TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[xxx]

Oh, I always felt 10 maximum is sufficient!

At the CC open day grad rec said that having so so many work experience entries doesn’t make it any easier for them to read.

I’ve seen contradicting points as people say to list all your entries but at the same time… it does feel that 12/13/14 is a bit much.

I also see a lot of people fluff up their LinkedIn and have about 30 or more experiences in their experience section but I honestly don’t know how they manage to translate all of that into their vac scheme application.

I’d say pick the 10 juiciest work experiences and then sprinkle the rest of your extra curriculars into the skills questions or other related questions

In my experience 8-10 max. If the experiences are similar i.e. tutoring/ forage/ open days group them.

 

[emma.d]

LOL I remember seeing this at the time and thought the exact same. I also have not received CRS VI - there is a lesson to be learned here for sure!

Tbf that is very very true!!

 

[jacksollaf]

I think you should focus on quality over quantity going forward.

Honestly, in principle, I agree with you, but I genuinely think you can have both quantity and quality. I'm pretty sure @Tintin06 focused on quality as well—it’s just incredibly competitive. At the end of the day, you only need one firm to offer you a VS or TC, and proof of that is me, because I also applied to 65 firms, rejected from 60% so far, but still secured a VS at HFW (+ currently awaiting the outcome of my interviews with Gibson Dunn and Norton Rose Fulbright, while also preparing for another interview with BCLP next week).

I’m NOT saying this to brag—I just want to highlight that, yes, I’ve been rejected by most firms like @Tintin06 , but not because of a lack of quality on both of our parts, but simply because of how competitive the process actually is; acceptance rate is at an average of 1.5%... You can put your heart and soul into 5 applications, even 10, and still get rejected from all of them... It's just a matter of getting lucky, whatever sticks sticks... It just takes time and you can only work at one law firm at the end of the day, so @Tintin06, be patient and I promise you'll get something!!

 

[delarse]

May I ask if anyone has any insights regarding Freshfields' written task? Thanks!

 

[trainee4u]

Honestly, in principle, I agree with you, but I genuinely think you can have both quantity and quality. I'm pretty sure @Tintin06 focused on quality as well—it’s just incredibly competitive. At the end of the day, you only need one firm to offer you a VS or TC, and proof of that is me, because I also applied to 65 firms, rejected from 60% so far, but still secured a VS at HFW (+ currently awaiting the outcome of my interviews with Gibson Dunn and Norton Rose Fulbright, while also preparing for another interview with BCLP next week).

I’m NOT saying this to brag—I just want to highlight that, yes, I’ve been rejected by most firms like @Tintin06 , but not because of a lack of quality on both of our parts, but simply because of how competitive the process actually is; acceptance rate is at an average of 1.5%... You can put your heart and soul into 5 applications, even 10, and still get rejected from all of them... It's just a matter of getting lucky, whatever sticks sticks... It just takes time and you can only work at one law firm at the end of the day, so @Tintin06, be patient and I promise you'll get something!!

This is correct. I've had generic applications go through, while better ones failed. It's absolutely not predictable.

Advantages of quantity include:

• you will eventually have answers to ALL the possible application form questions, just requiring a bit of copy-editing or re-writing, and it gets quicker to submit
• you will get better at drafting, which is a useful skill
• you will learn more about law firms as well as commercial awareness.
• you will get better at the various artificial stages, such as ACs & SJTs, which aren't that useful maybe in the long term, but having multiple shots is just again absolutely better, because there are multiple components: luck - an AC might test skills you are great or hopeless at; randomness - your performance will vary from day-to-day, and so will that of the competition, as well as the competition you face. The same performance might be below par or meeting standard, there's no way of telling.
• you will do the same W-G test for multiple firms, which makes things easier!
• even if you do the world's best application, a VI stage (say) is likely to be assessed afresh, you have to be in the top 10% or whatever to make through. If you mess up your VI - which you might - then the great application is worthless.
• while it's definitely possible to do one VI, realise that you did poorly, then spend 20 hours practising to improve your VI skills, it's a good idea to have multiple VIs to practise on.

There's a finite limit to the amount of time you can spend on 3 x 250-word answers, and while obviously some people don't have time to submit lots of applications because of work/other commitments, if you do have time, it doesn't make sense to spend your time watching Netflix or whatever instead of doing more applications.

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

anyone have weil next tuesday?? pls dm!

 

[Paul Jules Steullet]

HSF vac scheme offer but they’ve only given me 3 days to respond, including this weekend, and I have to notify S&M who I interviewed with to see if they can speed up my outcome - any advice?

Im reminded of a quote: “A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush!” Accept the HSF offer and wait to see what happens with S&M. No point in trying to rush them to make a decision- it can come across as somewhat manipulative if you think about it. You can use your HSF offer as leverage once you accept if you’re a creative thinker.

