TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Shandy101]

I’m working on an application at the moment which asks for a cover letter (1000 words)

There are two other separate questions which ask for (1) extra curricular activities and leisure interests and (2) positions of responsibility and key achievements. Both questions have a word count of 500 words.

I’m struggling to think of things that I can add for the first question since almost everything I could mention will have already been covered in the work experience section, cover letter or the second question.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated

CL: Why commercial law (if you've done a vac scheme good place to include and how that may have influenced), why the firm- the work, the culture and pro bono or DEI (in that order). If u like a specific practice area(s) talk about deals and why that type of work is appealing to you based on your interests, experience or some other personal connection. I think inevitability, there will be some overlap between CL and what's in the other 2 questions but I don't think it will be detrimental if well written.

 

[Shandy101]

Does anyone have insight on how to answer this question. - Do you require permission to work in the region you are applying to? - I'm an international student on a Graduate Visa at the moment - I don't need permission/ a visa for the vacation scheme for which I am applying but I will require it for my training contract later. I'm a bit confused whether to give yes/no. Any help would be much appreciated!

If the application you are completing is for a VS then answer the question in terms of that.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I’m working on an application at the moment which asks for a cover letter (1000 words)

There are two other separate questions which ask for (1) extra curricular activities and leisure interests and (2) positions of responsibility and key achievements. Both questions have a word count of 500 words.

I’m struggling to think of things that I can add for the first question since almost everything I could mention will have already been covered in the work experience section, cover letter or the second question.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated

Don't put your extracurriculars in your work experience entries. These should be saved for the sections mentioned above.

Any cross over between these questions and the "why me" part of the cover letter - let the questions focus on your responsibilities and achievements and let your cover letter talk more about why you did those activities (e.g. motivations/what you enjoy being involved in) or the skills you gained from them. This should avoid most of the potential repetition.

 

[chrisbrown]

CL: Why commercial law (if you've done a vac scheme good place to include and how that may have influenced), why the firm- the work, the culture and pro bono or DEI (in that order). If u like a specific practice area(s) talk about deals and why that type of work is appealing to you based on your interests, experience or some other personal connection. I think inevitability, there will be some overlap between CL and what's in the other 2 questions but I don't think it will be detrimental if well written.

Thank you I appreciate this a lot! I’m not used to writing cover letters as normally there are specific questions for each thing e.g., why do you want to pursue a career in commercial law or why x firm.

Guess this makes things easier in that it is essentially the same thing.

 

[Bread]

idk if it's true that applicants who've previously applied to law firms unsuccessfully can be automatically screened out...

Does anyone know whether this is true/which firms do this?

 

[sibs23]

Hello, this is so so last minute but I am weighing up whether to apply for the Fieldfisher Diversity Access Scheme or the Direct TC and wondering if anyone could offer some advice? I am unsure whether the DAS is aimed at people with less legal experience. I fulfil the criteria required for the DAS but I do have significant legal work experience. Leaning towards going for the DAS and i suppose they could move me if they think i should move to direct?

 

[chrisbrown]

Don't put your extracurriculars in your work experience entries. These should be saved for the sections mentioned above.

Any cross over between these questions and the "why me" part of the cover letter - let the questions focus on your responsibilities and achievements and let your cover letter talk more about why you did those activities (e.g. motivations/what you enjoy being involved in) or the skills you gained from them. This should avoid most of the potential repetition.

Thank you Jessica! I appreciate the help!

In my cover letter I am most likely going to use the structure why commercial law, why the firm and then why me.

In terms of the work experience section, I have focused on discussing my part time or full time jobs, internships and things like open days and insight events.

For the question on positions of responsibility and achievements, I have written about the societies I was part of at university and my academic and non academic achievements.

The question I am struggling with is the one for extra curricular activities and leisure activities.

The reason is because I don’t really have any examples of extra curricular activities or I am unsure of what counts as an extra curricular or leisure activity. I feel like any example I could use will have already been mentioned on one of the other application sections and I want to avoid that possible repetition.

What kind of things can be considered to be extra curricular or leisure activities?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica! I appreciate the help!

In my cover letter I am most likely going to use the structure why commercial law, why the firm and then why me.

In terms of the work experience section, I have focused on discussing my part time or full time jobs, internships and things like open days and insight events.

For the question on positions of responsibility and achievements, I have written about the societies I was part of at university and my academic and non academic achievements.

The question I am struggling with is the one for extra curricular activities and leisure activities.

The reason is because I don’t really have any examples of extra curricular activities or I am unsure of what counts as an extra curricular or leisure activity. I feel like any example I could use will have already been mentioned on one of the other application sections and I want to avoid that possible repetition.

What kind of things can be considered to be extra curricular or leisure activities?

