• Hey Guest, Have an interview coming up? We’ve opened new mock interview slots this week. Book here
  • TCLA Premium: Now half price (£30/month). Applications, interviews, commercial awareness + 700+ examples.
    Join →

2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

Status
Not open for further replies.
If I am unable to accept a vacation scheme offer (because of a clash with another VS) could I ask about the possibility of being considered for a training contract? Thanks in advance!

Just want to say a massive thank you to @Jacob Miller for your guides - they were incredibly helpful and assisted me throughout the assessment days!
 
Last edited:
  • Love
Reactions: Jacob Miller
If I am unable to accept a vacation scheme offer (because of a clash with another VS) could I ask about the possibility of being considered for a training contract? Thanks in advance!

Just wanted to say I am incredibly grateful to be in this position and I want to extend my thanks to @Jacob Miller as your guides really helped me through the assessment days!
Yes this is a pretty normal thing to happen so no harm in asking the firm to either transfer to a different VS or to the direct TC route - be prepared for them to say no, but it does happen so feel free to ask :)
 
Hi there, I got my PFOs from Shearman and Weil today. As this is my 3rd cycle and I'm not having much success with apps this time, I decided to subscribe to TCLA Premium and work with the team on my direct TC apps. I hope I'll have more success soon and will bring you some positive news! I haven't been as active as before in writing here but I regularly read the forum and your community support is really valuable to me (and the rest of the TCLA members I'm sure!). :)
 
If you don't believe in yourself, nobody will!

You've gotten this far over hundreds of applicants. You ARE special, and you're going to ace this. It's normal to undervalue yourself, but remember that if anyone can get you through this AC, it's you. I used to work with the crypto industry, and a moniker there was:

'Make it easy for them to hire you.'

Make it easy for them.

So I see three things:

1) Negotiation exercise - check out @Jacob Miller's crazy good resources on being successful at negotiation here.

2) Case study - again, Jacob beat all of us to it. See it here.

3) Presentation - is it a spontaneous presentation or a prepared one? I know anonymity is important for you but if you mention the firm some people might have experiences with the AC that they're willing to share! Alternatively, you can search around the forum using the 'search' function to look for people who've done the AC, and then private message them. Look at yourself in the mirror and practice your speaking, and make sure you can convince yourself of your own confidence!

edit* if this is somehow for a firm that rhymes with LoFo, this thread might be of some use.
Thank you for this! I think the thing that's makes me most nervous is that I can only prepare a certain amount because most of it is dependant on what happens on the day and I hate that 😭

I think it's a spontaneous one as I have not been given any info about what to present.

It's for BCLP so I will go have a look now - thank you!
If anyone has done the BCLP AC, please dm me!
 
  • 🏆
Reactions: collie_121
First application cycle and first AC for Mayer Brown (who I REALLY like!) Please please please does anyone have any experience/ advice?! I am so nervous!!
The Big Bang Theory Reaction GIF
 
At what point is it cheeky to email grad rec and ask for an update? I'm seeing so many rejections for W&C spring and summer scheme but haven't received any news post-app (for spring vs), so I'm wondering if this means I'm being considered for the summer scheme
 
  • ✅
Reactions: ellwilsen
Hi there, I got my PFOs from Shearman and Weil today. As this is my 3rd cycle and I'm not having much success with apps this time, I decided to subscribe to TCLA Premium and work with the team on my direct TC apps. I hope I'll have more success soon and will bring you some positive news! I haven't been as active as before in writing here but I regularly read the forum and your community support is really valuable to me (and the rest of the TCLA members I'm sure!). :)
Hey, so sorry for the PFOs, and glad you're keeping your head up! May I just ask whether these were post-app or post-AC?
 
I haven’t heard back yet but should know by the end of this week. GR said they’d get back to me by the end of February.
Thanks. That makes sense. I had my AC yesterday (not expecting to have already heard, just wondered on timescales). I *think* yesterdays was the last AC because there were not any alternative slots when I booked.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

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.