TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

It's almost the weekend, friends. I've been reading a lot about all the offers, ACs and interviews and rejections people have been receiving over the last few weeks. I just wanted to send a little note of encouragement as you continue tackling applications and everything else on your plates. We know how much effort you’re all putting into this process, and I really, really do believe that all your perseverance will pay off. Keep believing in yourselves! You aren't where you are without good reason and talent.

On that note, here’s something small that made me smile today while getting my morning coffee. Hope it brings a little cheer to your Thursday night too ☕✨

 

[Jaysen]

@Jaysen @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam
I am looking for some practice draft email tasks and negotiation tasks with model responses/ feedback, is this something that is included in the Bronze or Gold Premium membership please?

For draft email tasks, I would most recommend booking a written exercise. I'll then review it with feedback on your writing and a model answer

If you're looking for help with a negotiation, we run virtual negotiations with small groups and have a discount available to Bronze/Gold members. Please keep an eye on your emails as we'll announce the next slots tomorrow. If you're a non-gold member, you can also click here to be notified.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

For draft email tasks, I would most recommend booking a written exercise. I'll then review it with feedback on your writing and a model answer

If you're looking for help with a negotiation, we run virtual negotiations with small groups and have a discount available to Bronze/Gold members. Please keep an eye on your emails as we'll announce the next slots tomorrow. If you're a non-gold member, you can also click here to be notified.

Hi Jaysen, does TCLA have a good resource to prepare for a commercial article (e.g. Financial Times) discussion interview? Thanks!

 

[acb0410]

For draft email tasks, I would most recommend booking a written exercise. I'll then review it with feedback on your writing and a model answer

If you're looking for help with a negotiation, we run virtual negotiations with small groups and have a discount available to Bronze/Gold members. Please keep an eye on your emails as we'll announce the next slots tomorrow. If you're a non-gold member, you can also click here to be notified.

thank you so much for your reply, that is extremely helpful. I will keep an eye out for the slots!

 

[floral.tcla]

lol I love the hearts and fun little party hats - had a bad day but this cheered me up

 

[Jaysen]

Hi Jaysen, does TCLA have a good resource to prepare for a commercial article (e.g. Financial Times) discussion interview? Thanks!

The best thing is to book a mock interview! We'll simulate it as closely as we can to the real thing - just tell us you want to an article-based interview in the form.

This is because it translates really well to the real thing (you learn how to speak your answers under pressure, so the real thing isn't as scary.)

 

[lawstudent2]

Hi @lawstudent2 to boost your CV and general experiences, consider the following:

• Apply to/reach out to any smaller/local law firms and practitioners to see if there is any opportunity for an internship, paralegal, or shadowing work experience available. Browsing LinkedIn and sending emails, texts, and having cold calls for this purpose can definitely be a time-consuming enterprise, and there is no guarantee of success, but I have seen multiple people manage to do it.
• Complete Forage Virtual Work Experiences: this is one of the easiest way to prove interest in a given firm, a practice area, and to simultaneously improve your commercial awareness.
• Attend online firm events: even though events in the summer are a lot more rare than during the normal cycle, a number of smaller firms will still host them, particularly around late July/start of August.
• Complete online commercial law/business-related courses: platforms like edX and Coursera offer low-priced courses that can really improve your commercial awareness and can then be referenced in an application or interview.

thank you, that's super helpful I will do

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi all,

Sorry to bang on about PW but I haven’t been in this position before so don’t know what to think! I’ve applied to both spring/summer schemes, and I’ve read on here that they will conclude ACs by the end of next week.

Do you think this round of ACs is only for the Spring VS and then they will start considering people for Summer? But also some people who got ACs now applied for both schemes?!

Can’t make any sense out of it. 50% thinks PFO pending and other 50% of me thinks I still may have a chance.

I just wanna ask PW “hey hun, what’s the vibe? What’s going on? Don’t gaslight me into thinking I’ve still got a chance!!!”

😭😭😭

 

[iliaserr]

Hi all,

Sorry to bang on about PW but I haven’t been in this position before so don’t know what to think! I’ve applied to both spring/summer schemes, and I’ve read on here that they will conclude ACs by the end of next week.

Do you think this round of ACs is only for the Spring VS and then they will start considering people for Summer? But also some people who got ACs now applied for both schemes?!

Can’t make any sense out of it. 50% thinks PFO pending and other 50% of me thinks I still may have a chance.

I just wanna ask PW “hey hun, what’s the vibe? What’s going on? Don’t gaslight me into thinking I’ve still got a chance!!!”

😭😭😭

Someone did say they were interviewing next week, so don't loose hope

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi all,

Sorry to bang on about PW but I haven’t been in this position before so don’t know what to think! I’ve applied to both spring/summer schemes, and I’ve read on here that they will conclude ACs by the end of next week.

