TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Audric_T]

Paralegal interview with AG 😅 i know its not a ac or tc but it's nice to be put forward. Extremely grateful right now.

 

[Unknowncabbage]

Are we just being silly still keeping hope? The VS starts in less than 4 weeks! Surely the most likely thing is just that anyone offered an AC place is just not on this forum?

Not necessarily, there’s been nothing on LinkedIn either about someone getting a place which usually at least one person posts about

 

[Tintin06]

I agree with @Apple
I also believe you may be rushing many of your applications. You’ve submitted a lot of applications an insane amount to say the least. Are you confident in all of these applications. How are you throughly researching and writing 30 applications within 2 months. I think it’s admirable what you’ve done but also crazy. Why not apply to direct TC’s. You have more than enough vacation scheme experience to solidify your interest in law.

Fair enough. I did the same amount last year at the same pace. My approach to researching them is spend an hour or so reading about the firm on The Lawyer, Chambers & Partners and Legal Cheek and then writing an application in a few hours. All in all, each application will take two to three hours. The TC point is interesting, but I sense most firms don't take many from this route, or at least not as many as they once did. And to be honest, I am crazy, crazy about getting a VS and a TC.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

How are people getting multiple ACs and VS offers? I've often heard that firms like people who are the sort of people who are going to get a TC anyway, but I've never felt like that person, and for me it relies on luck, personal chemistry with the interviews, and similar. Last year, I only got ACs at 10% of firms I applied to (three ACs, one VS). This year, I'm doing worse and have actually gone backwards (no AC with W&C as of yet compared to last year and rejected from Willkie after the VI).

Hiya @Tintin06

I think it's difficult to answer that question. In part, this is because it can take time to develop the wide range of skills that the application process tests. We all know that it requires decent written and verbal communication, the ability to collaborate effectively, commercial and legal awareness, and traits like confidence and resilience that can take time to build. But without extensive feedback, pinpointing areas for improvement can be challenging, so I completely appreciate how frustrating this can be.

I think you might be doing even more impressively than you give yourself credit for. I encourage you to keep doing what you’re already doing - persisting and applying. If you can, I'd encourage you to take a close look at any feedback you’ve received so far, especially from assessment centres or after vacation schemes. If possible, use that feedback to identify specific areas where you can improve and take steps to address those areas. For instance, I remember being told that (amongst other things) my self-deprecating humour sometimes led others to doubt my abilities and question whether I’d be well suited to working directly with clients as a result of this. This was a difficult habit for me to break, as I thought it helped put others at ease, it ultimately worked against me. Addressing this took months of conscious effort and the support of friends who would remind me whenever I made such comments. There might be other areas you’ll find that could use a bit of polishing (business writing was a big one for me). Take a good look at any feedback you’ve gotten so far, and see if there’s a way to identify where you can level up and take active steps to work on those areas. I really think you have what it takes and it's just a matter of time

 

[NJS]

Is it a common thing to be rejected from an open day because you have significant experience, like would the firm see someone who has a decent amount a legal experience and think that they may not benefit from an open day, and therefore hand an offer to someone else with less experience? @Jessica Booker

 

[Tintin06]

Hiya @Tintin06

I think it's difficult to answer that question. In part, this is because it can take time to develop the wide range of skills that the application process tests. We all know that it requires decent written and verbal communication, the ability to collaborate effectively, commercial and legal awareness, and traits like confidence and resilience that can take time to build. But without extensive feedback, pinpointing areas for improvement can be challenging, so I completely appreciate how frustrating this can be.

I think you might be doing even more impressively than you give yourself credit for. I encourage you to keep doing what you’re already doing - persisting and applying. If you can, I'd encourage you to take a close look at any feedback you’ve received so far, especially from assessment centres or after vacation schemes. If possible, use that feedback to identify specific areas where you can improve and take steps to address those areas. For instance, I remember being told that (amongst other things) my self-deprecating humour sometimes led others to doubt my abilities and question whether I’d be well suited to working directly with clients as a result of this. This was a difficult habit for me to break, as I thought it helped put others at ease, it ultimately worked against me. Addressing this took months of conscious effort and the support of friends who would remind me whenever I made such comments. There might be other areas you’ll find that could use a bit of polishing, like business writing (that was a big one for me). Take a good look at any feedback you’ve gotten so far, especially from assessment centres or vacation scheme, and see if there’s a way to identify where you can level up and take active steps to work on those areas. I really think you have what it takes and it's just a matter of time

Thanks. I guess it's still early in the cycle.

