TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I low key thought you were 20 looking at your picture. what’s your secret 😛

😳😩🔥🥰😱😍♥️♥️😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥🔥😩😩 KOREAN SKIN CARE 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩🥵🔥🥰😭😱😳♥️♥️😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩😩🥵🔥🥰😳😳😍😍😭🥰😩🥰🥰😳♥️♥️😳😍😍🥰✝️🐿️😳😍🥰🔥🥵😍🥰🔥🥵🥵😩🥵🥰🥰😳😍😱🥰🔥😳🥰

 

[l789]

😳😩🔥🥰😱😍♥️♥️😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️🥵♥️😭🥰🔥🔥😩😩 KOREAN SKIN CARE 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩🥵🔥🥰😭😱😳♥️♥️😳😍😍😭🥰🥵😩😩🥵🔥🥰😳😳😍😍😭🥰😩🥰🥰😳♥️♥️😳😍😍🥰✝️🐿️😳😍🥰🔥🥵😍🥰🔥🥵🥵😩🥵🥰🥰😳😍😱🥰🔥😳🥰

COSRX

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

NRF WVS!

 

[Apple]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

I can't see what a recruiter could possibly learn about you from this question, other than your ability to grasp at straws.

 

[Bread]

Which firms are biased in favour of younger applicants? Realistically where do I, as a 27-year old, have a chance?

At the Bird&Bird open day there were quite a few career changers among the trainees and associates who were at least in their 30s when they got a TC. I know you're only considering US firms but maybe worth bearing in mind! x

 

[Deleted member 37508]

NRF WVS!

You’re absolutely winning this cycle. Congrats

 

[Bread]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

Is this withers 😂

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

any suggestions how to tackle this question?

If your favourite childhood toy suddenly came to life, what advice would you give it today? (60 words)

Hey @Lopez2017

This is actually such a cute question!!!

I've never answered anything like this in an application, but it seems geared towards gauging your creativity/personality - I think it's fine to have a playful, yet introspective response, giving them an indication of your values. Might also be worth looking at the firm's values to see if you can say something that aligns with it. I've taken a stab at this question below, though I'd be curious what @Jessica Booker and the other community assistants @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would say too.

"Unstructured time can actually be a good thing! Growing up as a child in the countryside, I learned to clean stables, cook, take spontaneous bike rides, and balance freedom with control. These are some of my happiest memories—a reminder of how essential it is to have time set aside for exploration, trying new things, and simple enjoyment."

 

[HelpAStudentOut]

Hey guys,

Thought I’d post this here as a little cycle recap so far.

11 WVS applications, 1 direct TC.

Six ACs, One WVS offer (Simmons), TC offer from Slaughter and May.

This was my first cycle, and this forum has been invaluable in helping me to prepare for applications. I’ve really enjoyed talking with and meeting many of you over the last few months.

If anyone wants any advice, tips, or anything at all, please send me a message! I’m happy to help others in the same way that so many of you have been so useful for me throughout this cycle so far.

Best of luck to you all!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

for Holman Fenwick willan, should i refer to them exclusively as HFW as on their website or full name - I know they've changed it to the abbreviation but some people still use the full name?

Hi @LawLawLawLawLaw

I think HFW is perfectly fine! Good luck with the application!

 

[Jessica Booker]

for Holman Fenwick willan, should i refer to them exclusively as HFW as on their website or full name - I know they've changed it to the abbreviation but some people still use the full name?

The firm use this themselves (e.g. their website domain, logo etc) and so it is fine to use it and not spell out the firm's name at any point.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

I need a little clarification pls, as a non-uk law graduate (so not QLD) if i do the SQE and satisfy the 2 years QWE, does this mean if I get a job I wont be qualified to advise on anything relating to English Law. Im basically trying to understand what the effect of not doing the PGDL will have on me.

Heya @Simi.O

@Jessica Booker may have more to say here, but with the new SQE route, as a non-UK law graduate, you won't need to complete the PGDL. The SQE pathway was designed to allow candidates from various academic backgrounds (including non-law graduates) to qualify as solicitors. The SQE1 and SQE2 exams are aimed at covering the necessary foundations of English law and skills for practice. You may nevertheless still want to do a PGDL, because it can be good preparation for passing the SQE. If you pass both SQE1 and SQE2, meet the QWE requirement (and assuming you fulfil the character and suitability assessment by the SRA), you’ll be qualified to practice English law as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Again, the PGDL is no longer necessary because the SQE exams themselves are structured to assess your competency in English law, but you may still want to do the PGDL to help you prepare.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I need a little clarification pls, as a non-uk law graduate (so not QLD) if i do the SQE and satisfy the 2 years QWE, does this mean if I get a job I wont be qualified to advise on anything relating to English Law. Im basically trying to understand what the effect of not doing the PGDL will have on me.

You do not need to do the PGDL to qualify and work as a lawyer in England and Wales - it is no longer a requirement as a qualifying law degree no longer exists if you want to be a solicitor. You just need any degree level qualification (in any subject).

The PGDL will give you the foundation of knowledge to set you up for the SQE assessments though - and this is why many firms are still asking their future trainees to complete the course. However, it is not complusory from a regulatory perspective.

 

[ayiiii05]

Hey guys,

Thought I’d post this here as a little cycle recap so far.

