TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[SamiyaJ]

30 in 3 months here, glad to see us ‘oldies’ are alive and kicking in this application process

Haha yes! turned 30 a few months ago. Life begins at 30… let’s do this!

 

[The-PFO-Collector]

uhhh I am bombing these video interviews. What do people say when a question asks you, 'how do you build rappor with a client who is seeking to expand into a new market?' More specifically how do you speak for 2 minutes

I thought it was asking about reassuring a client.

I would talk about, (1) informing the client that the firm conducts business in this region regularly and all the benefits that brings, e.g. (1a) knowledge of both the physical landscape, (1b) knowledge of the legal landscape - incl offices or best friend firms, and regulators required for the transaction and contacts on the ground, (2) perhaps language expertise, (3) provide examples of similar deals done in the region, (4) host a meeting with the client and the full team both in London and in that country so they can rest assured that we have them covered...

A client implies that we have worked with them before. (5) remind the of the success we have had on previous transactions and that (6) we know how they like to work and their team and so the deal will be smooth if they let us act for them, (rather than them going elsewhere)...

That would be enough for 2 minutes

But that's just my interpretation...

 

[Andrei Radu]

I’m getting a lot of messages about VIs. I’m not in a frame of mind to deal with these and have been depressed since not converting the VS I did in spring. I’m not sure how many more months of waiting I can take. I’m 27 and I was once told that if you don’t qualify by 30 it seriously impacts your chances of making Partner. That, plus my concern that multiple VSs raises questions about your abilities. I know resilience is important here but even so.

Hey @Tintin06 I understand the frustration you may be feeling right now, having gotten so close to your goal before. I also understand your anxieties as to the future impact to your career. However, I cannot emphasize enough that you cannot let your ideas about what you can achieve in the future be defined by the struggles you are facing at the moment.

There's this short inspirational story (which you can read here) that you could take a look at. It's about Richard Youle, the current head of Skadden's London office. He started of as a 2:2 graduate from Newcastle, worked at a high street firm in Yorkshire and subsequently had one of the most impressive career trajectories to reach the very top of the corporate law world. My point is that you should not focus so much this supposedly traditional or 'straight' path to success. We all have our own unique challenges and journeys - and entering the profession 'late' will not be as big of a roadblock as you think regarding your chances of making partner.

While it may statistically be true that not many people who qualify after 30 make partner, this is not necessarily because of any prejudice against them. Rather, I would expect this is in large part explained by the fact that as people get older, their motivation to stay in Big Law diminishes. After making a lot of money for a few years and once they reach an age where settling down and family start becoming increasingly important, even many associates who qualify at 24 decide to seek jobs with a better W/L balance. Truth is, the reason why a majority of people do not make partner is that they do not even try.

If you reach 8-9 PQE and you are constantly doing great work and are well liked by clients and the partnership, I would be really surprised for your age to hold you back in any way. When deciding on partnership promotion, what any firm fundamentally cares about is your ability to generate profits - and this ability has nothing to do with your age.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Not an answer but a second cry for help 💀💀 could anyone who aces/passes VIs give any tips ?

Or @Ram Sabaratnam are there any entry articles on TCLA that give advice ?

Just before @Ram Sabaratnam comes back to you - for general VI preparation and advice, I have linked here a detailed guide I recently wrote on the topic - which led to me being progressed in 4/5 of my VIs. It includes a step by step preparation guide and section with my key VI tips.

Besides that, I have also quoted here @The-PFO-Collector 's great reply to the specific question being discussed.

I thought it was asking about reassuring a client.

I would talk about, (1) informing the client that the firm conducts business in this region regularly and all the benefits that brings, e.g. (1a) knowledge of both the physical landscape, (1b) knowledge of the legal landscape - incl offices or best friend firms, and regulators required for the transaction and contacts on the ground, (2) perhaps language expertise, (3) provide examples of similar deals done in the region, (4) host a meeting with the client and the full team both in London and in that country so they can rest assured that we have them covered...

A client implies that we have worked with them before. (5) remind the of the success we have had on previous transactions and that (6) we know how they like to work and their team and so the deal will be smooth if they let us act for them, (rather than them going elsewhere)...

That would be enough for 2 minutes

But that's just my interpretation...

 

[Nick03]

While I do not know of the precise weighing policies and application assessment procedures, it is generally believed that Linklaters is one of the firms that places the most emphasis on the WG. This would explain in part why the firm asks for no written answers for their open day applications, despite the fact that its open day attendees automatically get a place on the AC.

Thanks Andrei! Any idea which other firms place high emphasis on the WG?

 

[Tintin06]

Hey @Tintin06 I understand the frustration you may be feeling right now, having gotten so close to your goal before. I also understand your anxieties as to the future impact to your career. However, I cannot emphasize enough that you cannot let your ideas about what you can achieve in the future be defined by the struggles you are facing at the moment.

There's this short inspirational story (which you can read here) that you could take a look at. It's about Richard Youle, the current head of Skadden's London office. He started of as a 2:2 graduate from Newcastle, worked at a high street firm in Yorkshire and subsequently had one of the most impressive career trajectories to reach the very top of the corporate law world. My point is that you should not focus so much this supposedly traditional or 'straight' path to success. We all have our own unique challenges and journeys - and entering the profession 'late' will not be as big of a roadblock as you think regarding your chances of making partner.

