TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[legallybrunette8]

got shortlisted for an interview at a high street firm for their Easter scheme! my first small win of the year

just got rejected post-VI for this firm and it's genuinely making me so sad. it was the least competitive out of all the firms I applied to, and I felt more confident in that VI than i did for my other firms. just really sucks man because i just keep feeling worse about myself and i don't even know what firms are looking for anymore 😐

 

[sxw517]

I would love to understand why they have adopted this policy.

Same, doesn't really make sense to me.

Are you applying to their VS or Direct TC?

 

[BM99]

NRF VI

 

[elektrajenkov]

Congratulations!! When is the interview, did they give you a date yet?

Thank you! In the email, there was a link to sign up for a time slot for a interview on the grad recruitment person's calendar. Availability was until March 12th. It was direct with her calendar though, not a general GR one!

 

[Sharon Wu]

I would love to understand why they have adopted this policy.

“These placements are for those looking to gain experience in a City practice and will give participants experience of life at the firm and the work our lawyers do“

Work placements (Law Careers Net)
“...specifically target students that meet our diversity priority criteria ie BAME, social mobility and disability.”

 

[S87]

Same, doesn't really make sense to me.

Are you applying to their VS or Direct TC?

Honestly? I do not know because they are widely known for their transactional work, although I have some experience in this area, there is another team that is capturing my attention (Tier 2 and incredible cases) and aligns with my professional experience. However, I am worried that, if I do not refer to their transactional work,my app will not be selected.

 

[kcr]

Just looking for some advice: I have a VS place and a TC interview coming up. I'm waiting to hear back from a few firms but they will likely be rejections. I'm not sure if I should continue to send applications or take a break and focus on ensuring that the VS/TC interview converts into a TC offer.

Is anybody in a similar situation/has dealt with a similar situation in the past? Your insights are highly valuable

 

[S87]

“These placements are for those looking to gain experience in a City practice and will give participants experience of life at the firm and the work our lawyers do“

Work placements (Law Careers Net)
“...specifically target students that meet our diversity priority criteria ie BAME, social mobility and disability.”

Thank you @Sharon Wu

 

[futuretrainee2024]

Not sure this is the right place to ask but I recently booked a mock interview with TCLA and have been trying to reschedule it since I can no longer attend it but I haven’t been successful. Can anybody advise what I can do?

on the confirmation email there's an option to reschedule at the end

 

[Aliceczernia]

Anyone heard from SH?

 

[futuretrainee2024]

assuming im successful, what if I can't pick up the TS call? do they email?

 

[s2203]

assuming im successful, what if I can't pick up the TS call? do they email?

Nah they’ll leave you a voicemail to call them back Last year GR left me a voicemail and I was able to schedule a time which was best suited for me. They’ll then email you a confirmation of your interview slot and the GR partner who is interviewing you.

also, don’t be afraid to book your interview at the latest slot available (if that is the most con for you). My interview was on the last day they were holding interviews and I heard back two days later with an offer via email

 

[aspiringlawyer47]

just got rejected post-VI for this firm and it's genuinely making me so sad. it was the least competitive out of all the firms I applied to, and I felt more confident in that VI than i did for my other firms. just really sucks man because i just keep feeling worse about myself and i don't even know what firms are looking for anymore 😐

Hey don’t feel too bad! I had two TC interviews in December last year for a law centre and Accutrainee. I thought I did really well in both and was rejected from both. The law centre rejection was because my competitor had more experience (but all feedback was positive) and Accutrainee basically said I talk too much 🤣. Immediately after, I completed two ACs at international law firms that dwarf both those organisations, and was offered a place on both. The recruitment process for both firms were much harder too. I felt exactly the way you did. “If I can’t even get offers from smaller places, how will I get a place with an international law firm or a magic circle firm?” the answer is you can and you will! Rejection is redirection and that firm just wasn’t the place for you. Do not give up, the right firm is out there, you won’t be able to find it if you stop applying. Use the resources around you (TCLA, your university, your friends, social mobility programmes if you are eligible) and just keep trying ❤️

 

[Cynthia14]

Nah they’ll leave you a voicemail to call them back Last year GR left me a voicemail and I was able to schedule a time which was best suited for me. They’ll then email you a confirmation of your interview slot and the GR partner who is interviewing you.

also, don’t be afraid to book your interview at the latest slot available (if that is the most con for you). My interview was on the last day they were holding interviews and I heard back two days later with an offer via email

when you hear back last year？

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

does anyone know how rolling Baker Mckenzie, BCLP and Addleshaw are? Like do people get sent VIs and invited to interview/AC before the deadline?

 

[isTeapp]

does anyone know how rolling Baker Mckenzie, BCLP and Addleshaw are? Like do people get sent VIs and invited to interview/AC before the deadline?

Baker McKenzie reviews applications, but does not progress you before the deadline, I think.

 

[legallybrunette8]

Hey don’t feel too bad! I had two TC interviews in December last year for a law centre and Accutrainee. I thought I did really well in both and was rejected from both. The law centre rejection was because my competitor had more experience (but all feedback was positive) and Accutrainee basically said I talk too much 🤣. Immediately after, I completed two ACs at international law firms that dwarf both those organisations, and was offered a place on both. The recruitment process for both firms were much harder too. I felt exactly the way you did. “If I can’t even get offers from smaller places, how will I get a place with an international law firm or a magic circle firm?” the answer is you can and you will! Rejection is redirection and that firm just wasn’t the place for you. Do not give up, the right firm is out there, you won’t be able to find it if you stop applying. Use the resources around you (TCLA, your university, your friends, social mobility programmes if you are eligible) and just keep trying ❤️

thank you so much for this!! that's honestly how i felt because the rejection email literally said "although you came across well, unfortunately...", and it feels so discouraging if even these 'smaller' firms think i'm not good enough for them.
but you're right, i shouldn't let that rejection get to me that easily but it really does feel disheartening when you think a firm is the perfect match for you but they don't. but anyway! life moves on, will just keep applying until someone says yes 😌

 

[s2203]

L

when you hear back last year？

They called me 7th March, interview on 17th, then offer on the 20th

 

[Miss Chocolate]

This isn't a vac scheme question so sorry for randomly putting this here, but I applied for a law-related but non-legal graduate role with a company in London and the recruiter has not been in touch? I did the online test beginning January and since then have reached out to her by email but have had nothing back lol shall I just assume they aren't going to take me forward in the application process but haven't bothered to tell me?

 

[GWJlaw]

Congratulations on securing an offer first of all!! You should be so proud!

Secondly, I personally would choose what suits you best in terms of university work and other commitments. I personally think that there is no benefits in doing one or the other if a firm offers multiple. I would say that I did the spring scheme at a firm last year and more offers were offered in the spring scheme cohort then the summer one, so this is something I would take into account.

However, it depends on the firm, some firms do have stricter conversion rate so joining either scheme will not matter as much. In conclusion, I would say that it depends on you and your free time, but the spring scheme, in my opinion, if you are free to do it, might give you more chances purely based on the fact that it happens before.

In terms of tips to prepare for a vacation scheme, I shared some tips in this post which I think would be beneficial to you: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-168253

Good luck!

Thank you so much, and your insights have been instrumental in my application cycles success ! All the best.