TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[HZP1309]

Does Ashurst hire majority of its trainees from the vacation schemes or would applying to the DTC have a good shot? Please share views!

They recruit a decent number via dtc

 

[Law queries]

For those that did the Latham SJT and VI, how much time do we get to prep for the VI and how much time to speak?

+++ Could someone please help with this? Thanks!

 

[HZP1309]

+++ Could someone please help with this? Thanks!

2 min prep, 3 min to speak

 

[M_m]

mishcon be playing with our hearts and minds

Did you apply for the spring or summer VS?

 

[Law queries]

2 min prep, 3 min to speak

okay, thank you so much!

 

[wowcha]

If you get and accept a VS offer from a firm, is it advisable to continue applying to other firms, even if the dates of the schemes clash, or withdraw applications from other firms / stop applying?

Is there any merit in continuing to apply, ie. if I don't get the TC following the VS, would it be possible to leverage VS offers from other firms to support subsequent TC applications?

Not sure if this makes sense, but hopefully you get the gist!

 

[The-PFO-Collector]

Does the Mayer Brown Online Assessment have a VI component?

 

[lawyersum]

Did you apply for the spring or summer VS?

Spring!

 

[TC seeker]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica! I'm completing the application form for Linklaters, but I find they need me to choose my six form school's name, I didn't find my school on their list. I‘m confused about how to enter the name

 

[Kodak123]

Does anyone have any advice on word count for Morrison Forester application

 

[lawstudent2]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughter and May for their London Summer vac scheme, I applied end of october and haven't heard anything?
Thanks

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi folks!

To help you develop a well-rounded application strategy, we’ve put together the following thread highlighting where firms typically recruit from—whether it's through vacation schemes or direct training contract routes. We've organised firms into four categories:

1. Firms which recruit a significant portion of their trainees through the direct training contract route
2. Firms that recruit primarily through vacation schemes, but have a healthy direct trainee intake
3. Firms that recruit from vacation schemes in the first instance
4. Firms that recruit only through their vacation schemes

50%-100% from direct TC applications

Brown Rudnick
Charles Russell Speechlys
Clifford Chance
CMS
Cripps
Curtis
Farrer & Co
Fieldfisher
Freshfields
Fried Frank
Greenberg Traurig
Harbottle & Lewis
Hill Dickinson
King & Spalding
Kingsley Napley
Macfarlanes
McDermott, Will & Emery
Norton Rose Fulbright
Paul Hastings
Slaughter and May
Stephenson Harwood
Winckworth Sherwood

Mostly from Vacation Scheme but with a consistently healthy direct TC intake

These firms recruit predominantly from their vacation schemes, but they have frequently made more than one direct TC offer every year in recent years – a direct TC app to these firms will almost certainly be read and considered seriously for a TC.

Ashurst
Baker McKenzie
Bird & Bird
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Burges Salmon
Goodwin
HFW
Hogan Lovells
Irwin Mitchell
K&L Gates
Linklaters
Mayer Brown
Morgan Lewis
Trowers & Hamlins
Watson Farley & Williams
White & Case

From Vacation Scheme in the first instance

These firms recruit primarily through vacation schemes. Although direct TC routes exist at these firms, they are typically only used by firms when they don't find enough future trainees on their vacation schemes.

Arnold & Porter
Eversheds Sutherland
Gibson Dunn
Mills & Reeve
Orrick
Osborne Clarke
Sullivan & Cromwell
Travers Smith
*Womble Bond Dickinson

*There is only one option which is to apply for their placement scheme - after the AC they offer candidates who cannot complete the placement scheme a chance to complete a direct TC interview day instead.

