TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[maymays]

Anything from Cooley folks? 🥹

 

[bibss]

Mayer Brown PFO post-job simulation! These online tests are the death of me

 

[BreadandButter]

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.

Post AC?

 

[via1511]

An update for those who applied to Birketts: their applications increased by 62% this year so may take longer for them to get back to us.

 

[amieclark]

Any tips for White and Case VI? (summer VS)

 

[Chris Brown]

Any tips for White and Case VI? (summer VS)

Congrats on getting the VI for White & Case. 🥳

If you don’t mind me asking, when did you apply and when did they get back to you with the VI invite?

 

[Jessica Booker]

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.

The key issue is that paralegal roles are not all equal. A lot of them are very basic administrative roles that will not develop the same skills as a trainee will as typically their responsibilities are different.

There are some paralegal roles where they get high levels of responsibility and can have higher levels of challenging work than a trainee has. But I’d say it’s more common for a paralegal role to not be as complex as a trainee role, and therefore you are not getting the same level of training to prepare you for an NQ role.

Because of this, there will be some people who qualify via the SQE/QWE route without a training contract, but they are over qualified and under experienced.

The good thing is that the individual candidate is in control of when they submit their QWE to the SRA. My advice time and time again is to not submit until you know you can secure an NQ role.

 

[TCLA0322]

Freshfields Watson Glaser Invite- this is last minute of Friday... apply summer vs on 14th Nov

 

[sooae]

By some miracle, I received FF WG invite. I applied on deadline.

 

[amieclark]

Congrats on getting the VI for White & Case. 🥳

If you don’t mind me asking, when did you apply and when did they get back to you with the VI invite?

Thank you!!

I applied 04/01/25 and got the VI invite today (24/01/25) at 17:15

 

[tech_netium]

Birketts interview for the London office : ) applied 2nd Jan for those interested, got a call from Grad Rec just now!

 

[Mug Fan]

Any tips for White and Case VI? (summer VS)

Didn’t write the questions down but remember thinking it wasn’t particularly stressful compared to others. It’s only 3 questions for a start. Think it was 2x competency and 1x motivational? Granted, I haven’t heard back so don’t know how well I answered!

I will forever hate VI as an interview format but I’ve defo done worse VI’s than this one.

 

[EA95]

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

Same looool

 

[YS391]

mishcon just emailed about getting back by mid-feb

Is this for the summer vacation scheme, not the spring?

 

[wordyversus]

Oxbridge non-law student applying to SVS schemes. I have been receiving quite a few PFOs from firms that seem to use automated screening processes. I understand the SVS is highly competitive, but I'm a little surprised by this, not even getting to the VI stage for firms. Would someone be willing to proofread one of my applications that received a PFO to check if I may have overlooked something or simply suggest a couple of reasons why?

 

[andrecsaa]

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.

Once you qualify as a solicitor, you will immediately become ineglible for TC and VS. Then your job options will be restricted to paralegal roles.

As an international student, the firms automatically consider you probably have little to zero knowledge of English law (undergrad level). Further, the odds are lower if you have no significant PQE practising law overseas (particularly in civil law countries).

The firms' job advertisements say they look for someone "trained in the UK". Unfortunately, except if you are a paralegal at an elite firm offering NQ roles for trainees, you would be at a disadvantage when competing against trainees from other firms in any lateral recruitment for the reasons mentioned by Jessica.

For example, my LLM colleagues struggled to find associate jobs after passing the SQE. They have been working as paralegals or locum solicitors for the past 2 years.

I know just two graduates qualified as solicitors via SQE with +10 PQE who received offers to work as associates (corporate at a US elite firm and financial services at a global firm).

Check this post where someone shared the hurdle after qualifying via SQE without a TC: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....lkie-farr-gallagher-anything.4439/post-190218

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Once you qualify as a solicitor, you will immediately become ineglible for TC and VS. Then your job options will be restricted to paralegal roles.

As an international student, the firms automatically consider you probably have little to zero knowledge of English law (undergrad level). Further, the odds are lower if you have no significant PQE practising law overseas (particularly in civil law countries).

The firms' job advertisements say they look for someone "trained in the UK". Unfortunately, except if you are a paralegal at an elite firm offering NQ roles for trainees, you would be at a disadvantage when competing against trainees from other firms in any lateral recruitment for the reasons mentioned by Jessica.

For example, my LLM colleagues struggled to find associate jobs after passing the SQE. They have been working as paralegals or locum solicitors for the past 2 years.

I know just two graduates qualified as solicitors via SQE with +10 PQE who received offers to work as associates (corporate at a US elite firm and financial services at a global firm).

Check this post where someone shared the hurdle after qualifying via SQE without a TC: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....lkie-farr-gallagher-anything.4439/post-190218

This simply is not true. You are not restricted to paralegal roles.

 

[mmm918]

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

Hey I feel you! I have similar background with you (2 years of paralegal, distinction in LPC, from Russell Group, multiple degrees and languages). I haven't got any ACs for this cycle so far which is really frustrating. I took a break last week and I feel motivated again. Just remeber, people who can persist throughout can always win!

 

[Mug Fan]

Oxbridge non-law student applying to SVS schemes. I have been receiving quite a few PFOs from firms that seem to use automated screening processes. I understand the SVS is highly competitive, but I'm a little surprised by this, not even getting to the VI stage for firms. Would someone be willing to proofread one of my applications that received a PFO to check if I may have overlooked something or simply suggest a couple of reasons why?

Do you have any (relevant) work experience?

 

[sapphireoreos]

Is this for the summer vacation scheme, not the spring?

I applied for summer and received this email so I’m assuming so!