TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Andrei Radu]

Any tips on how to approach a cover letter for Accutrainee? A bit stuck as it is very different from a traditional law firm

I think the 'Why law' and 'Why you' sections should not end up being too different from responses you would write in traditional law firm cover letters. The 'Why Accutrainee' part will however end up looking more unique, as Accutrainee operates a unique TC model which involves seconding its trainees for periods lasting from 3 to 12 months to various law firms and companies with in house positions. Three main benefits of that include (i) an opportunity to experience work and training in a variety of organizations, which can make for a more interesting TC experience and might mean you will be in a more informed position to decide what you want to do post-qualification; (ii) a higher likelihood of getting exposure to substantive legal work, as companies and law firms will only use Accutrainee when they have a shortage of trainees for their projects; and (iii) an opportunity to make connections in many businesses and expand your professional network.

In terms of drawbacks, this TC might be more unpredictable than the traditional one and will necessitate an ability to integrate quickly into new organizations. This is because you might move many times between very different types of firms and companies, who operate in different practice areas/sectors/market segments, who have different client bases, sizes of teams, cultures, and training approaches. Thus, I believe it will be essential to highlight your adaptability; and explain why for you this type of experience is actually an exciting opportunity more than anything else.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Thank you so much @Andrei Radu can I ask how long I should be aiming to speak for as whilst practising, my first point took me 2 minutes which is too long

The acceptable time you take when responding to a quite broad question of this sort will vary depending on the context. In my case, in one interview I took around 6-7 minutes or so to go through my entire response for a 'Why the firm' question and the partners absolutely loved it. That said, this was a rather exceptional situation. I had come prepared with a shorter version of my answer but I noticed I was getting very positive cues whenever I was deviating from my plan and going more in depth (including direct interventions from partners to support/add to my points) and as such I decided to continue doing that (while however making sure to check I was not taking up too much time and reading for any negative cues - such as partners checking their watches, seeing them get impatient etc). I think for a 'Why firm' question it is also the case that there is simply more detailed and impressive analysis you can always make, which is not the case for every explanation of a competency and experience (as here, more detail does not always tend to add something).

But to come back to your question, for a general 'Why you' question I think a response time of around 3 minutes should generally be fine. As such, I would advise you to prepare a version of your answer fitting that time frame. If you think this will necessarily mean foregoing to mention some relevant details, you can do what I did and prepare a longer-form version as well. Then, you can assess the context and simply make a judgement call on the day as to the level of detail you want to go into for every part of the answer.

 

[thelawstudent]

@Jessica Booker can i apply to 2027 tc's, and request to pushback to sept 2028? i would be doing gdl and sqe post grad (i grad in 2026)

 

[mulan0]

The acceptable time you take when responding to a quite broad question of this sort will vary depending on the context. In my case, in one interview I took around 6-7 minutes or so to go through my entire response for a 'Why the firm' question and the partners absolutely loved it. That said, this was a rather exceptional situation. I had come prepared with a shorter version of my answer but I noticed I was getting very positive cues whenever I was deviating from my plan and going more in depth (including direct interventions from partners to support/add to my points) and as such I decided to continue doing that (while however making sure to check I was not taking up too much time and reading for any negative cues - such as partners checking their watches, seeing them get impatient etc). I think for a 'Why firm' question it is also the case that there is simply more detailed and impressive analysis you can always make, which is not the case for every explanation of a competency and experience (as here, more detail does not always tend to add something).

But to come back to your question, for a general 'Why you' question I think a response time of around 3 minutes should generally be fine. As such, I would advise you to prepare a version of your answer fitting that time frame. If you think this will necessarily mean foregoing to mention some relevant details, you can do what I did and prepare a longer-form version as well. Then, you can assess the context and simply make a judgement call on the day as to the level of detail you want to go into for every part of the answer.

That’s so helpful thankyou😁!!

 

[Andrei Radu]

does anyone have any advice on how to approach the Kinglsey Napley TC questions? So odd!

Hi @baj5 I would love to give some input - could you post the questions here?

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker can i apply to 2027 tc's, and request to pushback to sept 2028? i would be doing gdl and sqe post grad (i grad in 2026)

Generally no - it would be better to wait for the 2028 cycle to open than apply now. A firm would see what stage of your academics you are in and then most likely reject you anyway as you could not start by that start date - in the exact same way they would if a 2nd year law student doing a four year LLB would be.

 

[baj5]

Hi @baj5 I would love to give some input - could you post the questions here?

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

 

[trainee4u]

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

Bit odd. I've seen "use AI to answer the question" and then "criticise the AI answer" questions before. This can be quite easy to work with as the AI can make lots of silly mistakes.

These questions don't appear to be "use AI", but simply "find the best location given our client base and practice areas". 5 seconds on their website shows they specifically market American, Anglo-French, and Dubai and UAE as areas of speciality, so these are obvious starting points.

then the second question is:

"what problems are with the location in Q1".

There's an additional issue in that KN doesn't have any overseas offices, so part of your answer to Q2 could reference the challenge of opening overseas offices for firms that are currently single location City firms, and follow that up with perhaps research on challenges faced by international law firms in those jurisdictions, which could be competition, local regulations, etc.

 

[baj5]

Bit odd. I've seen "use AI to answer the question" and then "criticise the AI answer" questions before. This can be quite easy to work with as the AI can make lots of silly mistakes.

