• 📅 Vacation Scheme Applications 2025–26

    Planning to apply for winter, spring or summer vacation schemes? Join our dedicated threads for support, deadlines, and discussion:

    Let’s make this your strongest application season yet 💼

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  1. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Last year, multiple people have told me that the firm normally only does that in case of a positive decision. As such, while it is not a strict policy and they could do it for other reasons, I would definitely take it as a good sign.
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I'm glad I could help :) - see here my Complete Competency Interview Guide here. I have also quoted bellow a post in which I discussed in depth the approach that enabled me to manage my nerves and give my best on the day, but let me know if there is anything else you have more specific questions...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Just before @Ram Sabaratnam can also come back to you, I agree with Jessica in that there is no need to do so before the scheme starts. For most of my schemes, I did not either, and it was never an issue. However, if you do want to reach out to some people so that there are some friendly faces...
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @futuretrainee2025 to take your questions in turn: There are two elements that I think go into preparation for any AC exercise, including case studies: (i) developing and improving the relevant assessed skills; and (ii) practicing. Of course, the two overlap, in that practicing will also...
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Just to add to the great post by @Amma Usman perhaps it would be useful for you to see some of the other resources I used and my process management method. The the starting point would be to "split" the law firm up between a number of different categories, which I would then represent as...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I completely second @Jessica Booker on this although I wish I knew it back in the day - speaking from personal experience, you do not want to end up having drank your 5th coffee of the day at 4pm 🥲
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I do not have much to add to what @Jessica Booker said here, just thought to give you an example of a bio I wrote which the firm said was good: Andrei is a second-year law student at University College London. He has developed an interest in commercial law through his studies, having been...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    As @Jesscia Booker said, there is not a right or wrong answer as this will be highly dependent on one's circumstances; moreover, I definitely do not think the choice is a 'decisive' one, in that there are plenty of people who succeed with both approaches. That said, if I were in this position...
  9. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I do not think there is any issue with having an interview answer that mirrors an application form answer. I actually have no idea why this has become such an almost universally accepted myth - I personally never saw an issue with using the same reasoning as in your application. In many cases...
  10. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    For a general 'who are our competitors' question think this will be fine, but I would also try to take a look at their practice area expertise and, if possible, to compare geographical spread. The concept of a competitor is a multifaceted one and there are other elements besides size and sector...
  11. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think unfortunately you can only prepare to quite a limited extent. I remember I was also initially quite stressed out by the fact that I did not feel I was doing 'enough' to be able to actually convert very competitive VSs. However, in retrospect this was not really an issue, and I also do...
  12. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    My advice regarding an ideal applications strategy is to always aim to submit as many high-quality applications as possible. For your case, the first point I will say is that I think you could be making more applications. I know people who have managed to make around 40-50 quality applications...
  13. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @camrxc the best resource by far for this should be the updated Slaughter and May law firm profile I wrote for TCLA in the summer. On the forums I discussed two of the firm's distinguishing aspects: its best friends model and its market leader position in public M&A. I will quote them bellow:
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    From what I have read on this interview experience post on it, it seems it will be mostly based on: General competency questions The big motivational questions (why commercial law, why firm, why me) Applications strategy/competitors-based questions As such, my advice would be to have...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I would first try to just ask the firm you have been first offered VS from whether you could be moved to another scheme. There's a good chance they might, in which case your issue will be resolved, in that there will be no conflict even if Paul, Weiss makes you an offer. In case the firm...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    I know someone who has gotten a TC from a mid-market UK firm and their only legal work experience was an informal internship at a not very well known law firm in a foreign country (which in practice was more of a shadowing experience), while the only non-legal work experience consisted of summer...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Thanks again for the kind words @Chris Brown they really made my day 🥹! And thank you for all your contributions to the forum in these past few months, I think they have really made it so much of a better place and also helped lots of people!
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I completely understand your frustration here, but it is unfortunately quite hard to tell, as different firm have very different processes. In the case of Slaughter and May, although I was given prior warning as to the long response times, I also had to wait more than 6 weeks post AC. However...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @mulan0 from what I have encountered so far they tend to be either based on a negotiation, a group discussion, or a presentation task. Negotiations: The exercises can have different structures and team sizes depending on the firm, but I think the default one is for you to get around...
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @ayiiii05 I will link here the Guide to Building a Winning Applications Strategy I have written a couple of months ago, as it describes in a lot of depth what I think led to my success after also getting rejected everywhere in the previous cycle.

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