TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[3000to1shoteverytime]

I am currently taking a gap year after having just graduated with a law degree to apply to vacation schemes as I have not done one before. I realise that if I am offered a TC it will be starting in Sept 2027 or March 2028. Is it very unlikely that a firm will allow me to start earlier and if so is it wise to work as a paralegal for the year before starting SQE?

Personally I would ask to do the SQE asap and then have the gap before the training contract so that your law is fresher for the exams. From what I hear the actual academic side doesn't feature as much as you'd expect in practice (and can be looked up if need be anyway)

 

[Jessica Booker]

I am currently taking a gap year after having just graduated with a law degree to apply to vacation schemes as I have not done one before. I realise that if I am offered a TC it will be starting in Sept 2027 or March 2028. Is it very unlikely that a firm will allow me to start earlier and if so is it wise to work as a paralegal for the year before starting SQE?

Firms may be able to allow you to start earlier, but many will have already filled their earlier vacancies and may not be able to bring your start date forward at the same time.

This is not uncommon though and many future trainees find themselves with time available before their training contract starts. You can work as a paralegal - you can often find paralegal roles within the firm you have your training contact with or with other firms in a fixed term contract basis. Other people choose to take time out or work in other industries/sectors while they have the chance to do so, and it’s not an issue to do that either.

 

[Audric_T]

Just saw that DLA summer internship for london is now closed, I think the AC is starting in approximately two weeks. Having passed the benchmark for VI but not heard about the AC should I be worried or continue as I am (practising as though I will get the AC)?

I believe they may send to another AC across the country if london is filled but now anxious - anyone have any insights?

 

[bella98]

Why do they find you to be a non law hater?(out of curiosity)

People misunderstood one of his posts on the forum. He mentioned that the law society at his university, led by non-law students, is corrupt; they often reserve firm open day spots for their friends, who are also non-law students.

I believe everyone should have equal access to these opportunities, but it does seem unfair if law students are excluded from open days in favour of those outside the field. Law students often commit to this career path much earlier on, so when non-law students are able to secure these opportunities through connections, it can limit the chances for those who chose this path from the beginning. (this is my opinion btw)

However, his comment was never about disliking non-law students - it was simply highlighting a fairness issue in how these opportunities are allocated.

 

[cleojwilliams]

.

Just saw that DLA summer internship for london is now closed, I think the AC is starting in approximately two weeks. Having passed the benchmark for VI but not heard about the AC should I be worried or continue as I am (practising as though I will get the AC)?

I believe they may send to another AC across the country if london is filled but now anxious - anyone have any insights?

Last year they were inviting people to AC’s in January so I’m hoping it will be the same.

 

[Parsorandini]

Just saw that DLA summer internship for london is now closed, I think the AC is starting in approximately two weeks. Having passed the benchmark for VI but not heard about the AC should I be worried or continue as I am (practising as though I will get the AC)?

I believe they may send to another AC across the country if london is filled but now anxious - anyone have any insights?

Damn, I never even heard back after passing the WG .

 

[asplawyer100]

lol the HL WVS starts in less than a month now - 2nd December - Has anyone heard back post WG? Surely this isn’t enough time to conduct ACs get responses out and do onboarding?

People have already completed AC’s and even received offers, unfortunately if you haven’t heard back by now it’s most likely a rejection

 

[unknownnn7372]

is anyone still waiting to hear back from sidley post app?

 

[cleojwilliams]

Damn, I never even heard back after passing the WG .

Only two people on this thread have been offered vac schemes. Obviously more have and we wouldn’t know, but I feel like there is still hope.

 

[-legal-]

People misunderstood one of his posts on the forum. He mentioned that the law society at his university, led by non-law students, is corrupt; they often reserve firm open day spots for their friends, who are also non-law students.

I believe everyone should have equal access to these opportunities, but it does seem unfair if law students are excluded from open days in favour of those outside the field. Law students often commit to this career path much earlier on, so when non-law students are able to secure these opportunities through connections, it can limit the chances for those who chose this path from the beginning. (this is my opinion btw)

However, his comment was never about disliking non-law students - it was simply highlighting a fairness issue in how these opportunities are allocated.

I see, fair enough.

 

[-legal-]

Just saw that DLA summer internship for london is now closed, I think the AC is starting in approximately two weeks. Having passed the benchmark for VI but not heard about the AC should I be worried or continue as I am (practising as though I will get the AC)?

I believe they may send to another AC across the country if london is filled but now anxious - anyone have any insights?

I applied to DLA yesterday x)

 

[cleojwilliams]

I applied to DLA yesterday x)

Was it to the London office?

 

[-legal-]

Was it to the London office?

Yeah

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it worth emailing grad recruitment if its nearing 3 weeks since my AC and I've heard nothing?

Yes - I would just frame it as asking when you will hear back rather than asking for an outcome, unless you need (rather than want) to know the outcome.

 

[bella98]

(this is a practice test) ​

A growing number of people are learning how to mend their own devices and teaching others to do the same. Tutorials on how to repair electronic devices can easily be found on the web. A record amount of electronic waste was generated worldwide last year, with less than a fifth of it being recycled. Extending the life of smartphones and other electronics by just one year would be the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road, in terms of reducing CO2 emissions.​

It is difficult to mend electronic device.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
False
Probably False

What do you guys think about this? I would initially say insufficient data as the text does not mention whether it's difficult or not. But as we're allowed to use common knowledge here, if a growing number of people are learning how to do it, it is probably not that difficult and therefore is probably false.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Do you think we will hear anything back about ACs over the weekend? Still waiting to see if I got one from Dechert after doing my written exercise two and a half weeks ago. I’ve emailed grad recruitment and they said I should hear soon, just getting disheartened hearing everyone get offers for other firms

Highly unlikely - recruitment teams won’t be working over the weekend.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Ok fab do you think we could hear over the weekend?

This is highly unlikely where it’s non working days.

 

[Audric_T]

is anyone still waiting to hear back from sidley post app?

I think they have forgotten that they have a VS this year as all I see is people waiting for a response on here, its not great reputational wise to leave everyone hanging like this

(this is a practice test) ​

A growing number of people are learning how to mend their own devices and teaching others to do the same. Tutorials on how to repair electronic devices can easily be found on the web. A record amount of electronic waste was generated worldwide last year, with less than a fifth of it being recycled. Extending the life of smartphones and other electronics by just one year would be the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road, in terms of reducing CO2 emissions.​

It is difficult to mend electronic device.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
False
Probably False

What do you guys think about this? I would initially say insufficient data as the text does not mention whether it's difficult or not. But as we're allowed to use common knowledge here, if a growing number of people are learning how to do it, it is probably not that difficult and therefore is probably false.

probably false - given that people are learning by youtube videos no? wouldn't say false as it doesn't mention what electronic devices are being fixed just that growing numbers are learning I would assume therefore based on the information that it isn't difficult to fix - just my thoughts - I had this question before cant remember the answer

 

[AGRACHEL]

Just saw that DLA summer internship for london is now closed, I think the AC is starting in approximately two weeks. Having passed the benchmark for VI but not heard about the AC should I be worried or continue as I am (practising as though I will get the AC)?

I believe they may send to another AC across the country if london is filled but now anxious - anyone have any insights?

Can I ask how long it took to receive the VI invite after completing the WG?

 

[Bread]

Apologies because I am sure this has been asked before, but when a firm asks which other firms you are applying to and why, is it common practice to be as vague as possible and just say, e.g., "global firms with small trainee intakes and a focus on fintech" or to mention names? My work experience makes the other firms I am interested in pretty obvious, so I was wondering which approach is best. Thanks and sorry for the repetitive question!