to make of it

I would not be too worried about this. The very nature of these tests necessitates there will be one area that is classified as a 'weakness' - that tells you nothing about how close you are to the firm's desired personality profile. If anything, I am tempted to speculate that if there was one area where scoring lower would likely be less relevant, it would be leadership. In the day to day life of a trainee (and even a junior associate), leadership does not comparatively play a big role, as you will normally have tasks assigned by more senior practitioners and have very limited (if any) of your own supervisory responsibilities.

 

[Tintin06]

I just attended a two-hour event with Macfarlanes, only to discover I can't apply to them EVER again!

So, I had an AC for the direct training contract last year and was planning to reapply this cycle. I understood that reapplying in the same cycle wasn't allowed, but I didn't realise it meant I couldn't ever apply again. Grad rec said that if you've been unsuccessful at the vacation scheme assessment centre, you could still apply for the direct training contract. When I asked about my situation, having been to the direct training contract assessment centre, they said I couldn't apply again. Does this mean I'm also ineligible to apply for the vacation scheme? I'm really confused 😭

It would seem that way sadly.

 

[tosin4774]

Hi @Jaysen
I saw your post on LinkedIn about the open position for a law firm directory writer. Do you think it is possible for me to apply, even though I am currently in my first year at university?

 

[l789]

I had only attended one event (a presentation evening with my university) before applying in the last cycle and still received a VS offer. I would say that if you have at least one interaction (whether in person or virtual), you should not worry too much about this. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns in seeking out more and more interactions, and as far as I know Slaughter and May is not know to place particularly high emphasis on this criterion.

Thank you so much and for all your responses in general- they have been BEYOND helpful!

 

[legallady123]

Hi @legallady123 I think that if there is any disadvantage, it will be only a very slight one. In many cases, for myself included, a sufficiently high-quality application was progressed although it was only sent in the last day of the rolling period. Moreover, rolling firms also receive the vast majority of applications in the last 3-4 days before the deadline. Thus, your application should still stand out from the crowd in the right way in regards to the submission time.

However, if you are just concerned with absolutely maximizing success chances, you could also consider just submitting the application for the summer scheme - that way, you would be sure to count as an 'early bird'. However, this success chances calculus is further complicated by the claim that, all other things being equal, winter/spring schemes can be slightly less competitive than summer schemes because (i) some international students cannot apply for them; (ii) some students who can apply might choose to prioritize summer schemes instead because those will not take away form the exam revision time; and (iii) that the summer schemes application deadlines are later in the cycle and thus allow for more applications from people who procrastinated or just started their applications later.

My personal opinion is that there is no sensible or even potentially accurate way of trying to calculate such abstract odds. If I were in your place, I would simply apply for the period that is more convenient for me.

Thank you so much for your helpful response either date is convenient for me, I am just very interested in the firm so I would like to maximise my chance of success.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I am also really curious about this. Does it impact you if you don't complete this section (Rare context). I sometimes don't because I feel I don't tick the boxes per se (i.e. didn't have free school meals, not a carer at a young age etc).

@Jessica Booker - could you please opine here?

It shouldn't impact your application - I am unclear as to why it would also stop someone from completing an assessment too. I suspect that is a fault in the system.

If the firm is making you complete this form they should 1) be telling you at the point of application that not completing it will stop you from being put forward and then encourage people to use the "choose not to disclose" option or if they have it a "this does not apply to me" option.

 

[bella98]

It would seem that way sadly.

Are you in the same position? Did I understand this correctly? Because I might reach out again to Grad Rec to clarify - are we not allowed to apply again (like travers smith?!)

 

[TrainingContract2024]

I’ve heard nothing I’m afraid, sorry. Re direct TC, do you know if those who have heard back so far post WG were rejections or further assessment invites?

I think they got telephone interview invite post wg. If you don't mind me asking when did you take the wg? thanks.

 

[0livia.pope]

Are you in the same position? Did I understand this correctly? Because I might reach out again to Grad Rec to clarify - are we not allowed to apply again (like travers smith?!)

I emailed them about this in the summer and they said this;
Thank you for your email.



If you are successful with your application and get through to our assessment centre, you would no longer be able to apply for Macfarlanes. As we do not change our assessments frequently you would have an unfair advantage compared to other participants, if however, you have been unsuccessful and have not completed one of our assessments you would be eligible to reapply.



Best



Katie

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

It shouldn't impact your application - I am unclear as to why it would also stop someone from completing an assessment too. I suspect that is a fault in the system.

