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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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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
It is impossible to read into things too much - I know some firms call people with rejections post-AC. Every firm has a different approach!- James Carrabino
- Post #1,923
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Gaining industry work experience
@lawnoob in short, I think that the person's comment about lawyers being 'glorified consultants' was more relevant to why one might be motivated to pursue both professions (and simply for amusement 😆) than to actually offer an illuminating assessment of the work lawyers and consultants both do...- James Carrabino
- Post #9
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
@Jessica Booker is right to take these with a pinch of salt but often such stats appear on ChambersStudent (as in it will tell you how many vac scheme offers they give and how many TC offers they give so you can work it out)- James Carrabino
- Post #17,652
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
@Homer congratulations on your vac schemes! It is impressive to hear that you are driven to keep applying despite having secured a few vac schemes 😊 First of all, it is always worth applying to more firms if you have the time, no question! Even though you are clearly an excellent applicant from...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,651
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I do not think you need to go into too much detail about why solicitor over barrister. Also, I would not say that the 'why Ashurst' stuff is self-explanatory - you should spend a reasonable amount of your answer explaining it to the reader. Also, if you are going to take the 'train at and work...- James Carrabino
- Post #1,855
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Gaining industry work experience
Of course @lawnoob I am happy to help with an excellent question such as this one, and I am thrilled to see that you have already been getting some extremely helpful responses! I see no reason why a 1-month internship would not be great experience :) And on the issue of justifying 'why...- James Carrabino
- Post #7
- 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: ☆☆☆ Gaining industry work experience ☆☆☆ We are looking for TCLA members who may have suggestions on applying for industry work experience! Have a look at last...- James Carrabino
- Post #11
- Forum: General Discussion
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Gaining industry work experience
Hi @lawnoob, this is an excellent question! I have given this a Starred Thread Award for the coming week, which I hope will attract some useful suggestions from the TCLA community :)- 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 this week's Starred Thread Award winner, @FAH99, who wrote a couple of excellent posts in response to the discussion in the first thread! See below for a new Starred Thread Award for the coming week!- James Carrabino
- Post #10
- Forum: General Discussion
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Shaky LPC Interviewing & Advising performance
Thank you @FAH99 for this great post and congratulations on winning a Starred Thread Award for it. I will be sending you a PM with further details :)- James Carrabino
- Post #5
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I echo everyone else in expressing how sorry I am to hear this. You have received some great advice from other members of the forum but I'd just like to add that we are all here to support you with whatever approach you choose to take going forward! Please do reach out if there is anything you...- James Carrabino
- Post #1,839
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Congratulations!!!- James Carrabino
- Post #1,838
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
@GeorgieW I am sorry to hear about this but please don't beat yourself up over it too much; we are all human! I neglected to do an important task on a vac scheme that I looked back on wondering whether it made all the difference... but I moved on and ended up at a firm I am very happy with, as...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,516
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I wish I'd thought of this!- James Carrabino
- Post #17,514
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Great stuff @S87 you sound like you're on the right track! Always happy to help 😊- James Carrabino
- Post #17,513
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
My guess is that a holding e-mail would be for one of two reasons. It could be that your interviewers have not yet sent their feedback to grad rec, or it could be that you are in a pool that they are taking more time to assess after weighing up business need. If other candidates have already...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,512
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Sometimes candidates have to ask for an early decision (for example, if they have a deadline by which they need to respond to a VS or TC offer from another firm). It is at the firm's discretion whether or not they give an early decision.- James Carrabino
- Post #17,511
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Essentially they may have compared you against a smaller sample size and think that you would make the cut now, before finding out that there are preferable candidates later, or vice versa. The sample size may be smaller even if they have already interviewed everyone, if they do not yet have...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,510
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
These are all great points. I wonder whether ultimately the firm in question simply did not think it through enough, but I do imagine it can be uncomfortable coming across an application form where you feel that you are simply unable to answer one of the questions!- James Carrabino
- Post #17,509
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
Hi @nisadee you have received some exceptional advice from @George Maxwell so I don't have too much to add! 1) First of all, congratulations on getting both vac schemes!! It is especially impressive that you received offers from two very different firms as it demonstrates how versatile of a...- James Carrabino
- Post #185
- Forum: Applications Discussion