TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[dlc3266]

is Perkins Coie DTC rolling?

 

[tryingtogetajob555]

Hi there,

I have a vacation scheme at Devonshires next week and I was just wondering if anyone has done it before that can offer any tips or advice?

Any general advice for what to prepare for beforehand would be really helpful!

 

[trainee4u]

Hi there,

I have a vacation scheme at Devonshires next week and I was just wondering if anyone has done it before that can offer any tips or advice?

Any general advice for what to prepare for beforehand would be really helpful!

Hi,
I think you will find some tips on here about converting VS in general.

When I spoke to the firm they cited that their VS students were competing with their paralegals for places, and that while the paralegals are more experienced, they sometimes don't understand the business that well.

Perhaps by reading up on the firm you can demonstrate your greater commercial awareness in the context of Devonshires, its clients, and the social housing market in general.

 

[Amma Usman]

I'm curious but has anyone heard of people that failed ACs because of being bad players in group exercises? How common are they? I feel they are quite pointless as I feel grad rec fails no one because of them, I'd be really curious to hear @Amma Usman and anyone else who is able to contribute

Hiya! Really good question - I’ve responded to it under your other post in the direct TC thread.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Chelsea101 I have just found one from 2021 that seems to include many useful resources and tips, you can take a look here. Since I have had a good VS conversion rate and since WVS are approaching, I am also planning to soon write a detailed guide on the topic, so be on the lookout for that !

Besides this, I have quoted bellow a great post from @Jessica Booker outlining the biggest mistakes people make during vacation schemes.

Hey!

I don’t have much to Andrei‘s great response on this. I’ve quoted a post on the past which I made on this. Best of luck on the VS..!

Hiya @sc13


Looking back, I think there were a few key changes I made that helped me convert later VS schemes. Interestingly, the feedback I received from earlier schemes wasn’t really about the quality of my work, but rather about my soft skills and how I came across more broadly. There were three points of feedback that were made to me, and which I still think about:

1. I came across as quite self-deprecating in my humour (which some partners took as a lack of confidence in myself).
2. There was uncertainty about whether I genuinely wanted to pursue commercial law, particularly given my previous non-law background.
3. I had a tendency to overextend myself (taking on too many tasks without always checking how long things would take or what was feasible within my schedule).

These were all areas I worked hard to improve in my second cycle, especially the first and third points. If you’re someone who’s ever struggled with imposter syndrome, it can be easy to default to self-deprecating humour in professional settings. But I learned the hard way that how you speak/joke about yourself really does shape how others perceive your confidence and potential (same point also applies if you're someone who is constantly trying to oversell your experiences/background to others). There’s a line between being arrogant and underselling yourself, and finding that balance made a big difference. On the overstretching point, I started being much more conscious about what I could realistically take on. I made a habit of asking how long a task might take before accepting it, and I tried to be more open about my current workload. That helped me build more accurate expectations for myself and others.

Taking all that on board gave me a much more grounded and self-aware approach when I went into interviews and vac schemes the second time around.

Hope that helps. Wishing you the best of luck with your scheme coming up

Hi there,

I have a vacation scheme at Devonshires next week and I was just wondering if anyone has done it before that can offer any tips or advice?

Any general advice for what to prepare for beforehand would be really helpful!

Huge congrats on the VS.

I’ve quoted a few posts from the team to help.

 

[legalxp2]

Does anyone have insights on the cover letter for Perkins Coie. I don't think anyone on the forum received a definitive answer on their qs

 

[FM302989]

Does anyone have insights on the cover letter for Perkins Coie. I don't think anyone on the forum received a definitive answer on their qs

Treat it like a normal cover letter.

- Address it to the head of grad rec/HR unless another name is suggested
- Para intro to yourself, what stage you're at
- Why PC, their training and the work they do and how you'd be a good trainee as a result
- Brief paragraph on extra curriculars etc. where you can show your key competencies
- no more than one page

Use that for all cover letters you need to do. Unlikely to be any different for other firms

 

[Amma Usman]

Hey,

Usually, “Dear Graduate Recruitment Team” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is fine.

Three key things to cover include;

- Why commercial law.
- Why X firm.
- Skills, experiences, achievements, which make you stand out as a candidate - essentially “why you”.

In situations like this, I often ensure to hit the points they mentioned first - and in that order.

If the word count permits, I will then cover the three why’s - commercial law, the firm, and me. However, the first questions (what attracts you to the LBA programme) could also enable you to indirectly weave in those elements anyway. You just have to be explicit in saying things like “I am drawn to the LBA at Perkins Coie specifically because of XYZ”.

Ensure to use the proper formalities and sign offs, as well as answering the questions directly and in individual paragraphs for clarity.

Does anyone have insights on the cover letter for Perkins Coie. I don't think anyone on the forum received a definitive answer on their qs

The firm has actually listed its requirements on their website. Feel free to head on over to TCLA Directory and click on Perkins Coie. We’ve highlighted the requirements there too.

There are also two posts I’ve quoted which should help. One on general cover letters, the other on the firm specifically.

 

[Amma Usman]

The firm has actually listed its requirements on their website. Feel free to head on over to TCLA Directory and click on Perkins Coie. We’ve highlighted the requirements there too.

There are also two posts I’ve quoted which should help. One on general cover letters, the other on the firm specifically.

@legalxp2 , Just to flag, this post centred on the requirements for the LBA programme.

