• 📅 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

    They have not announced any dates for open days this year, but last year K&E had an open day in November and opened the application on the 1st of October. I would expect similar dates this year, so I'd advise you to check their applications webpage again in early October.
  2. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    When I applied to DLA Piper last year, my answer solely focused on my motivations for 'Why the firm' and I ended up being invited for an AC. However, part of the reason why I followed this approach is that I had some previous work experience with one of the firm's foreign offices, which I wanted...
  3. Andrei Radu

    Aside from Slaughter and May, where should I avoid applying if I just have a 2.1?

    I can't think of any other firms who have a similar reputation for a focus on candidates who have achieved/are on track to achieve a 1.1. However, I think you can infer a grade-focused recruitment strategy from the firms who have an application eligibility criterion of a 'high' or 'strong' 2.1...
  4. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    While I do not think it is necessary, it is very helpful for improving the quality of your written answers. I only got reviews for the first 4/5 applications I submitted in my second application cycle - but this was by far the biggest contributor to learning about type of writing law firm...
  5. Andrei Radu

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

    Hi there - and thanks for the question! 1. I think your approach should depend on the specific work experience you are describing. In general, I think it is good advice to use the STAR structure, especially if the work experience includes a higher number of aspects you could discuss. Regarding...
  6. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi there! For the first question, I think the two things the firm is trying to test you on is (1) your understanding of the role of a trainee - and specifically, your knowledge of the the less appealing parts of the job; (2) your understanding of the specific internal resources and support...
  7. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I wouldn't worry too much on the pace at which you are completing applications early in the cycle. For me, the first two applications took me around 2-3 weeks each, and then for about a month I started doing around one per week. Finally, come end of December/January, I could research and write...
  8. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Unfortunately, I do not think there is an answer to your question that applies across all law firms. Among the firms that recruit on a rolling basis, there are still significant differences in their approach. Some of them, like Jones Day, can sometimes reply to your application in a matter of...
  9. Andrei Radu

    Can anyone give me an insight on how you can prepare for an assessment centre?

    What is the AC process like and what happens in it? The AC process differs from firm by firm, but in general, it consists of an entire day of assessments and networking at the firm's office. You will generally start the day with an introduction and short presentation from the firm's graduate...
  10. Andrei Radu

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

    Hi there, and first of all, well done for submitting an application so early in the cycle - keep this up :) ! To your question, I don't think one or two typos will lead to an automatic rejection at any firm. I remember some recruiters mentioning a 'three strikes and you're out' rule for grammar...
  11. Andrei Radu

    A Guide to Building a Winning Application Strategy

    Introduction This post is meant to serve you as a definitive guide to crafting your optimal application strategy. As it is quite lengthy, I have divided it into five subsections for you to navigate according to your interests: Why do you need an application strategy? How many law firms should...
    • Andrei Radu
    • Thread
    • application advice application season application tips training contract advice vacation schemes written application
    • Replies: 7
    • Forum: Applications Discussion
  12. Andrei Radu

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

    Glad you've found some of my input useful :)! As for your question about starting your answer from a particular characteristic of commercial law, I can broadly think of 2 structures you may employ: Option A: Firstly, you can begin by explaining a relevant concrete experience using the STAR...
  13. Andrei Radu

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

    Hi there, and thanks for the questions! For you Why Law question, while I don't think there is a single right way to go about structuring this answer, the approach that made most sense for me was to firstly (though of course, this depends on the word count limit), split my answer between a 'why...
  14. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Hi there! As @Jessica Booker mentioned, you have a lot of freedom in deciding how to approach this, and it doesn't need to be BCLP or law-firm specific. If anything, I'd advise you to avoid trying to shoehorn firm-specific/legal industry examples to more abstract points which could be better...
  15. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I actually did not make any winter scheme applications for this reason, but in retrospect I think this was a mistake. I ended up in this exact situation with one of the spring scheme offers I had (because of my own oversight, I had not realised the scheme was happening in the last week of my...
  16. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    While Latham does have an employment & benefits practice in London, it is definitely one of their smaller ones. As with other top US firms, its role is probably to generally service clients on the employment-law elements of a deal the firm's transactional departments leads on, rather than...
  17. Andrei Radu

    Applying for vac schemes at two offices at the same time

    No worries, and best of luck with your applications :)!
  18. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    The question as to the ideal number of applications is a rather controversial one, and I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to it. Some top recruiters and top applicants advise to be 100% focused on producing the highest possible quality of applications and to therefore only choose...
  19. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    While your total wordcount may be on the lengthy side, I don't think it is necessarily overkill. When I was applying for a firm with no word count limit on the cover letter and some other questions, I think I wrote in total over 2500 words, to which I added roughly another 1000 in the work...
  20. Andrei Radu

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it depends on the specific of the work experiences you have and on what you have included in the cover letter. My strategy was to start by focusing on writing the best possible cover letter, and then write my work experience section while taking into account the information I had already...

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