• 📅 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

    Just to add to @Jessica Booker's and @jta227's great advice, one thing I did to improve my style of speaking has been to pay a lot more attention and to try to consciously control the pace of and the breaks in my speech. Simply including two or three well-placed pauses between points and by...
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Unfortunately I do not know, I am not involved in the firm's recruitment department. That said, considering the application deadline was only on the 19th of December, the recent interview invites have come quite early, so I would not be surprised if the firm had still not finished sending all of...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    For research, some sources for a quick overview would be the firm's Chambers UK 2025 Profile, the Chambers Student Profile, and TCLA Law Firm Profile. Try to identify two or three unique selling points of the firm that you can connect to your motivations and experiences. Besides this, for...
  4. Andrei Radu

    Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

    Hey @hello123 and first of all congrats for getting the interview, it is a huge achievement! In terms of general tips and preparation, I advise you to read the recent Complete Guide to Competency Interview Preparation I have written. You will find a list of my best tips and a detailed...
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I can confirm Kirkland has not only kept its position as one of the top 10 by deal value, but was actually ranked number 1. While I cannot access the Bloomberg article directly, I have found a number of other sources referencing it and providing the M&A table, such as Lawyer Monthly and The...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @AS24, I hope you are well too and all the best for the new year :)! For your first question, I think you should still aim to cover the same three basic 'Why commercial law', 'Why firm' and 'Why you' in the cover letter, though perhaps with an increased emphasis on the 'why you' part. To...
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think most of the answer for 'why a city law firm' will be similar to the usual 'why commercial law', but I would use one or two different sentences to reframe it and address the City element. I would focus on the City's standing as one of the world's leading financial centres and the...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    For Davis Polk here is a 2021 thread discussing different candidates' interview experiences which should give you a broad idea of what you can expect. I will also take the opportunity to plug the new Davis Polk firm profile I have written this year. If you have not already, I definitely advise...
  9. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I agree with Jessica's points, I will just add that for the simple 'Why law' question you should seek to emphasize more general features of legal practice that attract you. It is perfectly acceptable to say that your masters confirmed your interest in pursuing a legal career because you have...
  10. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @legaldruid I actually wrote an in depth guide discussing this issue which you can access here. I would advise you to read section A (as it describes my general VI/competency interview preparation method) and section B (as it provides my best VI-specific tips), but please let me know if you...
  11. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @Miss Chocolate, of course :)! I do not think you have to change it. If it is your most recent or substantial work experience, recruiters will understand it is natural to keep it. But while the substance of your points may stay the same (though do analyze whether you can analyze any parts of...
  12. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    My rule of thumb for using abbreviations for firm names has been that it is acceptable if the firm refers to itself that way or if it is referred to that way in the legal press. I vaguely remember seeing 'W&C' in one or two articles but I definitely feel this is the exception rather than the...
  13. Andrei Radu

    Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

    Hi @rain2801 I definitely think you should still give it a shot. Firms have always cared a lot less about high school grades than about university performance, simply because that is most relevant to assessing your potential in the industry. They do not expect you to have always have a flawless...
  14. Andrei Radu

    Ask 4 future trainees ANYTHING! *New TCLA Team Members*

    Hi there, simply click on the 'Premium Database' button on the bottom of the left sidebar. After you do that, you should see a link sending you to the page where you can request premium access.
  15. Andrei Radu

    Is a conversion course necessary for a non-law undergrad to secure a TC?

    Hi there! Firstly, I want to empathize that beyond the fact that a law conversion course is not a strict requirement for securing a TC, it is not close to even being a 'soft expectation'. I have known many non-law students who got VSs and TCs at top firms without having completed it - in fact...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I completely agree with what @jta227 and @Jessica Booker said. I only have two things to add. Firstly, I think it would be beneficial to do some extra research on the firm, which will allow you to naturally discover questions you might have an interest in asking. I would specifically target my...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It seems the VS and TC applications are separate, but I doubt they are completely independent. I do not have specific information for Withers but when I was doing my VS at Slaughter and May, they had a similar system with a separate TC application. That essentially meant two things. Firstly, our...
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it it is perfectly fine to address it to the graduate recruitment team unless instructed otherwise - I was progressed in multiple applications in which I did that. Even if for some reason a particular recruiter might have a preference regarding to whom the cover letter is addressed to...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    If you can write a high quality application during this time, I think it is definitely still worth a shot for the VS. Last year I also only submitted my White & Case application in the last week before the deadline and I was still progressed.
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    If you were able to add value to your analysis by discussing how a certain element has been dealt with in another deal that would definitely be impressive, but you are certainly not expected to do that. As Jessica said, firms are looking to test (i) the level of your commercial awareness - just...

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