TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jazzzade]

Nope, I sat the Arctic Shores test today. When did you do yours?

Thanks for replying. I haven't submitted yet. The next stage after the test is video interview if I am not mistaken. Has anyone done that stage?

 

[BonanzaBih_]

Hello everyone!

Has anyone received an Assessment Day invitation from Norton Rose Fulbright for the 2024 Winter Vacation Scheme?

Aren’t they non-rolling?

 

[danielles]

Anyone knows which firms don't really care about whether you attended an RS uni but more so just look at your grades?

 

[Kay Aston]

Anyone knows which firms don't really care about whether you attended an RS uni but more so just look at your grades?

Hi @danielles ! Legal Cheek firm pages are a great resource for this, as they have pie charts which show the university breakdown of the current trainees at the firm (by group). Generally, you will find that elite US firms are more selective about university type, for example, Kirkland & Ellis trainees are made up exclusively of RG and Oxbridge grads:



Whereas UK firms appear to be more diverse in their selection, for example Ashurst:



I will caveat this by saying that just because there is no 'Other UK' section to these charts, it doesn't mean you are definitely wasting your time applying for these firms. Firms are changing their recruitment strategies all the time, especially with the current focus on diversity, and I do believe a lot of candidates 'self-select' themselves out of some firms by believing they would simply never get in, which can perpetuate the RG/Oxbridge dominance. However, I do appreciate that in application cycles, your time is extremely valuable and you do have to play the odds, so for that, these charts are really helpful. I hope that helps! ✨

 

[SemperParatus]

Does anyone know which month Gibson Dunn starts to hold first-stage interviews?

 

[Tintin06]

Hi @danielles ! Legal Cheek firm pages are a great resource for this, as they have pie charts which show the university breakdown of the current trainees at the firm (by group). Generally, you will find that elite US firms are more selective about university type, for example, Kirkland & Ellis trainees are made up exclusively of RG and Oxbridge grads:

View attachment 6265

Whereas UK firms appear to be more diverse in their selection, for example Ashurst:

View attachment 6266

I will caveat this by saying that just because there is no 'Other UK' section to these charts, it doesn't mean you are definitely wasting your time applying for these firms. Firms are changing their recruitment strategies all the time, especially with the current focus on diversity, and I do believe a lot of candidates 'self-select' themselves out of some firms by believing they would simply never get in, which can perpetuate the RG/Oxbridge dominance. However, I do appreciate that in application cycles, your time is extremely valuable and you do have to play the odds, so for that, these charts are really helpful. I hope that helps! ✨

As an Oxbridge graduate, I can tell you that the numbers for those small firms can change radically from year to year. I did the Ropes & Gray Vacation Scheme and they didn't take many Oxbridge people at all this year. An Oxbridge degree isn't a guarantee of success - I've been rejected from everything in the end (even VSs with a. 3-1 conversion rate).

 

[kokoprep]

Hey - How competitive is the NRF winter vacation scheme, should I wait and apply for summer?

 

[ThelawgraduateX]

Hi everyone! For anyone that applied for a VS at Jones Day, on the question "Have you have chosen to use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) in your application?" Did you provide an explanation even though your answer is 'No' or do you have to explain your choice regardless of whether your used AI or not? Thanks!

 

[Legalstalker]

As an Oxbridge graduate, I can tell you that the numbers for those small firms can change radically from year to year. I did the Ropes & Gray Vacation Scheme and they didn't take many Oxbridge people at all this year. An Oxbridge degree isn't a guarantee of success - I've been rejected from everything in the end (even VSs with a. 3-1 conversion rate).

It’s good to see Ropes and Gray are changing their ways! Applying to vac schemes as an Oxbridge graduate is an advantage in itself let alone getting a vac scheme! Both vac schemes I was on took all oxbridge with a dash of RG😄 guess it depends on the firm…

 

[Jessica Booker]

As an Oxbridge graduate, I can tell you that the numbers for those small firms can change radically from year to year. I did the Ropes & Gray Vacation Scheme and they didn't take many Oxbridge people at all this year. An Oxbridge degree isn't a guarantee of success - I've been rejected from everything in the end (even VSs with a. 3-1 conversion rate).

Similarly to this, I used to say that although I recruited more Oxbridge candidates ant an MC firm, also used to reject more Oxbridge candidates than any orher pair of universities.

Oxbridge candidates generally have little to no fear in applying and so apply in their hundreds/thousands each year, and that’s despite them being two of the smaller universities by student population in the U.K. When you get a disproportionate number of high quality applicants from a university, they will be over represented in trainee populations, because they are also over represented in application pools.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone! For anyone that applied for a VS at Jones Day, on the question "Have you have chosen to use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) in your application?" Did you provide an explanation even though your answer is 'No' or do you have to explain your choice regardless of whether your used AI or not? Thanks!

I’d briefly explain why whether it is yes or no.

 

[yasminaddam]

PFO a long time ago lol

Hi what’s a PFO haha

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi what’s a PFO haha

Forum slang for "please f*ck off" - basically another way of saying someone's application has been unsuccessful

 

[09tata]

Hi, @WillkieGemma

To what extent can you talk about cases you have worked on to demonstrate skills you have developed?

For example I am working on a conspiracy claim and want to use this as an example of when I have shown analytical ability, In my answers I will be discussing how I was able to identify evidence that contradicts the claimants claim (with a bit more detail).

I wanted to confirm that we can talk about cases in some detail as long as we don't disclose the specific case name and parties involved, I assume,

 

[lookingforaTC]

Hi is anyone here with Flex Legal? I have some questions.

 

[nliro85]

I am writing my NRF application. The first question asks why are you interested in commercial law and why NRF. As the 2nd question asks about which sector has the most potential for growth in 12 months. Wanted to ask if I focus on the energy Sector growth for Q2 will it be okay to talk about the firm's project finance work in Q1 or will that be repetition. Any advice will be appreciated @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Kay Aston

 

[Izzy1026]

Those who have applied to Willkie, how fast do they get back? I saw some PFOs in the previous posts already :0

 

[WillkieGemma]

Hi, @WillkieGemma

To what extent can you talk about cases you have worked on to demonstrate skills you have developed?

For example I am working on a conspiracy claim and want to use this as an example of when I have shown analytical ability, In my answers I will be discussing how I was able to identify evidence that contradicts the claimants claim (with a bit more detail).

I wanted to confirm that we can talk about cases in some detail as long as we don't disclose the specific case name and parties involved, I assume,

Hi @09tata I'm afraid I can't answer that - you would need to verify that with your current employer.

 

[WillkieGemma]

Those who have applied to Willkie, how fast do they get back? I saw some PFOs in the previous posts already :0

Hi @Izzy1026 I try to get back to all people within 15 working days.

 

[Izzy1026]

Hi @Izzy1026 I try to get back to all people within 15 working days.

I see, thank you Gemma!