Only from Vacation Scheme

Akin
Cleary Gottlieb
Clyde & Co
Cooley
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dechert
DLA Piper
Herbert Smith Freehills
Jones Day
Katten
*Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Milbank
Mishcon de Reya
Morrison Foerster
Paul, Weiss
Reed Smith
Ropes & Gray
Sidley Austin
Simmons & Simmons
Skadden
Squire Patton Boggs
Taylor Wessing
Vinson & Elkins
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Winston & Strawn

*They have historically advertised a direct TC route, but in previous years they have cancelled their vacation schemes and awarded direct training contracts solely from their vacation scheme interviews.

This list is based mainly on information from Chambers UK and firm websites. However, please note that it’s a dynamic list, and we’ll keep updating it as we get more reliable information. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve this thread, we’d love to hear from you!

We hope this list helpful to you! Best of luck with your applications, and keep us posted on your progress!

Does Ashurst hire majority of its trainees from the vacation schemes or would applying to the DTC have a good shot? Please share views!

Hey there @kokoprep , I’ve quoted a thread above which should provide more context.

 

[Amma Usman]

If you get and accept a VS offer from a firm, is it advisable to continue applying to other firms, even if the dates of the schemes clash, or withdraw applications from other firms / stop applying?

Is there any merit in continuing to apply, ie. if I don't get the TC following the VS, would it be possible to leverage VS offers from other firms to support subsequent TC applications?

Not sure if this makes sense, but hopefully you get the gist!

Hey there @wowcha ,

In this situation, I would recommend continuing to apply. If the dates for two schemes clash, you can request to move one of them to a different time - such as a summer scheme if your first choice or initial offer is for spring. However, keep in mind that the flexibility to accommodate such requests varies from firm to firm, even though many candidates have successfully done this before.

 

[Law queries]

2 min prep, 3 min to speak

hey, also do you mind telling what kind of question do they generally ask? is it competency or commercial awareness? thank you!

 

[Law queries]

Has anyone heard back from Slaughter and May for their London Summer vac scheme, I applied end of october and haven't heard anything?
Thanks

not yet. afaik it usually takes them 3 weeks to get back during peak application season.

 

[Amma Usman]

hi @Amma Usman I just finished a video interview and I ended my answer on "so yeah". does this mean a rejection ?

Hey there @tcla02 ,

I totally get where you‘re coming from. Things like this happen, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Let me give you an example;

During one of my VIs in the past for a first year scheme, I completely froze. I was lost on what to say. I accidentally ended my answer with the word “Omo”. This is basically a Nigerian slang that means.. “I am speechless”. I didn’t get invited to the AC after this. However, I used it as a learning opportunity to avoid using filler words in my sentences. This helped me improve my subsequent performance for VIs and I started getting more interview offers during the VS application cycle.

Regardless, please bear in mind that ending your VI with “so yeah” doesn’t automatically mean a rejection. I would just say to be mindful moving forward, but don’t beat yourself up about this - at the end of the day, we’re only human and mistakes like this happen. Just take a look at the example I gave you from my own personal experience. The point I’m trying to make is that…I felt like giving up after that minor VI slip up. If I had, I would not be where I am today.

 

[Jessica Booker]

If you get and accept a VS offer from a firm, is it advisable to continue applying to other firms, even if the dates of the schemes clash, or withdraw applications from other firms / stop applying?

Is there any merit in continuing to apply, ie. if I don't get the TC following the VS, would it be possible to leverage VS offers from other firms to support subsequent TC applications?

Not sure if this makes sense, but hopefully you get the gist!

I would only continue applying if you would renege the existing VS offer to accept a potential new one. There is no point applying to firms if you are not going to accept an offer from them.

Firms will only be interested in the VS you have completed and the TC offers you have and even then it’s not going to be a major bit of evidence to leverage TC offers - you will have to meet the firm’s criteria for the TC first and foremost.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica! I'm completing the application form for Linklaters, but I find they need me to choose my six form school's name, I didn't find my school on their list. I‘m confused about how to enter the name

There is likely to be an “other” option somewhere in the list, and so I would select that.

 

[nliro85]

Shakespeare test invite any advice.

 

[manifestingthetc]

Akin PFO!

Sorry to hear that, was this post test?