 

[Kk288]

Hi!
I have a W&C AC coming up, would appreciate any insights
Thanks so much

 

[legallady123]

Anyone else waiting on a Taylor Wessing test invite to come through today?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Hi!
I have a W&C AC coming up, would appreciate any insights
Thanks so much

hey congrats, is this for the winter vac? if so, when did you apply/find out. I'm still waiting to hear!

 

[Jo05]

is this for winter?spring?summer?

Winter

 

[Kk288]

hey congrats, is this for the winter vac? if so, when did you apply/find out. I'm still waiting to hear!

Hi thanks
I applied on the day of the deadline for the winter vac
got the invite a few days ago, around two weeks after i completed the vi

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it a common thing to be rejected from an open day because you have significant experience, like would the firm see someone who has a decent amount a legal experience and think that they may not benefit from an open day, and therefore hand an offer to someone else with less experience? @Jessica Booker

Yes - this can be something many firms factor into their decisions when inviting people to open days. It’s difficult to say whether it’s common, but it happens enough.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Is it a common thing to be rejected from an open day because you have significant experience, like would the firm see someone who has a decent amount a legal experience and think that they may not benefit from an open day, and therefore hand an offer to someone else with less experience? @Jessica Booker

Hiya @NJS


I’d be curious to hear @Jessica Booker 's take on this and how common it is, but I do think it’s a real possibility, depending on the firm. I had an experience where I was rejected from an open day but subsequently encouraged to apply for the vacation scheme. The recruiter mentioned they'd appreciated my experience and application but felt I'd benefit more from applying for the vacation scheme. When I followed their advice, I ended up progressing all the way to the assessment centre. That said, I’m not sure how common this scenario is.

This is partly why I always encourage people to apply for vacation schemes even if they were previously rejected from an open day. Just make sure to take the opportunity to improve your application since your last submission to the firm. Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[stargazed]

Bristows IP workshop invite!

 

[hanz123]

Paralegal interview with AG 😅 i know its not a ac or tc but it's nice to be put forward. Extremely grateful right now.

how did you get a Paralegal interview with AG, any tips?

 

[bella98]

Bristows IP workshop invite!

Sameeee 🥹 🥹 🥹 🥳🤩🤩 first win of the cycle!!

 

[Aspiringsolicitor01]

Pwc pfo 😔

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi!
I have a W&C AC coming up, would appreciate any insights
Thanks so much

Hiya @Kk288

Amazing job on securing the AC! I'm going to link below to some more general threads on AC and interview preparation. Hope these are helpful to you - they definitely were for me.

• Case studies
• Negotiations
• General interview preparation

Let us know if you have any other questions! Good luck!

 

[Apple]

Hi!
I have a W&C AC coming up, would appreciate any insights
Thanks so much

is this for Spring?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hill Dickinson application
As a firm, we operate across a number of sectors and specialisms, and offer sector-specific training contracts in each of our business services, health and marine groups. Which of our teams would you be most interested in completing a seat in and why?

I think the word "seat" confuses me here. Are they asking whether I want to pursue the Business Services, Health, or Marine training contract?

I started my answer by saying I’m especially interested in the Business Services TC and explaining why. Then, I talked about a specific seat I’d like to experience within that.
Just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

@Andrei Radu 🙏

Hi @bella98 the question uses slightly ambiguous phrasing but I think you are going for the right approach. Having taken a quick look across Hill Dickinson's website, I think it's clear you have to choose only one of the three broad groups for your TC. However, then you get to choose between a number of different seats offered by each group. The way I see it, the question can be interpreted in two ways depending on what is meant by the term 'teams':

1. Which practice area in which group are you most attracted to?
2. Which of our groups are you most attracted to?

Your approach seems to track the first formulation. Intuitively, I think this first interpretation is likely the right one, since if the second interpretation was right using the word 'seat' would be completely superfluous.

However, I would also look at this from a upside/downside risk perspective. If all the firm wants you to do is explain your motivation for one of the groups, and you also explain your motivations for a practice area within a group, it should not hurt your chances too much. If anything, the more specific interest in a practice area can support a point about your more general interest in the group. If however the firm does want you to discuss a practice area interest as well and you only discuss your interest in one of the groups, you will have missed out on one of the key points of the question.