Do you think this round of ACs is only for the Spring VS and then they will start considering people for Summer? But also some people who got ACs now applied for both schemes?!

Can’t make any sense out of it. 50% thinks PFO pending and other 50% of me thinks I still may have a chance.

I just wanna ask PW “hey hun, what’s the vibe? What’s going on? Don’t gaslight me into thinking I’ve still got a chance!!!”

😭😭😭

Hiya @SamiyaJ

Completely understandable to feel confused/ambivalent/nervous/etc. I'm sure you've already had this thought, but it's hard to say for sure how Paul, Weiss (PW) is structuring things this year since this is the first time they’re recruiting for training contracts.

That said, when Paul ran Shearman & Sterling’s recruitment in previous years, I'm almost certain that offers/rejections tended to go out in stages. It also seemed as though they were running ACs for the Spring scheme before moving on to Summer. That could be what’s happening here too (at PW), but I wouldn’t read too much into it. From what I’ve seen, Paul is always quite structured and methodical with applications, so if you haven’t heard back yet, I’d take that as a positive sign.

Overall, whenever I was in this position, I found the best thing to do was to focus on other things (including other applications lolol). You’re still in the running, so hang in there!

Hope that helps and that you hear back with good news soon!

 

[simplyfaith]

omg I love the little hats

 

[juaanperez]

Anything from Travers Smith post-interview?

 

[Adithi]

Hi everyone, I have my Macfarlanes AC on Tuesday, and as I have not attended an AC before, so I would love any advice, anything I can do to prepare, as I feel severely underprepared

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hiya @Adithi

I gave a little summary of Macfarlanes' AC here. Please just keep in mind that this was for the direct training contract during the 2022-2023 application cycle. Still, I hope it's helpful to you whilst you're preparing for your own AC. Good luck!

Hiya @ish12345


I wanted to give you some thoughts to consider for the Macfarlanes assessment centre. Keep in mind that this summary relates to their direct training contract assessment from two application cycles ago. Nevertheless, I hope my summary of the assessment centre is helpful to you!

1. The written exercise involves drafting two written documents. The time pressure here is particularly significant, and there are many issues to address. If you attempt to cover everything, you may run out of time. In terms of style, you'll also want to ensure that your documents are concise and professional. Tone and language are important in both documents, and you should ensure the documents are drafted with the relevant audience in mind.
   
   
2. The partner interview covers standard motivational and competency questions. As the community assistants have often said, you should prepare by considering your answers to such as why you are interested in the firm, why commercial law appeals to you, and your thoughts on current news topics. For competency questions, again, you should think of examples of where you've worked with (difficult) team members, demonstrated resilience, or faced a significant challenge in the past three years. Having thought about these examples in advance will ensure that your answers are well-structured during the partner interview.
   
   
3. The case study interview does not require legal knowledge, but a basic understanding of legal and commercial considerations will be helpful. You’ll be given two case studies, which could involve a business expansion scenario or a dispute. I'd encourage you to ensure that your responses are structured and supported by the materials provided, applying your commercial awareness where relevant. As with most case studies, your focus should be on logical reasoning rather than pre-existing knowledge.

The key throughout the assessment centre is clarity, structure, and maintaining professionalism in both written and verbal responses. I wouldn't worry too much about your prior knowledge of law, but again it could be helpful to familiarise yourself with basic commercial and legal concepts to help you reason through the case studies and written exercises in a logical and convincing manner.

Best of luck!

 

[Chris Brown]

Anything from Travers Smith post-interview?

I’ve seen some people get SVS offers from Travers Smith on this forum after their interview. 🙂​

 

[noahsmiit01]

I

As a non-law student I'm in a similar position, I haven't done that much research but so far the only firm I have seen that doesn't require the PGDL is Baker McKenzie, somebody told me that was the case with BCLP but I don't think that is true. It's possible there are others, but ultimately I would just expect that you will have to do one

I’ve attended Bakers insight day and it’s actually true that they are not requiring for a non law student to do PGDL

 

[yuk0n]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

 

[Chris Brown]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

Huge congrats! 🐐​

 

[B101]

Hi everyone, I have my Macfarlanes AC on Tuesday, and as I have not attended an AC before, so I would love any advice, anything I can do to prepare, as I feel severely underprepared

PM’d you

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Milbank vac scheme offer
Just wanted to drop in and say thank you to this community for making me feel less alone through the application cycle- to quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's brutal out here, and it's hard to talk to people you know irl about this sort of thing (it feels like prying!!) so I'm grateful to have access to a no-judgment space where other people are going through the same thing <3

Get in there and show them what you're all about! (So, so well done!)