TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[berocca567]

Does anyone have any Cappfinity advice? Also, does it involve any video element?

 

[Andrei Radu]

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam

Hi all. I’ve applied to around 15 firms this cycle, had 2 AC’s but didn’t convert any and also completed a vac scheme last year. My only resort is to apply for direct TC’s now.

I’m not sure of how to change my strategy going forward as it seems to be hit or miss with drafting applications/ tests/ interviews. Do you have any tips on developing my commercial awareness or anything to better my strategy for the whole process of direct applications going forward?

My advice regarding an ideal applications strategy is to always aim to submit as many high-quality applications as possible. For your case, the first point I will say is that I think you could be making more applications. I know people who have managed to make around 40-50 quality applications by this point in the cycle. While of course this is a bit more on the extreme end of the spectrum, and while the number you will aim at will also depend on your practice area/sector interest and personal time constraints, I do think it is feasible for a highly-motivated applicant to make around 25-30 high quality applications. On a purely statistical basis, that should almost have doubled your chances of securing a TC. Of course, this is not just a numbers game, but it partly a number's game. At the applications stage, I got some of the applications I had put most time and effort in immediately rejected, but got progressed after submitting cover letters I had finished in a single day. Like it or not, the assessment process is not entirely objective, and thus a luck factor comes into play: does a recruiter emphasize criteria you score great in, or criteria you score less well in? This is even more so the case in ACs, which is a game of even smaller margins. As such, I think you want to have as many horses in the race as possible.

At the same time, of course this is not the entire story and that you should also aim to improve quality-wise. I would advise you to take the following steps:

1. Compare your successful and unsuccessful applications and then try to identify any common themes; this should help you to ascertain what are the features of the successful applications that you should seek to integrate in your writing form now on.
2. Compare your applications to model applications from the most successful past applicants you know.
3. If possible, get highly-experienced people to review in depth at least one of your applications. Action their comments and then keep their input in mind for future writing.

I have actually written a way more in depth quite on applications strategy, take a look here. For improving commercial awareness, my main pieces of advice would be to:

1. Listen to podcasts as much as you can in otherwise 'dead moments' (commuting, doing laundry etc) - I particularly recommend the FT News Briefing, Bloomberg News, The Lawyer, Watson's Daily, Law, disrupted.
2. Attend as many firms events as you can - in particular, I think you can find great use in online sign-up based events as they are very low-commitment. It may be worthwhile to sign up to the relevant newsletters so you are sure not missing anything you could easily attend.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

That’s really helpful thankyou, can I just ask when calling, would you mention a specific vacancy you were interested in? I’ve thought of calling but feel like I’m not sure what I’m saying😅

Nws xx Yeah, so just say something along the lines of you are calling to discuss the vacancy advertised and whether they are still recruiting or whatever else you want to ask about. Obviously, if you have no questions, there's no need to call! I just feel like a lot of the vacancies advertised in my opinion were left on the website for ages and weren't taken down so I was never quite sure!

 

[Andrei Radu]

This might sound like a silly question, but how do people prepare for VS? How do you know what to do during a VS? Is there anything that I should be doing now in advance of a VS? I haven’t worked in a city law firm before so I’m starting to overthink this whole process lmao. Any advice would be appreciated. Please help. 🥲🥲

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam​

I think unfortunately you can only prepare to quite a limited extent. I remember I was also initially quite stressed out by the fact that I did not feel I was doing 'enough' to be able to actually convert very competitive VSs. However, in retrospect this was not really an issue, and I also do not think there was much more I could have done to prepare without approaching a point of diminishing returns. But to return to your question, I can think of four main things to do before your first VS:

1. Keep up to date (even more than usual) with commercial awareness and firm-related news/developments. I particularly aimed to ascertain (a) if there were any gaps in my knowledge in either regard; and (ii) if there are any aspects where I can sensibly research more to then have an opportunity to show off detailed knowledge.
2. Brush up on your application essays, CV, and interviewing skills. You do not want to end up having forgotten important content points or being less articulate than in the VS interview.
3. Research in a lot more depth the work junior lawyers do (and just the general inner workings of) the practice areas you will be sitting in (here I recommend the Practical Law/Westlaw introductory guides) - this was extremely helpful in enabling me to deliver better on my tasks.
4. Reach out to current/future trainees or ex vacation schemers for insights.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi Jessica, is TCLA accelerator available to those with Bronze membership?

