TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Chris Brown]

Hi guys,

Posting this on Breezy’s behalf as he is currently on a Spring VS, so isn’t active on this account at the moment. I am a close friend of his and he has trusted me to manage his account until he comes back from his VS.

Breezy has received a first-round interview invite from Paul Hastings for their Phirst Steps SVS. Does anyone have any advice or insight into this interview? For reference Breezy said he applied 1-2 days before the deadline.​

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi guys,

Posting this on Breezy’s behalf as he is currently on a Spring VS, so isn’t active on this account at the moment. I am a close friend of his and he has trusted me to manage his account until he comes back from his VS.

Breezy has received a first-round interview invite from Paul Hastings for their Phirst Steps SVS. Does anyone have any advice or insight into this interview? For reference Breezy said he applied 1-2 days before the deadline.​

No idea lmao but tell Breezy we are thinking of him, missing his positive vibes and hope all is going well with his VS!

 

[LB24]

Gateley Manchester VS offer!!

 

[jojo23]

Anybody heard from the BBC legal diversity thing?
They said today in the emails...

 

[SonghaivAngel]

Hi guys,

Posting this on Breezy’s behalf as he is currently on a Spring VS, so isn’t active on this account at the moment. I am a close friend of his and he has trusted me to manage his account until he comes back from his VS.

Breezy has received a first-round interview invite from Paul Hastings for their Phirst Steps SVS. Does anyone have any advice or insight into this interview? For reference Breezy said he applied 1-2 days before the deadline.​

Hi, are you able to tell us at what date and time he received the invite?

 

[mhs234]

Hi, received a TI invite for Browne Jacobson. Any specific tips/advice greatly appreciated!

 

[BillSikes]

Hi, received a TI invite for Browne Jacobson. Any specific tips/advice greatly appreciated!

What office?

 

[mhs234]

What office?

London office VS

 

[Justin]

Did anyone else apply for HCR Law? I just got a first round interview but it mentions that the AC, If successful is in Cheltenham, not sure if this is a mistake on my part where I applied, or if theyre all there

I think they’re all there

When is your interview?

 

[floral.tcla]

I haven’t got a VS so I’m seeking other options and I’m sure many of you are too, eg the legal cheek virtual vacation scheme. I’ve been getting emails from Platforum9 about virtual, free legal career experience they apparently offer but idk it seems fishy. Idk how they even got my email address. I was wondering if anyone else has received it?

 

[lolasparks]

Anybody heard from the BBC legal diversity thing?
They said today in the emails...

Did you get the email about still sorting through the shortlist?

 

[allenpopi]

Guys, for written exercises, is it okay to write "executive summary" as the first subheading? Or does it seem too rehearsed?

 

[ad.]

Hi! I was just wondering what everybody’s personal thoughts and opinions are on this:
If you have got upcoming VSs, are you still applying to DTCs to hedge your bets or do you prefer to focus on preparing for and converting your VSs (and take some rest from applications as well)?

 

[jojo23]

Did you get the email about still sorting through the shortlist?

At like 9:30pm yeah😅

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Guys, for written exercises, is it okay to write "executive summary" as the first subheading? Or does it seem too rehearsed?

Hiya @allenpopi

I think it really does depend on the context of the written exercise. If the task is framed as a memo, especially to a partner or client, starting with an “Executive Summary” is not only acceptable but often expected. It shows you understand how to frontload key information in a reader friendly way. During a previous vacation scheme, I was actually called up for failing to include an executive summary in a memo which involved providing advice, particularly since there were many different considerations on the table.

That said, it’s important to match your tone and structure to the specific scenario. If the exercise feels more like a short note, internal email, or something more informal, a labelled executive summary might feel slightly overengineered/rehearesed. In those cases, it’s often better to just incorporate your summary into the first paragraph without a heading. I think a good rule of thumb is to take your cue from how the written task is framed. If it resembles a formal legal memo or briefing note, using "Executive Summary" as a subheading shows you understand professional communication norms. Just make sure it’s actually a summary and not an introduction (keep it brief, focused, and clearly reflective of the content that follows).

Hope that's helpful!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi! I was just wondering what everybody’s personal thoughts and opinions are on this:
If you have got upcoming VSs, are you still applying to DTCs to hedge your bets or do you prefer to focus on preparing for and converting your VSs (and take some rest from applications as well)?

Hiya @ad.

