TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[suhana]

has hsf given out any summer ac invites?

 

[mariistm]

Can I ask for any tips for the CMS VI?

I would say to practice answering 2-part questions in one minute as it goes quick. Research CMS and why it’s a future facing firm. There is a mix of questions so also practice motivational questions. There will also be a scenario question. Hope this helps.

 

[lawstudent2]

Rejected by CMS.

Got Reed Smith AC and HSF AC.

Applied to Macfarlanes but I forgot, it; received an AC today.

11 applications, 4 AC's and 1 rejection.

is HSF for spring or summer?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

They have probably only just began sending AC’s out to people. 🙂

The deadline was 3rd of January and they’re also non-rolling. 🫡

It’s too early to assume PFO imo.

Thank you!

 

[member7830]

how much of the word count are people using for travers smith? is 800/300/300 too little?

 

[via1511]

Hey guys, anyone who did the Mills and Reeve online assessment, what were your feedback results I.e how many good traits to weak ones did you get?

I got an AC invite today and was curious.

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

how much of the word count are people using for travers smith? is 800/300/300 too little?

Totally fine! Personally, I think it’s better to be more concise

 

[Chris Brown]

how much of the word count are people using for travers smith? is 800/300/300 too little?

For the cover letter I used around 850 to 900 words.

For the two questions I used 500 each so the maximum word count. 🙂

Ideally you want to be within 20% of the word count.

This ensures the responses are detailed but concise so there has to be a balance. 🫡

For the cover letter I think 800 is fine but for the other two questions I’m not sure if 300 is enough. It might be fine tbh. 🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[NCTC2025]

Seeing a lot of people asking about the Travers wordcount. I did the SVS last year and wrote 860 words so definitely no need to reach the wordcount!

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

I feel like it’s very difficult to get 500 words out of your leisure activities tbh.

For example, I run (which I can include) and I watch Netflix (can’t include). That’s about the only 2 things I have time for outside of work and applying to TCs lol

I feel like Travers have a real emphasis on applicants being authentic, so I’d rather just be honest

 

[member7830]

For the cover letter I used around 850 to 900 words.

For the two questions I used 500 each so the maximum word count. 🙂

Ideally you want to be within 20% of the word count.

This ensures the responses are detailed but concise so there has to be a balance. 🫡

For the cover letter I think 800 is fine but for the other two questions I’m not sure if 300 is enough. It might be fine tbh. 🤷🏾‍♂️

thank you! I was just struggling to fill the word count for the second question, as I feel like a lot of my extra curricular cross over with positions of responsibility, and idk how much there is to say about leisure activities

 

[andrewk]

I feel like it’s very difficult to get 500 words out of your leisure activities tbh.

For example, I run (which I can include) and I watch Netflix (can’t include). That’s about the only 2 things I have time for outside of work and applying to TCs lol

I feel like Travers have a real emphasis on applicants being authentic, so I’d rather just be honest

Yeah I wrote like 100 words for leisure interests (cooking, running, sports). I don't see how much you can elaborate on non-position of responsibility extracurriculars (you can't really do STAR stuff). Then I did 300 for the other question.

I don't think they actually expect 500 words for each of those, I think it's more just they're giving you the freedom to express yourself however you want. Although, I am curious why they didn't just combine those two questions into one...

 

[Uch21]

No and I reread their email and they said you’ll hear back within 6 weeks. I guess they’re still moving through some apps to sjt/VI and then they’ll decide

If I may ask, what email was this? The only email I got was from Vantage (Candid), which confirmed my application.

 

[kokoprep]

Yeah I wrote like 100 words for leisure interests (cooking, running, sports). I don't see how much you can elaborate on non-position of responsibility extracurriculars (you can't really do STAR stuff). Then I did 300 for the other question.

I don't think they actually expect 500 words for each of those, I think it's more just they're giving you the freedom to express yourself however you want. Although, I am curious why they didn't just combine those two questions into one...

ohhnooo I might have got it wrong then since it said extra circulars I wrote things like volunteering

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

ohhnooo I might have got it wrong then since it said extra circulars I wrote things like volunteering

Volunteering could quite easily fit into either of these sections, I wouldn’t worry.
I’d be more inclined to put volunteering in extracurriculars, unless you volunteer on a overseeing board or committee or some sort

 

[Chris Brown]

I feel like it’s very difficult to get 500 words out of your leisure activities tbh.

For example, I run (which I can include) and I watch Netflix (can’t include). That’s about the only 2 things I have time for outside of work and applying to TCs lol

I feel like Travers have a real emphasis on applicants being authentic, so I’d rather just be honest

To be honest I did struggle with the word count for both questions. 500 is a lot especially when there is also a cover letter with a 1,000 word limit. 🥲

I asked @Jessica Booker for some advice on the thread a while back and that helped me to figure out what kind of approach to take. 🫡

 

[Lawyering13]

To be honest I did struggle with the word count for both questions. 500 is a lot especially when there is also a cover letter with a 1,000 word limit. 🥲

I asked @Jessica Booker for some advice on the thread a while back and that helped me to figure out what kind of approach to take. 🫡

Did the SVS last year, my cover letter was just under 700 words and for the two other questions, I wrote about 250 words. I got rejected from them previously with an arguably more 'tailored' CL that was 950 words long. Being concise is incredibly important, and it is not pertinent to reach the word counts.

 

[Chris Brown]

ohhnooo I might have got it wrong then since it said extra circulars I wrote things like volunteering

This is what I did. I separated volunteering I did from positions of responsibility.

The first question asked for extra curricular activities and leisure interests so I just wrote about volunteering, sports, hobbies and interests, etc.

In the second question I wrote about my main positions of responsibility before and also during uni and my key achievements.

 

[Chris Brown]

Did the SVS last year, my cover letter was just under 700 words and for the two other questions, I wrote about 250 words. I got rejected from them previously with an arguably more 'tailored' CL that was 950 words long. Being concise is incredibly important, and it is not pertinent to reach the word counts.

My cover letter is quite long then in comparison. It was around 850 words. Guess I am cooked for TS. 😭

I split the word count between why commercial law, why travers and why me but in the first sections had why me throughout.

I didn’t plan on hitting the word count for the other two questions but it ended up working out that way once I had finished. 🥲

 

[BillSikes]

has anyone heard from Reed Smith who applied close to deadline

I’ve still heard nothing as well for reference - I know there been activity from them today.