While it may statistically be true that not many people who qualify after 30 make partner, this is not necessarily because of any prejudice against them. Rather, I would expect this is in large part explained by the fact that as people get older, their motivation to stay in Big Law diminishes. After making a lot of money for a few years and once they reach an age where settling down and family start becoming increasingly important, even many associates who qualify at 24 decide to seek jobs with a better W/L balance. Truth is, the reason why a majority of people do not make partner is that they do not even try.

If you reach 8-9 PQE and you are constantly doing great work and are well liked by clients and the partnership, I would be really surprised for your age to hold you back in any way. When deciding on partnership promotion, what any firm fundamentally cares about is your ability to generate profits - and this ability has noting to do with your age.

Thank you. I’m less extremist about things now.

 

[megs18]

VI for Slaughter and May! Anyone got any tips? I’m so bad with interviews

 

[g.cl.2020344]

VI for Slaughter and May! Anyone got any tips? I’m so bad with interviews

I would say expect to be pushed, and expect technical questions (had a vac scheme here last summer)

 

[Tintin06]

VI for Slaughter and May! Anyone got any tips? I’m so bad with interviews

Learn how to debate I’d say.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi guys! Does anyone know if i can add in the forage experience from one firm while applying for a VS for another firm? So for example, let's say i have done a forage job simulation from A&O, can i add this experience into my application for Linklaters? Is there any drawbacks if i do this?

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam

You can definitely add virtual work experience from other firms - all firms know you will be applying to more than one place and that it is impossible to do Forage experiences with all of them. Moreover, recruiters recognize the value of Forage experiences, as they show a real commitment to wanting to try out the real work done commercial law.

The only drawback I can think of is potentially having to justify your choices in an interview - why did you decide to do a virtual work experience with that other firm instead of the firm you are interviewing with? However, this is the type of 'Why us instead of X other firm you have applied to?' question is one you should be prepared to answer regardless of whether you list the Forage experience.

Besides that, the only potential worry I would have is around each firm's practice area strengths. For instance, if you are applying for Kirkland and you do not have many experiences that show an interest in transactional work, you might want to avoid listing multiple disputes or advisory-focused virtual work experiences. This is because if all your experiences indicate a preference for practice areas that the firm does not offer or focus on, this might indicate a lack of alignment between your motivations and the firm's work. However, I think this is unlikely to be of concern besides the rarest of cases - it is completely fine to list Forage experiences of practice areas that a firm does not have unless this suggests this kind of strong motivational misalignment.

 

[jojo23]

Is there a way to unregister with Pinsent Masons? I noticed I made a big error in the registration form, should i contact the careers team to see if they'll do it?

 

[patternteddybear]

HSF WVS offer!!! Unfortunately, the dates clash with my W&C WVS, so I am contemplating whether I should ask HSF to be moved to summer or spring, but I'll have to have some reason...Any ideas?

This is absolutely incredible and a massive congratulations to you I would email HSF and ask if you could attend the Spring or Summer Vacation Scheme - I am sure they will be accommodating since you have already succeeded in your interviews so I bet they would love to have you on at least one of the schemes

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thanks Andrei! Any idea which other firms place high emphasis on the WG?

I have heard Clifford Chance does as well. Besides that, I think a general rule you can apply is that the less a firm emphasizes other major elements of the application process, the higher the likelihood that it places a lot of emphasis on the WG. As such, I would keep an eye out for firms that:

• Have few or no application form questions which require lengthy written answers
• Have no or few entries available on the work experience section
• Have few or no post-WG intermediary stages
• Are not known to be very academics-focused

 

[2025trainee]

Anything from Paul Weiss November Open Day?

 

[lawstudent523]

Is Chambers Student 'True Picture' not working for anyone else? All the profiles are blank for me

 

[charlotte1704]

Anyone else not heard from DLA after passing the WG? Am I cooked?

Anyone else not heard from DLA after passing the WG? Am I cooked?

Just got an e-mail saying the same thing. At least its not a pfo I guess..

 

[V2002]

Hello, @Andrei Radu @vera.mekhonoshina @Jessica Booker. Could you please help me with how to structure this argument, do I use the STAR method do I just describe tasks which helped me develop competency skills?

Using the three pieces of work experience you have included above, please outline the skills these have enabled you to develop, that are transferable to the role of a Trainee Solicitor. (500 words)

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Is Chambers Student 'True Picture' not working for anyone else? All the profiles are blank for me

Go to the Law Firms A-Z page first and go from there to see pages that have been updated for 2025

 

[ashwright]

anyone heard back from baker's general open day - i applied on the deadline, and didn't realise it was rolling, so assuming rejection.

same situation hopefully we'll be the lucky ones 🍀

 

[Bread]

Does anyone have experience with applying to HL vac scheme after submitting a lift off application and doing the WG? Unsure about what to do bc if you meet the benchmark then you don't have to retake the WG but otherwise you do, but HL doesn't tell people whether they've met the benchmark 😅