My Journey to TC

[yasmars]

Love reading your updates! Good luck!!

 

[eleven14og]

Just a quick update:

The one firm that put me on hold for VS transferred me to Direct TC. I called my faculty and they said I can't attend during term date 😢 I knew this would be a problem for winter VS (hence I didn't apply to any) but haven't thought it would be so for Spring/Summer as well when we should finish all assessments in May. Fellow international students, please remember to check the vac scheme dates and your term dates!

 

[eleven14og]

I have officially submitted 30 apps for this cycle!! Reached a milestone yay

I'm not sure if I can even do 35 at this point. With 2 ACs coming up, I decided to ditch Covington bc I really don't have time to invent a new product🫠

I have submitted all the ones I genuinely care about and I'll see if I can complete a few more due by end of Jan. I decided to move some firms to direct TC as well bc I can't complete them in time for their VS deadline. But I am still quite happy with my progress so far!

 

[eleven14og]

Hi all!! Updating on the very first day of the Year of the Snake 🐍🐍

I have officially completed both of my ACs. One last week and one yesterday. Honestly it was quite intense for both. I think I did well in some parts and also recognised areas of improvement. Overall, it's quite nice to be invited to the ACs knowing how competitive it is to reach that stage. I look forward to receiving feedback to continuously improve myself!

And one AWESOME news: I GOT MY FIRST VACATION SCHEME!!!! I still can't believe it to this day🥹🥹 tbh I felt like there are some parts of the AC I could perform a lot better so it came as a surprise to me! I genuinely thought they were calling me because of my travel reimbursements🤣 Just the day before I got the call, I thought I would seek career elsewhere if I again secure nothing this cycle. After all these years, I finally managed achieve something I've been dreaming about and it feels surreal!! I'm really excited for what comes next!

 

[yasmars]

Hi all!! Updating on the very first day of the Year of the Snake 🐍🐍

I have officially completed both of my ACs. One last week and one yesterday. Honestly it was quite intense for both. I think I did well in some parts and also recognised areas of improvement. Overall, it's quite nice to be invited to the ACs knowing how competitive it is to reach that stage. I look forward to receiving feedback to continuously improve myself!

And one AWESOME news: I GOT MY FIRST VACATION SCHEME!!!! I still can't believe it to this day🥹🥹 tbh I felt like there are some parts of the AC I could perform a lot better so it came as a surprise to me! I genuinely thought they were calling me because of my travel reimbursements🤣 Just the day before I got the call, I thought I would seek career elsewhere if I again secure nothing this cycle. After all these years, I finally managed achieve something I've been dreaming about and it feels surreal!! I'm really excited for what comes next!

So happy for you congratulations!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 21782]

Hi all!! Updating on the very first day of the Year of the Snake 🐍🐍

I have officially completed both of my ACs. One last week and one yesterday. Honestly it was quite intense for both. I think I did well in some parts and also recognised areas of improvement. Overall, it's quite nice to be invited to the ACs knowing how competitive it is to reach that stage. I look forward to receiving feedback to continuously improve myself!

And one AWESOME news: I GOT MY FIRST VACATION SCHEME!!!! I still can't believe it to this day🥹🥹 tbh I felt like there are some parts of the AC I could perform a lot better so it came as a surprise to me! I genuinely thought they were calling me because of my travel reimbursements🤣 Just the day before I got the call, I thought I would seek career elsewhere if I again secure nothing this cycle. After all these years, I finally managed achieve something I've been dreaming about and it feels surreal!! I'm really excited for what comes next!

so well deserved!

 

[eleven14og]

So happy for you congratulations!!!!!!

so well deserved!

Thank you both!! Really appreciate it😊 Hope all goes well for your applications this cycle!

 

[sapphireoreos]

Hi all!! Updating on the very first day of the Year of the Snake 🐍🐍

I have officially completed both of my ACs. One last week and one yesterday. Honestly it was quite intense for both. I think I did well in some parts and also recognised areas of improvement. Overall, it's quite nice to be invited to the ACs knowing how competitive it is to reach that stage. I look forward to receiving feedback to continuously improve myself!

And one AWESOME news: I GOT MY FIRST VACATION SCHEME!!!! I still can't believe it to this day🥹🥹 tbh I felt like there are some parts of the AC I could perform a lot better so it came as a surprise to me! I genuinely thought they were calling me because of my travel reimbursements🤣 Just the day before I got the call, I thought I would seek career elsewhere if I again secure nothing this cycle. After all these years, I finally managed achieve something I've been dreaming about and it feels surreal!! I'm really excited for what comes next!

Happy Year of the Snake!! Well done!

 

[eleven14og]

I am rethinking my application strategy and tbh I feel like I won't put in any more VS apps. Orrick has a 'tiny intake' as Chambers Student put it and R&G has no work experience section. That does not work in my favour cuz my grades were just meh. And some other reasons I would elaborate. So the total number is 30 + FF DTC!

