TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[fingersarecrossed]

@Jessica Booker

I have been offered a ~2.5 years apprenticeship programme where they fully sponsor my SQE 1&2, sponsor my studies under that SQE programe, and give me a rly good full time salary and QWE. (i've graduated with a 1st in law from a non-russell group uni)

I am somewhat relieved as the TC application process is exhausting and uncertain and feels hopeless at times. However, I also fear I will not receive the dynamic exposure to various sectors etc that city firms offer. I would love to hear your your opinions on this? If e.g., I specialise in conveyancing, will it be difficult to move to different sectors once I become NQ? Or should I just aim to pass my exams and continue as a paralegal until I receive a training contract at a city firm? I do not believe there are any strict requirements for me to complete the programme etc meaning I can exit at any time but it is not the sector I think I see myself working in (which I have made the firm aware of). Would it be better for me to continue as a paralegal or accept this programme (them sponsoring my SQE makes me want to say yes) but I just want to know if doing this apprenticeship will make me a 'weaker' candidate in a way as it is not a traditional TC format.

thank you so much in advance.

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

What decides when people hear back from an AC? I had people in my AC that heard back the very evening with a successful offer, some heard back a couple days after with a rejection and for me it’s now been one week with no updates. Was just wondering if there is a process firms go through or if it’s all random?

Interviewer feedback may be taking longer to get. Sudden work load influx. busy graduate recruitment, this is her busiest time of year. Putting myself in your shoes in all honesty you’re probably average. They don’t want to reject you as you’ve passed to a good standard, what justification would they have the reject you if you were good enough. They may even debate moving you to another Vs intake like spring or summer. This is all my own opinion.

 

[Gday33]

Aaaa im sorry, if you don’t mind me asking which scheme was your application for? also what stage of the process was it?

I applied for the Spring VS on 12/10, didn’t make it past the initial paper sift - it was worth a punt I guess 😂

 

[l789]

For the Clifford chance insight day application question, it says “in no more than 500 words, please tell us why you want to attend this insight day and tell us about your extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility and/OR an achievement of importance which you are most proud of. How will these experiences help you excel as a Clifford Chance lawyer?"

I’ve got 3 mini paragraphs (2) on why CC and (1) why the insight day conference - is this strong enough or should I draw upon why that specific insight day more - it’s a social mobility themed one?

Then I have 3 paragraphs on individual points referencing a position of responsibility and linking it back to the skills of a CC trainee.

I don’t have enough word count left and idk if 3 extra curricular activities/ position of responsibility and linking each to the skill of a trainee is a strong option or I should do 2 points on positions of responsibility/EC and then one on an achievement I’m most proud of ( also linking it the skills of a trainee)

I’m not sure which structure is better.

Sorry for the pathetic grammar, my hands are frozen, I’m in a rush, and I’m typing on my phone.

 

[dxbbilly]

You know you’ve been on here too long when you understand all the acronymish😭

what does pfo mean?

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Just to add to @Jessica Booker's response, I think mentioning Chambers/Legal 500 rankings can be very useful for your reasoning around the firm's unique selling points in terms of practice areas strength and sector expertise. It is a way of evidencing your claims and placing the firm in the context if the market competition. However, as Jessica mentioned, it is essential to connect the point your are evidencing with the ranking with your motivations, interests and experiences - ie. why are you interested in working at a firm that has excellent renown for X practice area/sectors, and which of your work/other experiences reinforce this point?

Thanks - that makes sense!

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

what does pfo mean?

Please f#&£ off

 

[andrecsaa]

I have advice. Use a calculator!

Today, I received my assessment results. I scored high in analysis, relationship building, and credibility, but low in adaptability.

The results indicate that Macfarlanes are reviewing my application. Do you think my scores will positively impact the review of my application for the training contract? How long did they send the outcome of your application?

 

[Jessica Booker]

When asked 'What led you to apply for firm's vacation scheme?', is that a combination of why law and why the firm? Do you also need to discuss what you hope to gain out of the vacation scheme? Would be hard to condense all three in a 2-3m response. Thanks in advance!

I think you can rely less on the "why law" aspect and focus more on the "why the firm" and then touch briefly upon what you hope to gain from the scheme.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

I have been offered a ~2.5 years apprenticeship programme where they fully sponsor my SQE 1&2, sponsor my studies under that SQE programe, and give me a rly good full time salary and QWE. (i've graduated with a 1st in law from a non-russell group uni)

I am somewhat relieved as the TC application process is exhausting and uncertain and feels hopeless at times. However, I also fear I will not receive the dynamic exposure to various sectors etc that city firms offer. I would love to hear your your opinions on this? If e.g., I specialise in conveyancing, will it be difficult to move to different sectors once I become NQ? Or should I just aim to pass my exams and continue as a paralegal until I receive a training contract at a city firm? I do not believe there are any strict requirements for me to complete the programme etc meaning I can exit at any time but it is not the sector I think I see myself working in (which I have made the firm aware of). Would it be better for me to continue as a paralegal or accept this programme (them sponsoring my SQE makes me want to say yes) but I just want to know if doing this apprenticeship will make me a 'weaker' candidate in a way as it is not a traditional TC format.

thank you so much in advance.

