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Join Premium →Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training ContractNow 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.
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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.
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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.
Search results
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Huge congrats on getting SPB VS! That’s some GOATed stuff right there. 🐐- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,654
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
To my knowledge, the application deadline for Paul, Weiss was 19/01/25. They sent out a lot of their online test invites between 30/01/25 and 31/01/25. I think others received online test invites in the first week of February. Paul, Weiss sent out a lot of post app and post test PFO’s around...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,547
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
It’s pretty ironic considering the SQE was supposedly introduced to broaden access into the legal profession, yet it seems to be having the opposite effect lmao. I think the exam fees have gone up again recently as well! 🥲 Why would a firm need to approve a future trainee working whilst...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,540
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Vantage + AllHires >>> CvMail. I don’t know how to work CvMail, especially the work experience entries. Those tiny text boxes are a nightmare and pain to navigate. Whoever designed the layout needs to go outside and touch grass. 🥲 I have yet to get past the application stage for a firm that...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,524
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Do you know of any city law firms that do allow people to retake SQE 1 and/or 2 if they don’t pass it the first time? 🥲 Also, why do firms clawback money they give as a grant? How are people expected to pay the money back? 🫤- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,517
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I don’t think anyone has heard back from Paul Hastings yet tbf. It has been a while since their deadline as well. I haven’t heard back at all from them post application lmao. 🥲- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,508
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Have you ever considered working in-house for a media or entertainment company? That way, you could practice as a commercial lawyer, but in an organisation that is focused entirely on that sector. I don’t think there are many firms that have a specialist focus in this area of law, apart from the...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,465
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes have rescinded offers in the past. Last year, I’m sure there were people who were told that they had failed the SQE but they had actually passed. Despite that, their TC offers were rescinded. They were future trainees at big city law firms. I think it’s a policy...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,429
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔 It is unlikely to be...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,427
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I probably sound like a broken record but has anyone heard back from Paul Hastings at all re the SVS (‘Phirst Steps’)? The deadline passed around 3 weeks ago. Not sure whether to assume PFO yet. They said they’d get back to successful candidates in March and April. 🥲- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,342
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
It should be fine tbh. You can rock up to the VS with your Montblanc briefcase like:- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,323
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I think in this case it would probably be fine to use application form answers as the foundation to answers in a VI, but it would be better to provide more detail or expand on the points made. There is a post that @Andrei Radu made recently on the forum which I think answers this question, so I...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,313
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
To my understanding, the general expectation in a VI is to expand on written application answers and not to simply memorise and regurgitate what is already written (the person who read the application is most likely the person reviewing the VI so they can identify this quickly). I also don’t...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,301
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I’m not sure if this was intentional, but there’s no need to be rude my friend. It’s really not that serious lmfao. Like you said, it’s a vacation scheme, not suits. I think classism plays a role in a lot of the discussions around what is and isn’t appropriate to wear, in the context of city law...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,288
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
That’s fair enough, but it’s also important to remember that not everyone can afford to spend £100s on perfectly tailored suits, which would of course look a lot more presentable than a regular suit. I don’t think anyone can or should draw a conclusion on someone’s character based on what they...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,281
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
It seems people also judge others based on the material, size (fit), brand and price of their suit as well. Idk why it’s like this lmao. It’s probably a classism thing. 🫤- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,278
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I second this. I have been to funerals where the people in attendance were all wearing white instead of black. I think they were from an Islamic faith background where it’s part of their religion or culture to wear white garments, although I’m not fully sure if this is the case. 😅 I went to a...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,273
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5
I think they recruit up to 50 trainees per year, across two intakes (March and September). To my knowledge, they hold 3 VS’ (Winter, Spring and Summer), with around 25 people per VS. In total, there will be about 75-80 VS’ers. I think they make TC offers to around 50% of all VS’ (i.e., 40/80...- Harvey Specter
- Post #3,225
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
I have another (possibly silly) question about VS’ and how they work. What kind of clothes are appropriate to buy and wear for a VS (for a guy)? I think the expectation is that it needs to be professional attire or workplace clothes, but what does that even mean? 😅 What kind of things does this...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,226
- Forum: Applications Discussion
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
This might sound like a very dumb question but is there any kind of template or ideal structure to use in an email when scheduling “coffee chats” with lawyers in a firm during a VS? Would it change depending on whether it’s a trainee, associate or partner (i.e., more formal if it’s a partner)...- Harvey Specter
- Post #20,140
- Forum: Applications Discussion