TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[sareena]

88% percentile for Linklaters! Does anyone know whether they put more weight for the WG or their assessment?

Hi, how do you find out what you got, do they email you your result?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is 81 percentile for Linklaters good?

This is likely to be good enough. I haven’t seen a benchmark above the 80th percentile for any organisation.

 

[eleven14og]

I asked them about this too because they are the only firm that raised this in the job advert. i think they are misunderstanding the new visa rules?

Ah okay but it should meet the threshold for the London office, right? Honestly it is so disheartening to see how difficult it is now to get a work visa

I think London should meet the threshold? They probably don't do sponsor a lot hence the confusion.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I'd really appreciate if I can ask two questions to the TCLA team:

1. Can I check when the application review service closes for the festive period? When will it re-open?
2. I noticed that one of Jaysen's recent LinkedIn posts was about a new commercial awareness programme which is in development. Could I check how we can sign up for it?

Thank you guys 😊

1) closes at 4pm tomorrow and won’t reopen until 9.30am on 2 January.

2) if you comment on Jaysen’s LinkedIn post, you can be included in the test group and will get added to the mailing list about how the platform will progress.

 

[fcac98]

88% percentile for Linklaters! Does anyone know whether they put more weight for the WG or their assessment?

So good! How did you practice for WG?

 

[legalxp2]

Mishcon email about tech issues - they have clarified that the deadline has been extended to midnight 23rd, with one minute prep one minute speaking time for VI

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all, I checked with AG regarding their ability to sponsor work visa for TCs as their application form says they may not be able to sponsor. Grad rec replied saying we would need right to have right to work as the applicable going rate is for 'solicitors and lawyers' (£52,300). They do still consider graduate visa and new entrance discounts. From what I heard and read on this forum, it should be 'legal professionals not elsewhere classified' (£30,960). @Jessica Booker May I ask which going rate applies for trainee solicitors? Thanks

I haven’t applied for a visa in sometime, so it maybe that categories have changed (this can often happen). So I can’t be 100% sure on this

Typically the “legal professionals not elsewhere classified” has been the code used (2419) as they use the old term of “Solicitor’s clerk” (old name for trainees) as the job title reference.

The lower rate for this category is £30,960 but candidates have to be under 26 and a recent graduate or hold a PhD. Because some candidates won’t meet this criteria, often firms will apply the upper rate of £38,700 consistently though.

 

[yeezyee]

Hi Jess! I’ve dmed you about mitigating circumstances/accomodations. Thank you @Jessica Booker

 

[Shandy101]

Willkie VI!!! Jesus, when it rains, it sure pours.

So that's HSF and Fieldfisher AC in Jan, Willkie VI, Skadden WE, RS VI, MB Life as a Trainee, Weil VI.

This is my second cycle. I did two applications last year and got rejected post partner interview for one and got the other at SH, which I didn't convert. I did like 30 this year- Post App PFO from JD, Sidley. Post AC W&C. Post online assessment: AG, CC, LL (I HATE WG). Still have 16 firms pending. My key was drafting a really good application which a friend who just started his TC at Weil helped me with and I was able to extrapolate (not copy-paste, although sometimes I did) from for every application I have done. Obvs I had to do in-depth individualised research about the firm for the Why the firm but other than that, the questions are mostly the same across apps where some firms have more questions, including ones about interesting topics which I discussed 2 main topics of significant interest to me- Russian Sanctions and a litigation trend related to the Energy Sector.

@Jaysen , please consider bringing him to the team so others here can benefit from his natural abilities. I'm not even sure he would want to with his schedule at Weil, but he is good! I owe every success this cycle to his work on that one application for me last year!

 

[big hot man]

Waiting for Mishcon response like a withered traveller in the desert, searching fruitlessly for water

 

[yasmars]

Willkie VI!!! Jesus, when it rains, it sure pours.

So that's HSF and Fieldfisher AC in Jan, Willkie VI, Skadden WE, RS VI, MB Life as a Trainee, Weil VI.

This is my second cycle. I did two applications last year and got rejected post partner interview for one and got the other at SH, which I didn't convert. I did like 30 this year- Post App PFO from JD, Sidley. Post AC W&C. Post online assessment: AG, CC, LL (I HATE WG). Still have 16 firms pending. My key was drafting a really good application which a friend who just started his TC at Weil helped me with and I was able to extrapolate (not copy-paste, although sometimes I did) from for every application I have done. Obvs I had to do in-depth individualised research about the firm for the Why the firm but other than that, the questions are mostly the same across apps where some firms have more questions, including ones about interesting topics which I discussed 2 main topics of significant interest to me- Russian Sanctions and a litigation trend related to the Energy Sector.

@Jaysen , please consider bringing him to the team so others here can benefit from his natural abilities. I'm not even sure he would want to with his schedule at Weil, but he is good! I owe every success this cycle to his work on that one application for me last year!

Congrats! What an amazing position to be in!

 

[futuretrainee!]

Waiting for Mishcon response like a withered traveller in the desert, searching fruitlessly for water

same, but as much as i hate to say it, i think its time to move on! it is highly unlikely that the firm will ask us for a VI on the last day of consideration given they have confirmed deadlines

 

[Shandy101]

Congrats! What an amazing position to be in!

The best part is that now that all apps are submitted, I can spend more time building commercial awareness and improving interview techniques.

 

[Amjaya]

CMS PFO

 

[Applebanana425]

Anyone heard from HSF Spring post passing test?

 

[annad]

Willkie VI!!! Jesus, when it rains, it sure pours.

So that's HSF and Fieldfisher AC in Jan, Willkie VI, Skadden WE, RS VI, MB Life as a Trainee, Weil VI.

This is my second cycle. I did two applications last year and got rejected post partner interview for one and got the other at SH, which I didn't convert. I did like 30 this year- Post App PFO from JD, Sidley. Post AC W&C. Post online assessment: AG, CC, LL (I HATE WG). Still have 16 firms pending. My key was drafting a really good application which a friend who just started his TC at Weil helped me with and I was able to extrapolate (not copy-paste, although sometimes I did) from for every application I have done. Obvs I had to do in-depth individualised research about the firm for the Why the firm but other than that, the questions are mostly the same across apps where some firms have more questions, including ones about interesting topics which I discussed 2 main topics of significant interest to me- Russian Sanctions and a litigation trend related to the Energy Sector.

@Jaysen , please consider bringing him to the team so others here can benefit from his natural abilities. I'm not even sure he would want to with his schedule at Weil, but he is good! I owe every success this cycle to his work on that one application for me last year!

Congrats!!!
Is your HSF AC for their Spring Vac Scheme?

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Anyone heard back after completing the critical thinking test for AG? Pretty sure I didn’t do very well but don’t won’t to be left waiting until after the app deadline to actually receive a PFO

Have you heard back yet by any chance? I just did mine and it felt like a complete disaster... I also don't want to hold out hope.

 

[suhana]

scored in the 73% percentile for links, any idea if this is likely to pass the benchmark or not?

 

[sulanya]

anyone who appllied to V&E - is their training principal this year Scott Steigler or Andrew Nealon?

 

[LawAspirer]

Anybody got any reply from Latham / Goodwin / Pinsent Masons ?