Hello everyone with equally screwed up sleeping patterns
Has any body heard from harbottle and lewis for the dtc?
Has any body heard from harbottle and lewis for the dtc?
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Can only speak to my vac scheme experience, which wasn't a top US or MC, but still top city firm. The lawyers were definitely there until the AMs, but it was made very clear that we were not expected in the office past 5:30 and it might reflect badly on us if we did.
It was framed to us basically like this:
1) As much as your supervisor is happy to help and has volunteered for this, you are basically a nuisance to them and a drain on their resources. Everything you do they need to check throughly and often redo, they need to be low key observing you and collating feedback. Doing this 9-5 is different from doing this 9-indefinitely, and you're giving an already busy lawyer another thing to think about
2) You'll have been given set tasks and assessments that should be appropriate for the time you have/ a little less than that time. You're welcome to seek out more work or seek out coffee chats when you have spare time, but if you're in the office until 1am we will assume you are disorganised and poor at managing your time.
3) It is meant to be an enjoyable experience, there will be organised socials and there will be informal socials, and after doing 8 hours of work they would rather see you enjoying yourself, networking and immersing in the firm culture than doing another 8 hours of work. There will probably be a morning run club, an evening paddle club, one of the inclusion groups might have a social one evening, after work drinks with your team or just other vac schemers. Reach out to the relevant people running these things, explain you're a vac schemes and you'd love to join in. Far more valuable than sitting at your desk.
Again, just what we were told at my scheme, I can definitely see some of the bigger US firms valuing that type of work ethic, but overall, I think it's really never necessary to be staying that late.
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Hi @Abbie Whitlock thanks so much for all you do on here.
I just wanted to ask what is a good way to answer “why did you choose to study law” or “why law” or “why do you want to become a lawyer”.
I often get confused as I also do not know if they want me to talk about commercial law too. And in all honesty, I chose to study law because my parents wanted me to🫠🫠🫠🫠😭😭 (But I ended up loving it though and I’m on track to graduate with a first).
Do I say that in my application or interview?
Any tips please?
I just wanted to ask what is a good way to answer “why did you choose to study law” or “why law” or “why do you want to become a lawyer”.
I often get confused as I also do not know if they want me to talk about commercial law too. And in all honesty, I chose to study law because my parents wanted me to🫠🫠🫠🫠😭😭 (But I ended up loving it though and I’m on track to graduate with a first).
Do I say that in my application or interview?
Any tips please?
Because they always emphasise at the start that you shouldn't be working past 5:30/6PM. If anything your supervisor is just going to be like why an earth are you still here. I get that it can look like you're doing a good thing, but your supervisors and others are unlikely to see it as that.
Hi @Abbie Whitlock
I hope you’re doing good and thanks for answering all the questions I’ve had for the past two weeks preparing for my VIs and AC.
I have one more question! When asked “ what’s your biggest achievement” is it okay to give a personal experience example that’s related to you and not work/ career. This is for an international firm
For example, my biggest achievement is moving from Poland to the UK at the age of 15 and having to learn English etc etc, go to school and succeed academically - and example how I’ve done that- it was a challenge I found tough but I overcame it by X Y Z and turned it into an achievement as I learned English, completed my a levels etc did a LLB and LLM
Or is this too generic? I feel like this relates to the international firm because they have a very diverse culture of people that might have moved from X to Y. And started a new life.
Thank you so much
I hope you’re doing good and thanks for answering all the questions I’ve had for the past two weeks preparing for my VIs and AC.
I have one more question! When asked “ what’s your biggest achievement” is it okay to give a personal experience example that’s related to you and not work/ career. This is for an international firm
For example, my biggest achievement is moving from Poland to the UK at the age of 15 and having to learn English etc etc, go to school and succeed academically - and example how I’ve done that- it was a challenge I found tough but I overcame it by X Y Z and turned it into an achievement as I learned English, completed my a levels etc did a LLB and LLM
Or is this too generic? I feel like this relates to the international firm because they have a very diverse culture of people that might have moved from X to Y. And started a new life.
Thank you so much
How does the process of seeking out work on a VS look like? Is it quite informal as in you get assigned some work and other times you can go around asking if anyone has any work they need done? Also, on the topic of staying late at the office during the VS, I personally hate London rush hour and would rather avoid it. If during my VS I was to stay until 7pm how would the process of seeking out work after hours look like?
WFW VS thank you all for your support on this forum wishing all of you here the best.
It is going to vary depending on the firm but, in general, you will be assigned work by your supervisor and you can volunteer to help with extra work. The problem with staying late is it gives the impression that you have bad time-management skills. They expect you to get your work done within the core vacation scheme hours.
I did my WE 2.5 weeks ago and never heard back- I think it’s because they’re writing the rejection feedback 🫣
I did my undergrad at a prestigious university, and was practically crapping it the whole of my first year; i came from a state college and had little to no experience of my subject outside of my passion for it. meanwhile everyone else came from huge international or private schools, had years of internship and work experience in the field as seemed to be complete experts in the field. to say i had many wobbles would be an understatement; i had serious impostor syndrome! but everytime i had it, i would keep going back to what they told us on the first day; "we had hundreds and thousands of applicants, great applicants. out of all of the applicants, we hand picked you, and we did so for a reason. so everytime you feel out of place, or as if you don't belong, remember that out of the thousands, you were who we wanted, you were always meant to be here."
and in your case-it's true. imagine how many applicants have applied for the vacation scheme, you were handpicked for it-you were the best person for the job. sometimes it is not at all about your background, how many experiences you have or haven't had, but despite that, you were chosen, for who you are. so carry that with confidence! you didn't need a fancy uni to succeed, simply being who you are, and bringing what you bring, was enough to secure you a vac scheme-and that is fantastic!
wishing you the best of luck superstar!
Oh, okay, thank you! Any information is good information imo, hope it works out well
Have W&C AC's already gone out for Spring and Summer? Did my VI back in December, didn't get a written exercise
Hi!
Not a silly question at all - and no problem!
I would be slightly wary of framing it in that way. It is absolutely important to show that you understand the reality of working in commercial law, including unpredictability and long hours, and that you are motivated by the pace and intensity. I've even had questions in interviews that address this and ask how I would feel about working late nights. However, it might come across slightly strangely to a Partner if you state that you love working until 1-2am (even if that is how you genuinely feel!).
It might help to reframe it in another way. For example, instead of emphasising the late nights, you could say something along the lines of:
"After speaking to a trainee, I was struck by how involved they were in fast-paced and high-value transactions. During my vacation scheme at X, I experienced that intensity first-hand and I found that environment energising. I am motivated by being part of something significant and working as a team to get a deal over the line, even when it requires extra commitment"
You are still signalling that you understand the demands and genuinely enjoy high-pressure, transactional work, but you are highlighting the substance of the work rather than the hours.
Therefore, I don't think you should hide your enthusiasm for the pace and intensity if that is what draws you to commercial law! I would just make sure you anchor it in the quality of the work and the teamwork involved, rather than the late nights themselves.
I hope that assists!
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