TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[g.cl.2020344]

still nothing from OC?

Still nothing!!

 

[agx]

Has anyone heard from disney post online-test?

 

[wantatc]

Has anyone heard from disney post online-test?

Just an email saying they got the results and would reply ASAP

 

[GV]

Has anyone heard back from Linklaters for the Link Up event next month?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Did an AC for a direct TC and they offered me the Vac Scheme, unsure how to feel??

Was this for OC?

 

[trainee4u]

I was wondering about alternative sites too as the lawyer and law.com have always been a nuisance

thelawyer uses Wordpress back end. Said Wordpress REST API is publicly exposed, and contains all the content for all the articles in JSON.

thelawyer has made a rather basic attempt to obfuscate this by adding a second / (which doesn't change its destination) and then blocking accesses to the normal single / on their firewall, but this doesn't stop you viewing the content.

afaict law com's content is free to read!?

 

[LiveLaughLawyer]

Anyone with any insight into Mishcon's assessment centre ? Could you please message me.
I can provide insight into many many law firms

 

[A worried graduate]

thelawyer uses Wordpress back end. Said Wordpress REST API is publicly exposed, and contains all the content for all the articles in JSON.

thelawyer has made a rather basic attempt to obfuscate this by adding a second / (which doesn't change its destination) and then blocking accesses to the normal single / on their firewall, but this doesn't stop you viewing the content.

afaict law com's content is free to read!?

Maybe it’s just the rankings that cost

 

[A worried graduate]

As @Jesscia Booker said, there is not a right or wrong answer as this will be highly dependent on one's circumstances; moreover, I definitely do not think the choice is a 'decisive' one, in that there are plenty of people who succeed with both approaches. That said, if I were in this position, the following would be the central factors in my decision-making:

1. How easily can you self-finance? Would parents or family be able (and willing) to cover it, or would you need to take any debt? If the latter, this would be a huge minus. However, even if you can self-fund, if this will make a significant dent into your/your family's savings, this is also a factor to consider.
2. What does your applications history look like? Have you gave it your all (making lots and lots of high quality applications, have through research on each firm, went to firm events, kept up with commercial awareness etc) consistently and still not succeeded? If so, perhaps it is a good idea to do the SQE to boost your candidate profile - since there would not that much you can do independently of such a boost to significantly improve success chances. If however your application cycle efforts have not quite been up to the (quite high) standard I was describing above, perhaps it is worth another shot; particularly as if you do not do the SQE you would have a lot more time to invest to ensure you do everything right and maximize your chances to score well in every assessment criterion.
3. Would there be anything else I can and want to do besides applications if I do not self-fund the SQE, or would this just be a 'gap year'? Of course, another job/do a postgrad would clash with the idea of not doing the SQE to have all the time in the world for applications. However, if you could take on a part-time role or enroll in a course that is not very demanding (at least during the main application cycle months), this could serve the SQE's function to boost your candidate profile.
4. What firms are you targeting? Apparently, different firms care to a different extent whether you have already completed the SQE. While the cost-saving involved would likely be a benefit in the eyes of any firm, the level to which this will increase your chances will vary. Anecdotally, US firms in particular but MC firms as well tend to care less about it; whereas more mid-market firms tend to care more. The reason would be that the former category simply have a significantly stronger financial position, and as such, the savings involved in not having to sponsor your SQE would be more of a drop in a bucket than for the latter.

As a bonus point

Self-funding prevents you from doing GSA’s which is how most in-house “TC’s” are arranged

 

[LiveLaughLawyer]

If you're participating in the spring vacation scheme at Mishcon. Could you please PM me

 

[tomaspessanha]

Anyone with any insight into Mishcon's assessment centre ? Could you please message me.
I can provide insight into many many law firms

Hey. Could you tell me when Mishcon got back to you after VI?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Did an AC for a direct TC and they offered me the Vac Scheme, unsure how to feel??

I would see that as a positive. Is there any reason you wouldn’t be able to do the vacation scheme?

 

[M_m]

Anyone else heard back from OC post-SVS AC?

 

[highplane08]

I had an AC today and was wondering if it was customary to send a thank you email to those that interviewed me? I've heard some people say they always send one out after their AC but also others that say they don't.

