guys do u reckon taking a placement year in a law firm gives me a better chance when applying to tc's, and do you think its worth still applying to vac schemes because i have the placement
Hey!
I completed a placement year at a commercial property law firm during my undergraduate degree, and I genuinely couldn't recommend it enough. It is relatively rare to enter your final year of university with a full year of hands-on legal experience, and the skills that you pick up are invaluable.
Beyond the obvious legal exposure, sometimes working in a professional office environment makes a huge difference. During my vacation schemes, I found that simply being comfortable with office normals and professional communication removed a layer of stress that others understandably struggled with if they hadn't had that prior experience. A placement year also gives you a wide range of concrete examples to draw on in training contract applications and interviews - you might have been able to run certain things on your own, interact with clients, or develop specific practice area skills.
On a more general note, the biggest benefit for me was the confidence it gave me. Law firms are ultimately looking for trainees who are proactive and resourceful, and this was something I initially struggled with at the start of my placement year. However, after a year in practice, I became much more comfortable speaking up, volunteering to take on more complex work, and managing tasks on my own. This growth in confidence has carried through into vacation schemes and interviews, and allowed me engage with supervisors and take initiative without second-guessing myself.
In relation to the vacation schemes, I think it is still worth applying if there isn't a clash between the VS and placement. I reached a final stage AC for a vacation scheme that would have run in the summer before I started my placement year and, whilst I was unsuccessful, I would've taken as much experience as I could get! I didn't end up applying for any vacation schemes during my placement year (mainly due to not having the time), but I did attend a few open days and the firm I worked at often let me have the afternoon off to attend as it was a networking opportunity!
Slightly long story short - yes, I would always recommend a placement year if you are able to complete one! I think it was invaluable in my success with applying for VS/TC's last cycle, particularly as a non-RG student, as it gave me something distinctive to offer
