TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jacksollaf]

65 firms?? Hats off to you but how did you manage writing high quality apps with studying or work??

Hahaha; basically, I had a list of like 15 firms that I truly wrote with the utmost level of care and effort; and then the rest I took a fair amount of time, but not as much as the 15...

My top 5 choices:

1) Baker 2) W&C 3) HSF 4) Debevoise 5) King & Spalding, etc.

 

[sibs23]

Yea for Addleshaw Goddard although I did apply very early (back in October). Only a few people have heard back on here I think.

Oh gosh 😅 also waiting to hear post-app. I applied for the OGC position so still holding out a tiny bit of hope haha

 

[lawyersum]

Hahaha; basically, I had a list of like 15 firms that I truly wrote with the utmost level of care and effort; and then the rest I took a fair amount of time, but not as much as the 15...

My top 5 choices:

1) Baker 2) W&C 3) HSF 4) Debevoise 5) King & Spalding, etc.

Right, that makes sense!! Its a very impressive amount of apps. Rooting for your other top 4 choices to come through for you

 

[evianmineral]

also just waiting for pfo from AG w/ no VI - bit annoying tbh as PFO is easy to send.

 

[lawyersum]

also just waiting for pfo from AG w/ no VI - bit annoying tbh as PFO is easy to send.

When did you do your critical thinking test if you don't mind me asking?

 

[xanderlawyer]

I think they already reached the second stage a while back so you still could, but chances are slim, so would be better to just wait for the next cycle to maximise your chances..

Stop giving such terrible advice mate! You said the same thing about Kirkland and you were compltely mistaken. Firms have a deadline for a reason, if your application is good enough then you will progress, firms are looking for the best talent not those who can apply earliest!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker.

Do client references suffice to prove self employed listings in the work experience section?

They can do - it depends on the nature of the client. If they are a regular client, then this would work while if it was a one of project/purchase it may not.

 

[murm]

Stop giving such terrible advice mate! You said the same thing about Kirkland and you were compltely mistaken. Firms have a deadline for a reason, if your application is good enough then you will progress, firms are looking for the best talent not those who can apply earliest!

100% agree with this. Only firm where this is relatively true is Jones Day. They are super rolling. Spoke to grad rec and last year when their deadline was end of Jan and they said if you apply in Jan it’s basically a guaranteed rejection. Makes you wonder what’s the point in that deadline then and why not close it early to save people time? I don’t know if it’s different this year now that deadline was end of Dec. Anyone applied in Dec and had luck?

 

[FCL25]

Hahaha; basically, I had a list of like 15 firms that I truly wrote with the utmost level of care and effort; and then the rest I took a fair amount of time, but not as much as the 15...

My top 5 choices:

1) Baker 2) W&C 3) HSF 4) Debevoise 5) King & Spalding, etc.

With that many apps you're bound to get a positive response from at least one lol. I've only applied to 5 firms within the last 2 years and the furthest I got was a VI with DLA Piper 😭

 

[Jessica Booker]

Probably doesn't matter but if there are 2 AC slots, one from 9am to 1pm and one from 2pm to 5:30pm, is there any benefit to picking either one over the other?

No difference at all if they are on the same day. Go with the time that works best for you. I am not a morning person, so I would choose the afternoon but some people find the opposite and prefer doing these things first!

 

[James Wakefield]

Stop giving such terrible advice mate! You said the same thing about Kirkland and you were compltely mistaken. Firms have a deadline for a reason, if your application is good enough then you will progress, firms are looking for the best talent not those who can apply earliest!

There are of course some firms that it’s much better to apply early- and some are honest and say they don’t necessarily read every application (Bird & Bird, Simmons & Simmons).

BUT I keep hearing of people who get ACs who applied on deadline day, for even top firms. So I agree with generally worth applying!

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

AG PFO (London)

Sorry, is that Addleshaw Goddard?

 

[evianmineral]

When did you do your critical thinking test if you don't mind me asking?

genuinely ages ago - early november time i think. knew it was a pfo when others got VI on rolling basis

 

[yasmars]

There are of course some firms that it’s much better to apply early- and some are honest and say they don’t necessarily read every application (Bird & Bird, Simmons & Simmons).

BUT I keep hearing of people who get ACs who applied on deadline day, for even top firms. So I agree with generally worth applying!

Yeah I agree Simmons are truly rolling.

 

[jta227]

No difference at all if they are on the same day. Go with the time that works best for you. I am not a morning person, so I would choose the afternoon but some people find the opposite and prefer doing these things first!

Yeah I ended up booking the afternoon just to guarantee I'll get there with ample time to spare (as someone who went to uni in London I remember leaving at 6/7 for a 9am and still getting stuck on the Central line due to a signal fault for 45+ minutes, getting tired of waiting, getting off and walking to uni and arriving sweaty 😭 ) and have got all potential nerves out the way. Thanks Jessica!

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Sorry, is that Addleshaw Goddard?

For everyone's sanity on this forum, can we agree to go with AG = Addleshaw Goddard and Akin = Akin Gump?

 

[yasmars]

For everyone's sanity on this forum, can we agree to go with AG = Addleshaw Goddard and Akin = Akin Gump?

I may be wrong but I think Akin Gump are now just known as Akin.

 

[AlegalA]

Taylor wessing written exercise and RPC AC! So happy and excited! If anyone has advice on either the AC or written exercises I would really really appreciate it. Everything is on the same week tho which is stressfullll

 

[seaweed.bond]

Sorry, is that Addleshaw Goddard?

I think it’s probs Addleshaw cause they put London in brackets, and I don’t think Akin has any other UK offices/TC pathways. May be entirely wrong tho lol

 

[user9809]

Taylor wessing written exercise and RPC AC! So happy and excited! If anyone has advice on either the AC or written exercises I would really really appreciate it. Everything is on the same week tho which is stressfullll

Congrats!! When did you do RPC WG?