This is definitely a strategy I took during my final application cycle. Even though I had three vacation schemes lined up back-to-back, I still continued to draft direct training contract applications to firms. This wasn't just to hedge my bets, but also because these were firms that I was genuinely interested in. Some of these firms also had healthy direct TC intakes (e.g. Freshfields and White & Case), and I didn’t want to close off those opportunities. Interestingly, I found that I wasn’t alone in taking this strategy. Most people I knew who had multiple schemes were still submitting a handful of direct TC applications alongside their preparation.

I think it's ultimately about what you feel comfortable managing. If you think adding a few more applications won’t burn you out or detract from the schemes you already have, it can be a sensible thing to do. That said, don’t underestimate how intense VSs can be, especially if you're in the lucky position of having several schemes. It’s also okay to focus on rest and prep if that’s what you need.

Good luck with your schemes!

 

[Eajob]

Gateley Manchester VS offer!!

Me too Maybe see you there!

 

[ashwright]

Hi @ashwright and huge congrats on getting to the interview stage 🥳 🥳 I am sure you will nail it! My best advice for you to avoid sounding robotic is to not memorize your answers during your preparation. Instead, I think you should simply aim to remember how to link key competencies/motivations with aspects of a wide set of your experiences, and then to practice as much as you can coming up with good answers on the spot. This way, you will develop the most important interviewing skill of all: an ability to express your thought in articulate manner even if you have not considered the issue in the past. I believe this is essential because (i) no matter how much you prepare, it is unlikely that every single question you will be asked will be one you have memorized an answer for; (ii) even if they are, it is unlikely the exact form and framing of every question fits the specific phrasing you have memorized; and (iii) even if you are extremely lucky in this regard as well and everything fits perfectly, given the nerves you will naturally be experiencing during the interview, it is likely you will inadvertently deviate from your pre-prepared 'optimal' answer, which might then make you overthink the issue and end up derailing your entire performance.

More generally, to keep calm on the day, I have two central pieces of advice: to focus on doing well, not on being perfect, and to aim to speak at a slower pace. I have explained these two tips in a lot more depth in a previous post, I will quote it bellow:

Hi, Andrei! Thank you so, so, so much for your message!! I really appreciate your kindness - it honestly means a lot to me. I followed your advice to a tee and, for the first time in a long time, I feel like the interview went really well!! By linking the key competencies with my experiences, I was able to answer every single question they fired at me! Like you said, there were some questions that I could/did not anticipate in my preparation but thanks to your approach, I was able to answer such questions pretty well, pretty quickly.

The best 'side-effect' of taking your approach was that I was way less anxious since I wasn't worried about forgetting a word in my 'script'. As a result, I was able to crack jokes (where appropriate!) and engage in casual conversation. Whilst I'll hear a response in a couple weeks, I feel content in knowing that my interviewers genuinely seemed engaged with and interested in me. Overall, the interview was a far cry from the gruelling interrogation I was fearing.

Thank you, Andrei. You're genuinely a fantastic person & we are genuinely so lucky to have you here on TCLA. You single-handedly helped me feel less anxious about an interview than anyone else I have come across in my life. The legal profession is going to be all the more better with you being part of it. 🤝

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Gateley Manchester VS offer!!

Me too Maybe see you there!

Well done you two! Hope the scheme goes so well for both of you! (I also went to Manchester for the first time last month and fell in LOVE with that city 😭🥰🔥😩😳😩🥰🥰😭♥️♥️😭🥰🔥).

 

[allenpopi]

Hiya @allenpopi

I think it really does depend on the context of the written exercise. If the task is framed as a memo, especially to a partner or client, starting with an “Executive Summary” is not only acceptable but often expected. It shows you understand how to frontload key information in a reader friendly way. During a previous vacation scheme, I was actually called up for failing to include an executive summary in a memo which involved providing advice, particularly since there were many different considerations on the table.

That said, it’s important to match your tone and structure to the specific scenario. If the exercise feels more like a short note, internal email, or something more informal, a labelled executive summary might feel slightly overengineered/rehearesed. In those cases, it’s often better to just incorporate your summary into the first paragraph without a heading. I think a good rule of thumb is to take your cue from how the written task is framed. If it resembles a formal legal memo or briefing note, using "Executive Summary" as a subheading shows you understand professional communication norms. Just make sure it’s actually a summary and not an introduction (keep it brief, focused, and clearly reflective of the content that follows).

Hope that's helpful!

Amazing, thank you @Ram Sabaratnam !