 

[Paul Jules Steullet]

I think you should focus on quality over quantity going forward.

You can do both! That is probably better practice but certainly not a bright line rule.

This year I did 33 apps (last yr did 2 made it to AC on both got 1) and have 3 schemes so far at Skadden, GD. 10 pending apps remaining and 20 pfo’s but only 4 post app- Cleary, JD, S&C and S&M. Most I had VI’s and varying levels of progression 3 to final interview-W&C, CC, A&O. Of those had to withdraw from 2 because of date conflicts with my 3 schemes- ML (has in one scheme that conflicts with GD) and Fieldfisher DS (same). I will say that I began preparing in summer though. The questions mostly remain the same save for 1 or 2 of them so got working on drafting and selecting 5-6 CA topics to master. I was also able to extrapolate things from one app to the next with minor or more substantial amendments.

I honestly don’t think I would have had the success I have if I hadn’t done the volume of apps. I also don’t have a full time job and have graduated last year so I have more time tbf. This doesn’t mean my strategy will work for everyone. You have to assess you own circumstances and devise a strategy. For me, I played the lottery and the more tickets I had the better my chances.

I’m with you @Tintin06!!!

 

[Jessica Booker]

At what stage in the application process would a firm likely contact references?

Most likely not until you have an offer. Some firms will ask before the final interview stage/assessment centre though.

 

[Katy12345]

Most likely not until you have an offer. Some firms will ask before the final interview stage/assessment centre though.

My employer will not give a
Reference whilst you are still in employment with them, I worked a part time job for 5 years in college then in university at a well known retail store, using them and an academic reference would be fine right? Thanks

 

[Lawpersonhopefilly]

Feeling quite down about my cleary app. I got the invitation to do the WG but it seems like people have already been doing their ACs. Is it likely to be a PFO?

 

[Jessica Booker]

My employer will not give a
Reference whilst you are still in employment with them, I worked a part time job for 5 years in college then in university at a well known retail store, using them and an academic reference would be fine right? Thanks

The reference check company will most likely know this employer’s stance in references and factor that into their checks, and so not an issue to use them. The reference company would speak to you if there weee any issues with getting access to the reference and would speak to you about potentially seeking another one for somewhere else if it was problematic.

 

[Cool pigeon]

Anyone know what the office situation is on a skadden vac scheme?

 

[CG_101]

My employer will not give a
Reference whilst you are still in employment with them, I worked a part time job for 5 years in college then in university at a well known retail store, using them and an academic reference would be fine right? Thanks

I think there's general a difference between background checks and reference checks. the company will contact all your past employers, at least recent/ relevant ones, to make sure you actually worked there at the time you did, and then separately may contact an academic referee and an employer referee for a more substantial character reference. That is my experience anyway

 

[FKJJ]

Does anyone have any insight or tips for the SPB vi? Please if you do dm! Thank you

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

It's a bit of a late update as I found out exactly two weeks ago, but I got an offer for the HSF Spring VS!

Following a string of rejections last year where I had just fallen short at the final stages, I had doubts about whether I was good enough for commercial law. Reflecting on these experiences, I can say for sure that perseverance pays off.

It might seem unfair, but luck definitely plays a part in whether you succeed. Whether it's in the form of a news article you stumbled across, or an area of law you explored in depth at uni, what's important is that you put in the effort to take advantage of the moments where luck is in your favour, and that you keep putting in the effort with the faith and confidence that your time to shine will come.

Although I might not be the most active on this platform, a lot of the materials and discussions here have helped tremendously. Thank you to everyone for fostering such a supportive environment, and good luck to everyone yet to receive their offer!

A post I needed to see today as someone else who has been falling at the final hurdle! Congratulations!

 

[Katy12345]

The reference check company will most likely know this employer’s stance in references and factor that into their checks, and so not an issue to use them. The reference company would speak to you if there weee any issues with getting access to the reference and would speak to you about potentially seeking another one for somewhere else if it was problematic.

Thank you!

 

[Aleila]

This is quite scary considering they have got SVS offers from HSF and AG! I hope they aren’t like this in real life as well. 😞

I am also on the HSF SVS so I guess ill find out shortly🤣

 

[yeezyee]

does anyone have any tips for scenario/situational interview questions? thanks!

 

[Emmakate18]

Im reminded of a quote: “A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush!” Accept the HSF offer and wait to see what happens with S&M. No point in trying to rush them to make a decision- it can come across as somewhat manipulative if you think about it. You can use your HSF offer as leverage once you accept if you’re a creative thinker.

Hi! I also applied for the spring vacation scheme at HSF, if I haven't heard anything from them is it safe to assume that it's a rejection? I know they've held a fair few AC's already.