TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[B101]

Wondered if anyone has any advice regarding interviews and how to talk about experience.

I have four or five experiences that I can talk about, but I've already mentioned three of them in my application. Should I steer clear from mentioning these experiences and achievements that I mentioned in my application during the interview or treat the interview as an opportunity to explore them in greater detail?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I’ve always mentioned what I spoke about in my application but expanded a bit further and I’ve always managed to pass the interview stage doing this

 

[zonnonomo]

anyone done the SPB VI yet? are the questions competency/ motivational/ CA based?

 

[nourriahi]

BCLP rejection after assessment centre
I applied to the Spring Vacation Scheme.

Hey, so sorry to hear that hope you will have more luck on other occasions ! Do you mind me asking how much time it took them to get back to you ?

Thanks !!

 

[Ash4202]

paul weiss pfo

 

[EA95]

Surprising that linklaters only contacted 2 people on here. The fact that they were on 77% affirms my presumption that I am cooked though.

Same

 

[EA95]

paul weiss pfo

So sorry to hear about that

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it normal for a partner to search and add you on LinkedIn after an AC (the task they assessed me on was without seeing my application/CV etc), could you take it as a sign they liked you?

It’s very normal in the same way I often look at people’s LinkedIn profiles when I connect with them. I don’t think you can take it as any sign though unfortunately. It could just be curiosity.

 

[EA95]

I’m definitely cooked with Linklaters, mine is 66% and on hold, no tick either.

 

[EA95]

Expecting a PFO from Paul Weiss now as well

 

[Jessica Booker]

Would the same advice apply if you’ve been successful in obtaining a VS? There will be a final interview for a training contract so I wanted to understand if there was anything I didn’t do well on in the interview.

Yes - although I’d wait until your vacation scheme to ask for this and you can ask graduated recruitment directly while on the scheme. Again, they may not provide it - but there is no harm in asking.

 

[Katy12345]

It’s very normal in the same way I often look at people’s LinkedIn profiles when I connect with them. I don’t think you can take it as any sign though unfortunately. It could just be curiosity.

Yeah I was thinking that especially with them all going in blind! They did actually reach out to me and sent a really positive message though which was a surprise

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yeah I was thinking that especially with them all going in blind! They did actually reach out to me and sent a really positive message though which was a surprise

Ahhh even more so the case of it being curiosity then if it was a CV/application blind process (although shows the flaws of such blind processes at the same time).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker

When applying for Direct TC's, do you think it is worth mentioning that I have an upcoming VS with a different firm?

Thank you in advance

Yes - you can either include this in your work experience section if you can add future dates, but with little to no description in the entry, or add it to a motivational question or an extra information section to show you have the opportunity coming up later in the year.

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Last Thursday. I selected the first summer slot as my top choice.

would be very grateful if you could please tell when you completed the VI as it has been over a month since I did mine

 

[Jessica Booker]

Do law firms typically base their written exercises based off their core practice areas?

Possibly, but a lot of written exercises are not practice area specific and are often more general commercial/business exercises.

 

[Jessica Booker]

When answering a "why this firm" question in 90 seconds, how many separate parts to the answer should there be?

I would aim for 2-3 points that you cover in detail/explain.

In the last 10-15 seconds of your answer you can alway say something briefly like “I am also interested in the firm’s X, Y and Z, but my 2/3 main reasons for applying are those I have outlined”.

 

[RSK]

anyone still waiting to hear back from latham post app/sjt for spring vac scheme. Genuinely don't know if I should just mark it as a PFO at this point on my tracker :/

 

[kuuks_]

Anyone else heard from Paul, Weiss yet?

 

[Chris Brown]

Seeing all the Paul, Weiss PFO’s has got me anxiously checking my emails every 5 seconds but the only things I’m seeing are a bunch of Uber Eats, Deliveroo, TCLA and LinkedIn notifications in my inbox. 🥲🥲​

 

[Jessica Booker]

Any thoughts applying to Bristol from London? I previously started an application to S&S winter VS in London, but I faced a technical issue and didn't complete the VI. At the time they were paying London £120k and Bristol £76.5k. They've now gone to £96k for Bristol and kept London at £120k so Bristol looks much more attractive.

I emailed them and they said

"Whilst I can confirm that you will be eligible, I would like to gently remind you that if you are successful in joining us on our Bristol vacation scheme, you would only be offered a training contract for Bristol. We encourage candidates to pick an office that they see themselves residing in the respective city."

I'm slightly intrigued by this as I've applied to a few Bristol firms and not got anywhere and wonder whether they are generally suspicious of applicants from London and such applicants need to show some particular interest in Bristol to dispel this.

Regional firms have had decades of people applying to them as they think the roles are less competitive than those in London. They have also had too many candidates over the years try to game the system by getting a regional VS (or even TC) and then try to negotiate a TC/NQ role in London. This undermines the whole purpose of trying to bring talent into that office, and so many firms will try to weed out people they think who are doing this.

Firms use vacation schemes as a talent pipeline for training contracts, and so they will be looking for people are are likely to want to live and work in the area. People with no connection to the area or who have never lived there are far less likely to settle in to life in the area than those who are connected. So many firms will tend to favour those with connections to the area - it is why many regional firms with multiple offices specifically ask questions about why you are applying to that location.