TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Apple]

Links PFO, thought I had it this year smh.

 

[James Wakefield]

Linklaters are definitely doing a madness because why have I just received a PFO from them for the VS when I didn’t even apply for it at all wtf lmao. 😂😂​

Sad to hear that!

I’ll keep my fingers crossed my non-application is still under consideration. 🤣

 

[Andrei Radu]

thank you so much for your response! I think it made me tear up a little lol. These are incredibly helpful and I will keep these in mind. You had also mentioned some commercial awareness podcasts. Which ones would you recommend? Also, besides open days, is there any other way I can show a link to the firm, like with the mentoring scheme, for example?

For the podcasts question, I will recommend a number of different podcasts for the different kinds of useful content I have found:

• Keeping up with current events: here I would firstly recommend listening to the FT News Briefing every day - there is no better concise statement of the most important business news. Next, you can take a look at BBC's World Business Report: it will cover many of the same topics as in the FT News Briefing, but in a lot more detail and with a lot more analysis. Finally, I used to also listen to Bloomberg's Daybreak Podcast from time to time, as I found it provided the best analysis of topics that impacted the world of financial services.
• Detailed commercial analysis of selected topics: here, my primary resource was Watson's Daily, where the two hosts would select two issues that they would discuss in depth over around 40 minutes. This was particularly useful to learn how to analyze a commercial topic from different lenses and debate it; a skill that is essential for succeeding in many ACs. A good second resource was Goldman Sachs Exchanges, which helped me immensely with my knowledge of financial jargon and more broadly with my understanding of the business models of the different types of law firms' clients.
• Legal press podcasts: these podcasts are amazing for learning how to compare firms and to identify their market positions. The Lawyer's podcast is amazing for looking at firms specifically from the perspective of their London operations, whereas Law, disrupted and Bloomberg Law are great for a more global (and sometimes US-focused) analysis.
• Law firms' insights: some of the best podcasts for analyzing the impact of current events on clients and practices areas are produces by firms themselves. I found the ones made by Latham, HSF, and White & Case to be among the best for this. This is also one way you can show engagement and interest in a specific firm.

For the second question, yes, I think any other opportunities such as mentoring schemes are great ways of demonstrating interest and distinguishing yourself from the crowd. Besides open days, I would also consider attending sign-up based events (you will find many advertised by your law society, the firm itself, or platforms like law careers.net or legal cheek), Forage Virtual Work Experiences, and even simply reaching out to trainees on LinkedIn to have an interaction to mention.

 

[Willgetthere]

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu and anyone else - I was wondering if you could provide some insight into Gibson Dunn and what makes them different from other US firm other than their strong transactional vs contentious spilt and their broad internal presence. I am also interested in understand their clients from what I’ve understood the firm clientele is quite broad across various industries, but perhaps some insight on if certain practice groups have a specific market segment focus - this would be great. Thank you!

 

[saj2002]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

 

[Someoneinlaw]

I normally used 'Hi [name of the addressee]' if there was implied familiarity from the details of the written exercise or if they were someone in the firm who was not very senior. If they were either a client or a partner/counsel and familiarity was not implied, I simply used 'Dear [name of the addressee]'. I never included a Mr/Mrs/Ms or sir/madam as I did not want to make any assumptions about gender or marital status. From my vacation scheme experiences, the emails I have seen associates send looked much the same in terms of address form, so I am quite sure this is an ok approach to follow.

Thank you so much 😊

 

[bobby]

Is anyone who did an AC with links still waiting on an intv result (post one week?) and any idea what it could mean (they said theyd get back to everyone max in a week) 😅

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker @anyone else (sorry if you're not supposed to tag multiple Forum helpers),

I recently received feedback from LL post-AC. Please can you advise on how you would implement the following advice, based on your experiences? It was explained clearly but as a non-law student from a first-generation background, I want to check that I'm not missing anything 😅

For context, there was a HR competency-based interview and a technical interview with Partners. I didn't perform quite well enough in either of them to progress.

1. Succinctness - an issue in both. In the Hr interview, I used the STAR technique but gave too much backstory and the interviewer didn't have enough time/was unable to ask follow up questions and build a rapport. The content itself was strong though and they could tell I prepared/put effort in.
2. Technical interview - evidence of ability to interpret (the legal points) of a term sheet - there were points I didn't pick up on/this was the weaker point even though I had high-level commercial thinking. This is what I REALLY am unsure of how to develop as a non-law student - beyond the (v helpful) case studies the TCLA subscription provides, what else would you advise?
3. Building a rapport - honestly I am such an introverted person (and I think I may be a masking autistic!) but feedback emphasised that they could see I was nervous but wanted a genuine conversation with me.