Apologies for any confusion on this (that is my fault), the Accelerator is only for Gold subscribers due to the bespoke 1-2-1 advice provided as part of the programme (which is in addition to the 1-2-1 calls and application reviews generally included in Gold).

 

[Zzzz]

to those whove given the bristows first round.... what even....

How did you find it

 

[Andrei Radu]

Amazing, thank you so much Andrei, this is very helpful and I will keep it in mind

On the competitors ques, how to answer that in the best way for Browne Jacobson? Is it correct to take the sector based approach and then the similar size based approach in order to determine competitors?

For a general 'who are our competitors' question think this will be fine, but I would also try to take a look at their practice area expertise and, if possible, to compare geographical spread. The concept of a competitor is a multifaceted one and there are other elements besides size and sector that are relevant for determining how much of a rival another firm is. In terms of resources, I advise you look at at both Chambers UK and Legal 500 tier rankings.

If you think you have the time, perhaps you can to divide your answer between (i) who are the firm's competitors in a broad sense (who are the most similar firms, ie what 'type' of firm are they) - which is what the aforementioned answer targets; and (ii) who are the firm's competitors at a sector/practice area-specific level. When I did this in a VS interview back in the day, the partner really liked this approach and praised me for it.

 

[Will123]

Is it foolish to use the same answer from the application to the same competency question during the interview?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Is it foolish to use the same answer from the application to the same competency question during the interview?

I do not think there is any issue with having an interview answer that mirrors an application form answer. I actually have no idea why this has become such an almost universally accepted myth - I personally never saw an issue with using the same reasoning as in your application. In many cases partners will not even review your application in any level of depth before the interview, and if they do, they will not as a result form an expectation for you to come up with a different reasoning as to your motivations, or skill set, or to use different (and less directly applicable) examples if asked the same question merely for purposes of variation.

They will simply expect you to answer the question in the most accurate and convincing way you can. This might necessitate some changes to the application form answer, both because the communication format is different, and because you might want to have a more nuanced/detailed analysis in view of potential follow ups. However, the main themes and ideas should likely stay the same. If anything, it would likely look somewhat suspicious if your fundamental motivations, skills and most relevant experiences were to all of a sudden be very different from the ones mentioned in the application form.

 

[ohnoselim]

anyone else who did the mishcon VI still waiting on a response?

 

[missTCLA]

hi @Jessica Booker ; wanted to ask what documents do a firm need for vs? is it just transcript / right to work ? Also, i was told by a firm id hear 'next week' regarding the offer in writing but its been a week and a half, shall i email them or give it more time? thanks in advance.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

hi @Jessica Booker ; wanted to ask what documents do a firm need for vs? is it just transcript / right to work ? Also, i was told by a firm id hear 'next week' regarding the offer in writing but its been a week and a half, shall i email them or give it more time? thanks in advance.

When does the scheme start?

It’s really hard to say specifically what they will need as this can vary from firm to firm but generally transcripts, right to work, and proof of address (bank statement/utility bill) are the common documents needed.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

anyone else who did the mishcon VI still waiting on a response?

yep! I don't know if we should assume a PFO. looks likely. i don't think they send out anything in batches -- even with VI invites they were sent together, no?

 

[RaniaH062002]

Anyone had Brabners SJT sent out yet? And anyone who's previously done it? Any tips?

 

[TC129129]

Anyone who did their AC's post the w/c 17th Feb still waiting on White & Case? Has been more than a month now...

Just from previous experience as someone who’s done a W&C vac scheme, they usually get back to successful candidates fairly-very quickly after an AC. This was the case for a lot of my cohort. It doesn’t mean you have been unsuccessful but just wanted to lyk. Wishing you all the luck

 

[0livia.pope]

Does anyone have any advice on how best to prepare for a case study exercise? I have no idea where to begin

 

[Toomanypfo]

Anyone had Brabners SJT sent out yet? And anyone who's previously done it? Any tips?

Yes they have sent the test to me on 11 march and I applied to their Manchester office

 

[RaniaH062002]

Yes they have sent the test to me on 11 march and I applied to their Manchester office

I've not had one sent out to me- I can only imagine then i've got a PFO heading my way 😢

 

[sibs23]

AG PFO post-app at long last!!

 

[lawstudent002]

Anyone had Brabners SJT sent out yet? And anyone who's previously done it? Any tips?

I received the test last Monday for SVS