TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[FoxStella]

I have a spring vacation scheme coming up, does anyone have advice on what I should be preparing in advance?

It seems like its heavily assessed, with group projects, a written task and another partner interview, but not sure what I should be focusing on in prep work!

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

Hey guys, ahead of my vac scheme at Goodwin I would really appreciate any good advice for maximising my chance of converting it into a TC. (For context the VS is a week long.)

My background is non-law and I have never done a vac scheme before so I would be going in blind in a sense. I'm also open to investing in any paid services that anyone would personally recommend.

I selected a few seat preferences but I haven't gotten any confirmation as to where I would be sitting. I know that there will be a written exercise task and a group assessment but that's basically all the info I have.

Separately, but quite randomly, I have been looking to reactivate my premium LinkedIn because I have ran out of personalised invites to send to Trainees at the firm but it's either £30 a month of £180 for a year. Is it worth the investment or should I seek alternative methods such as trying to email for a discount of leaving it altogether?

Hi! In terms of paid services, I would personally recommend the TCLA Accelerator Programme. There's actually a webinar about converting VS with TCLA future trainees tonight at 6pm – I think it might be recorded and accessible even if you sign up to TCLA Accelerator later.

 

[User5678]

think it was only for the Leeds office, I've just emailed them

Thank you for this! Please could you keep us updated in case they reply?

 

[jfb]

Have many people heard back for SH summer?

 

[BillSikes]

I think they’ve got back to people with TIs. It’s probably a PFO at this point but they might not send these out for a while.

I thought the same. Have they not already replied? All was that only for non-London apps

 

[sibs23]

You can just give your faculty's admin office. It does not need to be someone who vouches for you personally - the reference just needs to verify your grades.

The admin office for my uni also refused to do this. The personal tutor had a rule that she would only respond to reference requests from second year students which was really unhelpful. Thankfully, I've never had a law firm actually reach out to academic referees or I don't know what I will do

 

[A worried graduate]

They would have possibly done, but the government is now looking to change apprenticeship funding for Level 7 (degree and graduate level apprenticeships) across all sectors which would stop firms being able to fund this level of apprenticeships through the levy and that effectively they would have to pay the funds themselves (https://feweek.co.uk/all-level-7-apprenticeships-will-be-axed-skills-minister-suggests/)

The changes have not been confirmed yet though but the legal sector is not happy about this as it effectively also puts pressure of them to not take on degree level (e.g. school leavers) into the 6-7 year programmes, something many law firms have put a lot of time and effort into creating and embedding in the past couple of years.

This will be horrendous news and basically kills off the only advantage of the SQE.

Will this have an impact on any GSAs that are applied for in this cycle?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

The admin office for my uni also refused to do this. The personal tutor had a rule that she would only respond to reference requests from second year students which was really unhelpful. Thankfully, I've never had a law firm actually reach out to academic referees or I don't know what I will do

The reference check companies are likely to know if there are certain universities who don't provide this. It is a bizarre attitude to take, especially given how prevalent educational fraud is. Hundreds of thousands of employers will need this information each year, so I suspect there is a way to get the information from the university and the reference check company probably knows how to get it.

If they can't get it, presenting a formal transcript can be an alternative reference check companies are willing to accept.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

This will be horrendous news and basically kills off the only advantage of the SQE.

Will this have an impact on any GSAs that are applied for in this cycle?

The proposal still needs to be implemented - it may not happen, especially given the backlash from many sectors.

It would also only apply to GSAs after a period of time after the proposal was implemented. It would not be backdated for programmes already in progress. Therefore it is unlikely to impact this cycle's GSA, but might stop the 2026 GSA programmes from being recruited. In any instance where anyone was impacted, firms/employers are likely to take people on as normal and fund the training directly or find alternative ways to train, such as the traditional SQE pre TC model.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Does anyone else seem to have more luck with some application websites than others? I have never got past the application stage if the firm uses cvmail...

I have this same exact problem! Makes me feel like I must be inputting something incorrectly on the form or something... might be the more limited word count for work experience though idk

 

[trainee4u]

This will be horrendous news and basically kills off the only advantage of the SQE.

Will this have an impact on any GSAs that are applied for in this cycle?

tbf there are plenty of advantages of SQE, but perhaps not for the average member of this forum.

you can self-study SQE for a few hundred pounds, pay the £5k fees and that's cheaper than GDL.

