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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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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I did a VI with a firm that I spent ages preparing for and I thought I had aced it because I had managed to prepare the exact questions that came up (I essentially had a script ready to go in my mind). I got rejected and the firm provided feedback, the main point of which being that my answers...- James Carrabino
- Post #6,062
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Challenges facing clients interview question
You have some excellent advice here from @Kubed! Honestly I think you're both on to all the right things, but perhaps you can show you have done your research and really impress the interviewers by naming some of CC's top clients in a range of sectors. You could then present mini case studies of...- James Carrabino
- Post #3
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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Choosing a TC start date
It seems that you are somewhat relieved and happy to have had this decision made for you... which tells me it was the right decision :) Congratulations again on both incredible opportunities you have coming up in the next few years!- James Carrabino
- Post #11
- Forum: General Discussion
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Shearman & Sterling Vacation Scheme Experience
I did not do the scheme either, but I know people who did. Is it a virtual scheme or in-person this year? I have heard that when virtual, the scheme is geared almost entirely around the assessments. For advice on case studies and interviews, read @Jacob Miller's comprehensive advice here!- James Carrabino
- Post #3
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
This is from last year but I think it's still useful 😊 https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/where-firms-recruit-from-direct-tc-vs.2723/- James Carrabino
- Post #773
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hi @VS513, I am not quite sure about the nuances of each office's work, but I would encourage you to think about where you would most adequately be able to convey your motivations for applying. This may be a simplistic way of looking at things, but it would seem to me that if you are an...- James Carrabino
- Post #772
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Reed Smith LLP Video Interview
Hi everyone, Really glad to see that everyone has had an extension with this! If anyone hasn't then I would recommend calling graduate recruitment and being proactive about following up as they will likely be taking some holiday time soon. It is certainly disconcerting to have got dressed up...- James Carrabino
- Post #64
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
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Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!
Hi @Dwight - yes call grad rec and explain the issue. They will have seen this before plus it's the week of christmas so would be tough for them to fault your academic referee. Definitely worth letting them know though- James Carrabino
- Post #4,971
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TLT Question
You are asking a good question and I will tag @Jessica Booker on this to see if she has an additional perspective. My inclination would be that they would like to see some examples of work or deals in a certain sector and if I were approaching this question, I might choose two or three examples...- James Carrabino
- Post #2
- Forum: Vacation Schemes Discussion
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Hello everyone!
Hi @Plato, welcome to the forum! We will all be here to help you get that TC!! Excellent username by the way :D- James Carrabino
- Post #7
- Forum: Introduce Yourself Here!
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Choosing a TC start date
Congratulations on both of these offers, what a huge achievement! It depends how much you think you will enjoy the policy role - if you find that the Civil Service is your true calling then a year would be too short. I think that 6 months is not too short of a time to get a decent amount out of...- James Carrabino
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Absolutely!!! When I recognise the successes of others I am certainly not trying to make those of you feel bad whose successes are yet to come - this is rather to serve as an inspiration. Look how many members have written that they just received their first ever AC!! 😊 I remember when I was...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,868
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I wanted to write a separate post to highlight our members' recent Training Contract offers. Leaping that final hurdle is a phenomenal achievement and one which I am sure is on the horizon for the rest of the TCLA community, if my above post is anything to go by! Nevertheless, it is almost...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,866
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Here goes...look at this string of successes in the last three days alone 😮 CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!!!!! It makes all of us at TCLA so proud to see our members passing application stages, SJTs, VIs, ACs and VSs!! Keep up the excellent work and I am sure that this serves as inspiration for...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,865
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hi @ELaw2021, this is such excellent news!! We are all so proud of you and the TCLA community is so glad that you found the resources on offer useful :) Go enjoy your holiday now 😊- James Carrabino
- Post #762
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I used an example of a time I tried to give back scholarship money because I felt that I had not been able to adequately fulfil my terms of the grant (due to the pandemic/circumstances outside of my control). The foundation then insisted that I keep it as I had been upfront with them and had...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,852
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Willkie's London office is a very friendly, rapidly growing place! Private Equity and Disputes are the office's two main focuses but the other teams definitely feel like fully fledged teams as well and are growing by a lot each year. I really enjoyed my seat in Competition, for example, which...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,850
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
What attracts you to a career in commercial law? (2000 Characters with spaces) What do you think attracts clients to AG as opposed to other firms? (2000 Characters with spaces) What do you feel will be the biggest challenges for the legal sector over the next 12 months? (2000 Characters with...- James Carrabino
- Post #5,849
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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Rejection Following VS- Where to go from here?
@Anita, I am very happy to open up about my own experiences and I am so glad if it allows you put things in perspective and realise that this rejection is not failure, it's just one of the bumps in the road to success - when you finally get that offer you are waiting for, it will be all the more...- James Carrabino
- Post #9
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
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Weekly Application Pitfalls
DECEMBER WEEK 2 Anachronising your motivations ‘I first became interested in commercial law during my vacation scheme at X firm’, or ‘My desire to become a solicitor stems from my Open Day at Y firm’. If these experiences were really the root of your interest, then why did you originally...- James Carrabino
- Post #11
- Forum: Applications Discussion