• 📅 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

    @Jessica Booker might be able to give you a more certain answer, but I think the natural interpretation of the wording of the second part of the sentence allows for 'why you' type answers. Work experiences/extracurriculars/achievements definitely count as 'any other information' as long as they...
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @Unknowncabbage just to add to @Jessica Booker's response and to give you my thoughts before @Ram Sabaratnam and @Amma Usman come back to you: I think for a great 'why the firm' answer you want for your reasons to (i) only apply to the particular firm, as opposed to applying equally to a a...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it is still worth applying. Many firms run ACs through a period of multiple months, and all the people I know who did a Simmons & Simmons AC were applying for a WVS. As such, I definitely think this should not deter you from making a Spring/Summer VS application.
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it is completely fine to use personal experiences to illustrate points, as in many circumstances it will be personal experiences that shape our motivations more than professional/academic ones. However, I also do not think repeating work experiences is necessarily a big issue, unless...
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @lolasparks firstly I want to say I completely relate to your struggles. My first application draft would always be substantially above the word count and I would spend hours and hours to think of ways as to how to reduce it. In some ways however that was not bad, as it forced me to think a...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @legal18 so I think there are a number of associated benefits of a sector-focused approach from both a client and an employee perspective: Benefits for clients: Ease of service: essentially, a sector-focused firm will deliver legal services in a way that is a lot easier for the client to...
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    1. Word limit: there's no absolute figures to cite here, but for me think the "acceptable" word count range would be anywhere from 400-500 to 1000-1200 for the personal statement and anywhere from around 200 to 600 for the hobbies section. Ultimately, what matters here is (i) extracting as much...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    While it's always good to check for any extra information about this in FAQs sections, think most firms nowadays are happy with starting directly with 'Graduate Recruitment Team', especially for one-page cover letters. However, my personal preference is to also include addresses at the start - I...
  9. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Slaughter and May is widely thought to put a lot of emphasis on grades, but besides that as far as I am aware no UK firm has a particular reputation in this regard. There are a couple of historical 'white shoe' US firms who are also thought to emphasize academics more, but I think they only...
  10. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Hey @User5678, @Ram Sabaratnam might be able to tell you more but here's my take on your two questions: 1. You have identified the two important points about a good answer here: not having a deal-breaker weakness and showing improvement. My response here (which I actually got to explain in a...
  11. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @helloj I would say this is good news. While you weren't immediately progressed, it is not at all uncommon for firms to have holding lists. The fact that they reviewed your application and did not reject means that you have likely done better than more than 90% of other applicants.
  12. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @yasmars I do not remember much from Willkie's VI last year, but I do not recall it differing much from my other VIs. Regarding general VI advice, I recently wrote a comprehensive guide on all that goes into competency interviews - be they VI or final stage. I quoted bellow the most relevant...
  13. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Just to add to some of the great responses forum members have already given you, I think it is natural to have some anxiety ahead of an interview. To properly manage it, I would firstly remind myself that just by being in that room I have been selected in the top 5% of candidates or better...
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    At an open day I was told by someone at HSF that you are guaranteed a disputes and a corporate seat. If I am not mistaken, doing one of each is actually mandatory for most trainees. However, you are not guaranteed any specific seat within the broad 'disputes' and 'corporate' umbrellas. Certain...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I'm sorry to hear about the DLA AC @cleojwilliams, I imagine how disappointing it is to get so close to your goal. But know that you can and will bounce back stronger, and that getting so far shows that you have everything it takes to succeed! If possible, I would reach out to DLA and ask for...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think firms have these questions because of anti-nepotism policies. In your case, since you have not been in contact a long time, there could not be any reasonable suspicion that your old friend would try to influence the recruitment process in your favour. As such, I think he would not count...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hey @_shims_ first of all, huge congrats on the VS - it is an amazing achievement, the fact that you got so far shows that you are an exceptionally strong candidate! It is completely normal to feel nervous ahead of it (everyone else on the scheme will), but you should also know, beyond a shadow...
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Last year Willkie definitely reviewed applications before the VI stage. I would be really surprised if they changed the process this year, as firms almost never give automatic VIs - it would only increase the graduate recruitment teams' workloads.
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Huge congrats @Audric_T 🤩 🎉🎊!! Keep us updated on how it goes!
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @KBanana and just to offer a quick response before @Ram Sabaratnam and @Jessica Booker come back to you: I think the answer is yes, provided that the course requires significant commitment of your time and efforts. If it takes less than 4-5 hours of study per week for you, I think that will...

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