TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[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

 

[lawstudent2]

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

Yeh I am and thanks that's helpful

 

[Kakaboo]

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?

Yes the first question!

 

[Amma Usman]

Yes the first question!

Ah I see. Two ways, from my view.

The first is through the work experience section. Just putting a short note saying that it’s yet to commence. If you know of any seats you are going to be completing, it’s worth mentioning. If these are core practices of the firm you’ll be completing a vac scheme at, then that’s a great link to make. However, the question in any recruiters mind will then be why are you applying to them if you have a vac scheme coming up. This will be more so at interview stage, however, where you are asked that explicitly. So you’ll need to have solid answers prepared. Another thing is that the word count may not be enough to blab on about so much detail in this section. In the work experience section as well, you’d rather keep this away from any tangents. In summary, a simple “yet to commence” note, together with some supplementary detail you deem necessary, should suffice.

The second way to talk about it is in the why commercial law section / cover letter. Simply saying something like your incoming vacation scheme will further expose you to the profession. Though, there’s less to talk about here too since it’s incoming and not yet completed. Nevertheless, including it, however so slightly, still beefs up the quality of your application.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

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

Hiya @lawstudent2


Wanted to get some honest feedback to you, and hope this helps. The truth is, some US and Magic Circle firms can be pretty particular when it comes to academic consistency. That said, many are more flexible than you might think. They’ll usually look at what subjects the lower grades were in. For example, a 2:2 in something like tax or family law might not be as concerning to them as a 2:2 in contract or tort. They’ll also be thinking about the overall pattern (e.g. was this a one-off dip? Did your performance pick up later? Were there any mitigating circumstances that you've mentioned?)

But here’s the most important part: please don’t self-select out. Way too many candidates self-select out based on assumptions that may not be true and often based on very weak evidence (this is something I've found frustrating when meeting really great candidates on here who may have a few blips in their academic record). A well-crafted application can absolutely help balance out academic performance in certain modules. I’ve seen plenty of people with uneven transcripts go on to secure offers at US firms because they demonstrated excellent commercial awareness, showed growth, and drafted strong applications.

So yes, be realistic, but don’t write yourself off unless you have strong evidence that these grades are going to be a deal breaker at some firms (this is actually quite difficult evidence to get in the case of some firms). Just focus on what you can control heading into this next cycle. Good luck!

 

[trainee4u]

Is there usually 'free time' in a VS schedule!? I have a four-day VS, and a firm has invited me for Zoom interview & online assessment during that time, lasting a rather excessive 90 minutes.

I have said "er, I'm doing a VS", and they've replied "sorry we're busy and can't offer you any other time - maybe you can get away for 90 minutes". Given I don't have my VS schedule but would need to book a slot, and I'm being paid to impress for a mere four days, going along with this seems very foolish. I mean even emailing them asking for the schedule seems rather presumptuous.

Any thoughts!?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Is there usually 'free time' in a VS schedule!? I have a four-day VS, and a firm has invited me for Zoom interview & online assessment during that time, lasting a rather excessive 90 minutes.

I have said "er, I'm doing a VS", and they've replied "sorry we're busy and can't offer you any other time - maybe you can get away for 90 minutes". Given I don't have my VS schedule but would need to book a slot, and I'm being paid to impress for a mere four days, going along with this seems very foolish. I mean even emailing them asking for the schedule seems rather presumptuous.

Any thoughts!?

Heya @trainee4u

That’s a really tricky dilemma. You're right to be thinking carefully about this, especially since it's such a short scheme and you’ll want to make the most of every moment.

In most vac schemes, there usually is some breathing room built in (e.g. time for coffee chats, breaks between tasks, or just a bit of downtime), though not necessarily 90 mins. That said, it’s hard to predict in advance exactly when that will fall without seeing your schedule. I think it's completely reasonable to drop the grad recruitment team a polite message asking if a schedule is available yet, just so you can plan ahead. However, just be aware that they may not be able/willing to offer you a sense of the schedule yet.

I’m sorry the other firm isn’t being more flexible about the timing, but hope it works out!

 

[Amma Usman]

Is there usually 'free time' in a VS schedule!? I have a four-day VS, and a firm has invited me for Zoom interview & online assessment during that time, lasting a rather excessive 90 minutes.

I have said "er, I'm doing a VS", and they've replied "sorry we're busy and can't offer you any other time - maybe you can get away for 90 minutes". Given I don't have my VS schedule but would need to book a slot, and I'm being paid to impress for a mere four days, going along with this seems very foolish. I mean even emailing them asking for the schedule seems rather presumptuous.

Any thoughts!?

I have responded to a similar question on this a few days back and my thoughts on this stay the same. Unless you have no passion to secure a TC with your VS firm, then this is not advisable. I had once gotten two ACs during a VS, but turned them down because my interest in training at the firm I was doing a VS at, was greater. You risk affecting your performance greatly at your VS firm by taking a 90 minute break. Traditionally, these breaks will usually be only an hour (60 mins), plus we haven’t even taken into account commuting timings which add to that time contraint. Emailing the VS firm with a question on scheduling will also not change the fact that to get a 90 minute break is still difficult and places a strain on your chances. Ultimately, communication is key, as well as balancing your interests.

 

[trainee4u]

I have responded to a similar question on this a few days back and my thoughts on this stay the same. Unless you have no passion to secure a TC with your VS firm, then this is not advisable. I had once gotten two ACs during a VS, but turned them down because my interest in training at the firm I was doing a VS at, was greater. You risk affecting your performance greatly at your VS firm by taking a 90 minute break. Traditionally, these breaks will usually be only an hour (60 mins), plus we haven’t even taken into account commuting timings which add to that time contraint. Emailing the VS firm with a question on scheduling will also not change the fact that to get a 90 minute break is still difficult and places a strain on your chances. Ultimately, communication is key, as well as balancing your interests.

Thanks for the thoughts - there's no commute per se, as it's online (although realistically I wouldn't feel comfortable doing an interview for a different firm from the firm's office, so I'd need to find a location elsewhere, which would probably add around 15 minutes to my downtime).

As I understand it the 90 minutes is comprised of a 45-minute interview and an assessment: it's not clear whether the assessment can be done separately; I've emailed to ask, but I suspect not - a 45-minute interview seems more doable, but 90 minutes seems excessive.