TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[helenaskelton]

Mine was on 24 March. We were told we'd hear back early May so I was very surprised to hear back so soon

Mine was on 27th March. Do you think they're calling everyone? If no call do we assume PFO?

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi everyone,

A few people have been asking about Breezy and his whereabouts. Can confirm he will be back on this account by Monday.

Thank you all for being so kind and welcoming to me whilst I’ve been on here. It’s been nice to interact with you all these past 2-3 weeks.

This is my final post on this account. The next one will be by Breezy himself. Good luck to all of you in this cycle.​

 

[aphelion]

Mine was on 27th March. Do you think they're calling everyone? If no call do we assume PFO?

I would assume it's the standard call to offer/email to PFO, but given we don't know their timeline in terms of making offers I don't see any reason to assume a PFO at this stage

 

[jojo23]

I haven't received anything from them since applying on 28th February.

Thats very odd...Did you apply for all 3 schemes or just the summer ones?

 

[LegallyBrunette_]

Thats very odd...Did you apply for all 3 schemes or just the summer ones?

I haven't heard anything back either since submitting my application on the 28th February - I just applied to the summer schemes. Which schemes did you apply to?

 

[User5678]

The last email I received from them was on the 4th of April essentially saying ' we will be in touch'😩

Same I’ve not heard anything post app, it’s kind of getting frustrating now as well. I applied for summer and spring both on deadline day but have not heard back

Has anyone emailed for an update?

 

[l789]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu or anyone else who can help me from Tcla team.

Is it inappropriate for me to reference a personal experience which sparked my interest in a firms practice area.

For Cooley- this would be their product liability practice which is ranked tier 1. My interest in it stems from my experience within dermatology, having struggled with a skin condition, I’ve had to seek out medical lasers from private dermatologists and there’s a grey area as not all doctors are qualified to operate such strong lasers and these are causing more and more damage to patients skin, lasers aren’t heavily regulated and it’s become an increasing concern as any medical professional has agency to operate them, but they are extremely dangerous when used in unqualified hands (cosmetic doctors who aren’t trained, yet are able to obtain lasers for their clinics) and there’s been a rise of litigation.

I’m not going to sell the whole sob story but can I briefly mention this as a point of interest?

 

[jojo23]

I applied for all 3 🤣. I recall submitting the application 2 weeks before the deadline

 

[jojo23]

Same I’ve not heard anything post app, it’s kind of getting frustrating now as well. I applied for summer and spring both on deadline day but have not heard back

Has anyone emailed for an update?

I'm tempted to but I feel that since the summer schemes are quite far away, I'm not sure how early they'd send results.

 

[helenaskelton]

I haven't received anything from them since applying on 28th February.

I completed an assessment for them on 16th March and haven't heard back since. They sent their assessments out around feb/march time and it included a VI.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu or anyone else who can help me from Tcla team.

Is it inappropriate for me to reference a personal experience which sparked my interest in a firms practice area.

For Cooley- this would be their product liability practice which is ranked tier 1. My interest in it stems from my experience within dermatology, having struggled with a skin condition, I’ve had to seek out medical lasers from private dermatologists and there’s a grey area as not all doctors are qualified to operate such strong lasers and these are causing more and more damage to patients skin, lasers aren’t heavily regulated and it’s become an increasing concern as any medical professional has agency to operate them, but they are extremely dangerous when used in unqualified hands (cosmetic doctors who aren’t trained, yet are able to obtain lasers for their clinics) and there’s been a rise of litigation.

I’m not going to sell the whole sob story but can I briefly mention this as a point of interest?

Hiya @l789

Absolutely, this is perfectly fine to mention. I’ve seen applicants talk about everything from personal experiences with medical devices to the impact of certain therapeutics as a way into their interest in life sciences and product liability. Mentioning these sort of experiences can add a layer of authenticity as well. I'd just make sure to keep it concise and frame it as something that sparked your interest, rather than the sole reason for it. You'll also want to reflect more broadly on what draws you to product liability as a practice area. For instance:

1. Mixture of legal and scientific complexity: For many people I've spoken to at Cooley and elsewhere, it’s the mix of legal, scientific, and strategic complexity. You often need to engage with technical detail (e.g. understanding how a product works, consulting experts, and analysing potential failure points). There's also some of challenges of balancing clients' regulatory obligations and exposure to litigation risks.
   
