TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[adrk1234]

If anyone has signed up to the A&O Shearman application masterclass for this coming monday, have you received any invite?

 

[s2203]

https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ons-discussion-thread-2023-4.8038/post-158386

There are a few in the link, also Katten, Arnold & Porter, King & Spalding, and Greenberg Traurig.

Slaughter and May and Travers Smith are the only non-US ones I know of.

Thank you for this! I've done a VS at Travers and had an interview for Slaughters so they're both pretty much a no go haha, will def check out the rest

 

[legal18]

Can we still sign up for this? Could someone give a link please

If anyone has signed up to the A&O Shearman application masterclass for this coming monday, have you received any invite?

 

[user3883930]

If anyone has signed up to the A&O Shearman application masterclass for this coming monday, have you received any invite?

I signed up and still haven't received the invite

 

[gazdgazd11]

Can we still sign up for this? Could someone give a link please

Pls lmk too!

 

[inestrichard]

Hi! Can you apply to both a winter vacation scheme and a summer vacation scheme for the same firm? (I'm thinking Hogan Lovells for instance). If so, do you know if applications (and Watson Glacier test results) are considered separately? Thanks!

 

[Thom&as]

If anyone has signed up to the A&O Shearman application masterclass for this coming monday, have you received any invite?

nope not yet

 

[Legalstalker]

Can we still sign up for this? Could someone give a link please

Pls lmk too!

Events :: A&O Shearman UK Early Careers

}

earlycareersuk.aoshearman.com

This should bring you to the page to sign up for the event!

There are 3 dates:
12th August
19th August
27th August

 

[Zi48]

Hi! Can you apply to both a winter vacation scheme and a summer vacation scheme for the same firm? (I'm thinking Hogan Lovells for instance). If so, do you know if applications (and Watson Glacier test results) are considered separately? Thanks!

You can only apply to Hogan Lovells once between September-July.

Some firms let you apply for a vacation scheme and training contract in the same year, but I don’t know of any that let you apply to two vacation schemes in one cycle

 

[LexNavigator]

Does anyone have a list of firms which have a straightforward recruitment process. E.g., application and then interview

Debevoise & Plimpton (vacation scheme), Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle (direct training contract), Dorsey & Whitney (direct training contract), Covington & Burling (vacation scheme), Morrison Foerster (vacation scheme)

 

[_shims_]

Sidley Austin's Winter Vacation Scheme Application includes these two questions:

1. Describe a current commercial issue that has interested you and explain why it interested you? (250 words max)
2. In your view which personal qualities make a successful lawyer? (250 words max)

Should my answers link back to the firm, even though the questions do not ask me to do so?

Also if anyone has any tips on how to answer commercial questions like Q1, I would greatly appreciate it! I feel like I tend to get immediate rejections from firms that have a similar application question - so definitely an area I need to work on.

Thank you!

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Sidley Austin's Winter Vacation Scheme Application includes these two questions:

1. Describe a current commercial issue that has interested you and explain why it interested you? (250 words max)
2. In your view which personal qualities make a successful lawyer? (250 words max)

Should my answers link back to the firm, even though the questions do not ask me to do so?

Also if anyone has any tips on how to answer commercial questions like Q1, I would greatly appreciate it! I feel like I tend to get immediate rejections from firms that have a similar application question - so definitely an area I need to work on.

Thank you!

I saw a couple posts from Jessica about this. Essentially, it’s not necessary to link your answers back to the firm if the question doesn’t directly ask you to.

In the case of Q1, the firm just want to hear about your interests and, perhaps more importantly, why you’re interested.
Brief references to the firm in passing etc. are fine, but not required. Trying to anticipate questions can often mean that applicants avoid answering the direct question completely. So, it’s probably better to just answer what’s being asked.

To parrot Jessica (lol), my advice for Q1 is to focus on something specific, in order to distinguish yourself from others and show a depth of analysis on that commercial topic.

On a personal note:
I wouldn’t say the commercial topic needs to be directly relevant to a firm’s core practice areas / clients, when the question doesn’t specify otherwise. If a firm is full-service, for example, mentioning a more unique topic that genuinely interests you (and that you can therefore go into depth with) is probably more likely to help you stand out.

 

[_shims_]

I saw a couple posts from Jessica about this. Essentially, it’s not necessary to link your answers back to the firm if the question doesn’t directly ask you to.

In the case of Q1, the firm just want to hear about your interests and, perhaps more importantly, why you’re interested.
Brief references to the firm in passing etc. are fine, but not required. Trying to anticipate questions can often mean that applicants avoid answering the direct question completely. So, it’s probably better to just answer what’s being asked.

To parrot Jessica (lol), my advice for Q1 is to focus on something specific, in order to distinguish yourself from others and show a depth of analysis on that commercial topic.

On a personal note:
I wouldn’t say the commercial topic needs to be directly relevant to a firm’s core practice areas / clients, when the question doesn’t specify otherwise. Sidley is a full-service practice, so mentioning a more unique topic that genuinely interests you (and that you can therefore go into depth with) is probably more likely to help you stand out.

Thank you for your insight!

 

[s9111]

Does anyone know how long it typically takes Sidley to get back re a Winter VS application? The email I received said 'as soon as possible', but if anyone has any experience on a more definitive timeline that would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[cleojwilliams]

I signed up and still haven't received the invite

You might want to check your spam because I got an invite straight away.

 

[sadiq saeed]

Hi there - we run a list of open dates, so please feel free to share and we can ensure we add any we have collected to our list.

thats great jessica, should i message you on LinkedIn?

 

[Jessica Booker]

thats great jessica, should i message you on LinkedIn?

You can send me a private message on here and I can ensure they are added to our application opening/deadlines list on the forums!

Thank you in advance!

 

[studentdelaw786]

Can anyone please provide insights to the Mayer Brown Job Simulation?

 

[ashwright]

I interviewed at Slaughters and W&C with similar grades, so if its a firm you're really interested in go for it.

Worst case scenario you spent a day applying to a firm you didn't get interviewed at.

This is super reasurring to hear! If it's alright, may I ask what your classification (by year and/or overall) was?
Thank you!

 

[ashwright]

Also - is there a thread for tracking events (e.g. A&O's upcoming grad rec call)? If not, does anyone have any advice for keeping up to date with the events each firm has? I have email notifs from places like Legal Cheek etc. and I even tried to create a RSS feed for the firm's events pages but didn't have much success..