TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[trainee4u]

Has anyone heard from Dorsey after app submission (TC)?

I received a PFO at 15:39 today:

"Thank you for taking the time to apply for a Training Contract with Dorsey & Whitney.


Regrettably, we will not be able to advance you to the 1st stage of the process.

The standard of applications was particularly high this year and this is always a difficult decision to make."

 

[TortillaTC]

I received a PFO at 15:39 today:

"Thank you for taking the time to apply for a Training Contract with Dorsey & Whitney.


Regrettably, we will not be able to advance you to the 1st stage of the process.

The standard of applications was particularly high this year and this is always a difficult decision to make."

Sorry to hear! They do take very few people so it must be incredibly selective

 

[Jaysen]

Hey All,

Just an early heads up that we will be locking this thread on the 1st August. It won't be going anywhere in case you want to search through old posts, but we'll be moving over to a new thread for 2025/26.

This is because the next cycle is (already) almost upon us 😮

This year's thread was incredibly busy with 3M views and 22,000 posts between now and last August. Well done to all of you for making it through a cycle. And if you didn't get your training contract already, we're here to help in the next!

 

[jojo23]

I can’t believe I’m writing this but I managed to convert my 2nd VS into a TC offer! In addition, I converted both of my DTC ACs into TC offers, meaning I now hold 4 US firm TC offers! 😅

At the beginning of this application cycle, I did not think I had what it takes to secure a single TC, mainly because I come from a lower socio-economic, working-class background. 🥲

To anybody who comes from a background like mine, I hope me sharing my journey over these past 6-7 months on the forum, has inspired and encouraged you to chase your dreams! 😅

I will be posting a breakdown of my entire cycle as well as some useful tips I learned along the way shortly. I now have the very difficult decision to make of choosing which TC offer to accept. 🫠

Thank you to everyone on this forum for all the support and guidance, I appreciate you! I also want to thank @Amma Usman, @Andrei Radu and @Ram Sabaratnam for their insights! 🐐​

The homies generational run must be studied🔥😤

 

[jojo23]

This is not a bad idea at all. I’d just be mindful that requirements/application questions may change. Regardless, the below will be asked at several stages and across several firms, so prepping for them will save you time come September!

• Work experience section.
• Why commercial law.
• Why law - notice the difference to the above.
• Why X firm.
• Why you.

I'm trying my best to go through them all 😭😭
The commercial questions are the worst part though

 

[Kakaboo]

Gateley rejected post vacation scheme

 

[Kakaboo]

If someone turns down a TC offer does it go to someone else?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

If someone turns down a TC offer does it go to someone else?

Hiya @Kakaboo

Not necessarily. If the firm has a waitlist/reserve list, then an offer will normally be made to someone on that list. However, if there is no one on the waitlist, the firm will often bring someone forward in a subsequent application cycle.

Good luck if you're still waiting to hear back!

 

[pax]

Gateley PFO Post Vacation Scheme. Next cycle here we come lol 🪖

 

[V2002]

Hi has anyone done the Burges Salmon AC? Please, can you help me understand what a group exercise is?

 

[Eros]

I have upcoming interview for the LBA program with Perkins, and I know they have collaborated with TCLA. Is there any firm insight or workshops they have run that I can revisit for research proposes ?

 

[traineedreamer]

I've taken some time to bask in the news, and I'm still in shock that I'm able to write this, but after 7 years of applying, I have FINALLY been offered a TC!
I had kind of mentally prepared myself that this would be my last cycle before I had to start seriously thinking about a Plan B, but I knew deep down that this was all I wanted to do. All the struggles have paid off though, and I have achieved my dream!
Honestly to anyone who is thinking about giving up, if this is truly what you want then push a little more, your offer could be just around the corner!
This forum and website has been invaluable. I truly do not believe I could have gotten as far as I did without it. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, insight, encouragement and even just the laughter and jokes. The legal community has some amazing people in it!

 

[zonnonomo]

I've taken some time to bask in the news, and I'm still in shock that I'm able to write this, but after 7 years of applying, I have FINALLY been offered a TC!
I had kind of mentally prepared myself that this would be my last cycle before I had to start seriously thinking about a Plan B, but I knew deep down that this was all I wanted to do. All the struggles have paid off though, and I have achieved my dream!
Honestly to anyone who is thinking about giving up, if this is truly what you want then push a little more, your offer could be just around the corner!
This forum and website has been invaluable. I truly do not believe I could have gotten as far as I did without it. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, insight, encouragement and even just the laughter and jokes. The legal community has some amazing people in it!

YESSSSSSS congratulations !!!! so many Ws in the forum recently this is awesome

 

[Boating]

I've taken some time to bask in the news, and I'm still in shock that I'm able to write this, but after 7 years of applying, I have FINALLY been offered a TC!
I had kind of mentally prepared myself that this would be my last cycle before I had to start seriously thinking about a Plan B, but I knew deep down that this was all I wanted to do. All the struggles have paid off though, and I have achieved my dream!
Honestly to anyone who is thinking about giving up, if this is truly what you want then push a little more, your offer could be just around the corner!
This forum and website has been invaluable. I truly do not believe I could have gotten as far as I did without it. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, insight, encouragement and even just the laughter and jokes. The legal community has some amazing people in it!

