TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[User5678]

hey did you apply for direct tc or vacation scheme?

I applied for the direct tc

 

[User5678]

deadline only just closed?

True but I was not sure whether it was rolling or non rolling . Also to check we just had to email a cv and cover letter to the grad rec right?

 

[M_m]

I have an AC coming up next week and something’s been playing on my mind. I’ve had absolutely no contact with the firm through events or law fairs. I did try connecting with trainees/associates on LinkedIn, but most of them didn’t really accept my connection request. For context, I did my undergrad abroad and while I did attend virtual law fairs, I haven’t really interacted with this firm specifically. Would this really detrimental to my chances of being successful in the AC?

 

[baj5]

Hi @baj5 and congratulations on getting to the final stage, it is an incredible achievement! Although this has been posted a couple of times on the forum, I just thought to link again my Complete Competency Interview Guide, as it contains my best tips both for preparation and for the interview itself. I have also quoted a post bellow in which I analyse in more depth how you can go about managing your emotions during the big day. Let me know if you have any further questions and best of luck !

Thank you so much for linking this Andrei!

 

[Chris Brown]

I have an AC coming up next week and something’s been playing on my mind. I’ve had absolutely no contact with the firm through events or law fairs. I did try connecting with trainees/associates on LinkedIn, but most of them didn’t really accept my connection request. For context, I did my undergrad abroad and while I did attend virtual law fairs, I haven’t really interacted with this firm specifically. Would this really detrimental to my chances of being successful in the AC?

Congrats on getting an AC! I think if anything, the fact that you have made it to the AC, shows you have demonstrated a high level of interest and potential to the firm in question. This is despite having ‘no contact with the firm through events or law fairs’. I don’t think a lack of in person or virtual interactions with the firm would be detrimental to your chances of being successful in the AC at all! I think if the firm did have any expectations from you to have had previous interactions with them, they would not have progressed your application to the AC stage! 🙂

I think the most important thing at this stage is to make sure that you go into the AC with a thorough understanding of the firm and why you wish to pursue a career there. I think a good way to do this is through completing any virtual internships the firm has (Forage) and watching any recorded virtual events the firm has hosted in the past. I think if you can draw on previous experiences e.g., virtual law fairs, you could identify the similarities and differences between the firms you have interacted with previously, and the firm you are scheduled to do the AC with.

I think @Andrei Radu, @Amma Usman and @Ram Sabaratnam can provide a much better answer than this though to be honest. Best of luck with your AC! 🙂​

 

[M_m]

Congrats on getting an AC! I think if anything, the fact that you have made it to the AC, shows you have demonstrated a high level of interest and potential to the firm in question. This is despite having ‘no contact with the firm through events or law fairs’. I don’t think a lack of in person or virtual interactions with the firm would be detrimental to your chances of being successful in the AC at all! I think if the firm did have any expectations from you to have had previous interactions with them, they would not have progressed your application to the AC stage! 🙂

I think the most important thing at this stage is to make sure that you go into the AC with a thorough understanding of the firm and why you wish to pursue a career there. I think a good way to do this is through completing any virtual internships the firm has (Forage) and watching any recorded virtual events the firm has hosted in the past. I think if you can draw on previous experiences e.g., virtual law fairs, you could identify the similarities and differences between the firms you have interacted with previously, and the firm you are scheduled to do the AC with.

I think @Andrei Radu, @Amma Usman and @Ram Sabaratnam can provide a much better answer than this though to be honest. Best of luck with your AC! 🙂​

Thank you @Chris Brown. This really puts my mind at ease 😅

 

[FoxStella]

Congrats on getting the interview!
Did they call you for the invite? And is it a one-hour virtual interview?

Thank you! Yes to both

 

[elena11]

Has anyone heard back from Debevoise & Plimpton post-AC?

 

[Mara]

I think you are fine to keep most of the general themes and substantive motivations the same: firstly, because they were judged good enough to have your application progressed in the past; secondly, because the firm will have no expectations for your fundamental motivations and candidate profile to have drastically changed in the space of one year. However, you also do not want to seem like you are unmotivated to work on improving yourself and your application. As such, I would aim to include any new experiences or achievements that you can. Similarly, I would try to add new insights you have learnt about the firm: for instance, has it worked on any new major deals/cases, or received important market recognition? Adding these points could strengthen your analysis and make your motivations look more persuasive. Finally, review your writing critically to see if there are any potential improvements regarding style: can you express yourself in a a more concise way? can any points be better phrased? should any sentences be shortened? etc.

Thank you so much, this is immensely helpful!

 

[mfuturetrainee]

@Andrei Radu I have an upcoming interview with a really specialist law firm who focus on one thing only pretty much, and the only reasoning I have as to why I like the work is because it's just my personal interest. Do you think it's a disadvantage to use that as my reason given I haven't done a specific module at uni for it, not paralegalled in it, etc?

 

[sapphireoreos]

Sorry to hear this, if we are rejected for vac scheme, can we make a dtc application in the same cycle for withers?

I believe you can yes

 

[Jessica Booker]

I have an AC coming up next week and something’s been playing on my mind. I’ve had absolutely no contact with the firm through events or law fairs. I did try connecting with trainees/associates on LinkedIn, but most of them didn’t really accept my connection request. For context, I did my undergrad abroad and while I did attend virtual law fairs, I haven’t really interacted with this firm specifically. Would this really detrimental to my chances of being successful in the AC?

No - you don’t always have to interact with the firm if you can show you have been researching about the firm in other ways.

 

[floral.tcla]

has anyone else still not heard back from hl post-wg? if the last Acs are in mid-march (next week ish) and they give at least a few days's notice then does that mean we'll be PFO'd soon?

 

[lawbear123]

has anyone done the Bristows first round interview?

 

[TC129129]

has anyone done the Bristows first round interview?

Can i ask when you heard back from the written exercise please

 

[ironspears45]

anyone heard back from Paul Weiss post-interview?

 

[lawbear123]

Can i ask when you heard back from the written exercise please

sure i got the email on 28th feb! and gave my WE on 13th

 

[sofffff123]

Hi, does anyone know how long Pinsent Masons usually take to get back to applicants post-AC?

I’m not sure but I haven’t heard back yet and did mine in mid Feb

 

[Broadwater]

I have an AC coming up next week and something’s been playing on my mind. I’ve had absolutely no contact with the firm through events or law fairs. I did try connecting with trainees/associates on LinkedIn, but most of them didn’t really accept my connection request. For context, I did my undergrad abroad and while I did attend virtual law fairs, I haven’t really interacted with this firm specifically. Would this really detrimental to my chances of being successful in the AC?

Nope I got a VS then a TC without speaking to anyone prior

 

[NCTC2025]

I have an AC coming up next week and something’s been playing on my mind. I’ve had absolutely no contact with the firm through events or law fairs. I did try connecting with trainees/associates on LinkedIn, but most of them didn’t really accept my connection request. For context, I did my undergrad abroad and while I did attend virtual law fairs, I haven’t really interacted with this firm specifically. Would this really detrimental to my chances of being successful in the AC?

I received two VS offers with firms of which I had no prior interaction. I would say the depth of your research into the firm is much more important to your chances of being successful!