TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[pleasepleaseplease]

Could anyone please share what exact attributes are firm looking for when asking about a time we worked in a team? I am not sure how to approach this as the examples I have do not really have any conflicts in them

@Jessica Booker would love your input on this

 

[fffvfdsfv]

i did a vacation scheme for a law firm in summer 2024 but did not manage to convert it into a training contract. i am currently a penultimate year law student (i.e. due to graduate in 2026). Is it worth applying for this firm's training contract directly? or should i wait and apply in my final year?

 

[Diana54]

Latham AC (spring)!! Any insights please share, I can offer HSF, CC and A&O insights!

Congratulations!!!

Do you mind letting me know when you applied and if you attended the open day?

 

[BillSikes]

Mischon rejection post app

Update to this - this was for a paralegal app and NOT VS. Clearly I need to learn to read.

I applied deadline and am still waiting to hear back

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

@Jessica Booker

Regarding your advice about offer holding, I had another query. I have accepted a vac scheme offer for summer 2025, but also recently did an AC for a direct training contract and will hear soon. I also have a few applications to firms for spring vac schemes which have progressed past the first stage. If I was to get the direct TC offer and accepted, what would the consequences be of still completing the summer vac schemes and a potential spring one? Moreover, is it common for people to accept offers and then reject it later if a better offer comes along?

 

[The-PFO-Collector]

Anyone know when Akin typically rejects candidates post app?

 

[KBanana]

Anyone know what psychometric test Ropes & Gray are using?

 

[Alwaysdreaming]

Congratulations!!!

Do you mind letting me know when you applied and if you attended the open day?

thank you! i applied on the deadline and didn't attend an official open day, i did however attend a uni specific insight-day that was organised by future trainees.

 

[wqueens8]

has there been any movement from bakers post test, for summer vacation scheme?

 

[dm_corporate]

Anyone else still not heard from K&E post VI?

 

[pepsicola96]

out of curiosity, are regional applications usually handled by members in that office, or is it generally all done by one grad rec team based in the London office?

 

[Jessica Booker]

out of curiosity, are regional applications usually handled by members in that office, or is it generally all done by one grad rec team based in the London office?

It depends who is involved with screening. If screening is in part done by lawyers, then they will be the lawyers in the regional office you have applied to. If the screening is just done by graduate recruitment then it will be done centrally but with the graduate recruitment team being mindful of what is needed in that office.

When it comes to interviews and assessment centres, they are typically done by lawyers from that office

 

[applicationzzzzz]

Anyone else still not heard from K&E post VI?

I haven't heard anything yet...but sounds like people have already received Acs :O

 

[KBanana]

Am I correct in thinking I don't need to upload a CV for Freshfields (direct TC app)?

 

[FCL25]

For anyone who is stressing still waiting to hear back from AG post-VI like myself, I reached out to the early careers team for an update and got the following reply:

"I hope you are well and thank you for your email.

Our assessment centres run from January to March, and we currently do not have a set deadline as to when you will hear back but we are currently working through screening applicants and will be in touch with updates as soon as possible."

I'm assuming this means they're running more than one AC so I wouldn't assume PFO just yet as people who have been notified already may just be doing an earlier AC timeslot.

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

Regarding your advice about offer holding, I had another query. I have accepted a vac scheme offer for summer 2025, but also recently did an AC for a direct training contract and will hear soon. I also have a few applications to firms for spring vac schemes which have progressed past the first stage. If I was to get the direct TC offer and accepted, what would the consequences be of still completing the summer vac schemes and a potential spring one? Moreover, is it common for people to accept offers and then reject it later if a better offer comes along?

Your TC or VS offers may have terms in them that you cannot proceed with the VS if you have accepted the TC offer. If you breach that, then your offer can be withdrawn as you are in breach of contract.

Some TC and VS offers do not have these terms though, and if not, there are no issues.

It’s not common for people to accept a TC and then renege it - last stats from leading law firms suggested about 8% of TC accepted offers were reneged.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

Your TC or VS offers may have terms in them that you cannot proceed with the VS if you have accepted the TC offer. If you breach that, then your offer can be withdrawn as you are in breach of contract.

Some TC and VS offers do not have these terms though, and if not, there are no issues.

It’s not common for people to accept a TC and then renege it - last stats from leading law firms suggested about 8% of TC accepted offers were reneged.

Thank you, this is most helpful. Is it typically uncommon for people to receive TC offers and still do vac schemes at another firm in hoping of receiving another TC offer, or is it frowned upon?

 

[VacSchemer]

Anyone who passes the Freshfields SJT stage and got to the WGT, could you please let me know what qualities they are focusing on?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you, this is most helpful. Is it typically uncommon for people to receive TC offers and still do vac schemes at another firm in hoping of receiving another TC offer, or is it frowned upon?

I wouldn’t say it is common but clearly enough people do it each recruitment cycle.

Some people do frown upon it and think it is not ethical to do this. I personally don’t have an issue with it unless you have accepted multiple TC offers - to me there is no reason you need to do this and you should turn down the offer(s) you least want.

This is why some firms put terms in their offers to stop it from happening. Other firms just see it as part of the recruitment process that they have to manage.

 

[rapunzel]

@Jessica Booker if a partner in an interview asks you to go through a deal the firm recently did , what structure would you recommend? Do I talk about why the client did the acquisition, what teams at the firm were involved and what trainees would get involved in? I’m unsure of my answers scope and what they are trying to get out of the question?