TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker

Just wanted to post to ask for advice for an upcoming vac scheme. I do not live in London and the commute to the office in question is roughly 2 hours each way (so a total of 4 hours every day). The firm has on their website that support for travel/accommodation is to be discussed with grad rec and is looked at on a case-by-case. I am a bit nervous about emailing and am unsure of how to ask for support.

Ideally, I would love to ask for help with accommodation, but I’m nervous that they will look down on that considering the fact that I can technically commute (as in I don’t live on the other side of the country or anything like that). If so, I’m also a bit nervous they might see a request for help with travel costs as silly if they view the money paid during the scheme as what should be covering those costs anyway (even though the costs will add up to almost 200 pounds a week).

Should I send an email and ask this anyway or will it make me seem an undesirable candidate or one simply asking too much?

A four hour commute each day is quite long - I don't think many firms would be expecting someone to commute for that long unless they were happy to do so (some people will because they just want to stay home). I'd say 90 minutes or less is reasonable but anything beyond this (and calculated door to door) is worthwhile having a conversation with Graduate Recruitment about. The worst that they will say is no - but that is not going to impact how they see you as a candidate.

You can always contact them in a more inquisitive way asking what factors they take into account when offering accommodation or other travel support. For some firms. this may be means tested, for others it maybe either calculated on a cost basis or a time basis. By asking what support they would give you (and outlining your circumstances), rather than just asking straight out for accomodation, the firm will come back to you with the appropriate support they would be happy to give you.

 

[tomsmitg]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I’m just wondering what a firm usually does if they call a candidate and they don’t pick up. Do they normally call back the same day or ?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker! I’m just wondering what a firm usually does if they call a candidate and they don’t pick up. Do they normally call back the same day or ?

They will call back when they have time - that might be the same day or the next day (or even later in the week if they are busy). If they are concerned about getting through to someone, they usually email. For instance, I'd often email the candidate just to say I had tried to call them and can they call me back at an appropriate time.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

A four hour commute each day is quite long - I don't think many firms would be expecting someone to commute for that long unless they were happy to do so (some people will because they just want to stay home). I'd say 90 minutes or less is reasonable but anything beyond this (and calculated door to door) is worthwhile having a conversation with Graduate Recruitment about. The worst that they will say is no - but that is not going to impact how they see you as a candidate.

You can always contact them in a more inquisitive way asking what factors they take into account when offering accommodation or other travel support. For some firms. this may be means tested, for others it maybe either calculated on a cost basis or a time basis. By asking what support they would give you (and outlining your circumstances), rather than just asking straight out for accomodation, the firm will come back to you with the appropriate support they would be happy to give you.

From door to door it would be around 2 hours each way - a half an hour walk from my home to the station, then an hour train ride into london, then abt a half hour ish to take the underground and walk to the firm.

I had considered simply asking about what kind of support is available but ideally i’d like accommodation. Covering travel costs would obviously help but the main issue for me is the 4 hours every day. I would really like to ask about accommodation but im nervous they will say they can cover travel costs and then i seem rude by essentially saying that is not enough. I could stick it out for only a week, but this scheme is 3 weeks long and i dont really know if i can handle 4 hours a every day for that long, especially if it means i have less time to work on the assignments given during the scheme.

Are vac schemers typically expected to pay for travel costs out of the money paid for the scheme? The travel costs would be almost half of the money paid in total.

 

[Apple]

From door to door it would be around 2 hours each way - a half an hour walk from my home to the station, then an hour train ride into london, then abt a half hour ish to take the underground and walk to the firm.

I had considered simply asking about what kind of support is available but ideally i’d like accommodation. Covering travel costs would obviously help but the main issue for me is the 4 hours every day. I would really like to ask about accommodation but im nervous they will say they can cover travel costs and then i seem rude by essentially saying that is not enough. I could stick it out for only a week, but this scheme is 3 weeks long and i dont really know if i can handle 4 hours a every day for that long, especially if it means i have less time to work on the assignments given during the scheme.

Are vac schemers typically expected to pay for travel costs out of the money paid for the scheme? The travel costs would be almost half of the money paid in total.

some firms will give you an advance on the vac scheme pay which you can put towards accommodation costs.

 

[johnnysins]

Anybody else still waiting on Sidley post interview for the Spring/Summer scheme?

 

[Jessica Booker]

From door to door it would be around 2 hours each way - a half an hour walk from my home to the station, then an hour train ride into london, then abt a half hour ish to take the underground and walk to the firm.

I had considered simply asking about what kind of support is available but ideally i’d like accommodation. Covering travel costs would obviously help but the main issue for me is the 4 hours every day. I would really like to ask about accommodation but im nervous they will say they can cover travel costs and then i seem rude by essentially saying that is not enough. I could stick it out for only a week, but this scheme is 3 weeks long and i dont really know if i can handle 4 hours a every day for that long, especially if it means i have less time to work on the assignments given during the scheme.

Are vac schemers typically expected to pay for travel costs out of the money paid for the scheme? The travel costs would be almost half of the money paid in total.

