• 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 →

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

Status
Not open for further replies.
roughly how many firms are people applying to? worried about not doing enough and not securing a TC (my first swift rejection has sent me on a wobble..), but also afraid of rushing apps for the sake of them!
This year I’m doing about 7 but I think it really depends on you as a person and how you work + circumstances :)) last year I did loads and got PFOs v early on for each firm, whereas this year I’ve gotten further for everything having spent more time on each one. I work full time so hard to balance but I found that’s the way that works best for me on top of that !
 
When firms have WG/test benchmarks, if you pass the benchmark, do they then care about your specific score in the context of the rest of the application?

For instance, if you just scraped the benchmark and were up against someone who performed strongly, would that count against you if your written applications were a similar level? Or is it simply a means of everyone who passes is viewed identically?
 
Is it bad to reference an old deal (2016) in your application even if its the deal that best supports the point you're making?
I would say that 2016 is very old, I would try and find a more recent deal, within the year or as recent as 2022. I am sure you can find something that can substantiate what you are saying!
 
@Jessica Booker, one of the Debevoise questions asks us to 'indicate if there is a preferred practice area that interests' us as part of the application questions. It has a 250 word limit but I can't tell whether it's inviting a deeper explanation about why that practice area is of interest, or whether it simply wants a basic response. What do you think?
 
Bit of a random question but why do some firms choose not to disclose their female/bme statistics? Is it because of the obvious - that they're lacking in that department or is it another reason?
Firms don’t have to declare anything really - they are private companies and have no requirement to publicise such information, in the same way they don’t have to publicise their retention rates, their profits/PEP, their strategy etc.

All regulated firms in England and Wales have to report on their diversity data to the SRA every two years, so for the vast majority of firms they will have this data to hand somewhere.

Remember you can always ask them this information at events or during the recruitment process though if it is important to you.
 
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.