TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

They don’t screen on a rolling basis but have given VI invites already?

Some firms work on the basis that rolling means that early screening stages can be done but that no offers will be made before the last person gets to the final interview/assessment stage.

 

[crt1s]

My friend just heard from Gowling for those waiting.

VI or rej?

 

[Law queries]

My friend just heard from Gowling for those waiting.

Invite or rejection?

 

[Law queries]

pfo

pfo

Oh

 

[NJS]

I’ve applied for a few things at Linklaters before. Based on my experience whenever I had 66% I had failed the WG (happened twice). When I got to 77% I assumed I had passed the WG. Though my percentile was bad, my mark out of 40 was decent enough to warrant a pass. Email graduate recruitment for your WG results. trainee.recruitment@linklaters.com

Did you get an AC off that or was that for the open day?

 

[Hana ♥]

Gowling VI, for those waiting on a reply I just got an invite

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

Gowling nerves 😬

 

[Law queries]

Gowling pfo

Same just got the email

 

[NCTC2025]

Yeah I did that (don't think you can redo the assessments in the same year) - it gave me Excellence and Leadership as my strongest 2 and Resource and Work Management as the weakness (I know people who got the same weakness and got in - after all it's not like they've told you your score in anything). I honestly thought when I did it that I had cracked the Capp this year but maybe not haha
Good info for those who are yet to do it to see though ^^

Don't know how I messed it up but somehow got working with others as my weakest attribute 😭 😭. I think I generally ranked options to handle it myself as first and options to collaborate as second. I got Excellence and Commercial thinking as my strongest attributes and a 39/40 for the WG but it would rlly suck if my app gets thrown out for that teamwork attribute. I guess this is a good litmus test to see whether Linklaters values the WG more or teamwork.

 

[legallyells]

any advice on answering this question as part of Fieldfisher's TC app, would studying a non-law degree and linking this to law be sufficient or would you say it should be more personal? Thank you!! @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam Describe the personal life experiences that have given you the unique perspective you would bring as a Trainee at Fieldfisher, and how this perspective will support your success. (800 characters)

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu May I ask did you attend open days at the firms you did a Vacation Scheme with, particularly Davis Polk? Would you say attending an Open Day is necessary for these firms, and if not, would an applicant be disadvantaged in any way?

Hey @BBsharkk I did attend an open day at Davis Polk, but I completely agree with @Ram Sabaratnam that this was not necessary for my success. Last year I only attended open days at two of six firms who invited me for an AC. There are some firms who care more about open days than others but I generally think that if your application answers are well-written and thoroughly researched you will have a decent enough chance of progressing even at the firms who emphasize interactions more.

 

[cjwx]

Has anyone received a VI from Evershed’s London Office?

 

[jta227]

Haven't heard either way from Gowling 🤔

 

[Tattyasha]

I’ve applied for a few things at Linklaters before. Based on my experience whenever I had 66% I had failed the WG (happened twice). When I got to 77% I assumed I had passed the WG. Though my percentile was bad, my mark out of 40 was decent enough to warrant a pass. Email graduate recruitment for your WG results. trainee.recruitment@linklaters.com

That’s insightful, thank you! Any idea if ‘on hold’ is a good/bad sign?

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

Haven't heard either way from Gowling 🤔

Me too. Can’t put my phone down now though 😰

 

[Tintin06]

Baker McKenzie test deadline is Monday. I guess we'll hear after that. White & Case wasn't a rejection. I applied for the winter scheme. Should I email them? Am I being considered for spring?

 

[ashwright]

I’ve applied for a few things at Linklaters before. Based on my experience whenever I had 66% I had failed the WG (happened twice). When I got to 77% I assumed I had passed the WG. Though my percentile was bad, my mark out of 40 was decent enough to warrant a pass. Email graduate recruitment for your WG results. trainee.recruitment@linklaters.com

Thank you so much for sharing! May I ask what a successful percentile has been for you? Thank you

 

[Kakaboo]

Has anyone heard anything from Eversheds Leeds office?

 

[Deleted member 31343]

That’s insightful, thank you! Any idea if ‘on hold’ is a good/bad sign?

Everyone gets put on hold once completing the tests. It is no indication of how you performed.

Me too. Can’t put my phone down now though 😰

It seems as though they are handing them out manually, as there are VI's and rejections being sent at different times. (I spoke with my friends who got communication at random times.)

Thank you so much for sharing! May I ask what a successful percentile has been for you? Thank you

I wouldn't know, haha! There is greater weight on the CAPP test than WG. All you can do is wait for communication from the firm themselves.

 

[Tintin06]

This cycle is wild for me. More legal experience than last time. Still, worse results across the board. No reply from White & Case. I applied for their winter scheme. Is this normal? I’m worried about emailing them honestly. Maybe it’s all too premature ultimately. I’m sulking about Baker McKenzie’s SJT. There are so few free ones. It’s very hard to practice for.