-
Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
-
Register on Zoom →Ace Your Vacation Scheme Applications with Reed Smith10 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)Join Reed Smith for this practical session on how to write a strong vacation scheme application ahead of key deadlines. Understand what recruiters look for and how to get past the application review stage.
-
Register on Zoom →Write Winning Vacation Scheme Applications with Osborne Clarke11 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)Hear from Recruitment Advisor Patrick Fermin Ryan at Osborne Clarke on how to write a successful vacation scheme application. Gain expert advice on what makes applications stand out and how to approach yours with confidence.
Search results
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hi everyone, I have just posted a new thread that I intend to update weekly about my personal experiences with different components of the law firm interview process - my post for Week 1 was about my experiences with video interviews! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions :)- James Carrabino
- Post #15,723
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
James's Weekly Interview Insights
Week 1 - Video Interviews I completed five video interviews across the 2020 - 2021 VS and direct TC application cycle. 1. Firm A - The first one I did was unsuccessful, although it was combined with an online test and so I cannot be sure what exactly let me down. As I will discuss later...- James Carrabino
- Post #2
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
-
James's Weekly Interview Insights
Hi everyone! I have created a weekly thread about my personal experiences with different components of the interview process but I will start by giving a bit of background about myself and my journey. After growing up in London, I attended university in the United States for my undergraduate...- James Carrabino
- Thread
- interviews
- Replies: 12
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Congratulations!! 🍾🍾 No Nando's or Wagamama allowed for you this week!- James Carrabino
- Post #15,277
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I read this as you being invited to an interview due to take place in 9 minutes time and I thought wow that is rough 🤣- James Carrabino
- Post #15,273
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
@manchester12 congratulations! Your resilience and ability to reflect is really excellent 😊- James Carrabino
- Post #15,272
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
You can look at firms with high band rankings in similar areas - but yeah there's nothing in particular to it :)- James Carrabino
- Post #15,240
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think a bit of both - what defines you, in your mind? For me, I would definitely mention some of my academic interests, my background growing up, a key hobby of mine (playing piano) and my professional aspirations!- James Carrabino
- Post #15,237
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Just don't worry too much about your preparation - when the AC comes I know you will be in the zone and you are probably more than well prepared enough already :) The feeling that 'I am not doing enough' can be the most draining sensation ever and really leave you with burnout - I've had it too...- James Carrabino
- Post #15,236
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I know of associates who made a move from international arbitration to white collar crime, for example. Often if you are in a firm's 'Disputes' team or one of the corporate teams then your practice may be quite broad to start off with so there is room to specialise in different areas throughout...- James Carrabino
- Post #15,231
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hi @John Doe, Thank you so much for the kind words and congratulations on your progression with the firm 😊 I have written a post here on how to prepare for an AC to a point that should make you feel ready. Also check out two great resources by @AvniD: Avni’s break down of ACs and Avni's...- James Carrabino
- Post #15,228
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Free Month of TCLA Premium (Bronze) Every Week (21-22)!
You've been great, not just with that one excellent post!- James Carrabino
- Post #34
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Antitrust Law
Of course @abdul T, really glad it was helpful! I should add that many firms are now including Foreign Direct Investment and National Security Review within their competition teams, even though it is strictly not competition law. Nevertheless, these involve the approval process for mergers and...- James Carrabino
- Post #8
- Forum: General Discussion
-
DLA Piper telephone interview?
@bear88 I did not do a TI myself for DLA Piper but I have been asked some commercial awareness questions in telephone interviews before!- James Carrabino
- Post #4
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
It's excellent to hear you have such a strong plan for your vac scheme @thirdtimelucky! NRF is such an excellent firm for energy so I can see why you picked it, and like you I find disputes fascinating - I will definitely be doing a contentious seat during my TC :) I don't have anywhere near the...- James Carrabino
- Post #15,210
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Firms you can apply to multiple times in the same recruitment cycle
This is an excellent post @Adrian_S! Ashurst, White & Case and Sullivan & Cromwell let you apply twice to my knowledge :)- James Carrabino
- Post #4
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
This is a great list! I would recommend starting a new thread that you can update so that this does not get buried in the vac scheme thread :)- James Carrabino
- Post #14,984
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Antitrust Law
I would categorise it as a separate department, although it is part of corporate law more broadly (as opposed to family or criminal law, for example)! Antitrust primarily consists of three areas - antitrust litigation, antitrust regulatory/advisory and merger control (which involves approving...- James Carrabino
- Post #3
- Forum: General Discussion
-
reapply for a VS in the next cycle
I know of one instance when this happened, although I do think it's rare!- James Carrabino
- Post #5
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
-
Baker McKenzie Application Question
Hi @HS98, I agree that it does not have to be law-related! That said, it does not need to be non-law-related either - you could take a more abstract approach as I did in my interviews :) My sincere answer to this question in interviews/application forms was that nothing inspired me more than...- James Carrabino
- Post #5
- Forum: Applications Discussion