   
2. The high-stakes nature of the work: Product liability cases often involve significant financial exposure, media attention, or reputational risk, especially for clients in the life sciences or tech sectors. There are too many to mention here, but you'll find some of the work Cooley has done in this area in its Legal 500 page.

So again, yes you should feel free to include the personal angle briefly, but use it as a stepping stone to demonstrate a well-rounded and thoughtful interest in the practice area itself (and specifically on the defendants' side, which is what Cooley is particularly well-known for). Good luck!

 

[j.a55293]

Has anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood in regards to the summer vac scheme? I have received no word since my application - am I to assume that I got rejected?

Think I saw that last year they sent out more tests for the summer schemes in April and May so maybe theres a chance they might send them out once the spring scheme is finished?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi everyone, I have a question. When filling in application forms, they ask for 1st-year grades. Given that it was a COVID year and 3 exams were assessed online, technically, my transcript doesn't have a mark on there, although I have the marks online that I got. My university, Warwick, also had the letter attached to explain. Should I still put the online marks or not? Just wanted to ask because I realise it might cause confusion in the future

Hiya @TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏

Something very similar happened to me during my first year, which was also when the pandemic hit. I included the provisional grades I had received, even though they didn’t appear on my transcript (we just received a pass/fail for the year), and then used the mitigating circumstances section to explain the situation during the 2019–2020 academic year. From my understanding, most graduate recruiters understand that this was a disruptive time for universities and students. So as long as you’re transparent and offer a brief explanation, I don't think this should hurt your chances (and could in fact help, since you've offered clarity). Just be clear about what happened and where the grades came from, and I think you’ll be absolutely fine. Will tag @Jessica Booker here in case she knows whether anything has changed from a graduate recruitment standpoint.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi, does anyone have an idea how tariffs could impact the shipping/maritime industry?

@Amma Usman @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam

Hiya @gazdgazd11

Wanted to get something to you to help structure your research into the topic. I'm hoping this isn't too late and that it's helpful. Some things you may want to look into include:

1. Shipping Disruptions and Port Congestion: There's been a lot of news about how tariffs have led to substantial disruptions in global shipping, causing rerouted shipments and logistical challenges. European ports (e.g. in Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Southampton) have experienced significant congestion due to the redirection of goods initially destined for the U.S. There was a piece in the Times that nicely covered this issue, which you can find here.
2. Increased Shipping Costs: You may want to look into any research/news on how tariffs are contributing to rising shipping costs. I'd recommend having a thinking about how this sort of escalation can affect the cost structures of businesses and any contract negotiations and dispute resolution mechanisms.
   
3. Regulatory Changes and Port Fees: Some of my former colleagues on LinkedIn who work in defence have noted that the U.S. administration is now planning to impose substantial port fees on Chinese-built vessels (though this was revised after industry backlash). But overall this indicates that there might be more stringent regulatory measures on the horizon. You can learn more about the port fees and its relationship to tariffs here.
4. Strategic Shifts in Trade Routes: There's this good piece in the Guardian which looks into some of the ways businesses are trying to shift trade routes. But essentially, the point being made is that businesses are altering their supply chains, with some halting Chinese imports or shifting sources to countries like Vietnam and India. It's likely that these sorts of reconfigurations will require legal input on on new trade agreements and compliance with varying international laws.

Hope this helps with your application!

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi everyone,

A few people have been asking about Breezy and his whereabouts. Can confirm he will be back on this account by Monday.

Thank you all for being so kind and welcoming to me whilst I’ve been on here. It’s been nice to interact with you all these past 2-3 weeks.

This is my final post on this account. The next one will be by Breezy himself. Good luck to all of you in this cycle.​

Return of the Mack! And best of luck to you too on your legal journey 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

 

[James Wakefield]

This is really a question for @Ram Sabaratnam with regards to Cooley. I was wondering if you know what they specifically look for in Vac Schemers?

I know most firms are looking for the same balance of characteristics, but I've heard some place difference emphasis on the quality of the work you produce versus coffee chats/networking. For example, I have heard Willkie are much more concerned about what you produce over the 2 weeks than other firms. So just wondering where you would say Cooley fit in? How do they assess you? Thanks!

 

[jnice]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu or anyone else who can help me from Tcla team.

Is it inappropriate for me to reference a personal experience which sparked my interest in a firms practice area.

