TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

@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!

The question will cover extracurriculars and hobbies. I wouldn't use bullet points. I would try to highlight 2-3 key activities you think are most important/relevant to you or that you are not covering in the work experience section - you'll just need to be super concise. I would recommend focusing on the results/outcomes from your activities rather than detail on your actions.

 

[chrisbrown]

Hi all. Still not clear on this so any advice would be really helpful.

On the website there’s one small section which says “Learn about our one week vacation schemes that allow you to get to know the firm before you apply for a training contract.”

Just wondering if that means the VS is freestanding at Withers?

Based on the wording I think they are separate from each other.

Since it says the VS will allow you to get to know the firm ‘before you apply for a training contract’ - I think this means the VS just acts like a insight scheme and you must then apply for the TC separately.

It might be that you need to do the scheme in order to apply for the TC so it acts as a fast track route? Not entirely sure if this is the case though.

 

[James Wakefield]

Based on the wording I think they are separate from each other.

Since it says the VS will let you to get to know the firm ‘before you apply for a training contract’ - I think this means the VS just acts like a insight scheme and u must then apply for the TC separately.

It might be that you need to do the scheme in order to apply for the TC so it acts as a fast track route? Not entirely sure if this is the case though.

It’s weird though because there’s no other reference anywhere on the website or on the graduate brochure!

 

[Jessica Booker]

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

Yes, it is important to make a good impression on an open day.

Just focus on active listening and balance asking your questions to the right people, at the right time. If you show enthusiasm and interest, you will make a favourable impression. Don't try to hard to impress - that's usually where it goes wrong.

 

[AlegalA]

It’s weird though because there’s no other reference anywhere on the website or on the graduate brochure!

TCLA did do a list with firms who applied from VS or TC, and Withers is in the "Mostly from Vacation Scheme but with a consistently healthy direct TC intake" list, so hopefully it is automatic? (only thing is it's dated back to 2022/23 so maybe it's changed). Also their TC deadline is in March, which is before both spring and summer VS happen, so successful VS applicants would have to wait a year before applying which seems long.

Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2022-2023

Hi everyone! I hope that this can be useful in planning out where you will apply for vacation schemes and where you will apply directly for training contracts. You can decide when to apply to each firm by looking at my compilation of law firm deadlines as well as my thread about which firms...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi all. Still not clear on this so any advice would be really helpful.

On the website there’s one small section which says “Learn about our one week vacation schemes that allow you to get to know the firm before you apply for a training contract.”

Just wondering if that means the VS is freestanding at Withers?

Based on the wording I think they are separate from each other.

Since it says the VS will let you to get to know the firm ‘before you apply for a training contract’ - I think this means the VS just acts like a insight scheme and u must then apply for the TC separately.

It might be that you need to do the scheme in order to apply for the TC so it acts as a fast track route? Not entirely sure if this is the case though.

It seems the VS and TC applications are separate, but I doubt they are completely independent. I do not have specific information for Withers but when I was doing my VS at Slaughter and May, they had a similar system with a separate TC application. That essentially meant two things. Firstly, our 'performance' in the VS was significantly less important for the purposes of conversion. In fact, we were told that the VS itself was not assessed and was just meant to give us the most authentic experience of life at the firm. Our supervisors had to fill in a sheet about us but unless someone showed a terrible attitude, that was basically a tick box. Secondly, we had to submit a new application for a TC during the vacation scheme, but we were told everyone is guaranteed a place in the final stage interview. But after the interview, decisions would be made with no regard to the VS.

 

[aspiringsolicitor23]

Definitely speculation. I did not get 65 average in every module 😭 They may reject me once they review my application though. It’s most definitely the tests that automatically reject!


Your results are good leadership isn’t needed at such a junior stage so I don’t think that’s a negative being a weakness. I will say they have already given some AC’s out last week but I’m unsure of which scheme it’s for.

