• 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 →
  • 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 →
  • How to Stand Out in Law Firm Interviews (Willkie)
    3 Dec 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Willkie’s new graduate recruiter and two trainees will break down what the firm looks for at the interview stage, common pitfalls to avoid, and how you can demonstrate confidence, clarity, and genuine motivation throughout an assessment centre.
    Register on Zoom →

Search results

  1. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    You don’t have to do it. You can at the same time, it really won’t matter either way though.
  2. TCLA Community Assistant

    Bad A Levels - will this stop me obtaining a Training Contract

    It’s not a sob story. It’s life getting in the way and this happens to a lot of us. Its just for you it happened at a pivotal time. If it’s an obvious blip in your performance, it becomes clearer that the circumstances most likely impacted you and that it probably isn’t a true reflection of...
  3. TCLA Community Assistant

    Bad A Levels - will this stop me obtaining a Training Contract

    I honestly don’t believe it is anymore competitive now than it would have been when Christie entered the market. She was looking just after the financial crash, and things were a lot worse then than it is now in my opinion.
  4. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Not really - it’s more whether you have obtained some kind of recognition for the grade. But I have seen people say things like “3rd highest module result out of cohort of 500” rather than just repeating the grade.
  5. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Call the second preference firm and ask whether: 1) There are alternative scheme dates 2) You can only attend part of the scheme or 3) Whether you can be considered for a direct TC process instead. If it is no to all of the above, then consider doing the same with your preferred firm.
  6. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I dont think you need to wear a suit or tie - I would wear a buttoned up shirt you would wear with a suit though. That will be sufficient.
  7. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Normally I would say follow up 2 weeks after your AC but it seems things may be taking a little bit longer than usual based on what others have said. If you need to know, then contact them. If you just want to know, then I'd probably try and wait it out another week or so if you can before...
  8. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    If it is taking them some time to get verbal offers out, then I wouldn't expect a rush on this, especially now where it is the school holidays and people might be off. You could email them and politely ask, or just sit it out to the other side of the Easter weekend and then ask. Alternatively...
  9. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Amazing news - congratulations!!
  10. TCLA Community Assistant

    Bad A Levels - will this stop me obtaining a Training Contract

    There are a number of firms who do not have any A-level criteria. However, you do have mitigating circumstances, just potentially no evidence from your educational institution that they were aware of them. This is not uncommon though. One way to potentially evidence the circumstances is to...
  11. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    No, it's not too early and I would contact them sooner - for something like this, the earlier you raise this the more likely they will be able to consider your position. I would try to give them a call to discuss this with them so you can explain your reasons for starting earlier and get a...
  12. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I’d follow up after two weeks just to ask when you will hear back (rather than asking for an outcome/decision).
  13. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Hi everyone - this is a non-TCLA related post, but think some of the TCLA community might be able to help. I am keen to chat with anyone who has experience in managing a large university student society's budget (President/Treasurer etc) as well as anyone with experience from a Student Union...
  14. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    The questions don't have to be tailored to the firm as such, but they do need to be appropriate/relevant to the firm at the same time. I personally don't think Brownie points exist in interviews at all. You just have to show the right skills, motivations and characteristics.
  15. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    No - technical issues happen. Firms have got used to these things happening and it’s not a reflection of your ability when a technical issue occurs. You did the right thing by contacting grad rec and the person delivering the session to explain the issue. Please do not worry about this.
  16. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    The input you have had from others here is great. I would expect a technical question to be anything that assesses your knowledge of how something may be practically considered/processed in a law firm. That can sound slightly scary, but reality is the interviewers are only going to ask such...
  17. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I can’t see how it won’t help TC applications. You’ll get a better understanding area of an important growth area of the sector and are likely to develop transferable skills
  18. TCLA Community Assistant

    For the career changers looking for a TC

  19. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    Not really in all honesty. I am sure others might have advice of what you could do, but there definitely won’t be any expectation for you to do such research/preparation. It’s going to be much more about what you do during the scheme .
  20. TCLA Community Assistant

    Closed

    It won’t be all roles. But it’s definitely something to check on job descriptions or during the interview process.

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.

    Share this page

    Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2022 XenForo Ltd. | Style and add-ons by ThemeHouse | Community services from Audentio
    XenCarta 2 PRO © Jason Axelrod of 8WAYRUN
    Top Bottom