TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[jnice]

guys can someone please give me some motivation. feeling like a sack of nothing right now. am so scarred from getting nothing this cycle that with every app I try to rewrite I keep second guessing it thinking nothing I write is decent. even if you do get onto ACs and VSs, it seems like the margins are so fine, you can rejected with unconstructive feedback that makes you feel like crap. don’t know if I’ll ever make it. I already had such a tough journey into law, made the last minute decision during clearing as I wasn’t happy with my original course choice during sixth form. Felt depressed for the 1st year of degree as I was at a non target uni. Only really got into law my 2nd year and was too focused on grades to apply anywhere. Now graduated and can’t block out the noise or pressure. How to feel
better idk. Sorry just needed to vent.

Hey, I can totally resonate with how you’re feeling! I graduated in 2017 with a degree in psychology and decided to pursue law instead a year later. I constantly applied for VS/TCs year after year for three years to no avail; never even getting past the application/testing stage. You can only imagine how demoralising getting rejection after rejection was. But I guess one thing this taught me was resilience.

The next year (2022/2023 cycle), I approached the cycle differently. I spent the summer really researching, trying to actually understand what I was looking for from a firm. I narrowed down the firms I wanted to apply to 8. From September-November, I made 3 applications, ended up with 2 VS offers and a training contract. You’ve got to bounce back. My mentality at the time was, ‘I’m eventually gonna get a TC, it’s just a matter of when. Just keep at it! It only takes one. You’ve got this💪🏾
Also, utilise all resources at your disposal: aspiring solicitors, STRIVE, rare, TCLA, the commercial law academy etc.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Has anyone heard back re Winston interview?

Do you mean outcome after the interview? If so then no

 

[AnonKn635]

how does one go about reneging on a TC offer? - do you have to give a specific justification @Jessica Booker

 

[tarastar]

Do you mean outcome after the interview? If so then no

How long after the WG did you receive an interview invite?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

how does one go about reneging on a TC offer? - do you have to give a specific justification @Jessica Booker

You will need to send something in writing to formally withdraw your candidacy. If this is before you have taken any financial support or started the onboarding process for the GDL/SQE, then this will be fairly straight forward. Normally I would recommend speaking to the GR/HR team over the phone before sending something in writing, especially if you have had a lot of interaction with the firm (such as attending a vacation scheme), but a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this and so they just send an email instead.

I would recommend being clear on why you are reneging. If you don't, the firm is likely to ask why you are reneging anyway, so probably worthwhile disclosing anyway. The firm is likely to ask which firm you will be joining instead if you are reneging for another offer.

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

When you receive a call with a TC offer, how long after does the email/paperwork typically come through?

During the call, the partner mentioned 'within 24h' but I also think it is normal for there to be slight delays if grad rec is busy. I am inclined to wait a bit before following up - my question is how long should I wait?

The paperwork is quite relevant to me as I have other vacation scheme offers and I would be keen to start figuring out how to proceed depending on the terms of the TC offer (including how long I have to respond to it, whether I would be allowed to go ahead with my upcoming vac schemes etc).

Thanks in advance if anyone has any insights on this! particularly @Jessica Booker

 

[Kodak123]

Anyone have advice on how to convert VS to TC, I keep struggling starting to think I might never will?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When you receive a call with a TC offer, how long after does the email/paperwork typically come through?

During the call, the partner mentioned 'within 24h' but I also think it is normal for there to be slight delays if grad rec is busy. I am inclined to wait a bit before following up - my question is how long should I wait?

The paperwork is quite relevant to me as I have other vacation scheme offers and I would be keen to start figuring out how to proceed depending on the terms of the TC offer (including how long I have to respond to it, whether I would be allowed to go ahead with my upcoming vac schemes etc).

Thanks in advance if anyone has any insights on this! particularly @Jessica Booker

How long have you been waiting since the call?

24 hours can be a possibility but given its the Easter week, many people might be off on holiday this week so there could be a delay.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

How long after the WG did you receive an interview invite?

Tuesday of the next week I think. Are they keeping you on hold post-WG?