For Cooley- this would be their product liability practice which is ranked tier 1. My interest in it stems from my experience within dermatology, having struggled with a skin condition, I’ve had to seek out medical lasers from private dermatologists and there’s a grey area as not all doctors are qualified to operate such strong lasers and these are causing more and more damage to patients skin, lasers aren’t heavily regulated and it’s become an increasing concern as any medical professional has agency to operate them, but they are extremely dangerous when used in unqualified hands (cosmetic doctors who aren’t trained, yet are able to obtain lasers for their clinics) and there’s been a rise of litigation.

I’m not going to sell the whole sob story but can I briefly mention this as a point of interest?

Hey, in my applications and interviews in response to the why commercial law question, i spoke my initial interest in law being sparked by my interest in textiles and sewing. I discussed how I eventually developed an interest in the importance of brand protection by learning about different IP rights.

I echo what Ram has said about just merely mentioning/referencing your personal experience as opposed to really elaborating on it and focus more so on what draws you to product liability and the firm in general.

 

[ohnoselim]

any tips for cappfinity tests, never seem to pass those

 

[gazdgazd11]

Hiya @gazdgazd11

Wanted to get something to you to help structure your research into the topic. I'm hoping this isn't too late and that it's helpful. Some things you may want to look into include:

1. Shipping Disruptions and Port Congestion: There's been a lot of news about how tariffs have led to substantial disruptions in global shipping, causing rerouted shipments and logistical challenges. European ports (e.g. in Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Southampton) have experienced significant congestion due to the redirection of goods initially destined for the U.S. There was a piece in the Times that nicely covered this issue, which you can find here.
2. Increased Shipping Costs: You may want to look into any research/news on how tariffs are contributing to rising shipping costs. I'd recommend having a thinking about how this sort of escalation can affect the cost structures of businesses and any contract negotiations and dispute resolution mechanisms.
3. Regulatory Changes and Port Fees: Some of my former colleagues on LinkedIn who work in defence have noted that the U.S. administration is now planning to impose substantial port fees on Chinese-built vessels (though this was revised after industry backlash). But overall this indicates that there might be more stringent regulatory measures on the horizon. You can learn more about the port fees and its relationship to tariffs here.
4. Strategic Shifts in Trade Routes: There's this good piece in the Guardian which looks into some of the ways businesses are trying to shift trade routes. But essentially, the point being made is that businesses are altering their supply chains, with some halting Chinese imports or shifting sources to countries like Vietnam and India. It's likely that these sorts of reconfigurations will require legal input on on new trade agreements and compliance with varying international laws.

Hope this helps with your application!

Thank you so much! As always so appreciated!!! The best analysis out there

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

This is really a question for @Ram Sabaratnam with regards to Cooley. I was wondering if you know what they specifically look for in Vac Schemers?

I know most firms are looking for the same balance of characteristics, but I've heard some place difference emphasis on the quality of the work you produce versus coffee chats/networking. For example, I have heard Willkie are much more concerned about what you produce over the 2 weeks than other firms. So just wondering where you would say Cooley fit in? How do they assess you? Thanks!

Hiya @James Wakefield


You’re absolutely right that firms can place emphasis on slightly different things during a vacation scheme. But from my experience, I’d say Cooley is quite typical of US firms in that they’re very focused on the quality of the work you produce during the scheme. That includes your work ethic, how you respond to feedback, and how you approach the tasks you're given. They also place real weight on how you perform in the formal assessments that sit outside of day-to-day work. This "non-live work" is an important means for them to compare candidates more evenly, and they definitely factor into their decision-making.

At the same time, how you interact with people matters a lot. Like many other US firms that I've had vacation schemes with, they will absolutely take on board feedback from a wide range of people, including those you speak to over coffee chats and non-fee earners you meet. This basically allows them to get a sense of what you’d be like to have in the office every day. How you treat people and the kind of impression you leave really does count, including during your coffee chats.

Even though I was fortunate enough to get an offer, I still asked for feedback because I always wanted to understand what firms thought I did well and what I could have improved. The feedback I received from Cooley touched on all three areas: the work I produced, the way I handled the formal assessments, and how I came across to people during the scheme. So I’d say it’s worth being mindful of all of those areas. Overall, I'd say just try to do your best work, put in a good effort to connect with people, and approach the scheme as a two-week opportunity to show them what you’d be like as a trainee. Good luck, especially if you’re heading into a scheme soon!