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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.
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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
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
Really glad to hear it @nisadee :) Good luck with your interviews!- James Carrabino
- Post #221
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Grammar tips
This is an incredible thread @lawnoob which is why we have recognised you with our weekly forum winner award!! Massive congratulations! :D In fact, this will be of such use to the wider TCLA community that I have turned your thread (once again!) into a Starred Thread, meaning that there will be...- James Carrabino
- Post #6
- Forum: General Discussion
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Starred Thread Awards (opportunity to win a free month of TCLA Premium!)
For a chance to win a free month of TCLA Premium over the coming week, we would like your input on the following starred thread: ☆☆☆ Grammar tips ☆☆☆ We are looking for TCLA members who may have grammar tips to add to @lawnoob's excellent thread as well as more general writing advice that can...- James Carrabino
- Post #17
- Forum: General Discussion
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Free Month of TCLA Premium (Bronze) Every Week (21-22)!
Congratulations to @lawnoob for an outstanding post on general grammar tips for forum members; this post will be incredibly useful for the wider community going forward! Check your PMs for the logistics of receiving your award 😊 I figured that this is such a useful depository of advice that I...- James Carrabino
- Post #61
- Forum: General Discussion
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Vacation Scheme Didn't Work Out? Things You Should Consider About Making Direct TC Applications
Hi @shootingstar, I am really glad to hear that my reply helped! I submitted a lot of applications between June and July - you may be able to have a sense for which firms review direct TC applications on a rolling basis by referring to these three lists side by side: Firms which recruit...- James Carrabino
- Post #27
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
I think that the firm can protect itself by having a broad range of departments and not have them all centred around the M&A work. For example, having litigious and advisory practices which do their own work unrelated to the deals that the firm is currently working on is a good way of ensuring...- James Carrabino
- Post #217
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
Hi @nisadee I quite like the sound of this approach! I would be cautious about the way you phrase it so that it does not sound like you are trying too hard to find a way of linking your interest in the firms - feel free to be quite open about their differences. But yes, I think that saying you...- James Carrabino
- Post #214
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Free Month of TCLA Premium (Bronze) Every Week (21-22)!
This is amazing news @summer207, congratulations! We are grateful to have you with us :)- James Carrabino
- Post #60
- Forum: General Discussion
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Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
@Raynz I think that the cover letter is very short and so you do not need to spend much time at all discussing the firm, as you already have another question for that. In the firm-specific question you can go into all the unique details about the firm that demonstrate your research of the firm...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,218
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
I wouldn't know at all how much depth they were looking for, but I did not have any legal insight at the time at all so I went into zero depth :) For example, one firm asked us to do our written task 'as if it were a problem question' and I had no idea what that meant but thought perhaps I was...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,217
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Is "tell me about yourself" another way of asking "Why you?"
@fn1999 I wrote a post here where I actually mention this question and I think it sort of represents a big culmination of your motivations, unique selling points and ambitions! Please reach out if you have any further questions :)- James Carrabino
- Post #8
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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Ran out of time in an PGDL exam - will I automatically fail?
I am mid-PGDL at BPP and I have to think you'll be fine! Obviously I cannot say for sure because I know some people who have received randomly low marks for what they thought was good work, but I also know students who have written well under half the word count and missed major areas of an exam...- James Carrabino
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
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Starred Thread Awards (opportunity to win a free month of TCLA Premium!)
Congratulations on the first repeat winner of our Starred Thread Awards, @Alison C, for your excellent insight into LPC application strategy! Your impressive experience is very helpful to the forum :) See below for the next Starred Thread!- James Carrabino
- Post #16
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Wow - massive congratulations!!- James Carrabino
- Post #18,236
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Haha well it happens... at least they tried not to leave you in agony by telling you that! Perhaps they figured people would follow instructions so it did not matter when the partners ended up ringing 🤣 So I do think you have to wait it out - let us know when you hear :)- James Carrabino
- Post #18,235
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I've heard Freshfields is doing exactly that and it makes sense! Although when one person leaks it then the whole concept breaks down...- James Carrabino
- Post #18,232
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I feel for you! It sounds like they were fairly up front with you about the fact that they released all news (positive or negative) together and so I would not let your mind wander and start inferring anything from the delay! Hopefully the delay lasts no longer than Monday anyway :) Regardless...- James Carrabino
- Post #18,231
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
@lawstudent12 you may like to check out TCLA's application review service where you can have both applications and CVs reviewed :)- James Carrabino
- Post #691
- Forum: General Discussion
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Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
I will just jump in to say that I realised throughout my application process that despite claiming not to, some firms certainly did expect some legal knowledge, in many cases without even realising that it was assumed by the kinds of questions they asked 🤣- James Carrabino
- Post #5,214
- Forum: Applications Discussion