Revisiting my goals in Sep last year, I think I managed to tick all the boxes (sorta):

For this cycle, I aim to do the following:
- Send 30+ Spring/Summer VS applications
✅ exactly 30 haha

- Attend as many in-person open days/evenings as possible
❓I didn't go to as many in person ones bc of rejections & my schedules. But I did attend a lot of online ones which are also quite helpful. Funnily enough two firms that rejected me for open days invited me to ACs.

- Become more organised and not submit applications last minute!!
✅ & ❓I definitely did a lot better compared to last cycle, esp my Christmas VS app marathon 🤣 But there's still a handful I submitted on the deadline day either bc I was too busy or I just thought I might submit one in case they like me lol

Application strategy-wise, I tried to diversify as much as I can. I was previously focussing on large international law firms, didn't do MC or US for previous cycles. Tbh the large intl firms are still my fav and from my understanding fit me the most. I applied to MC and got 2 PFOs, 2 waiting, 1 didn't apply bc of their horrible culture (iykyk).

With US firms, I got 5 PFOs (no point waiting for Goodwin Cooley and V&E so I'm including them) and 3 progressions. Even these three are not the most 'American' firms as they have pretty decent presence in London. So I am right not applying to them before haha. One invited me to AC (the one I did earlier this week) and tbh I feel like I may not be a good fit. I was confused why I got the AC in the first place (am still). People at the firm are very nice, so are the candidates in the AC. But I'm not the eloquent type and I felt it in comparison to others in the group exercise. To an extent, I am happy to be on the supporting-ish role and not having to carry the discussion. This ties in to my reasoning for not applying to Orrick and R&G.

I am just waiting for the rest to come back to me and see how it goes. I also have around 8 lined-up for DTC and will work on them later down the line. I really need to get back to my uni work now. Back to the warm embrace (not really) of readings and essays🥹

 

[eleven14og]

It's been rather quiet for the past two weeks. I managed to chill a bit and do some studying. But it has been quite an emotional rollercoaster this morning!

I got PFO from my second AC at around 9. I expected it but still need some time to process. Then I got feedback from one of the essays I submitted. I did ok but I felt I really need to put more time into uni work now that things are starting to quiet down a bit on the job hunting side.

And then I got another AC invite! The only slot available is a week later but I'm very excited to say the least! I am really happy to know that I managed to pass another VI🥹It's such a confidence boost and definitely pulled me out of my blues. The week ahead is looking super busy!

 

[eleven14og]

Just finished my third AC and it was intense! I'm sure I used up all my brain cells by the end of it🤣

The group exercise went a lot better (imo) than my last one. Everyone in the group contributed a lot and I don't think anyone was in a supporting role. I think it's just that my personality does not match with the US firm. I still very much appreciate them inviting me to the AC and I look forward to getting feedback!

My VS cycle is coming to an end with 2 firms waiting post-app. If I got rejected by both(which is looking likely), 30% of my apps managed to pass the application stage. Not sure if this is good or bad but this is definitely my best cycle so far. I still have a few lined up for Direct TC but for now I need to focus on surviving my masters haha

 

[eleven14og]

Ok this is literally the 800th time I'm editing this post (to keep the encouraging & optimistic theme of this forum🤣) a belated update as I have been feeling quite down lately.

I received PFO for my third AC and the second firm still hasn't gotten back to me to provide feedback after one month like what is happening. My VS cycle has since came to a close.

I should feel happy about bagging a VS this cycle, and it is also with one of my top firms. But the pressure is killing me. If I don't convert, that's pretty much it. I can't really afford self-funding SQE but it also feels wrong to give up when I'm so close to the finishing line. Seeing people getting multiple VS's on the forum doesn't help either lol. I have one and only shot left and it's hard not to be pessimistic.

On the uni side, all is seemingly going the right direction. But there's a lot I need to do at this moment, and I believe one of the reasons I am stressed about the above is me trying to avoid essay writing and exam prep lol. I hopefully I'll stop worrying about converting once I get busy with revision.

 

[sibs23]

Ok this is literally the 800th time I'm editing this post (to keep the encouraging & optimistic theme of this forum🤣) a belated update as I have been feeling quite down lately.

I received PFO for my third AC and the second firm still hasn't gotten back to me to provide feedback after one month like what is happening. My VS cycle has since came to a close.

I should feel happy about bagging a VS this cycle, and it is also with one of my top firms. But the pressure is killing me. If I don't convert, that's pretty much it. I can't really afford self-funding SQE but it also feels wrong to give up when I'm so close to the finishing line. Seeing people getting multiple VS's on the forum doesn't help either lol. I have one and only shot left and it's hard not to be pessimistic.

On the uni side, all is seemingly going the right direction. But there's a lot I need to do at this moment, and I believe one of the reasons I am stressed about the above is me trying to avoid essay writing and exam prep lol. I hopefully I'll stop worrying about converting once I get busy with revision.

I'm sorry to hear about the PFO post-AC. Post-AC PFOs always sting more But you should be so proud of yourself on bagging a VS! It's insanely competitive at the moment so you must be a top candidate. Happy to chat in DMs if you like. I've definitely had my fair share of low points over the years with this process.

