• 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

    Introduction, penultimate year student applying for Vacation Schemes

    If you have mitigating circumstances to your grades, most firms will consider you. They will just look past your first year grades and put more weighting on other academics and other evidence if your grades are not a true reflection of your abilities.
  2. TCLA Community Assistant

    Kirkland App

    For a 250 word answer, I’d probably recommend the 10% under rule (you can’t/shouldn’t go over), but for a 400 word answer for a competency question, I wouldn’t worry if it was slightly under. If it was a motivational answer, I would try and use the word count as much as you can though by going...
  3. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Yes, I would email them to explain this. Just keep the email as brief/to the point as possible.
  4. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I’d say it’s a key part of any role or responsibility related to their job and that they would demonstrate it by not only just completing the process/document/research, but by keeping in mind why they are doing it, why it is important to the client and why it’s going to add value by doing it.
  5. TCLA Community Assistant

    Kirkland App

    Have you covered Result and Reflection in the R part of STAR? If so, it won’t be an issue if the answer is only 300 words. It is better for the answer to be concise and well structured rather than waffly just to fill a word count.
  6. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask TCLA's New Community Managers Anything!

    Band 2 is still very good, so I wouldn’t worry about that minor difference.
  7. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I would include everything and put them in reverse chronological order with the most recent first, so your reader can see your route. If on a CV, you can create separate sections for different types of work experience, but that doesn’t translate as well for online application forms.
  8. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I love posts like this! Literally they make my day. Congratulations - I am delighted for you
  9. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Yes - I would expect it is a near-gone conclusion that they will now be online given the advice is to work from home.
  10. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    It is not a disaster if it is only an event rather than employment.
  11. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    It won't really matter which one is which. Choose the first one as the one that is most appropriate for correspondence to be sent to. YOur country of residence is not necessarily your home country - this should be your current residential address.
  12. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I would expect it to be today, but cannot guarantee it. It would be great if the poster could let us know if they do have access to the VI today so we know for future queries.
  13. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Yes, you can do this. Try to weave this into describing on your day to day responsibilities though - eg “I enjoyed researching U.K. tax legislation for an oil and gas client”
  14. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    They won’t be looking for anything in particular, but I would pick a story that could impact them either directly as an organisation or indirectly impact them via their clients. The elements you have highlighted are all important to include. It doesn’t really matter whether you explain your...
  15. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    Yes, it is still relevant to provide this detail as it shows how busy you kept yourself during university. For instance, someone might have slightly lower grades but you'd weigh that up against their other commitments and therefore would take that into consideration against someone who had no...
  16. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    They may have done some form of quick review (e.g. does this person meet basic criteria) but not fully reviewed applications, or if there is any form of assessment prioritised applications based on the results. Applying early doesn't necessarily mean your application will be decided upon...
  17. TCLA Community Assistant

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

    I don't think it is a reserve list as such but it isn't a rejection either. It seems like they have just filled their winter scheme and will consider moving people over to a later placement or training contract once they have reviewed your application. If you have a particular preference of...
  18. TCLA Community Assistant

    Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

    It is most likely that they will reset the interview for you. Some firms may ask you to only complete the interview questions you haven't seen as a matter of fairness, but you would only be assessed on those two questions, so there wouldn't be any advantage or disadvantage.
  19. TCLA Community Assistant

    Assessment Centres - How To Prepare?

    Completely agree on George's point about working with others at your assessment centre - it is vital you do this even for a firm where the culture is more independent/cut-throat because that is what you will be doing all the time as a lawyer. Working with different people is going to be a day to...
  20. TCLA Community Assistant

    TCLA General Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

    I would recommend to start applying for roles about 8 weeks before you are ready to start a job.

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.