TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Tintin06]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

 

[l789]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

27 is still very young and I was always under the impression US firms had more mid 20s onwards intakes.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I was just rejected from a firm where I believed my application was very strong and am feeling disappointed I wasn’t even given an interview. Is it possible for me to email asking for feedback on my application, or is this something frowned upon? Thanks!

Hiya @tarty23

I'm sorry about the rejection - it might be difficult to appreciate this now, but it's not a reflection of what you can do and your ability to get a vacation scheme/training contract. Keep going!

In terms of feedback, many firms are simply unable to offer any at the written application stage due to the sheer volume of applications they receive. If they have stated in their email that they cannot offer feedback, then I'd avoid sending an email to them making such a request.

That being said, it's worth emphasising that your application could have been rejected for a variety of reasons, including factors outside the quality of your own application. This is something I tried to remember even when I'd given an application my best effort. Whenever I'd receive a rejection, I also tried to give the rejected application another read through to see if there was anything I might have missed or whether there might be any area that could have been improved. I always encourage applicants to do the same after a rejection. Feel free to ask any questions you might have on the forum about particular application questions, and we'll try our best to offer helpful advice

Best of luck with the rest of your applications!

 

[bella98]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

Hey, we're not old!! ahahaha (26 here)

 

[l789]

Hey, we're not old!! ahahaha (26 here)

It really isnt

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

27 is still very young and I was always under the impression US firms had more mid 20s onwards intakes.

US firms tend to have more mature TC holders. I did an internship with people aged 29 and 26. The 29 year old got a TC. She was a career changer that knew she wanted to go into law but pursued other careers before law as she wanted to experience difference sectors. I assume this outlook and experience got her the TC. You’re not old so don’t give up.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

Hi @Tintin06

I completely appreciate your concerns - when I started applying to firms, I was in my early 30s and sometimes felt that I had no real chance given my age (this was partly worsened when I'd meet other applicants in their early 20s worrying that they were now too old to secure a vac scheme/training contract (echo chambers are very bad)). Thankfully, people like @Jessica Booker completely disabused me of the idea that I was too old. I also began meeting incredible trainees at excellent firms, some of whom were in their 40s and 50s. It's also worth remembering that the average qualification age is around 29 for women and 30 for men. While age discrimination is still a live issue in many professions, firms are increasingly valuing the diversity of experience that career changers bring.

I know this might be tough to appreciate right now, but please don’t worry too much about your age. I think you’ve got a strong chance at many of the top US and Magic Circle firms. Given your success in securing vacation schemes at excellent firms, it’s clear that you have what it takes to succeed in this process. I'd suggest you continue focussing on writing excellent applications, and developing the skills that many firms look for in future trainees. Keep applying confidently, I have faith that you'll succeed!

Best of luck, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any more advice

 

[Lopez2017]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

35 year old career changer here. There were many older than me on the PGDL. If you’ve got what they’re looking for in terms of competencies and values why would they care about your age?

 

[lolololol]

bird and bird pfo since i didn’t meet the benchmark for wg. quite disappointed 😔

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

Hi @Tintin06

I completely appreciate your concerns - when I started applying to firms, I was in my early 30s and sometimes felt that I had no real chance given my age (this was partly worsened when I'd meet other applicants in their early 20s worrying that they were now too old to secure a vac scheme/training contract (echo chambers are very bad)). Thankfully, people like @Jessica Booker completely disabused me of the idea that I was too old. I also began meeting incredible trainees at excellent firms, some of whom were in their 40s and 50s. It's also worth remembering that the average qualification age is around 29 for women and 30 for men. While age discrimination is still a live issue in many professions, firms are increasingly valuing the diversity of experience that career changers bring.

I know this might be tough to appreciate right now, but please don’t worry too much about your age. I think you’ve got a strong chance at many of the top US and Magic Circle firms. Given your success in securing vacation schemes at excellent firms, it’s clear that you have what it takes to succeed in this process. I'd suggest you continue focussing on writing excellent applications, and developing the skills that many firms look for in future trainees. Keep applying confidently, I have faith that you'll succeed!

Best of luck, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any more advice

I low key thought you were 20 looking at your picture. what’s your secret 😛

 

[Jessica Booker]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

This win's strangest question of the cycle!! The recruitment person or partner involved in trainee recruitment must be a Toy Story fan...

Even I am struggling to think on this... What if your favourite toy was lego or a racing car or your bike? They can't exactly come to life....

I now have Ted's Thunder Buddy song (very rude if you don't know it) and Toy Story's "you've got a friend in me" looping in my head

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I low key thought you were 20 looking at your picture. what’s your secret 😛

😳😩🔥🥰😱😍♥️♥️😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥🔥😩😩 KOREAN SKIN CARE 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩🥵🔥🥰😭😱😳♥️♥️😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩😩🥵🔥🥰😳😳😍😍😭🥰😩🥰🥰😳♥️♥️😳😍😍🥰✝️🐿️😳😍🥰🔥🥵😍🥰🔥🥵🥵😩🥵🥰🥰😳😍😱🥰🔥😳🥰

 

[l789]

😳😩🔥🥰😱😍♥️♥️😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥🔥😩😩 KOREAN SKIN CARE 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩🥵🔥🥰😭😱😳♥️♥️😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩😩🥵🔥🥰😳😳😍😍😭🥰😩🥰🥰😳♥️♥️😳😍😍🥰✝️🐿️😳😍🥰🔥🥵😍🥰🔥🥵🥵😩🥵🥰🥰😳😍😱🥰🔥😳🥰

COSRX

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

NRF WVS!

 

[Apple]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

I can't see what a recruiter could possibly learn about you from this question, other than your ability to grasp at straws.

 

[Bread]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

At the Bird&Bird open day there were quite a few career changers among the trainees and associates who were at least in their 30s when they got a TC. I know you're only considering US firms but maybe worth bearing in mind! x

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

NRF WVS!

You’re absolutely winning this cycle. Congrats

 

[Bread]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

Is this withers 😂

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

Hey @Lopez2017

This is actually such a cute question!!!

I've never answered anything like this before in an application, but the question seems to be clearly geared towards gauging your creativity/personality - I think it's fine to have a playful, yet introspective response, giving them an indication of your values. It might also be worth looking at the firm's values to see if you can say something that might potentially align with it. Given the word count restriction (60!?), you also want ensure the advice is something that you can express in a concise way. I've taken a stab at this question below, though I'd be curious what @Jessica Booker and the other community assistants @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would say too.

"Unstructured time can actually be a good thing! Growing up as a child in the countryside, I learned to clean stables, cook, take spontaneous bike rides, and balance freedom with control. These are some of my happiest memories—a reminder of how essential it is to have time set aside for exploration, trying new things, and simple enjoyment."