If the firm is making you complete this form they should 1) be telling you at the point of application that not completing it will stop you from being put forward and then encourage people to use the "choose not to disclose" option or if they have it a "this does not apply to me" option.

What do you mean by this bit here please? "I am unclear as to why it would also stop someone from completing an assessment too"?

I was curious whether not completing this section (i.e. opting out of answering the Rare contextual questions) because I don't think it will positively impact me given my background (no free school meals, not carer at young age etc), would impact my chances of moving forward in the application process?

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Anyone been rejected by W&C post-app (WVS)?

Give this a thumbs please if so.

Feels like they are ghosting me, and I don't believe I am the only one.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Anyone heard back from Akin post-app?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Jessica Booker. What advice do you have for answering "where should we open an office if you were the CEO of the firm" (where a firm has both international and regional offices around the UK).

Any advice would be highly appreciated, thank you.

In determining what region a firm should choose to open an office in, I would focus on the following aspects:

1. Projected growth: Which regions in the world are projected to see significant growth in their legal markets? Here, there's many that come to mind, such as Singapore, Brussels, Sao Paolo, Boston, and Texas. You can research further research this topic to determine what regions are likely to see the most growth and which regions have the highest potential legal fees.
2. Practice area and sector expertise: In which regions in the world would the firm's most well-known practices have the most demand? If your firm is transactional-focused Singapore might make sense, whereas if the the firm does a lot of competition/competition litigation work, Brussels might be the better choice.
3. Client base and complimenting existing services: In which regions of the world do the firm's existing clients have (or will have) the most extensive operations? This is relevant in that it will be markedly easier for the firm to win mandates in a new jurisdiction from an existing client rather than winning entirely new clients. For instance, many commentators think Paul, Weiss has chosen to expand so aggressively in the City because the firm knew it would then be able to work on the many London-centered mandates of Apollo, one of its core PE clients.
4. Existing legal market conditions: A relevant factor for consideration is also how difficult it will be for the firm to establish itself as a serious player in a new region. Establishing an elite office in New York might be substantially more difficult than doing so in Sao Paolo, as seen by the struggles the Magic Circle firms have faced there.
5. Firm strategy and current network of offices: Does the firm prioritize growth or retaining profitability? What is its current geographical reach, and what is its general international expansion strategy? A firm like Sullivan & Cromwell will normally focus on the highly-profitable legal markets in developed economies, while a firm such as DLA Piper will have to ensure coverage of developing economies as well.

 

[legalxp2]

Anyone been rejected by W&C post-app (WVS)?

Give this a thumbs please if so.

Feels like they are ghosting me, and I don't believe I am the only one.

I also have yet to hear back!

 

[👩🎓]

In determining what region a firm should choose to open an office in, I would focus on the following aspects:

1. Projected growth: Which regions in the world are projected to see significant growth in their legal markets? Here, there's many that come to mind, such as Singapore, Brussels, Sao Paolo, Boston, and Texas. You can research further research this topic to determine what regions are likely to see the most growth and which regions have the highest potential legal fees.
2. Practice area and sector expertise: In which regions in the world would the firm's most well-known practices have the most demand? If your firm is transactional-focused Singapore might make sense, whereas if the the firm does a lot of competition/competition litigation work, Brussels might be the better choice.
3. Client base and complimenting existing services: In which regions of the world do the firm's existing clients have (or will have) the most extensive operations? This is relevant in that it will be markedly easier for the firm to win mandates in a new jurisdiction from an existing client rather than winning entirely new clients. For instance, many commentators think Paul, Weiss has chosen to expand so aggressively in the City because one the firm would then be able to work on the many London-centered mandates of Apollo, one of its core PE clients.
4. Existing legal market conditions: A relevant factor for consideration is also how difficult it will be for the firm to establish itself as a serious player in a new region. Establishing an elite office in New York might be substantially more difficult than doing so in Sao Paolo, as seen by the struggles the Magic Circle firms have faced there.
5. Firm strategy and current network of offices: Does the firm prioritize growth or retaining profitability? What is its current geographical reach, and what is its general international expansion strategy? A firm like Sullivan & Cromwell will normally focus on the highly-profitable legal markets in developed economies, while a firm such as DLA Piper will have to ensure coverage of developing economies as well.

Thank you so much for your advice, this is very comprehensive and helpful. I will definitely be thinking about these factors whilst working on this question.

 

[thelawstudent2000]

White & Case AC 🥳( tbh it’s just an interview and written excersize but I’ve been hearing people call it an AC) . Any tips would be VERY appreciated. Thanks in advance xx