-
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
-
Completed LPC and making applications
Always happy to be able to help!- James Carrabino
- Post #8
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Applying for a training contract after 3/4 years as a mature candidate
Hi @TCinpipeline, you have received some great advice already but I wanted to add that I personally know over five future trainees in their 30s and 40s! This is simply anecdotal but these people are all heading to elite US firms with small intakes in London and so it is possible that these firms...- James Carrabino
- Post #7
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Completed LPC and making applications
@QuentinBlake you have already received some excellent input from @AvniD and @Jessica Booker but I should mention that your gap between a summer vacation scheme in 2020 and applying now is not all that big. At worst they will assume you had one unsuccessful cycle but I don't think that that...- James Carrabino
- Post #4
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Interview question
Thank you @George Maxwell for tagging me! I hope I can be of help @Lauren. This is indeed a tricky question and I wonder whether it is really a motivational question in disguise. For example, I received questions similar to this but more targeted, such as 'You have completed work experience in...- James Carrabino
- Post #3
- Forum: Interviews Discussion
-
GDL or PGDL?
My understanding is that the PGDL has a new structure where exams take place twice a year (as opposed to once) and does not include EU law in the aftermath of Brexit. It also includes more multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in the assessments I believe, in preparation for the SQE which is all...- James Carrabino
- Post #2
- Forum: General Discussion
-
Let's hear about TCLA members' hobbies!
Wow that's an amazing chess rating! I guess I'd only have a chance against you in four-player chess 🤣 And thanks so much for the F1 rec - I remember seeing your username and wondering whether I should link you to this thread! Turns out I have a couple of friends who are quite into F1 so may ask...- James Carrabino
- Post #22
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I would agree with everything @AvniD has said here! I would only add that it is worth looking at what will be happening on the Open Day - for example, does it involve presentations on specific practice areas and is there a collaborative component? You can then talk about how you plan to leverage...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,796
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Hey I'm really sorry to hear this @xJannax. It sounds like one of those scenarios where things are really out of your control, which I know can be so frustrating. As to whether or not to follow up on this with a phone call, my view is that it could never hurt regardless of how unlikely the...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,790
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
Work experience part of applications
If the big assignment really is that much more substantial and impressive than the other assignments then I think what you are suggesting is a great idea! Little assignments can add up to ultimately take a lot of time, however, and so if you think that there is a risk of the person reading your...- James Carrabino
- Post #19
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
How Important Are A-Levels?
To add to all of the above comments, congratulations on your awesome set of achievements! The one question I have for you is how many firms you've applied to? I think it is impossible to attribute rejection to anything but sheer bad luck until you've applied to 20+ firms - I'm sure you'll get...- James Carrabino
- Post #6
- Forum: General Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I am so glad that you found it helpful! Feel free to reach out on the forums with any other similar queries :)- James Carrabino
- Post #3,765
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Being the loudest in the room is definitely not what they are looking for! I know that it can be really disconcerting when everyone in the group seems to be trying to outdo one another with the number of comments they make, but that will not reflect well on them. I'd start by saying that you...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,763
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
This list is from last year but should still provide a good idea of which firms recruit decent numbers from direct TC apps! Some of the firms listed as recruiting predominantly through VS still have large enough intakes to take a reasonable number from direct TC too :)...- James Carrabino
- Post #694
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I've seen you hanging in there and you've set such a great example for the rest of TCLA by keeping your head up! The world of grad rec is really quite nebulous and it is never a rejection until they tell you it's a rejection :) Congrats again and good luck with the scheme and with your other apps!- James Carrabino
- Post #3,760
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Congratulations, that's a fantastic achievement!! Worth the wait I bet :D- James Carrabino
- Post #3,758
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
It saddens me to see people get down about rejections and I only wish you could jump to that point in the future when you're receiving your offer call and can look back and understand how it all worked itself out in the end... I am confident that it will happen for you, as it did for me and the...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,739
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think this is an excellent example if you can talk about it in an uplifting way! These kinds of life experiences demonstrate that you really have what it takes to withstand the difficulties of a career in commercial law over and above good academics or work experience and this is certainly not...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,679
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think it's worth adding briefly that you understand how London is a commercial centre and will expose you to a greater variety of international work etc. with a reason why those things may be of benefit to you. I don't think you need to worry too much though about how much detail you go into!- James Carrabino
- Post #3,674
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
I think @AvniD is correct that you can never go wrong with 'yours sincerely'. Technically, as you do not know the specific person's name to whom you are writing, you should write 'yours faithfully' but it really will not be too important which you choose. I always learnt that if you don't know...- James Carrabino
- Post #3,670
- Forum: Applications Discussion
-
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)
Congratulations!!- James Carrabino
- Post #3,667
- Forum: Applications Discussion