• 📅 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

    I do not think you need to unnecessarily try to maximize work experience sections. Generally, the only places where firms expect you to utilize all the available word count is the motivational/competency/commercial awareness questions. Graduate recruiters know that student work experiences can...
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I would say probably not, unless there is a very clear and direct link between some aspect of your work experiences and a unique selling point of the firm. I think many candidates make mistakes here in trying to create such links where none exist, so I think it is completely fine if none of your...
  3. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @VMS. I completely agree with @Jessica Booker's response that there is no set number of practice areas you have to choose and that what is important is how well can you demonstrate your interest. If you have a strong interest in one single area and you feel you can go into a lot of depth...
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    @Jessica Booker might be able to tell you more about this, but my general advice on such issues is to err on the side of caution and to include more rather than less information. Thus, I would include current modules as well and perhaps if possible flag that I have not received any grades yet.
  5. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    While there is no right or wrong answer to this question and while what you can discuss will depend significantly on your interests and experiences, it seems to me that it would be optimal if you can discuss a genuine interest in a job within the commercial sphere. Essentially, I believe the...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I was in the same situation as you last year and I was a bit confused as to what information I should or should not include. I ended up providing a more detailed answer than yours, but that was because my prior education was not in the form of international exams, but a unique set of...
  7. Andrei Radu

    Journey to a TC

    Hey @Tallat, I just wanted to firstly thank you for creating this thread - I think it will be really valuable for our community members to see how you progress on your journey throughout the year. Also, to mention the perhaps cliche but still very true piece of advice that you should never let...
  8. Andrei Radu

    A Nervous Training Contract Journey

    Hey @sammm10101, I think it's great you started this thread now rather than after you got your TC! Of course, it is great to hear of people's success, but it's also really valuable to see someone's journey as it is developing in real time. I really look forward to seeing how you progress...
  9. Andrei Radu

    Non-comercial legal experience - bad?

    I do think it's worth doing some more experiences, as ideally the story you will want to tell is that you have become more and more interested in commercial law the more you were exposed it throughout the years. Also, you want to show a strong interest at the present moment to justify the change...
  10. Andrei Radu

    International students: are vac schemes possible during the SQE at all?

    Hi @watsonglazeddonut! So for question 1, I do not know anybody who has done this, but this may just be because I have not started doing my SQE yet. @Jessica Booker or @Ram Sabaratnam might be able to tell to answer this better. However, I do know of multiple international students doing...
  11. Andrei Radu

    Non-comercial legal experience - bad?

    Hi @j3llyfish and first of all congrats on your first post - that's always the hardest :)! As for your question, the short answer is no, it is unlikely that this will have any negative effects on your chances of securing a TC at a commercial law firm. If anything, it will be helpful in that you...
  12. Andrei Radu

    Introduction and question

    Hi Sofia and a huge welcome to TCLA, it's great to have you here :)! It's great that you have started thinking about your career already and I completely agree with @Amma Usman that it is not at all early to try to get an internship. We and the other forum members will be glad to advise you on...
  13. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    If you get a VS offer at a small US firm running a one-week scheme, while I obviously cannot quantify it, I would say you have good enough chances to be worth applying. In my case it worked out, but I don't know enough people who have been in similar circumstances to be able to make a more...
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi @Looper88! Unfortunately this is not an easy question to answer and will in part depend on the details of the scheme, the extent to which a given law firm is willing to be flexible with its policies, and on your ability to collaborate with members of your university's faculty. If you can...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    That's so great to hear @AS24, you got this 💪!!
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it is still worth waiting, especially since you will have around a month left afterwards. However, considering the previous rejection, you want to submit the application as early as possible afterwards, perhaps in the first week. As such, I'd advise you to have your online firm research...
  17. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Home students I think will generally attend the scheme regardless and perhaps send an email/speak with people in the faculty to explain the situation. For international students, it is a bit more difficult because of the visa requirement of a 20-hour working hours cap during term time. However...
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    My short answer is yes. Even for firms recruiting on a rolling basis, most people only send their applications in the last two-three days, so you can still distinguish yourself from the crowd. Furthermore, I'd say the advantages of having an open day to discuss outweighs and disadvantage from...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I'd say a full breakdown is ideal and if you want you can also include in brackets that year 1 doesn't count and then the weighing distribution between year 2 and year 3.
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Since they emailed you that they will not be progressing the application because the places had been filled rather than rejecting it, I would also say there is a good chance they have not actually reviewed it. However, the application answers might still have been saved in the system and...

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