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📅 Vacation Scheme & Open Day Applications 2025–26
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
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2025–26 Open Day & Insight Scheme Deadlines
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
- Thread starter TCLA Community Assistant
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the worst part about this cycle has been getting to 3 ACs but not being able to attend 2 of them because they wouldnt give a virtual alternative to the AC even if I lived in a different country :/
Hey
Long time lurker and I appreciate all the info everyone's share on here. I am about to graduate this year and I have a Baker McKenzie AC coming up next Thursday and just received an invite to the Ashurst final round partner interview (I'm not able to select my date), would be grateful to get some advice
Please reach out to me too if you have it as well
Long time lurker and I appreciate all the info everyone's share on here. I am about to graduate this year and I have a Baker McKenzie AC coming up next Thursday and just received an invite to the Ashurst final round partner interview (I'm not able to select my date), would be grateful to get some advice
Please reach out to me too if you have it as well
Hi there, I'm preparing to apply for the direct training contract at Burges Salmon and would really appreciate your thoughts on the three long-answer questions:
Why have you chosen to apply to Burges Salmon for a training contract and what attracts you to our firm?(1,000 characters – approx. 140 words)
What aspects of the solicitor role do you find most interesting? (1,500 characters – approx. 210 words)
Burges Salmon offers a six-seat training contract across a wide range of practice areas. Discuss 3 areas that you would be most interested in spending time in. (2,000 characters – approx. 280 words)
I’m conscious there’s some potential overlap between the questions. For example:
– Q1 will likely include mention of practice areas but should focus more broadly on the firm’s appeal — e.g. sectors, approach, and culture. I think I would include Culture here as it’s the only place I can include.
– Q2 is about the solicitor’s role, but I imagine some references to practice areas and sectors are inevitable. For example, I would say I like exploring novel solutions for clients in light of regulatory, social, and economic changes across diverse practice areas and sectors, then give example.
– Q3 is clearly focused on specific departments, but again, sector interests and the type of work involved are closely tied to why I’d want to sit in them.
I haven’t started drafting yet, but I’m anticipating a bit of back-and-forth editing to avoid repetition while still building a coherent picture across the three responses. How do you go about keeping the answers distinct but cohesive? Will it be trying to mention different practices / sectors in the 3 questions?
I also wondered how many points are realistically expected given the character limits. For Q1, would one detailed reason (or one detailed and one brief) be enough? Since Q1 would be the only question that I could mention culture, it may become the central point, but it looks a bit weak if it becomes the only major point in Q1.
And for Q2, is it fine to focus on just two aspects of the solicitor role, explored in depth?
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Btw does anyone know if Burges Salmon recruits on a rolling basis? Checked the FAQ but didn't mention
Why have you chosen to apply to Burges Salmon for a training contract and what attracts you to our firm?(1,000 characters – approx. 140 words)
What aspects of the solicitor role do you find most interesting? (1,500 characters – approx. 210 words)
Burges Salmon offers a six-seat training contract across a wide range of practice areas. Discuss 3 areas that you would be most interested in spending time in. (2,000 characters – approx. 280 words)
I’m conscious there’s some potential overlap between the questions. For example:
– Q1 will likely include mention of practice areas but should focus more broadly on the firm’s appeal — e.g. sectors, approach, and culture. I think I would include Culture here as it’s the only place I can include.
– Q2 is about the solicitor’s role, but I imagine some references to practice areas and sectors are inevitable. For example, I would say I like exploring novel solutions for clients in light of regulatory, social, and economic changes across diverse practice areas and sectors, then give example.
– Q3 is clearly focused on specific departments, but again, sector interests and the type of work involved are closely tied to why I’d want to sit in them.
I haven’t started drafting yet, but I’m anticipating a bit of back-and-forth editing to avoid repetition while still building a coherent picture across the three responses. How do you go about keeping the answers distinct but cohesive? Will it be trying to mention different practices / sectors in the 3 questions?
I also wondered how many points are realistically expected given the character limits. For Q1, would one detailed reason (or one detailed and one brief) be enough? Since Q1 would be the only question that I could mention culture, it may become the central point, but it looks a bit weak if it becomes the only major point in Q1.
And for Q2, is it fine to focus on just two aspects of the solicitor role, explored in depth?
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Btw does anyone know if Burges Salmon recruits on a rolling basis? Checked the FAQ but didn't mention
Who else is so pissed at Howes Percival's application system which does not have the Save option beyond limited education info and Work experience 🤯
I wouldn't have thought so if closing is only 4 weeks or so away. They are new offices so I guess they are recruiting to fill the need for trainees ASAP because for their other offices its usually via vac scheme 2 years ahead like other firms tend to do.
Try to rewrite them more effectively. Showing how you’ve changed is important. Apply any feedback they gave you. Add it in to your narrative. I’m trying this approach for W&C. Like you I have progressed before.Hi everyone,
I'm planning to reapply to a firm where I made it through the initial stage last year. They've kept the application questions the same, and my motivations for applying haven’t really changed. Should I reuse some of my previous answers, or would that hurt my chances?
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You don’t have to change everything, but I think it is always important to refine and update answers where you can.Hi everyone,
I'm planning to reapply to a firm where I made it through the initial stage last year. They've kept the application questions the same, and my motivations for applying haven’t really changed. Should I reuse some of my previous answers, or would that hurt my chances?
Themes may stay the same for things like your motivations, but you may have more recent evidence of pursuing the career or building your knowledge/skills which would be important to highlight to show who you are as a candidate now, rather than the candidate you were in your last application.
Hi all! I know this is a thread for TCs but I have an upcoming paralegal interview and wondered what prep I should do? Is it similar to a vacation scheme/ training contract interview? @Jessica Booker I would appreciate any help/ advice on this. Thank you!
Has anyone received the update email from Howard Kennedy? I cannot seem to find any attached questionnaire in the email so did people just reply to the email with all information they asked? Thanks
Has anyone completed a WFW VI? I submitted my app two weeks ago and received a VI invite this morning.
Hiya, I have my Bakers AC this Thursday, anyone wanting to exchange advice? I have done Slaughters, Macfarlanes and White & Case AC. Willing to be of help
Also, if anyone is in my AC cohort please feel free to message
Also, if anyone is in my AC cohort please feel free to message
anyone know if theres a good chance in applying to RPC's direct route, having not done their VS?
congrats! i did this two cycles ago and at the time there were 3 very predictable questions along the lines of: why you, why the firm, commercial news storyReceived WFW VI this afternoon
although they might've changed since then, always a good idea to have talking points for these three Qs regardless
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