TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

how does one prep for an AC that has a written component and an interview effectively when working full time? I literally get home at 6 and I'm trying not to crash @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam would love your thoughts!!

I'm also very behind with commercial awareness and am trying to figure out the best way to utilise being effective in that as well

Hey @mfuturetrainee I understand how anxious you must be feeling right now - preparing for and completing an AC is quite a nerve-racking experience in itself, so I can only imagine how difficult it must be with the added stress of having to juggle preparation and your job. Fortunately, I do not expect the lesser amount of preparation time will play a significant role in your AC performance, especially for the written exercise. This does depend on the firm, but the majority of written tasks are drafted in such a way so as to be mostly self-contained. Thus, they normally set out to test skills like time management, communication skills, and attention to detail; and not to assess prior knowledge. Of course, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the format and the time pressure and thus I would advise you to try to complete one or two during one of the next evenings, but in my opinion beyond that there are diminishing returns to pushing yourself to practice more.

For the commercial awareness element, my main bit of advice is to utilize podcasts and to maximize the value of all the moments in a day. Firstly, podcasts are extremely useful because you can listen to them and familiarize yourself with many topics while doing other things at the same time. You can listen to a business podcast while brushing your teeth, while commuting to your job and back, while cooking, while doing laundry etc. I would advise you to go for a selection of (i) general business news podcasts, such as FT News Briefing and BBC News Briefing; (ii) podcasts analyzing a narrower scope of topics in a lot more depth, such as Watson's Daily or Goldman Sachs Exchanges; and (iii) legal industry podcasts, such as The Lawyer; Law, disrupted; and Bloomberg Law. Secondly, use the small 5 to 10 minute windows (say, when waiting for the bus, during a lunch break etc) to read up on articles in areas that are of more interest to you - that should improve your ability to delve deeper on a selection of topics during the interview.

Finally, although I appreciate how difficult it must be, do try to maintain an optimist attitude as you are heading into the AC. Know that the fact that you have come so far despite your other commitments is a testament to your resilience and is all the proof you need to know that you have all it takes to nail it!

 

[applicationzzzzz]

Tie or no tie for ACs?

 

[eirake]

Tie or no tie for ACs?

I usually go with tie, better to be overdressed than underdressed

 

[legallycece]

I applied to HL in October, not had a WG invite or PFO yet - should I assume PFO ?

 

[Chris Brown]

I applied to HL in October, not had a WG invite or PFO yet - should I assume PFO ?

Was this for SVS or DTC?

 

[andreilover01]

Does anyone have any insight on the V&E VI and Skadden partner interview? Happy to share insight for the Jones Day interview, W&C VI.

 

[Kakaboo]

Does anyone have insight into the Addleshaw Goddard AC? Am happy to provide insight into ACs for Hogan Lovells, Eversheds Sutherland, Travers Smith, Slaughter and May, TLT, and Freshfields as well as VIs for around 10 other firms!

When did you hear back and what office?

 

[Zi48]

Hi, anyone know if Orrick is really strict with grades? Checked all trainee profiles on Linkedin and IIRC each and every one of them had listed a first.

On their website they ask for a 2.1, it doesn’t mention strong or high, so I can’t imagine they are as strict as some other firms.

Also from chambers student: “Director of Administration Halina Kasprowiak tells us: “We don’t have any kind of automatic sifting criteria.” She goes on to say that a 2:2 degree isn’t a deal-breaker, but such an application must stand out in other ways, and supporting academics must be impressive.”

LinkedIn might not always be the best measure, some people might not post their grades/people with a 1st might be more likely to showcase that!

 

[loe]

Who is still waiting for an update from Hogan Lovells?

 

[applicant457]

Who is still waiting for an update from Hogan Lovells?

are we all waiting for the second batch of rejections?

 

[Gday33]

Any ACs or offers for HL / RPC (Summer VSs)? Still waiting for a response and PFOs are making me check my junk email every 5 mins 😫😂

HL: applied 31/10, WG done 09/12
RPC: applied 24/10, WG done 05/12

 

[johnnysins]

Has anyone else heard back from Milbank post-AC?

 

[Chris Brown]

Any ACs or offers for HL / RPC (Summer VSs)? Still waiting for a response and PFOs are making me check my junk email every 5 mins 😫😂

HL: applied 31/10, WG done 09/12
RPC: applied 24/10, WG done 05/12

A few people have had AC’s and SVS offers for HL and I saw one person for RPC. 🙂

I think the bulk of the AC’s and SVS offers will be given in February/March. Best of luck! 🤞

 

[chlawstudent]

I applied to HL in October, not had a WG invite or PFO yet - should I assume PFO ?

I am in the same boat, I emailed them today and still waiting for a response. Did you apply for a VS or direct TC?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Sorry Jess! I should've clarified that my experience was from the previous cycle!

We’d still ask that such detail aren’t shared as the types of assessments can still be used across cycles.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Is anyone else starting to get resentful? I feel like I have made so many sacrifices for the TC cycle and so far there's been no good news. I know people always say 'if you want it badly enough just keep going', but how badly does one ever want employment? 😭 I want to work as a lawyer and I want a job. That's all. This is beginning to feel like a waste of my time. Like paralegals get exploited and paid so little and everyone keeps doing these roles until they land a TC...I feel like I would be progressing more if I was doing something else. Negative dump post, sorry guys.

 

[Jessica Booker]

hey guys - when a firm is running two separate vacation scheme dates - ie a June and July scheme - would picking the later one affect my chances of securing the TC in anyway?

No - it really won’t matter which one you choose.

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Is anyone else starting to get resentful? I feel like I have made so many sacrifices for the TC cycle and so far there's been no good news. I know people always say 'if you want it badly enough just keep going', but how badly does one ever want employment? 😭 I want to work as a lawyer and I want a job. That's all. This is beginning to feel like a waste of my time. Like paralegals get exploited and paid so little and everyone keeps doing these roles until they land a TC...I feel like I would be progressing more if I was doing something else. Negative dump post, sorry guys.

100% agree.

This cycle alone, I’ve spent every free minute applying to firms.
Genuinely, no social life, just applications.

All for what? 30+ rejections this cycle…

Incredibly researched, substantially justified applications, all wasted. So much time down the drain. Absolutely nothing to show for it.

I just want somebody, anybody, to throw me a bone

 

[j.thelu]

Anyone got any updates from RPC? They have been awfully quiet 👀

please let me know if you hear of anything, im wondering this too

 

[Jessica Booker]

hi all! i need some advice about staying in contact with partners.

i had a meeting with a partner from one of the firms i'm interested in several months ago. i got this opportunity through a mutual contact. we had a great chat, he was very friendly, and i learned a lot about the firm and decided to apply there. i got rejected post-app (was sad at first but it's okay).

i would like to send an email to the partner, updating him on the progress of my application. i also would like to express my interest in a paralegal position at the firm after my graduation, and ask who can i talk to regarding this to understand whether i'd be suitable for them.

i am not sure how to approach this as i have never had a partner contact before. i would like to maintain this connection as he was extremely friendly, and i feel like i can learn a lot from him in general.

any advice on how to approach it would be appreciated!

You don’t need to overthink/worry about this - just contacting them with the details you have outlined here is fine.

I would start by reminding them of your connection eg “Thank you for your time back in X when we spoke about Y”

And then outline a brief update on your application progression.

I would then mention you are keen to apply to their firm in the future, and particularly keen to apply to paralegal roles in the future, so if they can recommend a point of contact that you could send your CV through to closer to the time of graduation, you’d appreciate any recommendations.