Honestly that's all there is, I'm still a bit confused on what else to do, because nothing explicit on my answers to motivational questions was given or how well I did do at picking up legal concepts, just that it wasn't good enough. Is it worth messaging them again to ask or should I not?

LL was really nice though in terms of the feedback

The weird thing is that I know someone who got a LL scheme (not the VS) who is very detached/not personable at all, certainly less than me. I don't want to sound gossipy but I'm not sure how they got it and I didn't...

 

[sapphireoreos]

Travers smith, white & Case and bclp looking at firms with 300 word limits like:

Add Stephenson Harwood and their 1800 words (3 600 word questions) to that

 

[lawbear123]

congrats! may i ask when you completed/heard back written exercise?

6th feb but to clarify, i applied for the spring scheme and the slots had filled up so they moved me to summer!

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

 

[James Wakefield]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

In the same position. This is very likely to be a PFO I’m afraid.

They’ve already completed their first stage interviews, ACs and made offers for the Spring Vac Scheme as far as I’m aware.

 

[0livia.pope]

Surely it would make more sense for PFOs to be sent out before invites etc

 

[Adithi]

6th feb but to clarify, i applied for the spring scheme and the slots had filled up so they moved me to summer!

Hey, sorry to ask this again, but did u hear back for your AC on the 6th or your WE was on the 6th? I did my WE on the 6th too, so I’m wondering if it’s a PFO

 

[jasonbourne]

1) It’s just being non committal. The last thing they want is to bring in a whole load of trainees on the SQE and then for some random reason bring in a trainee on a LPC training contract (maybe mitigating circumstances) and everyone else to complain why they didn’t get that opportunity. I can’t really see firms offering the LPC route any more though - it’s a lot more hassle for them as there are many more regulations and processes they have to go through. I don’t know what angle there would be for arguing against completing SQE2 when everyone else is doing that stage, and especially where some of the diversity concerns with the SQE are much more associated with SQE1.

2) Firms generally don’t want trainees submitting their previous experiences as QWE, as it undermines their training contract. Unfortunately firms have little control over it though as the decision lies with you rather than them.

3) People are qualifying via the QWE/SQE route. But I am seeing plenty do people choosing to do this when they haven’t got an NQ role lined up. To be able to compete in the NQ job market, your two years of QWE needs to be of the same level, complexity, standard, variety and possible even with the same type of clients as those you will be competing for the NQ role with. You are not going to be able to step into a litigation role without litigation experience. You are going to struggle to get into large international firms if most of the litigation work you have done is with smaller, domestic companies or simple disputes. You therefore have to make sure your QWE allows you to compete for the jobs you are aiming for upon qualification.

Hi @Jessica Booker really appreciate this, thanks for the insight.

On point 2 - That makes sense from the firm's perspective, they wouldn't want their TC undermined in that sense. What if for instance, you don't submit previous experiences as QWE to avoid the firm's being put off by you and to therefore become more attractive to them? Most firms I have spoken to said they would just disregard the previous experiences I had as the 2-year TC programme is what they would use to sign off the QWE on their end. I guess most of what I'm saying, though, is in relation to how I would be viewed as a candidate regarding this, rather than the mechanics of how QWE actually works/what the firm's sign off as QWE.

On point 3 - So in that sense would that be a negative of the SQE, generally speaking, if you don't secure a TC and decide to qualify via previous experiences for QWE? Would it not be a struggle to get your foot in the NQ market as a fresh SQE graduate with little experience of the same level, complexity, standard and variety as other people I'll be competing with (people with NQ-level type experience and people like myself) no?

 

[jasonbourne]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

To my knowledge, Ashurst extended their deadline to the end of Feb (the latest they will get back to people), but that date is essentially the day they send out all of their PFO’s. It was like this for the WVS.

Travers Smith have started their interviews but so far I think only 4-5 people have had theirs (out of TCLA Forum users anyway). As for the other firms, I think it’s pretty much the same in that a lot of people are waiting, but not too sure tbh.​

 

[VacSchemer]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

RPC post-WG seems like a dead end ngl. But this is just my opinion because I’ve given up hope haha. I’m sure a lot of the others raised good points of them possibly giving out more AC invites but I’m not sure is all.

 

[FoxStella]

Has anyone heard back from Ashurst, RPC post-WG, Travers Smith, Latham or Simmons & Simmons? All for the summer vac scheme btw

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

 

[Chris Brown]

I received an Ashurst SVS offer today!

Huge congrats. 🥳