These questions don't appear to be "use AI", but simply "find the best location given our client base and practice areas". 5 seconds on their website shows they specifically market American, Anglo-French, and Dubai and UAE as areas of speciality, so these are obvious starting points.

then the second question is:

"what problems are with the location in Q1".

There's an additional issue in that KN doesn't have any overseas offices, so part of your answer to Q2 could reference the challenge of opening overseas offices for firms that are currently single location City firms, and follow that up with perhaps research on challenges faced by international law firms in those jurisdictions, which could be competition, local regulations, etc.

that's a great starting point/ approach. Thank you for the input!

 

[floral.tcla]

Is anyone else who’s going to linklater’s event tomorrow also returning to Cambridge University in the evening? If so, pls message me so we can walk together (I don’t want to walk by myself in the dark at 10:30pm😭🙏)

 

[g.cl.2020344]

any news from Orrick post AC?

 

[Justin]

Hello, I have recently been offered a VS at a regional firm but I still have outstanding applications which I will hear back after the deadline to reply to the firm. Does anyone have any advice or has had similar issues in accepting an offer but withdrawing depending if other firms send subsequent offers and the schemes run within the same timeframe?

Thanks!

 

[Paul Jules Steullet]

Love this! It’ll be a great chance to see how things work from both a contentious and transactional perspective. Let us know if you have any questions, and good luck on the vacation scheme!

Thanks! I’m so excited!

 

[andrecsaa]

here you go!

Kingsley Napley is considering setting up a new office overseas. Which location would you suggest, given our broad range of practice areas and client base? (Feel free to use any research tool or AI platform to help you with your answer) (250)
Please critique the answer above in your own words and without the use of AI. What problems, if any, do you see with this location for Kingsley Napley specifically? (250)

You can check it out where other firms are opening and closing offices.

If it helps, AG took over Linklaters' premises in Warsaw, expanding to the Polish market (https://www.addleshawgoddard.com/en...onal-reach-addition-linklaters-warsaw-office/). Meanwhile, Mayer Brown shut down the office in Mexico (https://www.globallegalpost.com/new...rio-of-partners-launching-new-firm-2102121408).

BCLP, Reed Smith, Kirkland, L&W, White & Case, Baker McKenzie and Quinn are establishing new businesses in Saudi Arabia (https://www.ziplaw.uk/why-are-law-firms-betting-big-on-saudi-arabia/). I would also look for big law operating in Dubai and Africa.

 

[trainee4u]

Hello, I have recently been offered a VS at a regional firm but I still have outstanding applications which I will hear back after the deadline to reply to the firm. Does anyone have any advice or has had similar issues in accepting an offer but withdrawing depending if other firms send subsequent offers and the schemes run within the same timeframe?

Thanks!

There is no issue with withdrawing from a VS after acceptance when you get a better offer - but obviously do so as soon as you have certainty, out of courtesy to others involved. (You might also be able to negotiate to do both schemes, depending on the circumstances.)

 

[LawHopeful1]

I know this isn’t related to vac schemes (is there a more appropriate thread for this question?) but I’m starting as a paralegal soon and it’ll be my first job/proper work experience, I feel quite out of my depth and am struggling with a little bit of imposter syndrome- worried that I’ll make mistakes/won’t be as good as I hope to be, etc. does anyone have any tips or advice? Thank you!

 

[Justin]

There is no issue with withdrawing from a VS after acceptance when you get a better offer - but obviously do so as soon as you have certainty, out of courtesy to others involved. (You might also be able to negotiate to do both schemes, depending on the circumstances.)

Thank you!

 

[NJS]

I know this isn’t related to vac schemes (is there a more appropriate thread for this question?) but I’m starting as a paralegal soon and it’ll be my first job/proper work experience, I feel quite out of my depth and am struggling with a little bit of imposter syndrome- worried that I’ll make mistakes/won’t be as good as I hope to be, etc. does anyone have any tips or advice? Thank you!

You will receive proper training to get you up and running, and you'll be suprised how much you willl learn in a month working, it's not as scary as it seems, don't be afraid to ask for help and you'll be an expert in no time

 

[User5678]

I know this isn’t related to vac schemes (is there a more appropriate thread for this question?) but I’m starting as a paralegal soon and it’ll be my first job/proper work experience, I feel quite out of my depth and am struggling with a little bit of imposter syndrome- worried that I’ll make mistakes/won’t be as good as I hope to be, etc. does anyone have any tips or advice? Thank you!

Oh don’t worry about it at all, you’ll get proper training and it’s normal to make mistakes in your first two-three months. It gets better every month and people are very understanding and will guide you. I made lots of mistakes in my first months and people were super helpful whether it’s other paralegals trainees or associates. I understand the imposter syndrome feeling as I felt it until I started going to work for a few days when I started by first legal job and I’m also an international with a different accent but it’s all in our heads, people are usually very sweet and supportive/welcoming and once you start you will be absolutely fine. You will get comfortable very fast and mistakes will reduce everyday, just focus on getting better and make sure you keep a notepad to note down the mistakes the associates tell you about so you don’t repeat them as it’s very easy to forget the points they make especially if it’s your first law job and they may seem minor but it makes a difference overall (I did this and it was very helpful to go back and refer to them when a similar task was given) Lastly, when you hit the three month mark, you’re already a pro Best of luck to you, you’re gonna ace it!!

 

[BillSikes]

'Diversify work experience' is a phrase I have heard frequently re TC applications and how this appeals to firms. How much truth is there in this?