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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24
- Thread starter Jessica Booker
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Did the Reed smith ac and they literally starved us the whole day. Never been to an ac where they could be this stingy…
Tell me about a time you showed resilience...
Not wanting to start another debate but I was wondering how much age matters in applying for US law firms with a small intake. Talking to trainees at these firms, the vast majority of them were in their early-mid twenties and graduates. I was wondering what chances I had as a much younger candidate going into third year of uni next year in succeeding at small intake US firms and if I should even focus my applications on these firms next cycle or stick to firms with a much higher intake.
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Things like this really upset me tbh! So telling of their regard for candidates/general ethos. I need to take my twice daily medication with food but at a day-long AC we weren't provided anything, nor were we allowed to leave. I was literally so close to leaving midway
I haven’t personally noticed this phenomenon. There are plenty of career changers and ‘older’ trainees at US firms. US firms also hire huge numbers of non-law students who are inherently older by the time they start their TC. Getting a TC at US firms with a small intake is obviously super challenging but I wouldn’t worry about age/stage of studies necessarily being an issue myself
Yeah completely see your point but I was wondering if being a younger candidate affects your chances, rather than being an older candidate which naturally brings more experience.
I think this post has some relevance, not sure which US firms you were referring to, but if they recently started recruitment this might be part of why you’ve seen that trend?
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....lkie-farr-gallagher-anything.4439/post-152818
That post was definitely insightful. I was talking with trainees at Gibson Dunn,Skadden and Cleary and the general message I got conveyed was that US firms tend to prefer older candidates because they are naturally more experienced and are generally able to handle complex tasks better than younger candidates with less experience. The general consensus also was that even if there is not a preference for older candidates, the makeup of trainees at small intake US firms just happened to be graduates or older students because their skill sets and experiences better aligned with the firm’s demands than perhaps a candidate who is still in university.
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I don't think this should put you off from applying. I know quite a few people still in uni that have completed vac schemes at firms like these and successfully converted them. I can't speak for all firms, but from my experience as well (at a US firm with an intake of about 4-6), a lot of us were still uni students and successful in converting. In my opinion, if you are interested in these firms you shouldn't let a concern like this be the reason you don't apply.
Right! You can’t just serve 4 croissants and call it lunch and breakfast, especially if you need to take medicine. Bear in mind we were there from 9am -4pm, without both lunch or breakfast provided, or being told to bring lunch/ allowed to go to Tesco.
Yeah - did you get that email about your account being set up? Its really confused me do we have an asssessment to do online before the AC?
This week marks 7 months since I applied. I emailed graduate recruitment and they said they are still reviewing applications as spaces are yet to be filled. I think this might be a record.
0-4 post interviews this cycle. Disappointed but motivated to learn and improve nonetheless.
Guess it’s time for the water of life (Dune 2 reference …)
Guess it’s time for the water of life (Dune 2 reference …)
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