TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Gday33]

has anyone heard from Mayer Brown post-job simulation?

They’ve done at least some PFOs so hopefully good news for you 🤞🏻

 

[YS391]

I‘m applying for their placement and I thought it was automatic invite… I’m acc confused 😭

Oh, I thought you were applying directly for their training contract.

 

[Cats688]

Anyone heard from DWF post app ?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Haven't heard from Latham post AC for 2 weeks... should I assume a rejection?

People with experience with Latham's process might tell you more, but I do not think you necessarily should. While I would say the average response time post AC is perhaps under 2 weeks, a longer wait time could be due to many factors. In my case, I waited for more than 4 weeks for a response from Slaughter and May and still received an offer. The reason was not that I had been waitlisted or that another candidate had dropped or anything of that sort, but simply that they were interviewing people over an extended period of time. As such, in absence of more information I see no reason to assume a rejection in your case.

 

[saminoriya]

Looking for insights for W&C VI. I can help with Macfarlanes, Slaughters, JD, Eversheds.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Does anyone know Winston & Strawn is known for / what the firm specialises in (London office specifically)? I read something on here that said it's quite a niche / specialised firm and it seems they may be most known for litigation but my research suggests they are also pretty strong in more transactional / advisory areas like finance, M&A, I&R etc?

Also, one of the questions on their application for is 'what motivates you?' Seems quite simple but also quite wide so any tips on how to approach this question would be much appreciated!

For the first question, while I do not have a lot of prior knowledge about the firm, I do believe Chambers and Legal 500 rankings are good indicators for a firm's practice area focus and strengths. Based on that, it seems like Winston & Strawn is not simply a litigation boutique, but that it covers a wider array of practices to service a wider client base. Looking at its Legal 500 rankings (as Chambers only ranks its finance department), we see the firm is recognized for:

• Transactional: for finance, particularly bank lending; for corporate, particularly mid market corporate M&A and PE;
• Disputes: general commercial litigation; particularly high rankings also in international arbitration and class action defence for product liability (the highest rankings of all its practices, which I think explains the firm's reputation for disputes)
• Advisory: competition law; also its aviation and sports practices;

For the second question my interpretation would partly depend on what other questions are asked in the application form. Nonetheless, all other things being equal, I would bring the scope down to something along the lines of 'What aspects of work/types of work/work environments motivate me to excel?'. Then, I would name and expand on two or three characteristics that I can link with an experience. Finally I would make a connection to the career of a commercial solicitor and try to explain how my motivations are aligned with it.

 

[adrk1234]

Is shoosmiths test automatic ?

 

[helloj]

They’ve done at least some PFOs so hopefully good news for you 🤞🏻

They are inviting 60 people for ACs. They have only hosted I believe 3-4 ACs so far of around 4 people. It's not over till it's over!

 

[MR10]

anyone heard back from akin or millbank

 

[bsh]

People with experience with Latham's process might tell you more, but I do not think you necessarily should. While I would say the average response time post AC is perhaps under 2 weeks, a longer wait time could be due to many factors. In my case, I waited for more than 4 weeks for a response from Slaughter and May and still received an offer. The reason was not that I had been waitlisted or that another candidate had dropped or anything of that sort, but simply that they were interviewing people over an extended period of time. As such, in absence of more information I see no reason to assume a rejection in your case.

Thank you! In the same boat. If anyone could share whether or not they have heard back / what their experience has been, would be much appreciated!

 

[hopefulforatc]

Till when will we hear back from RS post VI and Linklaters summer vac scheme AC

 

[u64928428]

Anyone heard back from White & Case post Spring AC?

 

[Amakaa]

Looking for insights for W&C VI. I can help with Macfarlanes, Slaughters, JD, Eversheds.

Hi, when did you apply and when did you receive your invite please?

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi, when did you apply and when did you receive your invite please?

I’m also still waiting for a W&C response lmao.🤣💀

It’s been 3 weeks since I applied and I still haven’t heard anything back at all. 😬🫣

Idk whether to assume PFO atp. 🥲🥲

 

[Amakaa]

I’m also still waiting for a W&C response lmao.🤣💀

It’s been 3 weeks since I applied and I still haven’t heard anything back at all. 😬🫣

3 weeks? I applied on December 12th!

 

[helloj]

I’m also still waiting for a W&C response lmao.🤣💀

It’s been 3 weeks since I applied and I still haven’t heard anything back at all. 😬🫣

Idk whether to assume PFO atp. 🥲🥲

I applied on 23 Sep and have heard nothing lol. Defo a PFO but they shouldn't make me wait 4 months lol. Do you think I should email?

 

[Chris Brown]

I applied on 23 Sep and have heard nothing lol. Defo a PFO but they shouldn't make me wait 4 months lol. Do you think I should email?

I have seen people on the forum that applied for WVS and were instead considered for SVS and got invited to VI/AC recently. 🙂

It’s probably best to email them about it imo. 🙂

 

[helloj]

I have seen people on the forum that applied for WVS and were instead considered for SVS and got invited to VI/AC recently. 🙂

It’s probably best to email them about it imo. 🙂

Hiya, I just emailed them so will let the forum know what they reply! White & Case are known for ignoring applicants so not looking the best!

 

[Chris Brown]

Hiya, I just emailed them so will let the forum know what they reply! White & Case are known for ignoring applicants so not looking the best!

Tbf they do get up to 5,000 applications a year for VS + DTC but I don’t think it’s right to ignore applicants. 🥲

People spend ages on their applications and it’s unfair to leave them in the dark for months. 😬

Hopefully we get responses soon. Best of luck for W&C VS. 🙂

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Ropes has no work experience section wtf???? Surely in that case we need to relate the 3 characteristics question back to ourselves? Strangest application ever

Hiya @desperateTCseeker1998 and @chrisbrown

@Jessica Booker has already given a great answer, but I just wanted to add a bit more context to my previous comments.

Ropes & Gray hasn’t required applicants to submit a work experience section for several years now. This seems to be a deliberate choice by their graduate recruitment team, likely to make the process fairer in some way. In previous years, their application process has often included a question about commercial trends impacting the legal industry and how Ropes & Gray is positioned to meet those challenges. It would have been quite awkward to have used the space allocated to include references/discussions of my work experience or skills merely because they lacked a work experience section.

Again, my advice would be to focus on answering the question directly. If you really want to, you could briefly highlight any relevant skills or experiences that support your point. For example:

"Having worked as a paralegal on X team, I came to appreciate the importance of adaptability in the work done by commercial lawyers. This quality is essential in helping firms navigate challenges and drive growth, as seen in [specific example/reason]."

This way, you can still make your answer personalised without discussing how you developed the trait or used the trait in question.

Hope that helps 😊