11 WVS applications, 1 direct TC.

Six ACs, One WVS offer (Simmons), TC offer from Slaughter and May.

This was my first cycle, and this forum has been invaluable in helping me to prepare for applications. I’ve really enjoyed talking with and meeting many of you over the last few months.

If anyone wants any advice, tips, or anything at all, please send me a message! I’m happy to help others in the same way that so many of you have been so useful for me throughout this cycle so far.

Best of luck to you all!

please, expect a dm from me cause i need to know how you did all of this cause this is sooo impressive omg. congratulations!!

 

[AS24]

Hiya @AS24

@Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would also have their own views on this, but having answered this question in past applications, I approached it by focusing on the various ways I researched and explored the legal profession, rather than use it as an occasion to specifically answer why working at an international law firm appealed to me. My hope was that, in answering the question in the way I did, it would become clear to a reader that my interest in the profession was genuine. In particular, I often divided my answer to this question into three main parts.

First, I explained how I regularly read industry-leading publications like Chambers UK, Legal 500, and The Lawyer. These resources helped me understand different firms’ strengths, their practice areas, and key industry developments, giving me a broader view of the legal landscape and the types of work I’d encounter as a solicitor. It also helped me understand things like the significance of certain firms' expansion decisions or why it might have been a big deal that they were able to poach partners at other firms.

Next, I highlighted my efforts to attend open days and insight events. These experiences were invaluable for helping me "connect" and find mentors and friends in senior lawyers and other trainees, whose insights brought to life how their work shapes client outcomes and the collaborative nature of international law. When discussing this particular way of deepening my knowledge of the profession, I shared how these open day and insight scheme interactions solidified my appreciation for specific practice areas and also for the variation in working/business cultures found at different firms.

Lastly, I discussed the practical exposure I gained through vacation schemes (including virtual schemes through Forage). These experiences allowed me to handle tasks and documents similar to those performed by trainee solicitors, giving me a hands-on understanding of day-to-day responsibilities that junior lawyers typically have to shoulder. Such opportunities also gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed at such an early stage in my career

Overall, I found that by organising my answer this way, I could show that I took a well-rounded approach, using multiple avenues to deepen my knowledge and enthusiasm for a legal career at an international firm. Again, this is just one way of potentially answering this question and I'm sure the other community assistants might have their own distinct insights here. Hope this helps

Thank you @Ram Sabaratnam you are always so detailed and full of knowledge

 

[l789]

I’m a bit crazy about HSF as I’ve attended all their events and loved my time during the social mobility open day. I’ve honestly gone stir crazy over the firm - after my research and prior interactions. I could write a disso about HSF. ( and I know there’s no perfect firm)

They rejected me for disputes open day… it’s really hit me hard, harder than any heartbreak I’ve had.

Has anyone been in a similar position and been successful with a vac scheme/TC application .

 

[Deleted member 37508]

I

I’m a bit crazy about HSF as I’ve attended all their events and loved my time during the social mobility open day. I’ve honestly gone stir crazy over the firm - after my research and prior interactions. I could write a disso about HSF. ( and I know there’s no perfect firm)

They rejected me for disputes open day… it’s really hit me hard, harder than any heartbreak I’ve had.

Has anyone been in a similar position and been successful with a vac scheme/TC application .

I think you were rejected because you had already attended an open-day (social mobility). They’re probably thinking “this person knows soo much about us already what more do they want” 😁 start prepping your VS application and pour that love into the application questions.

I don’t think their online assessment is hard. So perfect the application as many pass the test and not the application review.

I attended an open day and I’m scared to write my VS application as I have a lot of information I want to pass the application review. The pressure is on

 

[l789]

I

I think you were rejected because you had already attended an open-day (social mobility). They’re probably thinking “this person knows soo much about us already what more do they want” 😁 start prepping your VS application and pour that love into the application questions.

I don’t think their online assessment is hard. So perfect the application as many pass the test and not the application review.

I attended an open day and I’m scared to write my VS application as I have a lot of information I want to pass the application review. The pressure is on

I think your right

In my open day application, I referenced my learnings from the open day, inside the headlines event, and a conversation with a trainee, and then developed the points and linked it back to me and wrote a sentence or two about what else I wanted to learn about from the disputes open day.

I also agree with you on the point about having so much information on the firm and then having to write the application.


( when I was 18) I was all about the money and what firms paid the highest and since growing up a bit I’ve had time to explore my interests and my list of firms has changed - I used to only shortlist the highest paying salary firms on legal cheek and now I don’t care if one firm is paying 90k rather than 180k. Now I’m going with my heart and my interests.

Thank you for your kind words and support, it means a lot!

 

[AlegalA]

Hi guys! Quick question - for Irwin Mitchell's app they ask "
If you were made an offer and hadn’t completed the LPC before August 2026, you would complete the SQE alongside your training contract through a Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship.

To be eligible for the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship you must have 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including Maths and English.

Do you have 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including Maths and English?*"

It's a yes or no box with no "other" option.
I didn't do GCSEs as I'm an international student. I did do the equivalent of GCSEs (incl. Maths, and English IGCEs).
Can I assume it's GCSEs or equivalent or should I tick no?

 

[LLB0711]

Anyone still waiting post-app for Sidley wvs?