You are not going to seem rude unless your tone and language is such. The firm advertises it offers this support, so it is reasonable for you to enquire as to whether accommodation would be possible. Explain the route - the walk, the train and then travelling in central London. Even if the firm cannot offer accommodation they may be able to cover the cost of a taxi to and from the station so your journey is reduced a little. But see what the offer you by explaining what your journey will be and what your circumstances are.

The firm will have a policy on what they consider and what they won't - so by you giving them a clear picture of what you will experience with your commute/your circumstances will allow the firm to determine whether you have met the criteria for this policy or not.

And its not an issue if you don't meet the criteria - this does not impact your candidacy.

 

[fTS3002]

Should I assume PFO if I haven't received the test post app for SH? :/

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

You are not going to seem rude unless your tone and language is such. The firm advertises it offers this support, so it is reasonable for you to enquire as to whether accommodation would be possible. Explain the route - the walk, the train and then travelling in central London. Even if the firm cannot offer accommodation they may be able to cover the cost of a taxi to and from the station so your journey is reduced a little. But see what the offer you by explaining what your journey will be and what your circumstances are.

The firm will have a policy on what they consider and what they won't - so by you giving them a clear picture of what you will experience with your commute/your circumstances will allow the firm to determine whether you have met the criteria for this policy or not.

And its not an issue if you don't meet the criteria - this does not impact your candidacy.

Would it be okay if I simply phrased it as enquiring about the support and then emphasising the 4 hour commute each day? Do firms that advertise help with accommodation actually do so or do they only really help with travel costs as a rule?

 

[Chris Brown]

Should I assume PFO if I haven't received the test post app? :/

I’m assuming this is for SH. If it is, I don’t think you should assume PFO this early! While they do review applications on a rolling basis, they do not make any offer decisions until after the final deadline. The deadline for SH was the 28th of Feb, which was around 2 1/2 weeks ago, so it hasn’t been that much time! I think SH only began to send test invites out mid last week. 🙂

I think they have been mostly focused on processing Spring VS applicants first (test invite / VS offers). Once they have completed this, they will most likely then move on to Summer VS applicants. A few of us applied for both Spring and Summer VS, but put Spring VS down as our first choice for the VS. I think I applied for Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2. 🙂

Based on what some people have told me who applied for the Summer VS in previous cycles, they didn’t receive the online test invite until around mid April onwards! Best of luck for SH. I am sure you will hear back positively from them soon! No news is good news! 🙂​

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Would love to know what questions people ask the recruitment team at the end of an online interview!

Thank you very much!

I ask always ask them "when can I expect to hear back?"

and they never tell the truth <3

honestly though personally I don't have much to ask grad rec besides that, and you don't have to either

 

[fTS3002]

I’m assuming this is for SH. If it is, I don’t think you should assume PFO this early! While they do review applications on a rolling basis, they do not make any decisions until after the final deadline. The deadline for SH was the 28th of Feb, which was around 2 1/2 weeks ago, so it hasn’t been that much time! I think SH only began to send test invites out mid last week. 🙂

I think they have been focused on processing Spring VS applicants first (test invite / VS offers). Once they have completed this, they will most likely then move on to Summer VS applicants. A few of us applied for both Spring and Summer VS, but put Spring VS down as our first choice for the VS. I think I applied for Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2. 🙂

Based on what some people have told me who applied for the Summer VS in previous cycles, they didn’t receive the online test invite until around mid April onwards! Best of luck for SH. I am sure you will hear back positively from them soon! No news is good news! 🙂​

Thank you for your response, this is really helpful! Congrats on all the vac scheme offers!!

 

[student353]

Should I assume PFO if I haven't received the test post app for SH? :/

Don’t stress too much about it! I know for a fact (I had a call explaining circumstances) that they are processing the summer intake later and focusing on the spring (they stated that over the phone). Don’t give up hope; they will definitely get back to you!

 

[James Wakefield]

Should I assume PFO if I haven't received the test post app for SH? :/

I’m not one for false hope on this and I’m still waiting for a test like you. :/

There’s a lot of positivity on this forum, which is great, but often a lot of very optimistic reassurance.

I personally think SH have probably sent out all their tests by now. Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong and I’ll come back and apologise if that’s the case. 😅

 

[trainee4u]

Should I assume PFO if I haven't received the test post app for SH? :/

when did you apply?

 

[Miss Chocolate]

@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu Hi I am currently struggling to pick between two paralegal job offers. Am I OK to message you to get your advice? Thanks!!

 

[fTS3002]

when did you apply?

applied a day before the deadline

 

[trainee4u]

applied a day before the deadline

I applied on the deadline and haven't heard anything; I thought my application was quite 'ok', so I'm working on the assumption that they've not read them all yet, but who knows.

I got progressed last year, and I hope/think my application this year was better.

 

[nosnehpets]

Hi all - is anyone aware of where I might be able to find information about smaller-scale firms in London and the surrounding area that are still accepting Summer VS applications?

 

[congrades]

@Jessica Booker @Ram Sabaratnam (or really anyone on here!) would you happen to know if Morgan Lewis reads applications if you fail the SJT? Or is it effectively unread? I want to reapply for the training contract after a VS rejection at application stage this cycle (that I suspect was my poor track record with SJTs) and I worked really hard on my answers and I cannot comprehend a way to make them better - I was just wondering if it's ok to reuse them? Thank you!