TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

trainee4u

Distinguished Member
Sep 7, 2023
57
125
Does anyone have advice for understanding who a firm's main competitors are?
if you look up the firm on legal 500 and chambers, then click their leading practice areas, you will see where they rank, e.g., "tier 1 Bristol Commercial Property". if you then click on the relevant practice area then it will show you other firms who rank in that area. you can also drill down by reading the detail in those sections so it might be that they specialise in different areas of the market, so e.g. one firm might be tier 4 in its best practice area, so you probably need to compare it with other firms who don't get the biggest deals, not with tier 1 firms. if it's a clear and fairly niche sector specialism like marine law or media you can also google that. salaries will also help: if you're looking at a firm that pays NQs £180k, it's not competing with firms that pay £75k.
 

g.cl.2020344

Legendary Member
Nov 1, 2024
346
477
I applied quite a bit later than that. Maybe they used to manually send them but then stopped.
tbh that sound v likely as the rest of the email was so outdated:
If you are a second-year law student applying for our 2018 Summer Program, please note that we primarily recruit summer associates through the on-campus interview (OCI) process. A list of law schools and corresponding OCI dates can be found on the Careers section of www.winston.com. Due to the large volume of resumes that we receive at this time, and the many applicants under consideration, it is not possible for us to personally respond to every application we receive. We will contact you only if there is an opportunity for you to interview.

If you are applying for a posted lateral associate position, we will contact you in 1-2 weeks regarding your application. If you are being represented by a legal search firm, please note that our initial contact will be made with your search firm recruiter. Should an offer be extended at the conclusion of the interview process, a copy of that offer letter will be provided to them as well.


also, dyu know when they closed? I really like the firm so would love to hear back lol
 

trainee4u

Distinguished Member
Sep 7, 2023
57
125
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.
 

Bread

Esteemed Member
Jan 30, 2024
90
120
tbh that sound v likely as the rest of the email was so outdated:
If you are a second-year law student applying for our 2018 Summer Program, please note that we primarily recruit summer associates through the on-campus interview (OCI) process. A list of law schools and corresponding OCI dates can be found on the Careers section of www.winston.com. Due to the large volume of resumes that we receive at this time, and the many applicants under consideration, it is not possible for us to personally respond to every application we receive. We will contact you only if there is an opportunity for you to interview.

If you are applying for a posted lateral associate position, we will contact you in 1-2 weeks regarding your application. If you are being represented by a legal search firm, please note that our initial contact will be made with your search firm recruiter. Should an offer be extended at the conclusion of the interview process, a copy of that offer letter will be provided to them as well.


also, dyu know when they closed? I really like the firm so would love to hear back lol
They closed January 31st I believe. I am a bit worried because I sent my app around midnight of the 31st and am worried that apps had already closed😬
 

mariistm

Esteemed Member
Jan 19, 2022
99
207
Hi, congratulations! I would like to ask how long you waited for your offer since the initial interview? Thanks!
Thank you! What do you mean by initial interview? The course of my application was being long listed, then received a call to invite me for interview the week after. Meanwhile i did the online assessment. After the interview they called me the next day with an offer. I didnt have multiple interviews
 

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