TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

cjwx

Esteemed Member
Premium Member
Jan 31, 2024
96
111
"Placement schemes are open to anyone in their penultimate year or final year of a law degree, or final year of study of a non-law degree. We also welcome applications from postgraduates and individuals who have pursued other careers before committing to the legal profession." - anyone who has graduated and is currently employed are eligible? SH graduate recruitment take a long time to reply so please someone help me out if you can.
 

chrisbrown

Star Member
Jul 4, 2024
26
17
Just to mentally prepare myself: how pointless is it for me to have sent an application the day before a rolling deadline (for HL)?
To be fair I imagine most applications are sent close to or on the deadline and so HL will most likely have only began making decisions on who to invite to AC over the last few days and will send out those decisions over the next few weeks.

If your application is well researched and error free and you do well on the WGT (which is what everyone is expected to have done) I don’t think the date you apply would matter too much. So it isn’t really pointless at all to apply even if it is super close to deadline date.

For context, I applied and did my WGT around a week ago so quite close to the deadline.
 
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ashwright

Valued Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
  • Jul 10, 2023
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    Honestly, depends on what year you are... if you're a penultimate student then just wait for the next cycle, because your chances are extremely slim (+ you would have to ace your Watson Glaser unimaginably in order for them to actually look at your application (I personally think)); and then you would be decreasing your chances for next year I suppose since they would already have you on the system as rejected (and here you would be rejected because of your last minute submission and not due to an actually valid reason)... Idk if that makes sense, but strategically, just gain some experience, enhance your answers for the questions, and apply next cycle, at least that's what I would've done!
    Thank you for the reply :) I'm a final year student but it's my first VS app to them (and my first proper app cycle). I applied to LaunchPad this year (early-ish) but got rejected :( hopefully they'll not mind too much but my expectations are low
     

    jacksollaf

    Distinguished Member
    Dec 17, 2024
    69
    46
    When did you apply? Only sent my application a few days ago but thought they were one of those firms that says they’re rolling but doesn’t actually reply until after the deadline most the time
    Sadly no, they actually review on rolling basis. Kind of shocked that I did not hear from them yet, considering I applied on the 6th of October, and I completed their online virtual work experience program... + have a dual degree in English and French Law from a UoL... with 1 month internship at Baker and 2 months somewhere else in Paris...
     

    jacksollaf

    Distinguished Member
    Dec 17, 2024
    69
    46
    Holding myself accountable again (PH app).

    CC* ✅📝❌
    HSF ✅📝❌
    NRF ✅📝❌
    Weil ✅❌
    Akin ✅
    Sidley ✅❌
    Orrick
    Willkie ✅🎥❌
    Cooley
    Latham
    Milbank ✅
    Kirkland ✅
    Dechert ✅❌
    Skadden ✅❌
    Goodwin ✅
    Covington ✅❌
    Linklaters* ✅📝❌
    Paul, Weiss ✅
    Slaughters* ✅❌
    Fried Frank* ✅
    Gibson Dunn
    Macfarlanes* ✅📝
    White & Case ✅
    Morgan Lewis
    Paul Hastings* ✅
    Hogan Lovells* ✅
    Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
    A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
    Vinson & Elkins
    Arnold & Porter
    Baker McKenzie ✅📝
    King & Spalding* ✅
    Winston & Strawn
    Morrison Foerster
    Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

    Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

    *Training Contract applications

    TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell.
    we need an update!
     

    ziyadelk

    New Member
    Dec 31, 2024
    1
    2
    Anybody who has applied to NRF in recent days, have you received the Artic Shores test yet?
    I think they send all candidates the Arctic Shores test after the deadline (6th January). I applied to their insight event in November and didn't get the test invite until after the submission deadline. I assume it's the same process for VS/TC apps, but I could be wrong.
     

    jta227

    Distinguished Member
    Nov 10, 2024
    64
    85
    Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

    Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by great applications/extra-curriculars. I will say though that all of their trainees that I know personally achieved a 1st. I would imagine that if you make it to AC you can stop worrying about that as the ball's in your court at that point.
     
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    lookingforaTC

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Feb 16, 2024
    127
    120
    Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by great applications/extra-curriculars. I will say though that all of their trainees that I know personally achieved a 1st. I would imagine that if you make it to AC you can stop worrying about that as the ball's in your court at that point.
    Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by your private education and/or Oxbridge attendance.
     

    jta227

    Distinguished Member
    Nov 10, 2024
    64
    85
    Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

    After some scouring, here are what their current trainees got: 2.1 (68 from UEA), 1st, 2.1 (Oxford), 1st + Dean's List, 1st, 1st + 1st in Cambridge masters (#1 in cohort) + Cambridge PhD, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st + Cambridge Exam Prizes, 1st + Dean's List, Double 1st, 2.1 (Cambridge), 2.1 (Cambridge), 1st, 2.1 (Cambridge)

    I also noticed that literally all of their non-RG trainees are from UEA. Wonder if coincidence or not.
     

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