TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[NJS]

Hi everyone, I just got a Linklaters PFO this morning.

Just a quick question, do you receive the same message saying: "However, this doesn't have to be the end of the road and we would encourage you to re-apply next year." I don't know if they sent it to all or only some people.

Thank you

I got it too, would be to everyone

 

[lucy_p]

Links PFO.. finally (in fact got it twice!)

 

[member7830]

gotten five separate rejection emails from links this year, really getting the point ahaha

 

[Chris Brown]

Linklaters are definitely doing a madness because why have I just received a PFO from them for the VS when I didn’t even apply for it at all wtf lmao. 😂😂​

 

[Chouette]

Linklaters are definitely doing a madness because why have I just received a PFO from them for the VS when I didn’t even apply for it at all wtf lmao. 😂😂​

Welcome to the club

 

[applicant457]

Anyone completed cc spark vi?

 

[jta227]

everyone getting links PFO, is it for the summer scheme?

Got one for Spring

 

[Apple]

Links PFO, thought I had it this year smh.

 

[James Wakefield]

Linklaters are definitely doing a madness because why have I just received a PFO from them for the VS when I didn’t even apply for it at all wtf lmao. 😂😂​

Sad to hear that!

I’ll keep my fingers crossed my non-application is still under consideration. 🤣

 

[Andrei Radu]

thank you so much for your response! I think it made me tear up a little lol. These are incredibly helpful and I will keep these in mind. You had also mentioned some commercial awareness podcasts. Which ones would you recommend? Also, besides open days, is there any other way I can show a link to the firm, like with the mentoring scheme, for example?

For the podcasts question, I will recommend a number of different podcasts for the different kinds of useful content I have found:

• Keeping up with current events: here I would firstly recommend listening to the FT News Briefing every day - there is no better concise statement of the most important business news. Next, you can take a look at BBC's World Business Report: it will cover many of the same topics as in the FT News Briefing, but in a lot more detail and with a lot more analysis. Finally, I used to also listen to Bloomberg's Daybreak Podcast from time to time, as I found it provided the best analysis of topics that impacted the world of financial services.
• Detailed commercial analysis of selected topics: here, my primary resource was Watson's Daily, where the two hosts would select two issues that they would discuss in depth over around 40 minutes. This was particularly useful to learn how to analyze a commercial topic from different lenses and debate it; a skill that is essential for succeeding in many ACs. A good second resource was Goldman Sachs Exchanges, which helped me immensely with my knowledge of financial jargon and more broadly with my understanding of the business models of the different types of law firms' clients.
• Legal press podcasts: these podcasts are amazing for learning how to compare firms and to identify their market positions. The Lawyer's podcast is amazing for looking at firms specifically from the perspective of their London operations, whereas Law, disrupted and Bloomberg Law are great for a more global (and sometimes US-focused) analysis.
• Law firms' insights: some of the best podcasts for analyzing the impact of current events on clients and practices areas are produces by firms themselves. I found the ones made by Latham, HSF, and White & Case to be among the best for this. This is also one way you can show engagement and interest in a specific firm.

For the second question, yes, I think any other opportunities such as mentoring schemes are great ways of demonstrating interest and distinguishing yourself from the crowd. Besides open days, I would also consider attending sign-up based events (you will find many advertised by your law society, the firm itself, or platforms like law careers.net or legal cheek), Forage Virtual Work Experiences, and even simply reaching out to trainees on LinkedIn to have an interaction to mention.

 

[Willgetthere]

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu and anyone else - I was wondering if you could provide some insight into Gibson Dunn and what makes them different from other US firm other than their strong transactional vs contentious spilt and their broad internal presence. I am also interested in understand their clients from what I’ve understood the firm clientele is quite broad across various industries, but perhaps some insight on if certain practice groups have a specific market segment focus - this would be great. Thank you!

 

[saj2002]

Has anyone heard from Addleshaw Goddard at all? I am still waiting since submitting the app/test in early January.

 

[Someoneinlaw]

I normally used 'Hi [name of the addressee]' if there was implied familiarity from the details of the written exercise or if they were someone in the firm who was not very senior. If they were either a client or a partner/counsel and familiarity was not implied, I simply used 'Dear [name of the addressee]'. I never included a Mr/Mrs/Ms or sir/madam as I did not want to make any assumptions about gender or marital status. From my vacation scheme experiences, the emails I have seen associates send looked much the same in terms of address form, so I am quite sure this is an ok approach to follow.

Thank you so much 😊

 

[bobby]

Is anyone who did an AC with links still waiting on an intv result (post one week?) and any idea what it could mean (they said theyd get back to everyone max in a week) 😅

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Jessica Booker @anyone else (sorry if you're not supposed to tag multiple Forum helpers),

I recently received feedback from LL post-AC. Please can you advise on how you would implement the following advice, based on your experiences? It was explained clearly but as a non-law student from a first-generation background, I want to check that I'm not missing anything 😅

For context, there was a HR competency-based interview and a technical interview with Partners. I didn't perform quite well enough in either of them to progress.

1. Succinctness - an issue in both. In the Hr interview, I used the STAR technique but gave too much backstory and the interviewer didn't have enough time/was unable to ask follow up questions and build a rapport. The content itself was strong though and they could tell I prepared/put effort in.
2. Technical interview - evidence of ability to interpret (the legal points) of a term sheet - there were points I didn't pick up on/this was the weaker point even though I had high-level commercial thinking. This is what I REALLY am unsure of how to develop as a non-law student - beyond the (v helpful) case studies the TCLA subscription provides, what else would you advise?
3. Building a rapport - honestly I am such an introverted person (and I think I may be a masking autistic!) but feedback emphasised that they could see I was nervous but wanted a genuine conversation with me.

Honestly that's all there is, I'm still a bit confused on what else to do, because nothing explicit on my answers to motivational questions was given or how well I did do at picking up legal concepts, just that it wasn't good enough. Is it worth messaging them again to ask or should I not?

LL was really nice though in terms of the feedback

 

[sapphireoreos]

Travers smith, white & Case and bclp looking at firms with 300 word limits like:

Add Stephenson Harwood and their 1800 words (3 600 word questions) to that

 

[lawbear123]

congrats! may i ask when you completed/heard back written exercise?

6th feb but to clarify, i applied for the spring scheme and the slots had filled up so they moved me to summer!

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

 

[James Wakefield]

I applied to BCLP Spring Vac Scheme, and still haven’t heard anything back post-SJT feedback. Not sure what to make of this? Is anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? I’ve tried to email and haven’t receive a response yet. Still got my fingers crossed, thank you !

In the same position. This is very likely to be a PFO I’m afraid.

They’ve already completed their first stage interviews, ACs and made offers for the Spring Vac Scheme as far as I’m aware.

 

[0livia.pope]

Surely it would make more sense for PFOs to be sent out before invites etc