Wishing you good news soon x​

My application is showing 66% but I requested my WG report and got 92% percentile (which was apparently 36/40) so do you think this means my CAPP assessment is the issue. My strengths were commercial thinking and respect, weakness resource management. I felt pleased when I received my WG results but now I am fixating on the progress bar being stuck at 66%. Do you think there's any chance this is not relevant? I also submitted my WG test on the last day before my deadline so I don't know if maybe my application is at the bottom of the pile to be reviewed.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Yes, it is important to make a good impression on an open day.

Just focus on active listening and balance asking your questions to the right people, at the right time. If you show enthusiasm and interest, you will make a favourable impression. Don't try to hard to impress - that's usually where it goes wrong.

Thanks a lot, Jessica Will keep in mind.

 

[Callumw123]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I did a VI yesterday and I thought it went ok bar one question - where I only managed to answer half the question in the allotted time. I'd be grateful for your opinion on how this might be viewed?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Has anyone heard back from CMS post-online test? Or know when they started sending out invites/rejections last year?

 

[Andrei Radu]

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

I completely agree with what @jta227 and @Jessica Booker said. I only have two things to add. Firstly, I think it would be beneficial to do some extra research on the firm, which will allow you to naturally discover questions you might have an interest in asking. I would specifically target my research around the firm's unique selling points which I would consider using in a VS/TC application. This is both because I would have an actual interest in learning more about those aspects of the firm (so, I could make a good impression without looking like I am trying too hard) and because getting more information on those points is what would enable me to write a better VS/TC application. To give an example, when I recently attended an insight event at Davis Polk, someone asked about the firm's plans for its London corporate practice, as the firm had recently invested in a number of top lateral hires. This shows off the attendee's research but is also a genuine query that has a bearing on their decision making if they have an interest in doing a certain type of corporate work. Furthermore, the response someone from someone at the the firm can often be more nuanced and insightful view than can be found in the legal press, and will thus enable the attendee to write a more impressive application.

Secondly, if you have the opportunity, I think it is a good idea to go and say hi to the graduate recruitment team. As the other members said, definitely avoid going looking like you just want to impress. Instead, if your attitude and intention is just to try to get to know some people at the firm and learn about their experiences, I cannot see how this could negatively impact you. Quite the opposite - if the graduate recruitment team sees you as nice and sociable, the kind of person they might enjoy chatting with over a coffee, they might remember you when they are reading your application or reviewing a VI. This will not have a decisive influence on the ultimate outcome, but in a game of such small margins everything helps.

 

[antheaf]

Is Latham & Watkins still sending out AC invites? Has anyone received a rejection?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Is Latham & Watkins still sending out AC invites? Has anyone received a rejection?

I haven't heard back since I did their assessment on dec 4th!

 

[evianmineral]

bakers spring pfo after VI

 

[legalxp2]

Hi everyone, I have seen a couple people mention paralegal roles they have been in/current are in and was wondering what a paralegal interview would look like in terms of format and question-types.
I just graduated and I am scared they will ask why I want to be a paralegal (when in reality it is for the work experience whilst I wait to successfully get a TC).
Any insights will be greatly appreciated thank you!

 

[AfVio24]

Has anyone heard back from CMS post-online test? Or know when they started sending out invites/rejections last year?

I got my VI mid December and submitted 18th. Some AC's were given just before Christmas, believe the next batch of AC's are due to be sent within next 10 days or so

 

[christina04]

Has anyone heard from Irwin Mitchell?

 

[LegallyStressedOut]

yep PFO

Sorry to hear :/ Can I ask when you applied?

 

[jacksollaf]

Has anyone heard back from CMS post-online test? Or know when they started sending out invites/rejections last year?

was the online test automatic? I applied on the 5th of November and still haven't received anything besides a confirmation email, no test nor VI; safe to assume PFO then I guess?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I did a VI yesterday and I thought it went ok bar one question - where I only managed to answer half the question in the allotted time. I'd be grateful for your opinion on how this might be viewed?

Its quite common for candidates to not answer one question quite as well as the others. Its hard to know how the firm will view this as its subject to so many variables, but I can say that it is possible to not do well in one question and have a stronger response in the others, which effectively compensate and still get through to the next stage of the process.