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

How long have you been waiting since the call?

24 hours can be a possibility but given its the Easter week, many people might be off on holiday this week so there could be a delay.

Just over a day, so I am definitely not too worried yet! But just wanted to anticipate any delays and understand how long it is appropriate to wait

 

[Alex02]

Is anyone still waiting to hear back from Paul, Weiss post the online test. have sent a follow up email but still no reply.

 

[EA95]

Received a PFO from Paul,Weiss, as expected tbh, but pretty demoralising that they took this long to hand it to me.

 

[Babablacksheep]

With group exercises, I mainly have experience with case study ones where We need to advise a client or find a solution. For these, it was just keeping up with commercial awareness but also making sure I am confident in the firms practices and capabilities (for example explaining recommending to the client [role played by partner] a specific practice that could help with this issue).

On the day, it was just being friendly, getting into the character (e.g., associate in corporate), including quiet people, and also creating a time plan for the exercise (e.g., if we had 1 hour to discuss and create a presentation breaking down the time into discussions, voting, presentation plan, and practise).

Thank you!

 

[lawyersum]

Hey, I can totally resonate with how you’re feeling! I graduated in 2017 with a degree in psychology and decided to pursue law instead a year later. I constantly applied for VS/TCs year after year for three years to no avail; never even getting past the application/testing stage. You can only imagine how demoralising getting rejection after rejection was. But I guess one thing this taught me was resilience.

The next year (2022/2023 cycle), I approached the cycle differently. I spent the summer really researching, trying to actually understand what I was looking for from a firm. I narrowed down the firms I wanted to apply to 8. From September-November, I made 3 applications, ended up with 2 VS offers and a training contract. You’ve got to bounce back. My mentality at the time was, ‘I’m eventually gonna get a TC, it’s just a matter of when. Just keep at it! It only takes one. You’ve got this💪🏾
Also, utilise all resources at your disposal: aspiring solicitors, STRIVE, rare, TCLA, the commercial law academy etc.

Thank you so much, your journey is honestly amazing - well done to you! Reading this has definitely given me a push

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Just over a day, so I am definitely not too worried yet! But just wanted to anticipate any delays and understand how long it is appropriate to wait

I'd generally wait until late Tuesday or early Wednesday before chasing up. If they have said 24 hours, I would wait 72 hours before chasing up unless it was super time urgent and you needed the documents ahead of another deadline.

 

[johnnysins]

Tuesday of the next week I think. Are they keeping you on hold post-WG?

They have kept me on hold as well, not sure if a follow-up email is necessary or if I should just assume a rejection haha

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

They have kept me on hold as well, not sure if a follow-up email is necessary or if I should just assume a rejection haha

If there is no second batch, the last interviews are taking place tomorrow. Sadly I think it might be a rejection

 

[johnnysins]

If there is no second batch, the last interviews are taking place tomorrow. Sadly I think it might be a rejection

Yeap seems like the most sensible option

 

[Hghasvision]

@

You will need to send something in writing to formally withdraw your candidacy. If this is before you have taken any financial support or started the onboarding process for the GDL/SQE, then this will be fairly straight forward. Normally I would recommend speaking to the GR/HR team over the phone before sending something in writing, especially if you have had a lot of interaction with the firm (such as attending a vacation scheme), but a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this and so they just send an email instead.

I would recommend being clear on why you are reneging. If you don't, the firm is likely to ask why you are reneging anyway, so probably worthwhile disclosing anyway. The firm is likely to ask which firm you will be joining instead if you are reneging for another offer.

Thanks for this @Jessica Booker Can I ask why they ask which firm I am joining - is it to contact them? I wouldn't want to risk losing my other offer

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@

Thanks for this Jessica! Can I ask why they ask which firm I am joining - is it to contact them? I wouldn't want to risk losing my other offer

No - they won’t contact the firm. That’s a breach of GDPR.

They want to know who they are losing talent to. It’s a legitimate question to ask. I have asked this question to anyone who has turned down any job I have been recruiting for. Recruiters need to know who they are losing talent to so they can ensure future recruitment is more successful.