TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Hana ♥]

I saw a few people getting Covington ACs and still nothing here. This is extremely disheartening, I attended their Legal Horizons Scheme in office (we were only about 30) and I got personally emailed during an online event by grad rec telling me they were highly impressed with me and asked to stay in contact throughout my professional career.

I am extremely confused. Not a rejection yet, but expecting one.

This is getting ridiculous...

 

[Jessica Booker]

Do firms expect a non-law graduate to complete the same ACs as law students? As in if you haven’t got the full legal knowledge, how can you compete in an AC?

You will be doing the same assessments, but there will be some difference in expectations as to what you may or may not know.

This is not just about academics. The same goes for work experience. If you have no legal work experience, the expectations of what you might know would be very different to someone who has worked as a paralegal for a decent length of time.

A lot of assessments are not dependent about the knowledge of technicalities though, and instead are much more about broader commercial knowledge which can be developed without experience.

 

[carys09]

Does anybody have a rough clue as to how many people HSF invite to their AC's?

At their open day, they said they invite about 100 people per vac scheme to the AC and I think they have 3 more vac schemes this year (spring and two summer) so that's about 300

 

[yasmars]

does Covington send ACs in one batch?

 

[Chris Brown]

does Covington send ACs in one batch?

Some people got their AC invites yesterday and others got invited today so I think it’s a staggered approach and not one batch. 🥲

 

[yasmars]

Some people got their AC invites yesterday and others got invited today so I think it’s a staggered approach and not one batch. 🥲

Ok that’s positive at least! Considering their scheme is in the summer I think there’s still hope!

 

[aphelion]

W&C PFO half an hour before my Skadden interview smh feeling demoralised now

 

[Chris Brown]

I saw a few people getting Covington ACs and still nothing here. This is extremely disheartening, I attended their Legal Horizons Scheme in office (we were only about 30) and I got personally emailed during an online event by grad rec telling me they were highly impressed with me and asked to stay in contact throughout my professional career.

I am extremely confused. Not a rejection yet, but expecting one.

This is getting ridiculous...

I think it’s too soon to expect a PFO because only a few people have mentioned AC invites so we can’t know for sure until we get the email!

Best of luck for Covington!

 

[simplyfaith]

That moment when you get hit with the "White & Case LLP - Vacation Scheme Application" from Molly Hill at 10:47AM

(PFO, post-app)

 

[TCSEEKER2025PLEASE]

Does anyone know what US firms are classified as 'sateleite offices' in London. Thanks

This provides overview of all the firms in London. In terms of applications I'd say ones which don't offer training contracts. Further firms really only focussed in the transactional finance related space, especially PE

US firms in the UK - Chambers Student Guide

The student’s guide to careers in the law. Gives the truth about law firms and the Bar. Based on thousands of interviews with trainees, pupils and market sources, this site offers the full package of careers advice to anyone entering the legal profession.

www.chambersstudent.co.uk

 

[miscocrossover]

That moment when you get hit with the "White & Case LLP - Vacation Scheme Application" from Molly Hill at 10:47AM

(PFO)

Sorry to hear about this, was this post-AC?

 

[simplyfaith]

Sorry to hear about this, was this post-AC?

Nah, just post-app

 

[Tintin06]

W&C PFO half an hour before my Skadden interview smh feeling demoralised now

They’re completely separate processes - keep going. Some people get rejected from both. You’re still in a strong position.

 

[user9809]

Has anyone been invited to an AC before, was unsuccessful and made it to the AC stage again for the same firm?

 

[lawyersum]

W&C PFO half an hour before my Skadden interview smh feeling demoralised now

Block it out of your mind and go and ace your Skadden interview! It is W&C's loss for rejecting you and arguably Skadden is more prestigious. You got this!!!

 

[kokoprep]

hi has anyone heard from sidley with AC this week?

 

[lou1707]

@Jessica Booker @Jaysen @Ram Sabaratnam
I have a slight issue, the vac scheme I have an interview for takes place during my term time, and since I am on a student visa I can only do 20hours of work per week during term time. How would you consider approaching this during the interview? Knowing that the firm mainly recruits through its vac scheme and I am VERY keen on that firm?

 

[Rhohia]

W&C PFO half an hour before my Skadden interview smh feeling demoralised now

Skadden is superior! Keep pushing!

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker @Jaysen @Ram Sabaratnam
I have a slight issue, the vac scheme I have an interview for takes place during my term time, and since I am on a student visa I can only do 20hours of work per week during term time. How would you consider approaching this during the interview? Knowing that the firm mainly recruits through its vac scheme and I am VERY keen on that firm?

I wouldn't necessarily raise it in the interview and instead raise it should you get an offer. If you are asked about it at interview, you can state that you are aware there may be issues given your term dates but that you would look to liaise with your university and the firm to ensure you are able to attend the scheme.

If you receive an offer, your options to discuss with the firm are:

• Ask if alternative vacation scheme dates can be offered instead
• Ask whether you can be considered for a direct TC process instead
• Ask whether the firm could offer a part-time scheme where you only do 20 hours per week

Most universities these days will not mess around with term dates because of their concerns around going against their student visa terms (and risking their licence to be eligible for their students to get student visas) but I have heard of some instances where the candidate is able to get approval from their university where their term dates are effectively changed to allow them to attend an internship. The university effectively gives you a study break with the weeks added at the end of the course or to the next academic year instead.

 

[jta227]

Has anyone been invited to an AC before, was unsuccessful and made it to the AC stage again for the same firm?

I haven’t personally but I know people who have at CC, HSF and CMS. Some firms will not see a subsequent application from someone who got rejected at AC though.