 

[applebunny]

Would love to know any insight for Sidley VS and how to convert

 

[Amma Usman]

Hiya @LiveLaughLawyer

Congratulations on the scheme! Completely understandable to feel a bit unsure, but I think you can definitely strengthen your odds by making the most of the scheme. Here are some suggestions I'd keep in mind:

Engage with the firm’s core work: Try to get exposure to the kind of work the firm is best known for. That doesn’t mean you need to be in the thick of everything straight away, but it helps to understand how your department’s work fits into the wider firm. Be curious about how other teams interact and ask questions about how different matters fit together. This is great for showing commercial awareness and demonstrating genuine interest in the work done by the firm.

Tailor your approach to how the firm assesses candidates: Different firms have different approaches to deciding who to offer TCs to. During one of my schemes, an associate told me that the firm places a lot of weight on certain tasks and that I should prioritise those. At other firms, I learnt that the firm cared more on the quality of your work or how well you engage with the team. I think you'll get a clearer picture of what's particularly important by speaking with your trainee buddy or supervisor early on.

Pace yourself: There’s often a temptation to say “yes” to everything that comes your way, but it’s much better to manage your capacity realistically. One of the more common mistakes I’ve been guilty of is taking on more than I could handle, becoming overstretched in terms of my capacity, and then submitting work that fell short. If you’re ever in doubt, I'd just speak with your trainee buddy/supervisor to get a sense of how long certain tasks could take.

Avoid common pitfalls: Having spoken to a variety of people, particularly Jess Booker, I'm told that it's important to avoid pitfalls that can sometimes undermine a candidate. These include:

• Coming across as over-confident or dismissive of others;
• Seeming uninterested in the work or doing tasks mechanically without asking questions or following up;
• Prioritising networking over doing good work (e.g. too many coffee chats can be a red flag if they come at the expense of your core responsibilities).
• Being unwilling to ask for help when stuck; people would much rather you clarify something early than spend hours going off in the wrong direction.

Be thoughtful about how you build connections. It’s great to meet people from across the firm, but there’s no need to force it. Rather than aiming to meet everyone, focus on having meaningful conversations (particularly within your department). If someone is very busy, they’ll appreciate you being considerate of their time. Go in prepared and ensure that any questions you ask are tailored to their background, and don't just ask questions that you could technically ask anyone at the firm.

Be socially conscious. Try to get a feel for how formal or relaxed the environment is and follow the lead of those you’re working with. Some situations will call for a more professional tone; in others (like a social or a more informal session) it’s fine to let your personality come through.

Finally, remember that you don’t have to be the loudest or most confident person to make a strong impression. I'd say just aim to be reliable, thoughtful, curious, and kind. That will often be enough to get noticed.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your scheme!

Would love to know any insight for Sidley VS and how to convert

Haven’t personally done Sidley, but I’ve quoted a great post by @Ram Sabaratnam with some great tips on conversion to help.

Best wishes with the VS..! You got this

 

[yk1906]

Hi! Any tips for Reed Smith VI? Please DM

 

[Kakaboo]

Hi! How do I talk about vacation schemes I’m going to do if they are past the deadline for direct TC’s?

 

[hfbjsdhfbhf]

Hi! I have an upcoming AC and I just received my final degree results (2:1 from a RG). Would it be advisable to mention it during the interview or would it put me at a disadvantage compared to other candidates that might have gotten a 1st?

 

[FM302989]

Hi! I have an upcoming AC and I just received my final degree results (2:1 from a RG). Would it be advisable to mention it during the interview or would it put me at a disadvantage compared to other candidates that might have gotten a 1st?

Not really sure the question makes sense?

If they ask you what your degree result was, you can proudly say a 2:1 which is considered a good degree. A minority get a 1st but firms will not compare candidates based on a degree result alone

 

[pops1999]

hi! anyone heard from samsung re paralegal position?

Hi, I had my 2nd stage interview on Monday 9th but haven’t heard back yet. Have you heard back?

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi! I have an upcoming AC and I just received my final degree results (2:1 from a RG). Would it be advisable to mention it during the interview or would it put me at a disadvantage compared to other candidates that might have gotten a 1st?

Hi,

Congrats on the 2:1 - such a wonderful achievement! This is not a question to worry about in my opinion. It meets the degree classification requirements for virtually all TCs in the city anyway. So whether your mention it or not, it does not affect your candidacy.

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi! How do I talk about vacation schemes I’m going to do if they are past the deadline for direct TC’s?

Could you clarify the question please?

Are you asking how you can talk about incoming vacation schemes in the applications you want to submit for direct TCs?

Or have you already submitted the applications for the direct TCs and asking how to talk about them in any upcoming interviews?

 

[lawstudent2]

Hi, if anyone knows about this and can be brutally honest I'd really appreciate it. I just got my second year grades back and they were not what I expected - I ended up with an average of around 64 but that's with two high 2.2s and some high 2.1s to get it there. Is that going to get me immediately rejected from some of the higher firms eg magic circle and large US? I just want to be realistic going into the next cycle with these grades and not waste my time and increase disappointment as I know the two 2.2s despite being on the border are prolly not what they want still. Thanks

 

[BillSikes]

Hi, if anyone knows about this and can be brutally honest I'd really appreciate it. I just got my second year grades back and they were not what I expected - I ended up with an average of around 64 but that's with two high 2.2s and some high 2.1s to get it there. Is that going to get me immediately rejected from some of the higher firms eg magic circle and large US? I just want to be realistic going into the next cycle with these grades and not waste my time and increase disappointment as I know the two 2.2s despite being on the border are prolly not what they want still. Thanks

I would say 64 is fine for the top level firms assuming you are at RG