 

[BlessmewithaTC]

Hi there, I have been through quite a few cycles so I'm getting a lot quicker than before! I would say keep a copy of your work experience section, why law, commercial news story, and some basic competency questions so you can pretty much copy and paste. For why firm, I suggest having a short paragraph for each reason you may be interested in the type of firms you are applying to (international work, practice area strengths, culture etc.). This way you have something to build on and don't need to start from scratch.

Also just don't give up and keep sending apps!! One AC I got was really unexpected because I applied simply for their short application form. You just need one yes and you never know which firm it would be! Best of luck!!

Best of luck to your LLM and your application process! As a fellow international I hope the upcoming changes to the graduate visa won't come to bear as the proposed 18 months is significantly less than 2 years! Good luck and happy hunting ~

 

[eleven14og]

An update after three months!

So I have officially finished my LLM with exams and dissertations out of the way 🎉🎉 The past few months have been hectic to say the least! I also spent the past week travelling and now getting into vac scheme prep.

Honestly I have zero clue what will happen during the scheme and the stress is building up because a lot is at stake. I don't think I will go for another cycle. I will likely go back home, maybe send some direct TC apps, and seek a career elsewhere. I have almost forgotten how gruelling this process is and I am very much looking forward to the end of it, whether it be a TC offer or a farewell.

But the vac scheme is still hanging over my head so need to focus on this for now(I also don't have anything better to do😅). If anyone reading this has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it!!

 

[Amma Usman]

Huge congrats on the VS.

I’ve quoted a few posts from the team to help.

Hi @eleven14og ,

First off, HUGE congrats on wrapping up the LLM - very well done to you!

I totally get the stress of thinking about conversion. Every single candidate that has gone through this process has had this thought at least once. One thing I told myself to help me block it out was that you were chosen for the VS for a reason. The VS you have coming up came as a result of your hard work and dedication - it’s didn’t just fall onto your lap.

It’s also pretty normal to not know what to expect from the scheme. You may have already gained detailed background info on your seat placements, assessed tasks, or things of that sort. Truth is, just like with every other day in life, we never know how it’s gonna go. You just have to step in and give it your best, enjoy the process, meet new people, learn new things, ask loads of questions, and build some permanent skills! That way, you naturally enjoy the process and bring your best foot forward.

I’ve quoted a post above, to help further. Best of luck with the scheme… you’re gonna do great. Just block out any negativity from around you, get a healthy sleeping/daily pattern, and most of all - have fun! Mindset is truly everything.

Feel free to click on quoted post, which expands into a bigger post with many mini-quoted posts from the team.



Another wonderful post by @Ram Sabaratnam to help :

“

Congratulations on the scheme! Completely understandable to feel a bit unsure, but I think you can definitely strengthen your odds by making the most of the scheme. Here are some suggestions I'd keep in mind:

Engage with the firm’s core work: Try to get exposure to the kind of work the firm is best known for. That doesn’t mean you need to be in the thick of everything straight away, but it helps to understand how your department’s work fits into the wider firm. Be curious about how other teams interact and ask questions about how different matters fit together. This is great for showing commercial awareness and demonstrating genuine interest in the work done by the firm.

Tailor your approach to how the firm assesses candidates: Different firms have different approaches to deciding who to offer TCs to. During one of my schemes, an associate told me that the firm places a lot of weight on certain tasks and that I should prioritise those. At other firms, I learnt that the firm cared more on the quality of your work or how well you engage with the team. I think you'll get a clearer picture of what's particularly important by speaking with your trainee buddy or supervisor early on.

Pace yourself: There’s often a temptation to say “yes” to everything that comes your way, but it’s much better to manage your capacity realistically. One of the more common mistakes I’ve been guilty of is taking on more than I could handle, becoming overstretched in terms of my capacity, and then submitting work that fell short. If you’re ever in doubt, I'd just speak with your trainee buddy/supervisor to get a sense of how long certain tasks could take.

Avoid common pitfalls: Having spoken to a variety of people, particularly Jess Booker, I'm told that it's important to avoid pitfalls that can sometimes undermine a candidate. These include:

• Coming across as over-confident or dismissive of others;
• Seeming uninterested in the work or doing tasks mechanically without asking questions or following up;
• Prioritising networking over doing good work (e.g. too many coffee chats can be a red flag if they come at the expense of your core responsibilities).
• Being unwilling to ask for help when stuck; people would much rather you clarify something early than spend hours going off in the wrong direction.

Be thoughtful about how you build connections. It’s great to meet people from across the firm, but there’s no need to force it. Rather than aiming to meet everyone, focus on having meaningful conversations (particularly within your department). If someone is very busy, they’ll appreciate you being considerate of their time. Go in prepared and ensure that any questions you ask are tailored to their background, and don't just ask questions that you could technically ask anyone at the firm.

Be socially conscious. Try to get a feel for how formal or relaxed the environment is and follow the lead of those you’re working with. Some situations will call for a more professional tone; in others (like a social or a more informal session) it’s fine to let your personality come through.

Finally, remember that you don’t have to be the loudest or most confident person to make a strong impression. I'd say just aim to be reliable, thoughtful, curious, and kind. That will often be enough to get noticed.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your scheme!

”