SQE includes the entire GDL syllabus so GDL doesn't really serve much purpose and in the long run could just be scrapped.

Also you can sit SQE1 and SQE2 six years apart, and for example some employers accept SQE1 alone as proof of legal knowledge (which it is!) to work as a paralegal.

Law firms and the private law universities have chosen not to take much advantage, but in the long term it's likely that things will change more than they have already done.

I'd say the biggest problem is that SQE is far too expensive. The New York bar exam is only $250 ($750 for foreigners).

 

[FM302989]

Quick WG Assumption Q:

For humankind to survive, it must colonise other planets.
Assumption - There will be a time when the Earth can no longer sustain human life.

Am I right in saying that an assumption has been made here?

The only thing I can think of against this is that Earth may very well sustain human life, but not be sufficient. Then again, that would mean that it technically cannot sustain human life, and therefore, the assumption is made.

Also, if I were to invert this: There will be a time when the Earth can sustain human life, then the proposed statement becomes redundant, which should logically indicate that there is an assumption, no?

3.30 am yk, I hate these damn tests.

What is 'humankind'?

 

[trainee4u]

Quick WG Assumption Q:

For humankind to survive, it must colonise other planets.
Assumption - There will be a time when the Earth can no longer sustain human life.

Am I right in saying that an assumption has been made here?

The only thing I can think of against this is that Earth may very well sustain human life, but not be sufficient. Then again, that would mean that it technically cannot sustain human life, and therefore, the assumption is made.

Also, if I were to invert this: There will be a time when the Earth can sustain human life, then the proposed statement becomes redundant, which should logically indicate that there is an assumption, no?

Yes it has been made.

Logic:

1. Negate the assumption: "There will never be a time when Earth can no longer sustain human life."
2. Is the statement still valid? No, the statement is no longer valid - if the Earth will always be able to sustain human life, humankind can survive without colonising other planets.

 

[tomsmitg]

Hi, does anyone know how long it takes slaughters to get back with a decision after they contact your referee?

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Thank you for this! Please could you keep us updated in case they reply?

they said they have received sm applications and will respond in the coming weeks...

 

[User5678]

they said they have received sm applications and will respond in the coming weeks...

This makes me so anxious!!

 

[A worried graduate]

The proposal still needs to be implemented - it may not happen, especially given the backlash from many sectors.

It would also only apply to GSAs after a period of time after the proposal was implemented. It would not be backdated for programmes already in progress. Therefore it is unlikely to impact this cycle's GSA, but might stop the 2026 GSA programmes from being recruited. In any instance where anyone was impacted, firms/employers are likely to take people on as normal and fund the training directly or find alternative ways to train, such as the traditional SQE pre TC model.

What about firms recruiting now for 2026 GSAs who don't fund TCs?

 

[A worried graduate]

tbf there are plenty of advantages of SQE, but perhaps not for the average member of this forum.

you can self-study SQE for a few hundred pounds, pay the £5k fees and that's cheaper than GDL.

SQE includes the entire GDL syllabus so GDL doesn't really serve much purpose and in the long run could just be scrapped.

Also you can sit SQE1 and SQE2 six years apart, and for example some employers accept SQE1 alone as proof of legal knowledge (which it is!) to work as a paralegal.

Law firms and the private law universities have chosen not to take much advantage, but in the long term it's likely that things will change more than they have already done.

I'd say the biggest problem is that SQE is far too expensive. The New York bar exam is only $250 ($750 for foreigners).

Maybe the LPC with some sort of altered curriculum is what should have been needed (perhaps with the GDL being an optional prep course qualification)

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

What about firms recruiting now for 2026 GSAs who don't fund TCs?

Difficult to know exactly beyond either replicating the training model (just outside of the apprenticeship funding) or finding an alternative method.

Probably a good question to ask them at events or at interview, or to check in with the firm if you already have an offer from them.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Maybe the LPC with some sort of altered curriculum is what should have been needed (perhaps with the GDL being an optional prep course qualification)

The SRA won’t go back to the LPC - they need a model of assessment that assesses everyone in the same way, including foreign qualified lawyers and apprentices.

It’s likely to be an assessment rather than a course that needs to be completed for this reason.