Any interests that don't require you to make a commitment to others. For instance, it could be hobbies that are very much from a self-interest point or activities that are solo pursuits or where the output is really only for your benefit rather than other people's.

 

[jta227]

Hello, this is so so last minute but I am weighing up whether to apply for the Fieldfisher Diversity Access Scheme or the Direct TC and wondering if anyone could offer some advice? I am unsure whether the DAS is aimed at people with less legal experience. I fulfil the criteria required for the DAS but I do have significant legal work experience. Leaning towards going for the DAS and i suppose they could move me if they think i should move to direct?

Consider also that the DAS is rolling to the extent that they give some offers before the deadline but the TC is only that they progress to AC before the deadline, I believe. Direct TC might fare better (that being said I sent an application today and it was for the DAS, and I'm also second-guessing myself since you can only apply once a year and I like the firm)

 

[sibs23]

Consider also that the DAS is rolling to the extent that they give some offers before the deadline but the TC is only that they progress to AC before the deadline, I believe. Direct TC might fare better (that being said I sent an application today and it was for the DAS, and I'm also second-guessing myself since you can only apply once a year and I like the firm)

Thank you. I got caught out by the different date on the job page compared to the early careers page. The last half hour has been a mad rush copying everything over to the form! I hate rushing like that - I feel sick. I've decided to go for the DAS. Just going to hope for the best now

 

[chrisbrown]

Any interests that don't require you to make a commitment to others. For instance, it could be hobbies that are very much from a self-interest point or activities that are solo pursuits or where the output is really only for your benefit rather than other people's.

Thank you Jessica!

Would you say I should aim to hit the word count on this question or is it fine if I am a bit below it e.g., 350/400 out of 500?

 

[pax]

Sorry to hear! If it makes you feel any better, most of us all got PFOs today, Pinsent and Mayer within 30 mins!

If you don't mind me asking, was HSF summer?

HSF Summer. No news is likely good news!

 

[pax]

I’m sorry to hear this was HSF summer VS?

HSF Summer. No news is likely good news!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you Jessica!

Would you say I should aim to hit the word count on this question or is it fine if I am a bit below it e.g., 350/400 out of 500?

It will be fine to be up to 20% below the word count - especially if other answers are substantial

 

[sapphireoreos]

@Jessica Booker I’m applying to Withers, and they have a 60 word question asking to give details of my current interests and activities including the nature of your involvement. I therefore have three questions. Firstly, does interests and activities in this context means extracurriculars (e.g. society executive roles) or hobbies (e.g. language learning)? The Form doesn’t have a separate question about positions of responsibilities and extracurriculars, so I’ve put them in my work experience section for now.

Secondly, what would the best approach be? Should I focus on one thing and expand on it, or bullet point multiple activities? Similarly, what is your advice on how to tackle 60 word questions, as I’m used to 200-350 word questions? Thank you!

 

[jreed]

Anyone completed the Weil VI? Can trade for the Dechert written exercise.

Yes, happy to give an insight!

 

[Ash4202]

Hi everyone, For W&C, has anyone that did their VI before the WVS and received the holding email heard any news since? Should we anticipate a PFO?
Wishing everyone a fantastic week and year ahead!

hey did the email basically say you’re still under consideration and that they’ll be in touch in the new year?

 

[S7321]

@Jessica Booker Have sent you a PM on this with more details, but I entered my University module grades from memory into a VS application form because I couldn't access my transcript. Now I have my transcript, and there are some minor discrepancies (like 1-2% points off, but grades remain unchanged). Should I flag this proactively to graduate recruitment?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

May be a stupid question, but would you say it's important to make an impression on an Open Day? Am I OK to turn up with any questions I may have and ask them to people if I speak with them individually? Is there anything else I need to do, like make an effort with graduate recruitment or something 💀💀

any insights would be appreciated, thank you!! @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

 

[jta227]

May be a stupid question, but would you say it's important to make an impression on an Open Day? Am I OK to turn up with any questions I may have and ask them to people if I speak with them individually? Is there anything else I need to do, like make an effort with graduate recruitment or something 💀💀

any insights would be appreciated, thank you!! @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Making a good impression is always a good thing, but it’s unlikely it will completely carry an application that is not up to the firm’s quality. They can only get to know so much of you in one day. What’s probably more important is getting good insights and info to tailor your application more so it’s better - which indeed may involve talking to a lot of people.

I think it’s important not to make a *bad* impression though by trying too hard to impress people - that’s not what an open day is for. Treat it as a two-way thing and just be normal IMO. Asking any questions you have will be fine. What made me cringe is when after a talk the speaker would ask for questions and people would shoehorn in some random deal or development they had looked up before and try and relate it to the talk.