TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Tintin06]

Anyone got experience with Covington's WVS?

 

[s9111]

Does anyone know if Latham is running a Winter Vac Scheme this year?

 

[Ghassen]

You will only be able to get a student visa if it is an academic course that provides you with a postgraduate diploma or a masters level course.

Well, if it’s not the case for both situations, how can I take the course from school ?

 

[hannah04]

Thanks a lot for this - it's really insightful. How would you recommend finding out about these topics, especially unique topics? How long do you need to follow a news story for? What's your definition of a 'unique' news story? Anything that isn't on covid, ai, etc or something that's genuinely obscure?

Just in my personal opinion, the most important thing is to find a topic that genuinely interests you! I think even if the story isn't necessarily "unique" (in that it is a highly trending topic and likely to be chosen by other applicants), if you have genuine or novel insights into the topic and can talk naturally about it, that is way more impressive than finding a obscure topic that no one else would have chosen, because I think they are ultimately assessing how you talk about the story not what story you chose.

 

[Tintin06]

Does anyone know if Latham is running a Winter Vac Scheme this year?

I don't think it is. Happy to talk about Latham. Feel free to message me.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Well, if it’s not the case for both situations, how can I take the course from school ?

I would speak to your firm about this, as if you need a visa and can’t use something like a post-study visa, you may have to complete the course outside of the U.K.

 

[Ghassen]

I would speak to your firm about this, as if you need a visa and can’t use something like a post-study visa, you may have to complete the course outside of the U.K.

Thanks for your advice Jess

 

[lizadurug]

good luck everyone posting to join

 

[latome19]

Hi everyone

This is my second cycle and I want to take SQE1 this Jan following my law conversion, and then SQE2. My concern is that most TCs are advertised for 2027, but I want to start as early as possible if I pass the SQE (I know that this is a hypothetical).

I know there are several firms that will officially advertise for 2025 this year (mainly niche ones), or that have had an established unofficial practice of taking on new future trainees in the same year if they have already completed SQE (a handful of US ones).

My question is whether, with some existing future trainees not passing SQE, there would be potentially a larger range of firms open to *unofficially* filling their intakes from those future trainees who self-funded their SQE so that they don’t have to wait? This is just to narrow down my selection of firms because I wouldn’t be able to wait till 2027.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone

This is my second cycle and I want to take SQE1 this Jan following my law conversion, and then SQE2. My concern is that most TCs are advertised for 2027, but I want to start as early as possible if I pass the SQE (I know that this is a hypothetical).

I know there are several firms that will officially advertise for 2025 this year (mainly niche ones), or that have had an established unofficial practice of taking on new future trainees in the same year if they have already completed SQE (a handful of US ones).

My question is whether, with some existing future trainees not passing SQE, there would be potentially a larger range of firms open to *unofficially* filling their intakes from those future trainees who self-funded their SQE so that they don’t have to wait? This is just to narrow down my selection of firms because I wouldn’t be able to wait till 2027.

Possibly - but I think many firms will have a waiting list for trainees who can start earlier and may just backfill vacancies with those people.

I would recommend applying to firms you are interested in even if they are recruiting for 2027 anyway and if you got an offer, you could be on these waiting lists to start earlier.

 

[sm250]

Posting to join

 

[ohnoselim]

hey all quick question, is the Hogan Lovells lift off available for graduates to apply to aswell orrrr?

 

[Tintin06]

I started applying back in 2017. I'll probably be 50 before qualifying.

 

[Izzy1026]

How long do we have to complete the AO Shearman assessment after receiving it? Is it just by the WVS deadline on their website?

 

[dollydaydream]

posting to join

 

[Apple]

How long do we have to complete the AO Shearman assessment after receiving it? Is it just by the WVS deadline on their website?

I cant remember the exact date, I think its 5 or 7 days. But it definitely isnt just by the application deadline.

 

[Tom smith]

Hi, just wondering if third year law undergraduate are eligible for all vacation schemes, or are some firms exclusive to second year law undergraduates or third year non-law undergraduates? For example, on Sullivan & Cromwell's website it says this "We will accept applications for our 2024 summer vacation scheme from penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students, as well as those studying for postgraduate degrees, from 1 November 2023 through 12 January 2024." - note sure if this would exclude third year law undergraduates?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, just wondering if third year law undergraduate are eligible for all vacation schemes, or are some firms exclusive to second year law undergraduates or third year non-law undergraduates? For example, on Sullivan & Cromwell's website it says this "We will accept applications for our 2024 summer vacation scheme from penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students, as well as those studying for postgraduate degrees, from 1 November 2023 through 12 January 2024." - note sure if this would exclude third year law undergraduates?

To me, this would exclude a final year third-year law student unfortunately. Different firms have different criteria, so it is always worthwhile checking as to what each firm's criteria is.

 

[lawyersum]

Hi all, just wondering where Legal Cheek vacation schemes would fit into an application form. For context, I attended the Winter, Spring, and Summer editions, participated in practice area workshops, and completed case studies sent to us in my own time. Should I group them under all my legal events in the work experience section? Or, should I have a heading stating: Legal Cheek Vacation Schemes, and pop the details under there? @Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all, just wondering where Legal Cheek vacation schemes would fit into an application form. For context, I attended the Winter, Spring, and Summer editions, participated in practice area workshops, and completed case studies sent to us in my own time. Should I group them under all my legal events in the work experience section? Or, should I have a heading stating: Legal Cheek Vacation Schemes, and pop the details under there? @Jessica Booker

I'd definitely only have them as one entry if you are including them in a work experience section, but I think they are better suited to any careers events sections if there is one, or something like additional information sections.

If there is nowhere suitable to list them elsewhere in the application form, then include them in a work experience entry but as one entry,