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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.
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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!
Hi @nisadee this is a great question! I do not think it would be rude as long as you ask for their permission to take notes first - they may be hoping to keep the conversation off the record! Just tell them that you are really interested in their work and would love to keep notes to jog your...- James Carrabino
- Post #184
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I can't think that a firm would consider other vacation schemes to be a negative thing in any scenario - it validates their choice of candidate!- James Carrabino
- Post #17,447
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think practice areas and industry expertise are probably the best metric to use! I am not sure if intake size would be relevant to whether or not firms are competing and global growth strategy would be relevant if the firms are expanding into similar areas to one another, but there is probably...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,446
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think your structure for your cover letter sounds good! I would not have thought that your cover letter is read too vigorously as part of the LPC entry criteria after all, so I would not stress about it too much. Just write your honest motivations and interests and you should be fine :) Re...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,445
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Scholarships regularly provide funding to those who would not have access to many opportunities otherwise! There are many scholarships available for students from a range of different underserved communities and backgrounds and so I would have thought that this question would offer opportunities...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,444
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I have heard of firms allowing candidates to move over to the direct TC route in such a scenario, but if the firm recruits solely through vacation scheme then this probably will not be possible.- James Carrabino
- Post #17,443
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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(P)GDL Cold feet- was SQE right instead?
This is very useful @Jessica Booker! You don't think they will still want them to join the PGDL or another course afterwards to get to know the rest of the cohort and study the same tailored modules as everyone else?- James Carrabino
- Post #6
- Forum: General Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
I am really glad to hear that @futuretraineesolicitor - do let me know if I can be of any further help 😊- James Carrabino
- Post #172
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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(P)GDL Cold feet- was SQE right instead?
@lilikoi you have received some great advice from @George Maxwell and @Jessica Booker and I don't have much to add! My own experiences on the PGDL have told me that it's a box-ticking exercise which is useful in gaining a grounding in law but I am not sure about the other paths you are...- James Carrabino
- Post #4
- Forum: General Discussion
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Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!
Hi @futuretraineesolicitor, @George Maxwell has given a great perspective on this but I will offer some of my own suggestions on how to approach your questions! 1. I would think that there is not that much to say on how the story relates to Ashurst, based on what you have said, so I would...- James Carrabino
- Post #170
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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James's Weekly Interview Insights
I am really glad to hear that you found it insightful @S30!- James Carrabino
- Post #5
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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James's Weekly Interview Insights
Week 2 - Commercial Interviews As someone who entered the Vacation Scheme and Training Contract application process without a vast amount of prior commercial knowledge, I could have really benefitted from someone telling me how to make up for lost time and develop my commercial awareness in the...- James Carrabino
- Post #3
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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How to Change Your Username
Hi everyone!! This post seeks to provide a very quick explanation of how to change your TCLA username :) Whether you are having second thoughts about using your real name on the forum, or are considering joining the new Junior Lawyers' Community and do not want anyone to be able to link your...- James Carrabino
- Thread
- Replies: 0
- Forum: TCLA General News
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hi everyone, there are new Starred Thread Awards on offer over the coming week! Links to the threads and further details on what you need to do to win a free month of TCLA Premium are outlined here :) Please reach out if you have any questions!- James Carrabino
- Post #17,246
- Forum: Applications 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 two starred threads: 1. ☆☆☆ Shaky LPC Interviewing & Advising performance ☆☆☆ 2. ☆☆☆ Schedule 13G and open market repurchases ☆☆☆ To win the award for the first thread, we are...- James Carrabino
- Post #9
- Forum: General Discussion
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Converting your vacation scheme into a training contract - top tips in 2021
Ah good luck I am sure you will do a great job! Do reach out if you have any further queries about converting your scheme :)- James Carrabino
- Post #76
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
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Converting your vacation scheme into a training contract - top tips in 2021
@thirdtimelucky I am really happy if my post helped to ease your mind 😊 Nevertheless, I would put money on your chances given you've shown that not even Covid can stop you performing your best! When does your scheme start?- James Carrabino
- Post #74
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think this sounds like a great experience to mention and I could be wrong, but my understanding is that Scots law has some significant differences from England & Wales law. If you have something specific to point to where you had to use your attention to detail to refer to the relevant laws...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,245
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Agreed! I know people who applied to a lot of firms for vac scheme and did not get any offers, but subsequently did well in the direct TC round :) I myself got to interview stage at one firm for direct TC with the exact same app I had used for the vac scheme where I had been rejected at...- James Carrabino
- Post #17,244
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Converting your vacation scheme into a training contract - top tips in 2021
Hi @jo, @Jessica Booker has given you some excellent advice on vac schemer pitfalls and I did my vac schemes online so I am not best positioned to answer your question about networking, although I think that you cannot go wrong if you send a polite e-mail to a lawyer asking if they have a...- James Carrabino
- Post #72
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion