TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is it appropriate to message current trainees to ask for advice on the assessment centre?

Lots of people do this so I don’t see it as an issue. If the trainees can’t or don’t want to give you advice then they will likely either not respond or just say that. But there is no harm in asking as long as you do so politely.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Do firms do reference checks before vacation scheme?

@Jessica Booker

Yes, some will do reference checks ahead of a vacation scheme.

 

[CCLaw]

Gateley AC!! So excited if anyone has any advice please let me know

Congrats!!!! Did they email you today?

 

[Cl23x]

Has anyone heard back from HSF post-AC for summer?

 

[Kakaboo]

Congrats!!!! Did they email you today?

Yes at around 2

 

[gazdgazd11]

Yes at around 2

Hi congrats what office

 

[asdfghjk1997]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst?

 

[lawelmo]

I’ve just received a Gateley AC too!

 

[Kakaboo]

I’ve just received a Gateley AC too!

What office!

 

[lawelmo]

What office!

Manchester 😄 you?

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst?

From what I’ve seen on the forum, Ashurst have done all their AC’s. Some people have received VS offers and some are still waiting to hear back the outcome post AC. If you haven’t heard back from Ashurst post app, they will be sending their PFO’s out on the 28th (pushed back from the 14th). I’m not sure which stage applies to you though. I applied to Ashurst for their WVS this cycle and they told us we would hear back by the end of Nov and that was the day they sent out all the PFO’s. 🥲🥲​

 

[Kakaboo]

Manchester 😄 you?

Leeds!

 

[londonlawyer]

Has anyone heard from Ashurst?

One of my friends got a call on Monday confirming his VS offer

 

[Kakaboo]

Hi congrats what office

Leeds

 

[Legallylaw]

I normally integrate this to why this firm:

1. Business strategy - internationally and locally (focusing on practice areas is not the best since a lot of competitors are neck and neck).

What I mean is do they open their own office or do they collaborate with local firms? Why? How does that affect their presence in the region?

Where are they opening the offices? Why? What business opportunities are there in those locations? Does it show the firm as ‘forward thinking’ - link back to their values


2. Client retention- do they work with the same clients often (I.e. links is known for their biggest clients being repeat clients and they liked when I mentioned it in the AC)

3. Here talk about practice areas and the links to one another (but the niche ones): i.e. strong banking and finance department but also band 1 shariah = more Middle Eastern clients/ presence (working with the market trends/ opportunities).


For skills:

Honestly, here you can pick any skill but the key thing is to:

1. Identify the skill

2. Link it back to how and why a trainee/ solicitor might use it.

3. Then link it back to something you’ve done and how it showed you the importance of it in practice.

Thank you so much!!

 

[PFOenthusiast]

CMS Insight programme offer!

 

[zoobla20]

Does anyone else’s parents indirectly put pressure on them or make them feel worse about not having a TC (I’m early 20s)

This morning, I inquired about any reputable dentists in my area to one of my parents as I’ve been saving for dental treatment… their response- “well if you were working in a law firm you wouldn’t have to worry about all of this, you’d have private medical insurance etc etc, why is it taking you so long”

I really just feel like sometimes parents don't understand the gravity of how much work goes in to each application, then dealing with 4/5 stages and also improving commercial awareness, work experience and interpersonal/interview skills. In my opinion, this is one of the most challenging careers to join.

Maybe explaining the process to them could help? Early 20s is still so, so early - I'm in my mid/late twenties and the average age of qualification is about 29 now, showing how difficult it is to get a TC/become a solicitor.

 

[trainee4u]

Partner interview with Stevens & Bolton.

 

[zq522]

anyone heard from Trowers post AC?

Was thinking this exact thing! What office did you apply for? I recall them saying sometime end of feb/beginning of March. Do you know if they will call or email?

 

[xxx]

Was thinking this exact thing! What office did you apply for? I recall them saying sometime end of feb/beginning of March. Do you know if they will call or email?

If I remember correctly its an email (and feedback call to follow), and yes end of feb we are supposed to hear back. 😥