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29 Oct 2025
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK)
Hosted on TCLA TV
Join Isabel Elsey, Legal Recruitment Manager at BCLP, for a live Q&A session. Get details on secondments, innovation, growth areas, and everything else you’ve wanted to ask about life at BCLP!
I think I’m cooked for W&C then. 🤣💀
I applied on the 5th Jan and still haven’t heard anything. I applied for both Spring and Summer because I’m just too indecisive. 🥲🥲
I have had adjustments for VI’s where I did a telephone interview instead. I was given extra time to prepare and answer each question. 🙂
I spoke with the graduate recruitment team members at HSF and HL about ADHD related adjustments at a law fair and they mentioned they give you breaks between...
I think the majority of us haven’t yet heard back from HL for SVS. From what I have seen on this forum, HL have only held around 3 AC’s (with 6 people per AC) and they offered 2 SVS places. 🙂
They will have a lot more AC’s over the next few weeks and potentially into March. 🥲
So I wouldn’t...
The winter VS is a week long so not like the summer VS which is 3 weeks. I guess it is still not ideal for those in full-time work who have to use annual leave regardless.
It is unfortunate but I guess they believe it is a lot better for future trainees to do a VS at Freshfields before they...
I think they have now scrapped the summer window for direct TC to make way for the new winter VS. The winter VS is open to law and non-law finalists and graduates and lasts for a week. I think the first VS is this year and applications open in August. 🙂
The introduction of the new VS is why...
I haven’t heard anything from HL for the SVS yet and I applied fairly late. 💀
I applied around mid Dec and did the WGT on Xmas Eve (24th Dec). The deadline was 3rd Jan. 🙂
From what I have seen on the forum, HL has had around 2-3 AC’s so far in Jan and are scheduling the majority of AC’s for...
I think they are somewhat less competitive but not by a significant amount. Regional offices tend to receive less applications than London offices but they also offer less TC’s, so it works out to be roughly the same % wise.
I think it also depends on the firm itself. I would imagine...
If this is for Travers SVS, I haven’t heard back yet but tbh the deadline was only a week ago.
They mentioned in the automated email thing that they read all applications first, then shortlist candidates for the interview. It may take several weeks before we hear back. 🥲🥲
I think since it’s a personal statement and not a formal cover letter you probably wouldn’t need to address it to anyone in particular. I would think of it in the same way as the UCAS personal statement. Not sure if that is a good comparison tbh. 💀💀
I think you can just start with the PS...
If you are starting it from scratch now then I’m not sure because the deadline is tomorrow. 😭
I guess it depends on how fast you are able to write a good application. 🥲
I decided against applying myself because of the short time frame that was left. 🥲
From what I remember, Gemma mentioned that Willkie’s written exercise has been completely changed this year so none of the previous ones would bare any relevance in any way.
I’m nervous for the written exercise. I haven’t done one before. I have zero idea of what to expect. 🥲🥲
Best of luck in...
Someone on the forum had their AC under a week ago and subsequently got offered a place on the SVS.
They mentioned there has only been 2 AC’s so far for the SVS (6 people per AC), and that HL are scheduling a lot more over the next few weeks. 🙂
I think it’s way too early to assume a PFO. The...
With Freshfields’ direct TC route they now also have the SJT which you do before the WGT. It’s an automatic test that everyone receives after the deadline (23rd Jan).
If you don’t meet or pass the benchmark for this SJT (unknown as it’s a new test) then you get automatically PFO’d. Guess this...
They say it’s around 80% from VS. They take on up to 50 trainees a year so 40 from VS. That leaves 10 slots for direct TC.
They have around 25 spaces per VS so 75 to 80 in total. That leaves a 50% conversion rate from VS to TC.
White & Case direct TC route is non-rolling and is open until July so you’d be waiting really long before getting a response.
Maybe they are still considering your application for the VS. Don’t rule yourself out just yet. 🙂
I have seen people on this forum that had applied for winter VS back...
It varies between firms because they each have their own recruitment process. Each firm also has a specific number of applicants. 🙂
Large international firms like Hogan Lovells and White & Case get between 4,000-5,000 a year, for example. 🥲
Firms use online tests, video interviews, online...
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