TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[Sunshinepink]

I've chosen the topic of AI and intellectual property rights (authorship and ownership in the context of AI-generated works, the application of copyright laws to these creations, and the challenges in patenting AI-invented products.)

Thank you so much!

 

[EllaClayton]

Honestly big respect to TS for in their acknowledgment email providing a rough timeline and reassurance that there’s nothing else to complete at this stage. Their grad rec are some of the kindest I’ve encountered through events and this just seals the deal hahaha

 

[RANDOTRON]

Just out of curiosity, I have noticed that some people tend to post on linkedin that they are a 'Training Contract Offer Holder" at a firm, and then will continue to do more vac schemes at other firms and get additional TC offers throughout the cycle. Do law firms let you attend future vac schemes at other firms (if they have already given you an offer) before deciding which you'd like to accept a TC with? or are these people just accepting offers and then reneging on them later down the line?

Hi there! Firms will invariably give you deadline to accept or reject your TC offer by. They might grant time extensions to a candidate if they have other VS lined up or are holding other TC offers, but equally they might not. As far as I'm aware, there's nothing preventing a candidate from attending VS at other firms, especially if they haven't accepted any TC offers. You can also accept an offer and renege on it later.

Hope this helps!

 

[Harold Gunderson]

Any one found the CT test for AG hard af T_T I've done so many of the practice test they provided but the actual one is DIFFERENT lol

Was it timed?

 

[EliteWhovian]

slight emergency, is anyone also unable to select the vs option for HFW?

 

[NJS]

Just out of curiosity, I have noticed that some people tend to post on linkedin that they are a 'Training Contract Offer Holder" at a firm, and then will continue to do more vac schemes at other firms and get additional TC offers throughout the cycle. Do law firms let you attend future vac schemes at other firms (if they have already given you an offer) before deciding which you'd like to accept a TC with? or are these people just accepting offers and then reneging on them later down the line?

Considering how competitive the process is I’m super indifferent on people with offers trying to seek out more offers and taking a place away from someone who needs it, nobody asked but just my thoughts on that

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just out of curiosity, I have noticed that some people tend to post on linkedin that they are a 'Training Contract Offer Holder" at a firm, and then will continue to do more vac schemes at other firms and get additional TC offers throughout the cycle. Do law firms let you attend future vac schemes at other firms (if they have already given you an offer) before deciding which you'd like to accept a TC with? or are these people just accepting offers and then reneging on them later down the line?

Depends what stage they are at. If before mid-September in their penultimate year, there is this "best practice" code that you can hold the offer until mid-September and not have to accept or decline it until then do they can do other schemes with other firms. Not all firms keep to the code though.

But if they are writing "offer holder" rather than future trainee, this suggests to me the firm is taking this approach.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Considering how competitive the process is I’m super indifferent on people with offers trying to seek out more offers and taking a place away from someone who needs it, nobody asked but just my thoughts on that

I look at it differently - lots of people do different schemes each year and then weigh up which firm is the best for them. I'd much prefer people to do this and make an informed decision than being forced to accept the first offer they get.

 

[jplaw1010]

slight emergency, is anyone also unable to select the vs option for HFW?

closed at midday

 

[EliteWhovian]

closed at midday

that explains it!

 

[manifestingtrainingcontract]

Currently doing my Travers Smith cover letter. Is 900 words too much or is it ok? I’m trying to cut it down but I feel like I’m removing important things.

Their GR at an event asked us to keep it to around an A4, so yes I'd say 900 words is a bit too long

 

[manifestingtrainingcontract]

For those who got FF AC invites, when was the last available date you could book it?

29th Feb

 

[legally.brown]

Their GR at an event asked us to keep it to around an A4, so yes I'd say 900 words is a bit too long

There has been previous posts where someone said they were successful with 880 words.

 

[lonelycruise]

Hi there! Firms will invariably give you deadline to accept or reject your TC offer by. They might grant time extensions to a candidate if they have other VS lined up or are holding other TC offers, but equally they might not. As far as I'm aware, there's nothing preventing a candidate from attending VS at other firms, especially if they haven't accepted any TC offers. You can also accept an offer and renege on it later.

Hope this helps!

I think I read that Goodwin doesn't allow you to participate in other vacation schemes if you accept their offer. @axelbeugre, do you know if this is still true? Is this a Goodwin thing or do you know other firms that have a similar policy?

 

[manifestingtrainingcontract]

There has been previous posts where someone said they were successful with 880 words.

I'm not saying that is impossible, I am simply relaying what I know from their GR With no set word limit, everyone can go about it differently

 

[nj3352]

There has been previous posts where someone said they were successful with 880 words.

tbf if u make the margins small u can fit that on a page lol

 

[Percypig12]

"No, there is no [word] limit, but ideally it should be no longer than one side of A4."

From TS website https://www.traverssmith.com/join-us/graduate-recruitment/faq/

 

[manifestingtrainingcontract]

Updating this in the spirit of accountability! For context, all of these are Spring/Summer Vacation Scheme, and this is my first application cycle.

Applied so far:

• Slaughter and May - Rejected ❌
• Allen & Overy - Rejected post VI & SJT ❌
• Herbert Smith Freehills - Passed WG, waiting ⏳
• Latham & Watkins - taken test & VI, waiting ⏳
• Linklaters - taken WG, waiting ⏳
• Hogan Lovells - taken test, waiting⏳
• Katten - waiting⏳
• Macfarlanes - taken test, waiting⏳
• Travers Smith - waiting ⏳
• NRF - applying soon 🔜
• Freshfields - taken WG, Assessment Centre incoming 📍

 

[Jessica Booker]

I think I read that Goodwin doesn't allow you to participate in other vacation schemes if you accept their offer. @axelbeugre, do you know if this is still true? Is this a Goodwin thing or do you know other firms that have a similar policy?

I would expect this to only be a TC offer rather than vacation scheme.

Firms can add terms to their TC offers that state you can’t do vacation schemes elsewhere, but that will be subject to you accepting first. If you can get them to extend the offer, then you won’t have accepted this term and so don’t need to abide by it until accepted.

 

[Jessica Booker]

tbf if u make the margins small u can fit that on a page lol

If it is an attachment, don’t make margins too narrow. They will prefer it to fall over one page than they will it being crammed into one.