TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[chrisbrown]

Just to mentally prepare myself: how pointless is it for me to have sent an application the day before a rolling deadline (for HL)?

To be fair I imagine most applications are sent close to or on the deadline and so HL will most likely have only began making decisions on who to invite to AC over the last few days and will send out those decisions over the next few weeks.

If your application is well researched and error free and you do well on the WGT (which is what everyone is expected to have done) I don’t think the date you apply would matter too much. So it isn’t really pointless at all to apply even if it is super close to deadline date.

For context, I applied and did my WGT around a week ago so quite close to the deadline.

 

[Rosscarr08]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[ashwright]

Honestly, depends on what year you are... if you're a penultimate student then just wait for the next cycle, because your chances are extremely slim (+ you would have to ace your Watson Glaser unimaginably in order for them to actually look at your application (I personally think)); and then you would be decreasing your chances for next year I suppose since they would already have you on the system as rejected (and here you would be rejected because of your last minute submission and not due to an actually valid reason)... Idk if that makes sense, but strategically, just gain some experience, enhance your answers for the questions, and apply next cycle, at least that's what I would've done!

Thank you for the reply I'm a final year student but it's my first VS app to them (and my first proper app cycle). I applied to LaunchPad this year (early-ish) but got rejected hopefully they'll not mind too much but my expectations are low

 

[jacksollaf]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Was that for the summer vs?

 

[lawyersum]

Anybody who has applied to NRF in recent days, have you received the Artic Shores test yet?

 

[Rosscarr08]

Was that for the summer vs?

that was for summer

 

[lookingforaTC]

Genuine question - can we read off a script for VIs that are part of the first stage - that essentially replace written Qs? @Jessica Booker

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

When did you apply? Only sent my application a few days ago but thought they were one of those firms that says they’re rolling but doesn’t actually reply until after the deadline most the time

 

[jacksollaf]

When did you apply? Only sent my application a few days ago but thought they were one of those firms that says they’re rolling but doesn’t actually reply until after the deadline most the time

Sadly no, they actually review on rolling basis. Kind of shocked that I did not hear from them yet, considering I applied on the 6th of October, and I completed their online virtual work experience program... + have a dual degree in English and French Law from a UoL... with 1 month internship at Baker and 2 months somewhere else in Paris...

 

[jacksollaf]

that was for summer

when did you apply ?

 

[jacksollaf]

Holding myself accountable again (PH app).

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

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

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell.

we need an update!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

 

[ziyadelk]

Anybody who has applied to NRF in recent days, have you received the Artic Shores test yet?

I think they send all candidates the Arctic Shores test after the deadline (6th January). I applied to their insight event in November and didn't get the test invite until after the submission deadline. I assume it's the same process for VS/TC apps, but I could be wrong.

 

[legallyells]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

Unsure if this is still the case, but I know in previous years that were particularly competitive they explicitly said that they filtered candidates based on grades

 

[jta227]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by great applications/extra-curriculars. I will say though that all of their trainees that I know personally achieved a 1st. I would imagine that if you make it to AC you can stop worrying about that as the ball's in your court at that point.

 

[lookingforaTC]

Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by great applications/extra-curriculars. I will say though that all of their trainees that I know personally achieved a 1st. I would imagine that if you make it to AC you can stop worrying about that as the ball's in your court at that point.

Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by your private education and/or Oxbridge attendance.

 

[emma.d]

Genuine question is there much nepotism in VS/TC applications?

 

[jta227]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

After some scouring, here are what their current trainees got: 2.1 (68 from UEA), 1st, 2.1 (Oxford), 1st + Dean's List, 1st, 1st + 1st in Cambridge masters (#1 in cohort) + Cambridge PhD, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st + Cambridge Exam Prizes, 1st + Dean's List, Double 1st, 2.1 (Cambridge), 2.1 (Cambridge), 1st, 2.1 (Cambridge)

I also noticed that literally all of their non-RG trainees are from UEA. Wonder if coincidence or not.

 

[lawyersum]

I think they send all candidates the Arctic Shores test after the deadline (6th January). I applied to their insight event in November and didn't get the test invite until after the submission deadline. I assume it's the same process for VS/TC apps, but I could be wrong.

Right, thanks for this!

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

If you don't mind me asking, when did you apply and when did you receive the test? I applied on the deadline sadly (close to the deadline); do you think there's a chance?

Hi I think I applied a couple of weeks before the deadline and received the link today. I think they review applications in a chronological order so I wouldn't worry too much yet