TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Tom smith]

How far back in the past can we give examples from in competency-based interviews, e.g. if I was in the last year of my degree, could I give an example from sixth form, for example?

 

[DesperateForVac]

Clyde and co summer PFO

Sorry to hear this, when did you apply and complete the VI?

 

[Bread]

Sorry if this is a really stupid question but how can you tell whether a law firm organises itself by practice group or sector? because they tend to have both sections on websites and i can't tell which one is the primary way they organise themselves...

Sectors are the industries in which they work (pharmaceutical, tech, life sciences, etc), practices are the areas of law that they specialise in, or practice(M&A, tax, antitrust, etc), but usually multiple practices apply to the same sector and viceversa

 

[DesperateForVac]

Clyde and Co TC pfo what a nice week am really enjoying the PFO's.

Sorry to hear this!

when did you apply?

 

[M_m]

What are the key traits/values/skills/competencies that Clifford Chance is looking for? I wanted to know how to tailor their application question to the firm.

 

[M_m]

What are the key traits/values/skills/competencies that Clifford Chance is looking for (apart from what's given on their website)? I wanted to know how to tailor their application question to the firm.

 

[User5678]

It depends which vacancy you are applying to. Some you will need to be a graduate and if a non-law graduate, have completed the GDL too. Which vacancy are you considering?

I am a law final year student. I can see that there are many programs mainly the sqe graduate program which is sector specific and the 2026 training contract. Am I eligible for both?

@Jessica Booker

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Is osborne clarke VS rolling?

 

[KBanana]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam !

Any advice on how to tackle the following question (and how I should divide the word count)?: "Please choose a recent (less than 12 months) development in UK/European news. How are such developments relevant for Skadden’s clients?"

I was thinking of writing 1-2 sentences outlining the recent development. Then, I am not sure about whether I should discuss why I find the development I chose interesting because usually the 'commercial' question like this in an app would explicitly state "a news story that interests you" in the question, but this is not the case in here. So, should I spend the rest of my word count simply outlining how the news/developments would affect Skadden's clients and how Skadden would get involved as a result?

Thank you!

 

[yumjuicebox]

Does anyone have any advice for the Bird & Bird VI?

Thank you!

 

[yumjuicebox]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu!
I am planning to write cover letters for Freshfields/ Davis Polk, and was wondering if you have any advice on how I can discuss my mitigating circumstances (which seriously impacted my first and second-year grades) without breaking the flow of my cover letter?

Thank you

 

[Tintin06]

Holding myself accountable again (Covington rejection)

CC* ✅
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅
Akin ✅
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅
Latham ✅
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅
Goodwin ✅
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅
Morgan Lewis ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅
Arnold & Porter ✅
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

 

[BBsharkk]

Has anyone been actually rejected by W&C WVS or are they just waiting to send them out in one single batch?

 

[Tintin06]

Has anyone been actually rejected by W&C WVS or are they just waiting to send them out in one single batch?

I've heard nothing but it was a very quick turnaround from invite to AC last year (three days) and I hadn't heard by this time a year ago. It's still possible we get an AC, unless they've explicitly confirmed they're full for the WVS.

 

[safari3]

It was a mix of motivational / competency for me, but you might get a CA focused question so I’d prep for that too just incase, as well as the competencies they mention in the email☺️

@yumjuicebox @erderlylars

 

[tarty23]

Just seen that NRF allow second applications - if I have been rejected for their wvs, can i now apply for summer?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Just seen that NRF allow second applications - if I have been rejected for their wvs, can i now apply for summer?

oh I didn't realise that does it say that on the website?

 

[tarty23]

oh I didn't realise that does it say that on the website?

Yeah, I only became aware of this by a post in this thread this morning haha

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu!
I am planning to write cover letters for Freshfields/ Davis Polk, and was wondering if you have any advice on how I can discuss my mitigating circumstances (which seriously impacted my first and second-year grades) without breaking the flow of my cover letter?

Thank you

I would personally not include them in cover letters or personal statements but include them elsewhere. In the Freshfields form I think there is somewhere else to provide such details and if not, you could always send them as a seperate email after applying rather than putting them into a cover letter/personal statement.

 

[ashwright]

Is anyone else waiting to hear back from W&C Winter VS after sending off their app? (i.e. no VI, no comms)
Hopefully they're just pushing some to the next season's scheme