TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Vinh An Tran]

Hi everyone,

I’m having a hard time finding information about Katten’s assessment centre. Is there any chance someone has any insight into what the day involves and what I should prepare?

Also, does anyone know how many slots are available in the scheme, considering only three training contracts are given out each year?

Thank you, it is my first ever AC!!

 

[James Wakefield]

at the ACs I went to, (almost) everyone had a bag

I went to an AC where someone had flown from Israel to attend that morning, so they had lots of luggage with them.

I don’t know whether they were given an offer but they did seem tired in the group exercise.

 

[doglover123]

SPB / Squires AC for London office!!! 😁
If anyone has any tips re. the panel interview, group exercise or written exercise, please pm me!

 

[ohnoselim]

Hi, I need help answering the question 'where should we open a new office'. The only answer I have is Saudi Arabia (economic growth etc.) but no clue otherwise, really :/ would anyone be willing to offer their insight please? @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman - thanks!

hi, you need to think of firm strategy/ goals specific to the firm, heres some questions i like to think of when trying to answer questions like this

1. do they have a strong presence in a certain region already like asia-pacific or europe? if so how could they make this stronger?

2. does it link to some international work they already do through another office? (for example theres firms with offices in singapore that do a-lot of cross border work with neighbouring countries but the firms just dont have offices in those countries)

3. if its a new office in a different region you need to understand how it links back to their work eg: key sectors

a lot of firms are opening offices in saudi because saudi has allowed for license applications recently you just need to find specify a link to the firm directly

eg:
- firm strategy/goals
- existing international work
-key sectors

 

[simplyfaith]

Is no news good news from Taylor Swift?? 🙏

 

[Legallylaw]

Hiii, to all successful applicants, how would you answer a question where it's asking you to differentiate between a law firm and its competitors? Also what skills do you think is necessary to become a successful solicitor?

 

[xxx]

Hiii, to all successful applicants, how would you answer a question where it's asking you to differentiate between a law firm and its competitors? Also what skills do you think is necessary to become a successful solicitor?

I normally integrate this to why this firm:

1. Business strategy - internationally and locally (focusing on practice areas is not the best since a lot of competitors are neck and neck).

What I mean is do they open their own office or do they collaborate with local firms? Why? How does that affect their presence in the region?

Where are they opening the offices? Why? What business opportunities are there in those locations? Does it show the firm as ‘forward thinking’ - link back to their values


2. Client retention- do they work with the same clients often (I.e. links is known for their biggest clients being repeat clients and they liked when I mentioned it in the AC)

3. Here talk about practice areas and the links to one another (but the niche ones): i.e. strong banking and finance department but also band 1 shariah = more Middle Eastern clients/ presence (working with the market trends/ opportunities).


For skills:

Honestly, here you can pick any skill but the key thing is to:

1. Identify the skill

2. Link it back to how and why a trainee/ solicitor might use it.

3. Then link it back to something you’ve done and how it showed you the importance of it in practice.

 

[Legal Wizard]

anyone still waiting for latham?

Just withdrew. Can’t do the scheme with my schemes anyway.

 

[e1996]

Has anyone heard from Mishcon Post AC (Spring)?

Nope, they said we'd hear back early this week but haven't heard back yet

 

[Chris Brown]

Just withdrew. Can’t do the scheme with my schemes anyway.​

Jheeze this is the kind of problem I aspire to have someday. Bro is too GOATed frfr! 🐐

Multiple VS offers so having to withdraw from some. I would class that as a uno reverse PFO. 😂​

 

[lou1707]

Guys I had an interview with Birketts on Friday 7th of February for Norwich office, they said they would let me know "by next week" but I still haven't heard anything. I have sent 2 emails, the second one last Friday never got replied to. Are they actually ghosting me or should I send a follow up email asking for more information? I know one person on this forum who got rejected from that office (grad rec called them last week after they sent an email enquiring) so surely they must know by now who has an offer ?
I am quite lost atm lol

 

[Jessica Booker]

Guys I had an interview with Birketts on Friday 7th of February for Norwich office, they said they would let me know "by next week" but I still haven't heard anything. I have sent 2 emails, the second one last Friday never got replied to. Are they actually ghosting me or should I send a follow up email asking for more information? I know one person on this forum who got rejected from that office (grad rec called them last week after they sent an email enquiring) so surely they must know by now who has an offer ?
I am quite lost atm lol

As you have emailed twice already, I don’t think there is any value in emailing again especially if the last email was only a few working days ago.

If you do want to follow up again, I would recommend calling rather than emailing.

 

[johnnysins]

If Latham hasn't responded but we received a holding email in January should we reasonably expect a PFO or an interview offer for the Summer VS? Not sure how many people have already got Latham Summer VSs.

 

[lou1707]

As you have emailed twice already, I don’t think there is any value in emailing again especially if the last email was only a few working days ago.

If you do want to follow up again, I would recommend calling rather than emailing.

Okay thank you so much

 

[helenaskelton]

Guys I had an interview with Birketts on Friday 7th of February for Norwich office, they said they would let me know "by next week" but I still haven't heard anything. I have sent 2 emails, the second one last Friday never got replied to. Are they actually ghosting me or should I send a follow up email asking for more information? I know one person on this forum who got rejected from that office (grad rec called them last week after they sent an email enquiring) so surely they must know by now who has an offer ?
I am quite lost atm lol

Yeah I’m also being ghosted by withers has anyone heard from them

 

[zbizzle]

Hello 👋🏻
Anyone who has done an AC with Addleshaw Goddard for a VS, how long did it take you to hear back please?

a day later

 

[SeniorJunior]

a day later

Thanks, as it happens I heard back yesterday afternoon so also a day later!

 

[BillSikes]

Hi, I need help answering the question 'where should we open a new office'. The only answer I have is Saudi Arabia (economic growth etc.) but no clue otherwise, really :/ would anyone be willing to offer their insight please? @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman - thanks!

Milan is supposed be hot for law firms now.

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi, I need help answering the question 'where should we open a new office'. The only answer I have is Saudi Arabia (economic growth etc.) but no clue otherwise, really :/ would anyone be willing to offer their insight please? @Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu @Amma Usman - thanks!

I read somewhere recently that the BRICS nations are good options because they have a lot of potential for economic growth. However, I think some firms are looking at Singapore as an alternative to China (ongoing political tensions). I’m not sure if these are 100% correct though. 🥲🥲​

 

[Someoneinlaw]

Missed out something in my advice to people I DMd but I think this will be useful for everyone anyway.
GUYS, try to calm your nerves!!! Sounds cliché when people say it but now that I have done my first AC , I honestly think this is such an underrated advice.
You’d be doing a lot of reading and thinking and nerves doesn’t help.
I was so nervous and that affected my ability to understand what I was reading quick enough. (Constantly needed to revisit what I already read , clearly there is not enough time for that).Funny how while preparing for the AC , I wasn’t nervous and then my nerves outdid itself on the day🙄
Having said that , if anyone has nerve control tips for AC , that will be very helpful 😩😂