TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

Any thoughts applying to Bristol from London? I previously started an application to S&S winter VS in London, but I faced a technical issue and didn't complete the VI. At the time they were paying London £120k and Bristol £76.5k. They've now gone to £96k for Bristol and kept London at £120k so Bristol looks much more attractive.

I emailed them and they said

"Whilst I can confirm that you will be eligible, I would like to gently remind you that if you are successful in joining us on our Bristol vacation scheme, you would only be offered a training contract for Bristol. We encourage candidates to pick an office that they see themselves residing in the respective city."

I'm slightly intrigued by this as I've applied to a few Bristol firms and not got anywhere and wonder whether they are generally suspicious of applicants from London and such applicants need to show some particular interest in Bristol to dispel this.

Regional firms have had decades of people applying to them as they think the roles are less competitive than those in London. They have also had too many candidates over the years try to game the system by getting a regional VS (or even TC) and then try to negotiate a TC/NQ role in London. This undermines the whole purpose of trying to bring talent into that office, and so many firms will try to weed out people they think who are doing this.

Firms use vacation schemes as a talent pipeline for training contracts, and so they will be looking for people are are likely to want to live and work in the area. People with no connection to the area or who have never lived there are far less likely to settle in to life in the area than those who are connected. So many firms will tend to favour those with connections to the area - it is why many regional firms with multiple offices specifically ask questions about why you are applying to that location.

 

[kuuks_]

Seeing all the Paul, Weiss PFO’s got me anxiously checking my emails every 5 seconds but I’m seeing nothing other than uber eats and LinkedIn notifications in my inbox. 🥲🥲​

How did you do on the amberjack?

 

[BBsharkk]

anyone still waiting to hear back from latham post app/sjt for spring vac scheme. Genuinely don't know if I should just mark it as a PFO at this point on my tracker :/

Same here. My experience with US firms has been that if they put you on hold or ghost you, it's 90% likely that they're about to reject you.
I went to Latham's AC last year and they ghosted me for 5 weeks before the eventual PFO, so I'm assuming a post-app PFO now 🤣

 

[Chris Brown]

How did you do on the amberjack?

For the SJT pillars I got 7566. I got mid verbal and high numerical. Mentally prepared for the PFO. 🥲​

 

[BBsharkk]

Paul, Weiss PFO… ngl defo think there was a high emphasis on Amberjack bcos my grades are good (3 A* + a first from RG), strong written application (imo lol) and attended their in person October open day.

Unless you did really poorly on the test, I really believe that luck is a huge factor for firms like PW, especially given their undeniable popularity this year. EVERYONE applied to PW lol 😂

 

[jacksollaf]

Drumrollllll!!!!!!!!!!!









PAUL WEISS PFO!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Honestly, at this point I realized that applying to 65 firms makes me feel less and less affected by pfos; great way to desensitize yourself to pfos

 

[theruleofno]

would be very grateful if you could please tell when you completed the VI as it has been over a month since I did mine

Did mine middle of december and got the ac invite late jan. I believe they are holding ACs right through until the middle of march so I hold out hope!

 

[Bread]

Paul, Weiss PFO… ngl defo think there was a high emphasis on Amberjack bcos my grades are good (3 A* + a first from RG), strong written application (imo lol) and attended their in person October open day.

How did you do on the amberjack if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[bsh]

Anyone with good news from PW lol? 😅

 

[legal18]

Unless you did really poorly on the test, I really believe that luck is a huge factor for firms like PW, especially given their undeniable popularity this year. EVERYONE applied to PW lol 😂

Yeh this is very true but also I think I did do very poorly in the test ahaha

 

[legal18]

How did you do on the amberjack if you don’t mind me asking?

6146, high for verbal + numerical. Good luck

 

[RSK]

anyone still waiting to hear back from bakers post VI for SVS?

 

[BBsharkk]

anyone still waiting to hear back from bakers post VI for SVS?

Me again haha, it's been more than 2 weeks now and I even emailed them last week. So 99% sure it's a PFO 🤣

 

[Bread]

6146, high for verbal + numerical. Good luck

ATP I have no idea what they’re looking for, honestly

 

[congrades]

anyone still waiting to hear back from latham post app/sjt for spring vac scheme. Genuinely don't know if I should just mark it as a PFO at this point on my tracker :/

that' me but for the summer scheme, assuming pfo

 

[Bread]

That’s really annoying! it seems as though most scored quite badly on the test so that wouldn’t be fair if they focused on that😭

Do/did you do any extra curricular that wasn’t focus on eduction or career building etc? As I found that many at my ACs were all the same… high achievers standard committee positions on law, finance, commercial societies etc. All great things to do btw but no one stood out Imo. congrats for getting on the in person open day!!😆​

I mean if many people at your ACs did that type of stuff wouldn’t it mean that firms like it?

 

[Deleted member 31343]

I mean if many people at your ACs did that type of stuff wouldn’t it mean that firms like it?

Every firm is different… Based off of what this person has said and they were still rejected it seems as though P,W are taking a different approach no?​

 

[pleasepleaseplease]

Did mine middle of december and got the ac invite late jan. I believe they are holding ACs right through until the middle of march so I hold out hope!

thank you so much! that does provide some relief. all the best with your AC!

 

[BobThebIlly]

Hi everyone, I signed up for the TCLA Premium Gold subscription today, but I'm having trouble locating the example application answers. Could anyone guide me on where to find them? Thanks!

 

[TonyStark]

Yes - although I’d wait until your vacation scheme to ask for this and you can ask graduated recruitment directly while on the scheme. Again, they may not provide it - but there is no harm in asking.

That makes sense, thank you