TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

Quick question - if a law firm requires you to take a conversion course with a specific provider, do they tend to care where you take it across the country or are they normally flexible? Thank you!!

If the provider has different locations, they tend to not worry about where you do it. I have known with some firms that maintenance grants to be slightly lower if you are not going to be based in London though, so that may be something to check with the firm at the offer stage/before you accept.

 

[abbiewhitlock03]

If the provider has different locations, they tend to not worry about where you do it. I have known with some firms that maintenance grants to be slightly lower if you are not going to be based in London though, so that may be something to check with the firm at the offer stage/before you accept.

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

 

[jta227]

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

Might depend on the firm but I don't think this is the case generally - you can use the grant for whatever you want and the grant is tied to the location of study only. If you have to attend classes in London and live slightly outside it then that's actually a further reason to require the money to pay for travel.

Many more senior lawyers don't even live in London, they move to a more quiet commuter town/somewhere on the outskirts of London with their family, but they still make a London salary!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thanks so much! Do you know when the Vac Scheme tasks/classes will start?

The webinars have already started, as well as the 1-2-1 calls, which are available now to book into. The first webinar is recorded and available on the courses platform if you were unable to attend.

The vacation scheme exercises will be available from last April.

 

[Jessica Booker]

As a follow up question - if they only have a London office and expect you to complete the SQE in London, would they mind if you didn't live in London? I know that the commute would obviously be something to deal with, but would they expect you to live in London in order to get the maintenance grant they offer? E.g. to use for commuting to London etc.

I appreciate you may not have an answer, and I would definitely ask the firm if it ever came to it. Thank you!

For the GDL, you generally don’t need to be in London. It’s not a bespoke course, so if their course provider has different locations, I strongly suspect you’d be able to do it at any of the locations.

It would only be of the firm has a very bespoke conversion course that you might be limited to London.

If you are commuting into a course in London, then your maintenance grant is likely to be based on you being in London.

 

[fairbourne]

does anyone know if Haynes Boone recruits on a rolling basis?

 

[OrangeCherry1800]

anyone heard from OC?

 

[chlawstudent]

Anyone who did Cripps AC last week heard anything yet?

 

[Kodak123]

Anyone heard back post AC for ropes?

 

[jojo23]

Nothing from stephenson harwood guys?

 

[Applebanana425]

anyone heard from OC?

They are taking their time! (unless offers are already out)

 

[jfb]

Nothing from stephenson harwood guys?

Nope! I am refreshing my emails constantly. I think because some spring people heard on Monday I have hope we'll hear soon but who knows...

 

[Pinksilly8]

Nope! I am refreshing my emails constantly. I think because some spring people heard on Monday I have hope we'll hear soon but who knows...

Some people got offers on Monday?

 

[jfb]

Some people got offers on Monday?

Yeah, a few people commented on this thread that they got a spring VS with Stephenson Harwood.

 

[MilkMaid]

Does anyone have any guidance on how to respond to a firm asking which firm you have accepted a training contract with?

I received a vacation scheme offer from Firm A but I also received a training contract offer from Firm B around the same time. I decided to accept the training contract offer with Firm B, so I emailed to withdraw from Firm A's vacation scheme. This was over a week ago, and Firm A acknowledged my email and wished me well for the future etc. Firm A has now emailed me today to ask which firm I've accepted the training contract offer with.

I don't really understand why they would be asking this? Does anyone have any advice?

 

[jojo23]

Nope! I am refreshing my emails constantly. I think because some spring people heard on Monday I have hope we'll hear soon but who knows...

Me too but all I'm getting is emails from indeed and linkedin 💀

 

[Aimanhussain004]

Yeah, a few people commented on this thread that they got a spring VS with Stephenson Harwood.

Do you know how many people have heard back about the VS? I did my assessment last Friday and haven't heard back

 

[RaniaH062002]

General question if you've done an insight scheme with a firm- is it a good idea to include it in an application with another firm?

 

[Pinksilly8]

Yeah, a few people commented on this thread that they got a spring VS with Stephenson Harwood.

Ahh have you received any emails from them since?

 

[jojo23]

General question if you've done an insight scheme with a firm- is it a good idea to include it in an application with another firm?

Shows interest and engagement in the industry so why not👀