 

[Chris Brown]

Would it seem weird to schedule """coffee chats""" (as people call them) and then drink water/another non-coffee beverage?

I completely second @Jessica Booker on this although I wish I knew it back in the day - speaking from personal experience, you do not want to end up having drank your 5th coffee of the day at 4pm 🥲

This might sound like a very dumb question but is there any kind of template or ideal structure to use in an email when scheduling “coffee chats” with lawyers in a firm during a VS? Would it change depending on whether it’s a trainee, associate or partner (i.e., more formal if it’s a partner)? Is there an expectation for people on the VS to know this type of stuff already? I don’t know how this process works at all. 😅

Also, how would a vac schemer know whether it is appropriate to try schedule one in the first instance? What if a situation arises where a coffee chat was scheduled, but due to a sudden change, it had to be postponed or cancelled? How should someone go about explaining this to the associate or partner who was invited? I guess this is me overthinking all the small things lmao. Any advice would be appreciated! Please help. 🥲

@Andrei Radu, @Amma Usman, @Ram Sabaratnam, @Jessica Booker.​

 

[legallyblonde7542]

still nothing from OC?

Received OC PFO today

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

CRS Spring VS! Does anyone have tips or resources to prepare for a pre-VS written assessment?

Amazing job @loe!!! They're an excellent firm!

Assuming the written assessment is similar to the one I completed in 2023, it's a fairly standard commercial/business-style task designed to test both your commercial awareness and your communication skills. I think the key to the task is demonstrating your ability to understand and analyse business scenarios from a client's perspective and then clearly articulating your advice in a concise, client-friendly manner.

To prepare effectively, I'd strongly recommend familiarising yourself with the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis method. Practising SWOT analyses on various businesses or commercial scenarios can help sharpen your ability to quickly identify relevant factors influencing a business decision. This skill will be especially useful in assessing opportunities or risks in the assessment scenario CRS gives you. I'm not sure if the TCLA written exercises have exactly the same scenario, but you may want to look into any practice exercises that involve scenarios that require such analysis. In addition to strengthening your analytical skills, I'd also take a stab at practising drafting memos or emails in clear, straightforward language (imagine you're addressing a client who might not have legal expertise). Aim for a balance of detail and simplicity, ensuring your advice is both professional and easily understandable.

Good luck with the written exercise!

 

[l789]

For freshfields vac scheme and direct TC, is it just the 850 word statement or do we have to fill out work experience entries as well.

 

[loe]

Amazing job @loe!!! They're an excellent firm!

Assuming the written assessment is similar to the one I completed in 2023, it's a fairly standard commercial/business-style task designed to test both your commercial awareness and your communication skills. I think the key to the task is demonstrating your ability to understand and analyse business scenarios from a client's perspective and then clearly articulating your advice in a concise, client-friendly manner.

To prepare effectively, I'd strongly recommend familiarising yourself with the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis method. Practising SWOT analyses on various businesses or commercial scenarios can help sharpen your ability to quickly identify relevant factors influencing a business decision. This skill will be especially useful in assessing opportunities or risks in the assessment scenario CRS gives you. I'm not sure if the TCLA written exercises have exactly the same scenario, but you may want to look into any practice exercises that involve scenarios that require such analysis. In addition to strengthening your analytical skills, I'd also take a stab at practising drafting memos or emails in clear, straightforward language (imagine you're addressing a client who might not have legal expertise). Aim for a balance of detail and simplicity, ensuring your advice is both professional and easily understandable.

Good luck with the written exercise!

Thank you!!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

For freshfields vac scheme and direct TC, is it just the 850 word statement or do we have to fill out work experience entries as well.

Hiya @l789

From what I can tell, Freshfields now uses the Candid/Vantage application system. As a result, I'm almost certain that you can now include your work experience alongside the traditional 850-word personal statement. Unlike previous application cycles, where it was primarily just the personal statement, the new platform asks applicants to provide structured entries detailing their work experience. I’d still recommend double-checking this directly with Freshfields' graduate recruitment team, just to be absolutely certain. Good luck!