It being an apprenticeship is not an issue - you have got a training contract, you are just combining your SQE studies with work. This is not a "weaker" format of training - it is identical to a training contract, you just study concurrently rather then prior to your QWE.

However, there is a difference in the training model and the training opportunity. The training model is the way you study. The training opportunity is the exposure to the work you will do in your role.

What is difficult for me when answering this questions is not knowing what you will be doing during your 2.5 years of the programme (e.g. exposure to work). If this is just conveyancing work (as you are suggesting), you are most likely only going to work in conveyancing upon qualification and throughout your career. You may find it you can move into more general real estate work, but if you are doing private conveyancing work for individuals purchasing homes, its going to be tricky to then jump to global real estate assets. It would be very difficult to move to practice areas with no connection to what you have done during your training.

Although there won't be any restrictions of you leaving the programme, being part way through an apprenticeship is not without its issues. You will find it difficult to find another employer to pick up your existing academic training with your apprenticeship training provider. It's not impossible, butit'ss just an added factor employers would have to consider.

 

[Jessica Booker]

What decides when people hear back from an AC? I had people in my AC that heard back the very evening with a successful offer, some heard back a couple days after with a rejection and for me it’s now been one week with no updates. Was just wondering if there is a process firms go through or if it’s all random?

There are lots of very different factors that can influence this, so it can all be very random.

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

Is it just me or are Davis Polk absolutely not interested in hiring graduates (VS/TC)? Zero mention of "graduate" on their website or recruitment brochure, and having had a quick look on LinkedIn it seems all future trainees/trainees were offered TCs whilst being students.

I am a graduate, but despite all these red flags I feel tempted to apply (as I'm really interested in corp fin and the style of the firm). Please can someone with insight or knowledge of the matter advise. Is it worth applying in my situation/as a graduate?

Looping in @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it just me or are Davis Polk absolutely not interested in hiring graduates (VS/TC)? Zero mention of "graduate" on their website or recruitment brochure, and having had a quick look on LinkedIn it seems all future trainees/trainees were offered TCs whilst being students.

I am a graduate, but despite all these red flags I feel tempted to apply (as I'm really interested in corp fin and the style of the firm). Please can someone with insight or knowledge of the matter advise. Is it worth applying in my situation/as a graduate?

Looping in @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu

This can be a side effect of running open days for very specific groups.

Their open days only seem to be for first years or penultimate year undergraduates/penultimate year postgraduates - this is likely to then influence their vacation schemes cohorts, who are more likely to be made up of their open day attendees, and then if they only recruit around 5 trainees a year from 24 vacation scheme students, it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I don't know enough about the firm to comment whether this is the reality though!

 

[Lastseasonwonder]

This can be a side effect of running open days for very specific groups.

Their open days only seem to be for first years or penultimate year undergraduates/penultimate year postgraduates - this is likely to then influence their vacation schemes cohorts, who are more likely to be made up of their open day attendees, and then if they only recruit around 5 trainees a year from 24 vacation scheme students, it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I don't know enough about the firm to comment whether this is the reality though!

Thanks @Jessica Booker

Do you advise I email grad rec?

 

[IneedaTCASAP]

My university is holding an exclusive open day with a firm. And a few dinners with others. We have to apply through our law society but they are corrupt and take all the places for themselves and their friends.

Besides this would a firm be taking notes of students and looking out for their application if they showed good prospect at these events. I am keen to attend but uncertain as to whether I should leave it and apply for standard open days and vacation schemes.

@Jessica Booker any advice

 

[Zi48]

Thanks @Jessica Booker

Do you advise I email grad rec?

Last year at the Legal Cheek law fair, I asked if I could apply during my final year, and they said I could, as long as I clearly explained my plans for the gap year in my cover letter. So I assume as a graduate, if you can show what you’re doing in the meantime, you can apply.

But I’m not 100% sure, so maybe email to confirm?

 

[Tangcy]

@Andrei Radu and @Ram Sabaratnam,

I trust you are well.

I am currently applying to Reed Smith and I am struggling with one specific question 'Focusing on one of Reed Smith`s sectors, what current issues do you think will impact this sector? What opportunities or challenges could this present Reed Smith or our clients?'

I have identified the industry and two issues, however, I feel that they present many opportunities to Reed Smith and their clients. Do I need to identify a challenge too?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi, May i ask if final year law student can apply for its' vacation scheme? It doesnt specified on the website though

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Any insight on the Jones Day interview from people who have had it already? (dm me please!) I'm interviewing for Spring ty

 

[AlegalA]

Howdy @AlegalA

I'm pretty much in agreement with what @Jessica Booker said. If you really want to, there's no harm in trying to ensure there's some flow or continuity between the separate paragraphs. You could, for instance, add small, connecting sentences between the sections. For example, in the ‘Be Better Together’ section, you can mention how DWF's collaborative culture is something you'd be well-suited to and then discuss your particular example for that section. These short transitional sentences can give your statement a cohesive feel, but again it's not entirely necessary.

Best of luck!

Hi! Thanks so much for the advice. I did end up going with a separation, purely because the word count isn't high and I didn't really want to take away from actual content, but I'm glad I have confirmation that this was an okay choice so thank you!

 

[TC seeker]

anyone know if Clyde & Co's online assessment automatically?