Congratulations!!! Is that competitive? I heard that master's degree is less selective compared to bachelor's especially in the UK even though it's RG uni.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Just spotted a spelling typo in one of the vac scheme applications I sent off. Bye
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Does anybody have any advice on how to answer the following-Identify an industry sector of interest to you and discuss its current challenges or opportunities and how the Firm could help a client in the sector navigate these. (400 words max) for Baker McKenzie
I spelt Sidley Austin “Sidney Austin” in my first sentence of my first question. And I still got the vac 💀 one typo isn’t the end of the world
I feel like I majorly messed up the Taylor Wessing cover letter by adding a “why commercial law” paragraph, even though I tried to keep it really short. Could have used the space to expand more on skills 🥲
I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. The successful applications from last year have that part. I believe it also comes under the "why the scheme", question.
Especially as a career changer (the firm hires a lot of people from STEM), none can write a cover letter without answering why commercial law.
So I believe that's totally okay.
I really hope so. I procrastinated that cover letter for over a month and literally sent the application an hour before the deadline. 😂
Just don't everthink if your typo doesn't change the meaning of it or have hilarious recourse of words. Eg. Bowling, Growling, Growing when the actual name is Gowling 🤭
Grad Rec confirmed in an online event that there are a few numerical questions based on datasets. The provider is Amberjack too so it would make sense
Another one is King Spalding which I always want to call Spadling
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I now understand the pain behind this post.
Totally valid. The whole process made me question atleast 10 times that if I'm even worthy enough to be a lawyer...
I have seen that in 2019 Reed Smith introduced an innovation seat on their TC [https://www.legalcheek.com/2019/09/reed-smith-launches-innovation-seats-for-london-trainees/] - is this still offered?
Hi guys, this is my 2nd/3rd application cycle and will require visa sponsorship. I applied to 4-9 firms last year but did not really focus on it, took a break to work on my academics. I have an overall first class degree and decent work experiences. Having graduated it is a bit hard to stay as motivated without my peers at university when we were all working towards the same goal together. I have been fortunate to receive mentoring where they have motivated me to apply this year and give it my all saying that I should have a decent shot. However, recently I have doing my self struggle to apply. I am finding it really hard to focus on written applications and researching the firm. I keep delaying some apps because of the pressure of this being the application cycle and often end up leaving it to the deadline despite having enough time. Due to this I have missed the deadline for 2 firms. It is not a question of being driven to apply or understanding the seriousness of the situation, I am simply unable to get anything out even if I sit down at my desk and spend days on an app until and unless it is the last day. Sometimes I find all this too overwhelming and that is why I suspect am freezing, procrastinating, shutting down, and unknowingly sabotaging myself.
I have thought of these measures but not sure how they will work, would appreciate your advise:
A. Do not try and one shot an application in a day as that often causes me to not get most work done. Rather start earlier and do parts even if it one question or a small part of a cover letter/ research or organising my points.
B. Just better time management and organisation. I am planning an ambitious number of quality applications and December is likely to have the most deadlines, so while this may not prevent being overwhelmed it could at least leave me in a better situation.
C. I think I am over emphasising and trying too much to be a perfectionist leading to worse apps in my mind and also deadline issues, so getting normal drafts out and then editing them later instead of write edit keep editing then continue writing.
D. Sometimes reinventing the wheel, because I have done an application cycle because I feel that I have become over reliant on parts that worked previously whether it is why commercial law, why you, or why this practice area, and using similar iterations. When having to do an application where the practice area of interest is one I have not written about before, it can cause some friction, so embracing these new changes and trying out new iterations.
I feel very unlike myself and all the stress has been overwhelming. I really want to break this vicious cycle of mistakes and make it work. I would appreciate any all advise from those who have or are going through the same.
I have thought of these measures but not sure how they will work, would appreciate your advise:
A. Do not try and one shot an application in a day as that often causes me to not get most work done. Rather start earlier and do parts even if it one question or a small part of a cover letter/ research or organising my points.
B. Just better time management and organisation. I am planning an ambitious number of quality applications and December is likely to have the most deadlines, so while this may not prevent being overwhelmed it could at least leave me in a better situation.
C. I think I am over emphasising and trying too much to be a perfectionist leading to worse apps in my mind and also deadline issues, so getting normal drafts out and then editing them later instead of write edit keep editing then continue writing.
D. Sometimes reinventing the wheel, because I have done an application cycle because I feel that I have become over reliant on parts that worked previously whether it is why commercial law, why you, or why this practice area, and using similar iterations. When having to do an application where the practice area of interest is one I have not written about before, it can cause some friction, so embracing these new changes and trying out new iterations.
I feel very unlike myself and all the stress has been overwhelming. I really want to break this vicious cycle of mistakes and make it work. I would appreciate any all advise from those who have or are going through the same.
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