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  • How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)
    1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
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    3 Dec 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
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Search results

  1. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    I think the best thing you can do is (1) familiarise yourself with the test and what exactly it is looking to assess you on and (2) try complete some practice tests, bearing that information in mind. These links might be useful. Best of luck with the Ashurst test...
  2. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Thank you so much @Andrei Radu and @Ram Sabaratnam for your responses! You guys are both GOATed frfr! 🐐 I will definitely try and evaluate these aspects during my VS’. I imagine it may most likely come down to a gut feeling in the end! 😅
  3. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It is possible that you could begin the TC in an earlier intake (September 2026), but I think that would depend on whether you are a law or non-law finalist. If you are a law finalist, the only thing you would need to do between graduating and commencing the TC is the SQE course, which you could...
  4. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Eid Mubarak to everyone that will be celebrating (either tomorrow or Monday)! I hope you guys all had a blessed and enjoyable ramadhan! 🥳
  5. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Does anyone here know how VS candidates can assess a firm to determine if it’s the right firm for them, during a VS? I know associates and partners will assess us but what kinds of things can and should VS’ers look for in a firm? I have a Spring VS fairly soon so starting to think about this in...
  6. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    I imagine they will most likely start getting back to people with AC invites from early to mid April, based on this post from this thread: If you have not heard back yet, take it as a good sign! Quite a few people have already received PFO post WGT. Best of luck for HL! 🐐
  7. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Who knows, perhaps I was one of the few open day attendees that you met. 👀
  8. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I went to their open day in Dec. Someone asked the partner about BCLP’s retention rates. The partner acknowledged that their retention rates are very low but tried to brush it off by yapping about their high quality training. It can’t be that good if people are bouncing at the earliest...
  9. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I am in a similar boat. None of my VI this cycle were 15 minutes long, so I am curious about what they could ask us, given this is for a Senior Partner Dinner and not a VS. 😅
  10. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Likewise my friend! I’m still baffled that they are making us do an online test and interview for a dinner. 😅
  11. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Macfarlanes Senior Partner Dinner interview invite post-test!!! 😅
  12. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It’s definitely time consuming but I think it has worked out well for me. I have sent 20 VS applications this cycle and 8 got past the application stage (Akin, BCLP, Covington, Paul, Weiss, SH, White & Case and Willkie). I am still waiting to hear back from PH post interview. 🥲 I think based on...
  13. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    It varied for each application. For example, it took me a lot longer to complete applications that required a cover letter + long answer questions (White & Case, Travers Smith, etc) or that had several long answer questions (BCLP, SH, HL and Covington). Each of these applications took me at...
  14. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    This is where I am right now. I have completed most of it. I just have one question left (choose a topic of interest). I am in two minds whether to send the application off once I am done. I don’t have substantial legal work experience. I might give it a shot and who knows, I could surprise...
  15. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    Is there anybody else still working on their Baker McKenzie DTC application or who has not yet submitted it? I am still working on mine and it looks like it won’t be done until Sunday. I hope I am not on my own here. 😅
  16. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Is this the disability confident scheme? I think SH and TS are signatories. If you meet their minimum entry criteria (grades, application screening, test scores), you are guaranteed an interview. You have to opt in though by ticking the box. I think it’s for both VS and TC. I think there may be...
  17. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

    I was worried the paulbearers would come after me because I may or may not have made that exact mistake in my application. I think it went unnoticed though, or it was just a minor error so they overlooked it. 😅
  18. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I can understand why you feel that the partner interview can be slightly discriminatory. There is definitely an element of luck involved. There is also still a lot of bias and prejudice against people that are visibly ethnic minority or poc, and people that come from socially mobile backgrounds...
  19. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    Take both of these bad boys in to your next partner interview and they will fw you for sure:
  20. Harvey Specter

    TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

    I definitely agree that there is still a lot of bias and prejudice in city law. However, I don’t think it’s a good idea for recruitment processes to not involve partners and/or associates. I feel like since partners have an ownership stake in their firm(s), they will want to ensure the right...

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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.

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