TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Anon Lawyer]

Has anyone heard back from AG - Leeds office at all?

 

[EA95]

AKIN VS🍾🥳🎉💅🏾🙂‍↔️💙


I did the AC yesterday. My dream firm fr🥹

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

 

[lawyersum]

Favour to ask guys - Would anybody who passed the app stage for Morgan Lewis be willing to review my unsuccessful application? It was a very long app so please PM me or thumbs up this post if you’ve got the time - thanks

 

[NJS]

Vinson & Elkins post app PFO - Did the vac scheme last year lol

 

[EA95]

SPB PFO 😢😢😢

 

[manifestingthetc]

Favour to ask guys - Would anybody who passed the app stage for Morgan Lewis be willing to review my unsuccessful application? It was a very long app so please PM me or thumbs up this post if you’ve got the time - thanks

When did you receive the PFO?

 

[Legalstalker]

Vinson & Elkins post app PFO - Did the vac scheme last year lol

Sorry to hear that!

How comes you applied again if you already had a vac scheme before?

 

[James Wakefield]

all these firms are saying “unprecedented levels of applications” and more are really stressing me out 😭😭 i wonder what the sudden surge is?

Hoping it’s explained by lots of very poorly written generic AI applications.

 

[congrades]

V&E post-app PFO - when it rains it pours hehe

 

[lawyersum]

When did you receive the PFO?

On Monday (I think - I deleted the email afterwards lol)

 

[NJS]

Sorry to hear that!

How comes you applied again if you already had a vac scheme before?

They encouraged me too, I don’t see why you wouldn’t, there’s no harm in reapplying again, however, I do believe now that if you’ve done a VS with a firm they won’t take you again

 

[ilovegardening1111]

I think your primary focus should be on why you want to be a solicitor - so make sure to show (i) why do you want to work in the legal field - what interests you about law?; (ii) why do you want to be a legal practitioner, as opposed to, say, an academic?; and (iii) why do you want to be a solicitor rather than a barrister?;

Nonetheless, I think it is desirable to go beyond this and also include the commercial element. You can do this directly, as in a normal why commercial law answer, or indirectly. For instance, if you discuss the client-facing nature of the solicitor's job, you could explain how you are particularly motivated to work with businesses and help them with their growth. However, you should first ensure that the primary "why solicitor" element of your answer is properly addressed, and only then move on to consider how you can make it better by adding the commercial part.

Hi Andrei, thanks so much for your advice!

 

[ilovegardening1111]

Does anyone have any tips on how to prepare for the Stephenson Harwood amberjack SJT assessment? I tried to access their practice test which they provide on their website but it won't load for me - not sure if it's worth me sending a message about it to their grad recruitment team.. but would really appreciate any advice! on blended assessments / VIs in general

 

[CHLTC]

Hello all,

I had a general question to ask regarding the idea of self funding the SQE. I already have my GDL.

This will be my fourth round of applying to VS/TCs, next year my 5th, and im coming to a point now where 1) I’m wondering it this is all worth it. And 2) whether I should go ahead and complete my SQE.

I have always feared that self funding the SQE shows 2 negative things:
1) you are in a fortunate position to do so. One that others do not have. And I’m afraid it could demonstrate a certain privilege. A privilege that firms may take badly.
2) if you’re self funding, then clearly, no one wanted to fund you. Maybe a slightly negative outlook on things, but I could see law firms thinking this. “Hmm, no one wanted to pay for this person's SQE, so maybe this candidate isn’t great?”

I’d love to know what people think. I’m really considering now moving on and funding it myself. I don’t think re applying might do me any good at this point.

@Jaysen
@Jessica Booker

 

[starfish345]

Current VS/TC application cycle - for reference, I’m a final year law student with a low-ish 2.1 from a good RG (LSE/Durham/UCL). Strong work experience in finance and law.

PFOs (most after hearing nothing, a few after VI/Test):
Eversheds
Goodwin
Bird & Bird
Cooley
Baker McKenzie
Hogan Lovells
Bristows
Reed Smith
WFW
HFW
Fieldfisher
SPB
Greenberg Traurig
Withers
V&E

Nothing back (either post-VI/Test or nothing at all – assuming PFO for most of the earlier ones):
Latham
Weil
Milbank
Katten
Jones Day
Akin
Sidley Austin
Arnold & Porter
Travers Smith
Gibson Dunn
Paul Weiss
Brown Rudnick
Curtis
Ropes & Grey
McGuireWoods

ACs:
Osborne Clarke
Farrer & Co
Forsters

Still have a handful of VS apps left to submit and then its time to hit the rest of the TCs.

Really sacrificed my schoolwork in the first term to grind out high quality essays/responses, not sure where I went wrong or if it’s just a difficult cycle. Still really like the options I have for ACs and hopefully can convert, just a bit disappointing on the US Firm front. I assume my grades held me back a bit.

 

[bella98]

Anyone has done an AC with Penningtons and heard back?

 

[Legalstalker]

They encouraged me too, I don’t see why you wouldn’t, there’s no harm in reapplying again, however, I do believe now that if you’ve done a VS with a firm they won’t take you again

I see, I was encourage to do direct TC.

I didn’t reapply for the VS for the firms I did last year as I believed it to be a waste of both our times. Given the scheme, culture and process would be the same and didn’t convert (1). I’ve never heard of someone doing a VS twice at the same firm?

 

[saminoriya]

Anyone has done an AC with Penningtons and heard back?

I did AC last week, but they haven't come back to me yet. They said it will take around 2-3 weeks.

 

[NJS]

I see, I was encourage to do direct TC.

I didn’t reapply for the VS for the firms I did last year as I believed it to be a waste of both our times. Given the scheme, culture and process would be the same and didn’t convert (1). I’ve never heard of someone doing a VS twice at the same firm?

Yeah I just thought I'd give it a go, I did a another vac scheme in between so technically I improved.

Did you apply to the direct TC?

 

[theruleofno]

They encouraged me too, I don’t see why you wouldn’t, there’s no harm in reapplying again, however, I do believe now that if you’ve done a VS with a firm they won’t take you again

I got to interview last year and they heavily encouraged me to reapply. Maybe an internal policy changed? I know my skills and application writing are okay bc I have 3 VS offers 💀💀💀