TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2023-24

[yasmars]

Managed to buss a Willkie VS offer🙏🏿

Not ‘buss’ lmaooo😭

 

[happyhippo0402]

does anyone have any advice for the mayer brown ac? - can help with advice on cleary, gibson dunn and slaughter & may

 

[xxkeurfijnse]

@Jessica Booker What does it mean if others have gotten rejected/received offers after an AC that took place around the same time, but others have not heard back?

 

[axelbeugre]

this might be a silly question, but when firms ask "why did you apply to this programme/what challenges might you face during this programme", are we meant to be talking about their vacation scheme or their training contract? I'm assuming it would be the VS, but since most of them lead to TCs i can't help but feel the TC should also be addressed???

I think that they are referring to the opportunity you are applying. If you are applying to a vacation scheme, then they are referring to the challenges you might face on the vacation scheme. However, if you are applying for the direct training contract, then I would talk about the difficulties I would face through it.

One does not exclude the others but for the purposes of asking the question exhaustively, I think it is important to direct it to the opportunity you are applying for!

Good luck with the application!

 

[axelbeugre]

Bakers AC! (summer)

Congratulations!!

 

[axelbeugre]

@Jessica Booker What does it mean if others have gotten rejected/received offers after an AC that took place around the same time, but others have not heard back?

I think that until you do not receive a response it is still good news so I would not worry unless you received an outright rejections!

I know it is easier said than done but there is nothing you can do at this stage to prevent this from happening unfortunately!

 

[Zaakir]

Any tips on how to prepare for written exercises?

 

[legallybrunette8]

has anyone heard from Irwin Mitchell for legal services for individuals? I know a few have heard back for business

 

[Jessica Booker]

@Jessica Booker What does it mean if others have gotten rejected/received offers after an AC that took place around the same time, but others have not heard back?

It doesn’t mean anything at all - it can just be the way it plays out. All it could be is down to your assessors not being able to catch up to discuss your feedback while other candidates’ assessors have. You really can’t assume it means anything.

 

[NW Law]

Managed to buss a Willkie VS offer🙏🏿

me about to ask around who posted buss on TCLA soz xoxo

 

[webberwerter]

If anyone has nrf vi tips they would be greatly appreciated

 

[bangarangbass39]

If I complete an apprenticeship through an in-house role, how are my post-qualification experiences impacted? As I will have completed my qualifications and training at a non-law firm, will it be harder for me to lateral? Especially for a private practice role.

 

[CallumJR]

Would appreciate any last minute advice for the FF AC

Fingers crossed, I am rooting for you!!!

 

[isTeapp]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

This is amazing! You should be very proud. Do you have any advice for Baker McKenzie’s AC?

 

[hopefulforatc]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

How many direct tcs did you apply? and how was the response for them?

 

[Chelsea1]

Hi guys, is it worth applying for a direct TC despite having no vac scheme experience/legal experience and being a 2nd year law student? Not sure if I would be wasting my time doing so if I can't even get onto a vac scheme

Maybe it would be better to wait until winter vac schemes open. Not sure...

 

[yasmars]

My Application Summary Credits: @Legalstalker
FYI: a mixture of winter, spring and summer vacation schemes + a few direct TCs

• Total applications this cycle ~ 35
• Rejections post app: ~ 9
• Rejections post 1st or 2nd stage: ~14
• Awaiting to hear from: ~1 (Baker Mckenzie Spring)
• SJT/VI’s still to do: 0
• AC's this cycle: 12
• VS offers: Gibson, Hogan + Osborne (all summer)
• Latest rejection: Mayer Brown
• Hardest rejection: Clifford Chance Direct TC - prepped so, so hard for it too
• Easiest rejection: Linklaters
• Ghosted me: N/A
• Best Grad Recruitment: Slaughter
• Tedious Application Process: Kirkland
• If I had converted my first AC, I would have done only 2 applications
• If I had converted my second AC I would have only done 9 applications
• If I had converted my third, fourth or fifth AC, I would have done 35 applications

12 ACs and 3 VS offers is very impressive, congrats!!

 

[NSC414]

Farrer & Co VS!!🥳

Did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

 

[bella98]

View attachment 5894

I stumbled upon this on TikTok and wondered if this post was actually accurate as it strikes me as somewhat forced/inane?

I’m not disputing that 1, 3, and 5 are good points, I just think 2 and 4 are weird. How will connecting with graduate recruitment on LinkedIn help you at all? They’re not going to offer preferential treatment, if they remember your name at all, so what purpose does that serve?

Same with 4, unless you have a connection at said firm, what trainee or associate is going to spend their time reading and offering tailored advice to a stranger on their application? When some of these firms receive 4,000 applications, again, why would they offer preferential treatment?

Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic or am I accurate here?

Indeed, the advice does seem a bit impractical. When you consider the sheer volume of applications these firms receive, it's hard to imagine that making a fleeting digital connection or reaching out for advice will sway the odds in your favour.

These people are so busy with their daily responsibilities, and the reality is, without an existing, meaningful connection, the likelihood of them going out of their way to offer preferential treatment or dedicate time to crafting feedback for a stranger is, frankly, slim to none. I reached out to people for some AC insights (students or grads, not trainees) and only one person was super kind to help me, so what are the chances of trainees helping you re-write your application ahaha

Generally, I know who this influencer is and I personally do not like her content - she just posted “ POV: it’s your first week at a magic circle law firm” and only showed a ball. Is this what you did in your first week? 🥲

 

[Legalstalker]

Did you apply for the Spring or Summer scheme?

Spring, I didn’t know there was a summer one lmao