• 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)

    Firms expect people to get multiple offers. They should be having these conversations with candidates all the time. It is not an issue to disclose other offers to graduate recruitment. The exception might be if they are at vastly different firms (eg high street criminal firm vs US PE firm)...
  2. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    That may not be defined/confirmed yet, as could be dependent on who is buying.
  3. TCLA Community Assistant

    Recruitment agencies for paralegal roles

    Basically, recruitment agencies create a much shorter candidate list for firms to review - makes it much more manageable for firms than dealing with 100s of applicants. The agencies get paid a percentage of your starting salary by the firm (usually 15-20%), Many firms now have their own...
  4. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    Should makes it sound like you have to. You definitely don't have to. Many people do this and ultimately it is ok to do - they can ultimately ignore your LinkedIn message or turn down your connection request. My personal opinion is its a bit too much to do this just because someone has...
  5. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Write back to them to explain that you think there is a mistake as you are a finalist or graduate and that you'd therefore like to be reconsidered.
  6. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Could easily be a couple of weeks - these things usually have to go through an approval chain and all it takes is for one of the people in the chain to be out for a couple of days and your contract is delayed.
  7. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Is this helpful, or are you looking for something more specific? https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions-2/
  8. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Focus in on how it is impacting a particular industry/market/jurisdiction rather than talk about or broadly - it’s too big a topic to talk about it well in an interview, you will just get into vague/generic cliches. However, if you focus on the impact of something particular, your answer will...
  9. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I’d wait until tomorrow morning and then give them a call.
  10. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I’d wait until the outcome and if it is successful, explain you’d need to give up multiple schemes to attend theirs, which unfortunately you’d rather not do (that you’d be happy to renege on one, but having to renege on two is something you won’t consider). Then ask whether there is any...
  11. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Living very centrally will be expensive for short term lets, especially if you are only looking at Barbican (there won’t really be any need to be that close to the office in all honesty). The cheapest tends to be the halls of residence, particularly Queen Mary or City University. Alternatively...
  12. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I suspect you won’t get it until the day itself.
  13. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Just be mindful that you need to show your interest in a variety of matters/clients/sectors. Sometimes when people focus on something they are interested in that aligns with their personal interests, there can just be a question as to how interested in you will be on the matters you don't have...
  14. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    It isn't unknown, unfortunately. However, many firms will just write the value off. Look at the terms of your offer clearly, as any terms regarding something like this will be covered. If it isn't covered, you can't be made to pay it back.
  15. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    1) Yes, if you want to and there are no restrictions on your second VS offer (some contracts will state you can't have accepted a TC if you want to go ahead with the placement) you can continue with your second VS. 2) Any TC offer is typically subject to your undergraduate grade, not your...
  16. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    The advice above is spot on, but you can also say you are still considering a TC at your current firm if you are - firms are expecting people to explore multiple opportunities.
  17. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Some firms will retrospectively pay GDL/LPC/SQE fees, but won’t retrospectively pay maintenance grants. Firms will often reimburse the amount they would have paid for the courses though, so you may find that not all of your course fees are covered (eg say they pay £12k for their LPC fee, but you...
  18. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    No - it won't work like that. The firm won't risk over offering people for fear of missing out on the strongest candidates in the last scheme.
  19. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I'd arrive on time - no need to turn up early.

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.