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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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my plus students club has events. They had an open day with hsf but I’m not sure if its done by now.
Has anyone applied to direct training contracts for a firm that does not exclusively recruit from their Vacation Scheme?
I focus less on training, honestly. US firms' training often less structured. I talk more about early responsibility. Lean deal teams, deal values etc. Whereas for UK firms, emphasise training. E.g. Macfarlanes, I talked about training. It's not a total dichotomy, however. Some firms have both of these. I talk more about PEP. Because it's higher at US firms.
Funny story about law firms' PEP. I recently had a dream lol. Someone I knew was a Partner. He used to work in tutoring. Somehow now a Freshfields Equity Partner. Maybe I should take a break.
American firms do a lot my finance related work and a lot a PE heavy, they also promise more early responsibility, you can get stuck into the tasks from day one and feel extremely important, UK firms have bigger intakes so have more rigid training.
I don't think there should be a huge difference, at the end of the day each firm application should be different regardless of where you are applying because it should be specific to that firm, you just need to be clear why you would prefer a US firm over a UK one and vise versa (avoid saying the remuneration lol), for me it genuinely is because of the early responsibility, l learn much better on the job then having a PowerPoint training session, and I have a interest in finance, so have a think about what you like, and a US firm may suit you.
I think the best piece of advice I have been given is this... at the end of the day, the firm is employing you to work there, you are an employee, and you will be part of the business, they need to be sure, and you do too, that you enjoy the work they do, if you hate PE for example, and love international arbitration, then you would need to think what firms would be suit you. You need to showcase an interest in the WORK THEY DO, because at the end of the day you will spend 99% of your time there doing the work; talking about culture and diversity etc... is good if it important to you, but you are not getting employed to be a culture rep, your are being employed to do their work for their clients, clients are number one to these firms.
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Question: I applied for links TC before and was rejected post candidate review. I think I failed the WG. However for their open day it has a tick next to the candidate review. Wouldn’t be correct to assume I heave passed the WG and is at 100%. For those who have applied to Linklaters in the past does this mean anything. I can’t change the outcome but would like to anticipate it.
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Anyone else not heard from Covington? Or White & Case?
I think someone received a written assessment from Covington today. White & Case is still sending out VI's & AC's
Tbh I won't look into how the system works too much, no one really understands their operation haha
Has anyone heard from Hogan Lovells for the Lift Off? (post-app)
Or Bird & Bird specifically for the spring vacation scheme?
Or Bird & Bird specifically for the spring vacation scheme?
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @AS24
@Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would also have their own views on this, but having answered this question in past applications, I approached it by focusing on the various ways I researched and explored the legal profession, rather than use it as an occasion to specifically answer why working at an international law firm appealed to me. My hope was that, in answering the question in the way I did, it would become clear to a reader that my interest in the profession was genuine. In particular, I often divided my answer to this question into three main parts.
First, I explained how I regularly read industry-leading publications like Chambers UK, Legal 500, and The Lawyer. These resources helped me understand different firms’ strengths, their practice areas, and key industry developments, giving me a broader view of the legal landscape and the types of work I’d encounter as a solicitor. It also helped me understand things like the significance of certain firms' expansion decisions or why it might have been a big deal that they were able to poach partners at other firms.
Next, I highlighted my efforts to attend open days and insight events. These experiences were invaluable for helping me "connect" and find mentors and friends in senior lawyers and other trainees, whose insights brought to life how their work shapes client outcomes and the collaborative nature of international law. When discussing this particular way of deepening my knowledge of the profession, I shared how these open day and insight scheme interactions solidified my appreciation for specific practice areas and also for the variation in working/business cultures found at different firms.
Lastly, I discussed the practical exposure I gained through vacation schemes (including virtual schemes through Forage). These experiences allowed me to handle tasks and documents similar to those performed by trainee solicitors, giving me a hands-on understanding of day-to-day responsibilities that junior lawyers typically have to shoulder. Such opportunities also gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed at such an early stage in my career
Overall, I found that by organising my answer this way, I could show that I took a well-rounded approach, using multiple avenues to deepen my knowledge and enthusiasm for a legal career at an international firm. Again, this is just one way of potentially answering this question and I'm sure the other community assistants might have their own distinct insights here. Hope this helps
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