This is the news we like to hear, 7 years is incredibe determination and real journey you should be proud of, that's charactersitcs that will make you a great lawyer, congratulations!

 

[sibs23]

I've taken some time to bask in the news, and I'm still in shock that I'm able to write this, but after 7 years of applying, I have FINALLY been offered a TC!
I had kind of mentally prepared myself that this would be my last cycle before I had to start seriously thinking about a Plan B, but I knew deep down that this was all I wanted to do. All the struggles have paid off though, and I have achieved my dream!
Honestly to anyone who is thinking about giving up, if this is truly what you want then push a little more, your offer could be just around the corner!
This forum and website has been invaluable. I truly do not believe I could have gotten as far as I did without it. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, insight, encouragement and even just the laughter and jokes. The legal community has some amazing people in it!

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS from a fellow 7 cycle applicant!! It's an amazing feeling when the hard work pays off!!💓 Enjoy this moment for as long as you can.

 

[traineedreamer]

YESSSSSSS congratulations !!!! so many Ws in the forum recently this is awesome

This is the news we like to hear, 7 years is incredibe determination and real journey you should be proud of, that's charactersitcs that will make you a great lawyer, congratulations!

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS from a fellow 7 cycle applicant!! It's an amazing feeling when the hard work pays off!!💓 Enjoy this moment for as long as you can.

Thank you all so much! ❤️

 

[Chris Brown]

I’m happy to share I have accepted a TC offer from my dream US firm! This decision was the most difficult one I have had to make in my life so far, but I am excited for what’s ahead in this TC and commercial law journey. 😅

Over the past 6-7 months, a lot of people have asked me about my experience going through this application cycle. I figured I would make a few posts addressing this, with the first being a breakdown of my entire cycle (see below):

Vacation Scheme (‘VS’) offers:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Covington & Burling
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Stephenson Harwood
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Direct Training Contract (‘DTC’) AC offers:

Baker McKenzie
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

Winter VS PFOs:

A&O Shearman: PFO post SJT/VI
Ashurst: PFO post OT
Dechert: PFO post app
Jones Day: PFO post app
Linklaters: PFO post WG
Norton Rose Fulbright: PFO post OT
Simmons & Simmons: PFO post SJT/VI

Spring & Summer VS PFOs:

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner: PFO post VI
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: PFO post OT
Hogan Lovells: PFO post WG
Macfarlanes: PFO post OT
Paul Hastings: PFO post VI
Ropes & Gray: PFO post app
Travers Smith: PFO post app
White & Case: PFO post VI

Direct TC PFOs:

Slaughter and May: PFO post app
Sullivan & Cromwell: PFO post app

To anybody who will be applying for VS or DTC in the upcoming cycle, I hope this offers some reassurance that rejection is 100% redirection. I received 17 PFOs this cycle, but remembered that it would only ever takes 1 yes. ☝️

Since so many of you have PM’d me asking for application strategy and interview advice, I will make a separate post for that. Best of luck to everyone who will be applying in the upcoming application cycle for VS/DTC. 😅​

 

[BillSikes]

Anyone know what the Stephenson Harwood test is? And also whether the test is automatic or not?

 

[BillSikes]

I’m happy to share I have accepted a TC offer from my dream US firm! This decision was the most difficult one I have had to make in my life so far, but I am excited for what’s ahead in this TC and commercial law journey. 😅

Over the past 6-7 months, a lot of people have asked me about my experience going through this application cycle. I figured I would make a few posts addressing this, with the first being a breakdown of my entire cycle (see below):

Vacation Scheme (‘VS’) offers:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Covington & Burling
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Stephenson Harwood
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Direct Training Contract (‘DTC’) AC offers:

Baker McKenzie
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

Winter VS PFOs:

A&O Shearman: PFO post SJT/VI
Ashurst: PFO post OT
Dechert: PFO post app
Jones Day: PFO post app
Linklaters: PFO post WG
Norton Rose Fulbright: PFO post OT
Simmons & Simmons: PFO post SJT/VI

Spring & Summer VS PFOs:

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner: PFO post VI
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: PFO post OT
Hogan Lovells: PFO post WG
Macfarlanes: PFO post OT
Paul Hastings: PFO post VI
Ropes & Gray: PFO post app
Travers Smith: PFO post app
White & Case: PFO post VI

Direct TC PFOs:

Slaughter and May: PFO post app
Sullivan & Cromwell: PFO post app

To anybody who will be applying for VS or DTC in the upcoming cycle, I hope this offers some reassurance that rejection is 100% redirection. I received 17 PFOs this cycle, but remembered that it would only ever takes 1 yes. ☝️

Since so many of you have PM’d me asking for application strategy and interview advice, I will make a separate post for that. Best of luck to everyone who will be applying in the upcoming application cycle for VS/DTC. 😅​

Can I ask what uni you went and what grade you got?

 

[jojo23]

Anyone know what the Stephenson Harwood test is? And also whether the test is automatic or not?

Amberjack which i think is a blended sjt. It's also not automatic