TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

How to best research how a firm differentiates from its competitors and its position in the market? Would appreciate any insights @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Hiya @future_traineesolicitor


I'm sure @Amma Usman and @Andrei Radu would have more to say here, but when researching a firm’s competitors I normally took the approach below and pulled from several different sources.

1. Industry rankings: My starting point is usually Chambers UK and Legal 500. They’re great for understanding what practice areas a firm is really known for and seeing how they rank compared to other firms in the same areas. It gives you a solid foundation to identify competitors. Chambers Student profiles are also golden in that they offer a broad overview of the sort work a firm is typically known for, while the rankings offer more granular insight into specific areas a firm excels in.
   
   
2. Legal publications: The Lawyer (a favourite of mine, and their podcast is FREE) and The Global Legal Post were pretty useful. They frequently covered major lateral hires, practice area expansion (or contraction lol), or geographic expansion and painted a more holistic picture of firms for me than was typical of Chambers UK or Legal 500. The Lawyer's podcast was also great, because they often discussed certain firms and their strategies, as well as important market shifts that allowed those firms to really stand out compared to their competitors. I also generally found their discussions quite accessible in terms of the level of detail. Worth noting, though, that some of these publications do require subscriptions and have articles behind paywalls.
   
   
3. Any awards: Looking at recent awards a firm has won can also reveal their strengths. If a firm regularly wins in a specific practice area or outperforms similarly ranked competitors, it’s a good indicator of their reputation in that specific area. The Lawyer Hot 100 was also fantastic in highlighting standout deals and lawyers at various firms.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your research!

 

[chrisbrown]

I have a doubt. It's just a genuine doubt. I am an international student and this is my last application cycle. I am waiting to hear back from 2 more applications but if it's negative I am going to quit applying for TC. You mentioned you are a corporate paralegal. Is there any chance you can self fund sqe and become a solicitor after 2 years of work experience or is it really difficult to become a solicitor? It's just a question I have .

Yeah you can still qualify as a solicitor without needing to have secured a training contract. 🙂🙂

The traditional route to qualification was LPC + TC for 2 years. The SRA have changed this and introduced the SQE to increase access into the legal profession.

Now, in order to qualify, you need to pass the SQE (1&2) and have 2 years of QWE (qualifying work experience).

Firms have chose to frame their TC’s as QWE to meet the SRA requirements.

Hypothetically, you could paralegal for several years to build up enough QWE, self fund and sit the SQE exams and if you pass them, become an NQ solicitor. 🙂🙂

 

[Hana ♥]

CMS VI! I'm happy, but also equally tired of all these interviews (Any insights would be incredibly useful).

 

[paralegaltotrainee]

Yeah you can still qualify as a solicitor without needing to have secured a training contract.

The traditional route to qualification was LPC + TC for 2 years. The SRA wanted to change this and chose to introduce the SQE.

Now, in order to qualify, you need to pass the SQE (1&2) and have 2 years of QWE (qualifying work experience). Firms have chose to frame their TC’s as QWE to meet the SRA requirements.

Hypothetically, you could paralegal for several years to build up enough QWE, self fund and sit the SQE exams and if you pass them, you can become a NQ solicitor.

Are there any downsides of taking this route (other than having to self-fund the SQE)? For example, does taking this path affect your chances of being hired as an NQ at elite firms?

If I'm not mistaken - it seems many firms still favour the traditional training contract structure, so I’d like to understand if this route could create any disadvantages when it comes to securing competitive roles.

 

[Gr33n]

Anyone get RPC AC that applied on the deadline?

 

[aspiringlawer1212]

Hi all,

I am applying to K&L Gates and Orrick. While they both require a cover letter, they also ask questions such as:

'Why have you decided to pursue a career as a commercial lawyer working in an international law firm? What factors and influences have affected your decision?'

'Why specifically are you interested in training at Orrick? What makes us different to the other firms you have applied for?'


I would normally address these points in the cover letter itself, but that doesn't seem right in this case. Anyone know how to approach this?


Thanks

 

[chrisbrown]

Are there any downsides of taking this route (other than having to self-fund the SQE)? For example, does taking this path affect your chances of being hired as an NQ at elite firms?

If I'm not mistaken - it seems many firms still favour the traditional training contract structure, so I’d like to understand if this route could create any disadvantages when it comes to securing competitive roles.

