TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

Jessica Booker

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If you mention publications like Roll on Friday or The Lawyer, is it worth citing them, or is this a waste of word count?
A full reference isn’t needed, but the topic is going to be more interesting than the publication but the context of where you learnt about the topic can be helpful - just keep it super short.
 
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os111

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Jan 22, 2023
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Does anyone have experience with booking time off work for a winter VS? I’m applying the HL WVS and I’m worried that if I did somehow get it, it’ll be short notice and I would struggle to book the time off - I’m only a few months into my first job so unsure how it works! Any advice would be really appreciated!! Thanks !
 

prospectiveswitcher

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Aug 18, 2022
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Does anyone have experience with booking time off work for a winter VS? I’m applying the HL WVS and I’m worried that if I did somehow get it, it’ll be short notice and I would struggle to book the time off - I’m only a few months into my first job so unsure how it works! Any advice would be really appreciated!! Thanks !
Just book it via normal channels - you don't have to explain why. If you receive any push back from your employer due to short notice, you can always tell a white lie and say it is for something like helping a relative move home or looking after a relative. I know lying isn't ideal but ultimately your employer should also not be making decisions about your leave based on their own perception of what the leave is for either.
Even if this is your first job, my experience is it is not uncommon to book leave for a week around 3 weeks out - you should have enough time I think?
 
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Jessica Booker

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TCLA Moderator
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Graduate Recruitment
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Aug 1, 2019
13,481
19,262
Does anyone have experience with booking time off work for a winter VS? I’m applying the HL WVS and I’m worried that if I did somehow get it, it’ll be short notice and I would struggle to book the time off - I’m only a few months into my first job so unsure how it works! Any advice would be really appreciated!! Thanks !
what kind of job are you in and is your line manager aware you are looking to take time off for internships?
 

Jessica Booker

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TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
13,481
19,262
Just book it via normal channels - you don't have to explain why. If you receive any push back from your employer due to short notice, you can always tell a white lie and say it is for something like helping a relative move home or looking after a relative. I know lying isn't ideal but ultimately your employer should also not be making decisions about your leave based on their own perception of what the leave is for either.
Even if this is your first job, my experience is it is not uncommon to book leave for a week around 3 weeks out - you should have enough time I think?
Just to stress this isn’t necessarily the case - many employment contracts will restrict you from working elsewhere and working for another employer will have to be declared (and approved) in those instances.
 

prospectiveswitcher

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Junior Lawyer
Aug 18, 2022
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Just to stress this isn’t necessarily the case - many employment contracts will restrict you from working elsewhere and working for another employer will have to be declared (and approved) in those instances.
Yes fair - my (admittedly probably uninformed) take on these clauses in contracts was always to avoid you working two jobs simultaneously (to avoid breaching labour laws and/or have you unfit to work during your hours with that employer). While it probably does still apply if you are working during an annual leave period - I doubt most employers would ever pursue anything against an employee they found out was doing this? Maybe they have?
 

Jessica Booker

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Aug 1, 2019
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Yes fair - my (admittedly probably uninformed) take on these clauses in contracts was always to avoid you working two jobs simultaneously (to avoid breaching labour laws and/or have you unfit to work during your hours with that employer). While it probably does still apply if you are working during an annual leave period - I doubt most employers would ever pursue anything against an employee they found out was doing this? Maybe they have?
It is more complicated than employment laws. For law firms (and many other professional services and public sector organisations) it can also be down to things like conflicts checks.

If there is a clause in your contract that you have to disclose any other interests in other organisations or employment with them, then you will be in breach of contract if you don’t disclose it/get it approved.

And I have seen employees disciplined and terminated on the grounds they didn’t disclose other interests/employment because it led to quite a considerable ethical and regulatory issue.
 

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