• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now 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.
    Join Premium →
  • A Deep Dive Into Reed Smith's Sector Focus (Transportation)
    24 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Dive into Reed Smith’s transportation practice to see how their legal advice drives the world’s largest shipping, aviation, and logistics businesses, and how trainees can make their mark.
    Register on Zoom →
  • How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)
    1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    In this interactive session, Maya Shah, Senior Early Careers Specialist at Ropes & Gray, will walk you through every stage of the firm's application process.
    Register on Zoom →

Search results

  1. TCLA Community Assistant

    pre employment checks for VS/TC

    Extracurriculars are not work experience and won’t be seen as such, so references won’t be requested. If you have put it in a work experience section and it’s described in a way that makes it look like employment, you may need to explain it was actually extracurriculars rather than employment...
  2. TCLA Community Assistant

    pre employment checks for VS/TC

    Self-employment: yes, you will typically need to provide some form of evidence of self-employment. This can include a summary of your accounts or tax returns, a reference from a client or someone like an accountant, or proof of sales. Volunteering - in most instances, no this won't be requested...
  3. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    You don’t have to change everything, but I think it is always important to refine and update answers where you can. Themes may stay the same for things like your motivations, but you may have more recent evidence of pursuing the career or building your knowledge/skills which would be important...
  4. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I’d stress that there is no guarantees of qualification anymore. Unlike the old qualification system, firms are no longer tied to employing you for two years as a trainee. But yes, it is a slightly different graduate opportunity to a traditional training contract. I see it as an interesting...
  5. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Just the counter this, I have seen plenty of people with no tax experience do well on their vacation schemes and convert.
  6. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    For both their roles you will need to right to work - this is stated at the end of both of the job adverts.
  7. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    As @Chris Brown has pointed out, that is not the case. This is a feeder programme to their Legal Business Analyst programme that is also mentioned in my post. We will check with the firm on the eligibility point as this has been raised in our WhatsApp chats as to whether graduates can apply...
  8. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I think it should be within the cover letter format but have dedicated paragraphs to it.
  9. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Missed a vacation scheme this year? There's still time! The TCLA team are excited to share the following opportunity. Perkins Coie London has just announced its vacation scheme. It runs this summer. And you can apply in the next two weeks. It's a firm that has a huge presence in the US...
  10. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    You may not get the formal agreement until just before your TC starts. If you have received a TC offer letter, this could be your formal offer. If there is no chance of you accepting a TC offer from firm B over firm A, you should withdraw your candidacy from the VS. There is little value in...
  11. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Which firm is this for? Generally the Graduate Apprenticeships only need to be recruited a maximum a year in advance (and some firms recruit for them to start the next September), so it would be slightly strange for a firm to be recruiting for 2027 if it was a GA model of training. But if the...
  12. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    If you have a strong profile that aligns with the job (e.g. you have strong Real Estate experience and you are applying for a Real Estate paralegal role), you can probably afford to aim off on the cover letters as your CV will do the heavy lifting. However, if you have no experience or...
  13. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    If there are no terms in either offer, then yes, you can. The SRA has no code of conduct concerning this.
  14. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    This threads and posts might be a useful read: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/converting-your-vacation-scheme-into-a-training-contract-top-tips-in-2021.3454/...
  15. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Wait until you get the TC paperwork and then work out what you want to do. You could probably draw out the signing of the TC paperwork by a week or so and potentially start your VS even if there is a term in your TC offer by signing the offer after you have started the VS.
  16. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    You need to check the offer terms of both your VS and TC offers. Either or both of them could have terms that stop you from proceeding with the VS. If there are no terms in either document then you don't have to do anything - you technically can proceed with the vacation scheme. However, if...
  17. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    The funding isn't being cut until January 2026, so if the programme is due to start in 2025, this will not be a problem.
  18. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Although a business-related issue for a client is a common case study model, I wouldn't say it is what most firms use. There can be quite a variety of formats, unfortunately. I always recommend this thread for those preparing for case study assessments...

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.