Most city firms assumed the SQE was a replacement to the LPC but it was actually a replacement for the TC - it certainly does seem that firms still favour the traditional TC route. Future trainees sit the SQE exams before they start their TC. 🥲🥲

However, given most firms are increasingly committed to diversifying access to the legal profession, I wouldn’t think there are significant downsides if someone chose this path to qualifying, then apply for an NQ position at an elite law firm. 🙂🙂

I think it depends on a lot of factors though. As the SQE + QWE route is fairly new, it still has a lot of uncertainty around it. I think @Jessica Booker might have a better answer to give for this question tbh. I also think @Ram Sabaratnam, @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman can provide much better insight. 🙂🙂

 

[Alessio1642]

Regarding people saying Weil will get back to us today, where did you find this as I can’t seem to find anything online. Also same for mishcon post app for summer VS! TYSM!!

 

[jacksollaf]

After countless applications, I continue to be rejected.



I know rejection is something everything goes through, but honestly, and without sounding overly cocky, I’m quite shocked I’ve not had a single Vac Scheme offer, ever.



Quick summary:

• Corporate paralegal in London for 2 years
• 1st class degree at undergraduate from Russell group.
• Distinction in GDL
• fluent in multiple languages
• Multiple post grad degrees both from LSE in Corporate Law and in M&A. Bear in mind, these gave me the academic knowledge necessary to bridge the gap between theoretical academic law from the GDL to real work in a commercial law firm.
• pro bono advisor at a legal clinic for a year, and still do.
• Other legal roles including for trusts and for barristers

I sometimes wonder what else I can even do!



If they said bad grades, I would say fine, but I couldn’t have done better at undergraduate and GDL.



If they said, no work experience, I would say fine, but I have 3 different ongoing legal roles, including my paralegal role in a London city law firm, which clearly shows my experience - quite frankly, my paralegal role has given me some experience that even being a trainee would not.



I got to 2 AC’s last year. But got rejected after both.



This year, I still have a couple applications in the pipeline, but I’m honestly not hopeful at all. I will mention that an American firm which I attended their AC last year, this year failed me on the first round. Which, tbh, I don’t see how that makes any sense. With 1 year extra experience, suddenly I can’t get past the first stage, but last year I reached the last stage ? That to me makes no sense. I don’t mean to be rude, but I think that is BS!



What’s stopping me from giving up, after spending years studying and working in law?



If I did any other profession, I’d be so much further along, but I made the terrible mistake of wasting my time with law.

@Jessica Booker
@Jaysen

I feel horrible that you have been dealing with this and wish you the best of luck! If you don't mind me asking, and if I understood correctly, you have passed the SQEs right? I don't mean to sound insensitive, and I truly hope it doesn't come across in a bad way because I mean it with good intentions, but if you have been a paralegal at a city law firm for 2 years, isn't it possible for you to speak to them and ask them to make you a trainee, or even take you as an associate? or do they tell you to apply through the normal cycle and stuff... ?

Once again, best of luck, you'll get there!!!

 

[JamesCCM]

Milbank PFO post-app. Applied October.
Gibson Dunn VI, applied late September

 

[James Wakefield]

Willkie Written Exercise after I did my VI 3 weeks ago and had given up hope. 😅

 

[murm]

Milbank PFO post-app. Applied October.
Gibson Dunn VI, applied late September

when did you hear from milbank im so confused why they haven’t rejected me yet 🤣I wrote a shocker of an application

 

[klazza]

Is this for spring VS following a VI, or summer VS ?

spring VS following VI

 

[yeezyee]

omg mishcon spring ac 🥹 i finally passed a vi!!

 

[Olivialee15]

Anyone get RPC AC that applied on the deadline?

I haven't even received the WG yet haha

 

[Olivialee15]

Regarding people saying Weil will get back to us today, where did you find this as I can’t seem to find anything online. Also same for mishcon post app for summer VS! TYSM!!

mishcon just emailed about getting back by mid-feb

 

[ashwright]

mishcon just emailed about getting back by mid-feb

i instinctively got sad when i saw it because i assumed the notification was a PFO 😅 🤣

 

[Alessio1642]

mishcon just emailed about getting back by mid-feb

i instinctively got sad when i saw it because i assumed the notification was a PFO 😅 🤣

Same hahah!!

 

[Someoneinlaw]

Akin AC
Goodwin VI
Weil VI
W&C VI
Dechert Written Task
Willkie Written Task
Linklaters
HSF VS
Reed smith AC
Macfarlanes AC
Addleshaw Goddard AC

12 applications, 5 ACs, 1 rejection

Successful with HSF and got an offer

Waiting for Weil, Linklaters, W&C and Goodwin.
Weil said 2 weeks but nothing yet. I saw a summer VS for Linklaters today, was that the fast track individuals.

Hello! Congratulations!! Please when did you hear from HSF? I applied to them very early on and have heard nothing back. This is for vacation scheme.

 

[maymays]

Anything from Cooley folks? 🥹