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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
302
649
Has anyone heard back after uploading the CV to Sky?

This is very much uncool.

They promised to let us know this week.

I am 99% sure I have been PFOed, as I have not been asked to upload my CV.

Today is a Bank Holiday. I have plans to make which depend on me either attending or not the Sky placement.

They would seem very unlikely to do anything before Tuesday now.
 

Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
769
1,434
Didn’t convert my SVS feeling very demoralised rn
I completely understand how disheartened you must be feeling right now; nothing is as frustrating as getting so close to a goal just to not get over the final hurdle. Nothing I or anyone can say here can really chance that. In these circumstances it is a normal emotion that you need to process. Even if you could, I do not think it would really help you if you could somehow bury it within to avoid feeling it.

That said, I do think you should try to remind yourself that, from a rational perspective, your situation is likely not as bad as you are perceiving it right now. Being selected for a vacation scheme is an incredible achievement, one that the vast majority of applicants chase for years and years before they get. Having gotten to this stage is clear proof that you are one of the best applicants out of an immense pool and that you have everything you need to succeed.

At the same time, you should internalize the fact that failing to convert to a TC right now does not mean you are not really fit for the job or that you are not competent. Of course, you should seek feedback and try to learn from any mistakes. However, as you know, converting from vacation schemes is a game of extremely small margins, where law firms have to make difficult choices between candidates they really like. There is a significant luck factor involved here. Maybe another candidate scored slightly better than you in some criteria this specific firm happens to emphasize. Nonetheless, if you had done a VS at another firm, it may well have been the case that they would have emphasized the aspects you excelled in instead. In that case, you would have gotten the offer and some other candidate would be the one feeling so demoralized right now.
I can attest to the fact that among the firms I have done vacations schemes with, very different factors were determinative for conversion decisions.

All this is to say, I understand this is a difficult moment to be in right now. But try to be kind to yourself, learn from the experience, and you will come back stronger from it!
 

TheInevitableTCholder2024/25🙏

Esteemed Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Mar 16, 2022
79
144
Hi everyone, I have a question. When filling in application forms, they ask for 1st-year grades. Given that it was a COVID year and 3 exams were assessed online, technically, my transcript doesn't have a mark on there, although I have the marks online that I got. My university, Warwick, also had the letter attached to explain. Should I still put the online marks or not? Just wanted to ask because I realise it might cause confusion in the future
 

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User5678

Legendary Member
Aug 16, 2024
314
425
Hi everyone, I have a question. When filling in application forms, they ask for 1st-year grades. Given that it was a COVID year and 3 exams were assessed online, technically, my transcript doesn't have a mark on there, although I have the marks online that I got. My university, Warwick, also had the letter attached to explain. Should I still put the online marks or not? Just wanted to ask because I realise it might cause confusion in the future
I go to warwick as well. I know people have put in their grades in the application forms and if they got an offer they have submitted the letter alongside the transcript and also provided with a screenshot of the tabula page with the grades or asked their personal tutor to write a letter certifying the grades are accurate (make sure you mention all grades on that letter).

Don’t take my word for it tho as every firm is different but I think in the initial application stage, it’s easier to progress if you provide all your grades. Best to email the firm and check.
 
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Willgetthere

Active Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Oct 2, 2022
16
47
Happy Good Friday, everyone.

I just wanted to share a word of encouragement for anyone facing setbacks. Today reminds us that Christ endured immense suffering for our sake—and through His sacrifice, we are empowered to overcome even the toughest of challenges. So, as you reflect today, remember: there is hope, strength, and victory in our struggles because of what Jesus has done. Keep going—you’re not alone, and there is purpose in the process.
 

Chris Brown

Legendary Member
Jul 4, 2024
595
2,195
Hi everyone,

A few people have been asking about Breezy and his whereabouts. Can confirm he will be back on this account by Monday.

Thank you all for being so kind and welcoming to me whilst I’ve been on here. It’s been nice to interact with you all these past 2-3 weeks.

This is my final post on this account. The next one will be by Breezy himself. Good luck to all of you in this cycle.​
 
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l789

Legendary Member
Aug 19, 2020
179
249
@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu or anyone else who can help me from Tcla team.

Is it inappropriate for me to reference a personal experience which sparked my interest in a firms practice area.

For Cooley- this would be their product liability practice which is ranked tier 1. My interest in it stems from my experience within dermatology, having struggled with a skin condition, I’ve had to seek out medical lasers from private dermatologists and there’s a grey area as not all doctors are qualified to operate such strong lasers and these are causing more and more damage to patients skin, lasers aren’t heavily regulated and it’s become an increasing concern as any medical professional has agency to operate them, but they are extremely dangerous when used in unqualified hands (cosmetic doctors who aren’t trained, yet are able to obtain lasers for their clinics) and there’s been a rise of litigation.

I’m not going to sell the whole sob story but can I briefly mention this as a point of interest?
 

Ram Sabaratnam

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
497
1,141
@Ram Sabaratnam @Andrei Radu or anyone else who can help me from Tcla team.

Is it inappropriate for me to reference a personal experience which sparked my interest in a firms practice area.

For Cooley- this would be their product liability practice which is ranked tier 1. My interest in it stems from my experience within dermatology, having struggled with a skin condition, I’ve had to seek out medical lasers from private dermatologists and there’s a grey area as not all doctors are qualified to operate such strong lasers and these are causing more and more damage to patients skin, lasers aren’t heavily regulated and it’s become an increasing concern as any medical professional has agency to operate them, but they are extremely dangerous when used in unqualified hands (cosmetic doctors who aren’t trained, yet are able to obtain lasers for their clinics) and there’s been a rise of litigation.

I’m not going to sell the whole sob story but can I briefly mention this as a point of interest?

Hiya @l789

Absolutely, this is perfectly fine to mention. I’ve seen applicants talk about everything from personal experiences with medical devices to the impact of certain therapeutics as a way into their interest in life sciences and product liability. Mentioning these sort of experiences can add a layer of authenticity as well. I'd just make sure to keep it concise and frame it as something that sparked your interest, rather than the sole reason for it. You'll also want to reflect more broadly on what draws you to product liability as a practice area. For instance:
  1. Mixture of legal and scientific complexity: For many people I've spoken to at Cooley and elsewhere, it’s the mix of legal, scientific, and strategic complexity. You often need to engage with technical detail (e.g. understanding how a product works, consulting experts, and analysing potential failure points). There's also some of challenges of balancing clients' regulatory obligations and exposure to litigation risks.

  2. The high-stakes nature of the work: Product liability cases often involve significant financial exposure, media attention, or reputational risk, especially for clients in the life sciences or tech sectors. There are too many to mention here, but you'll find some of the work Cooley has done in this area in its Legal 500 page.
So again, yes you should feel free to include the personal angle briefly, but use it as a stepping stone to demonstrate a well-rounded and thoughtful interest in the practice area itself (and specifically on the defendants' side, which is what Cooley is particularly well-known for). Good luck!
 
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j.a55293

Active Member
Jan 30, 2025
15
42
Has anyone heard back from Stephenson Harwood in regards to the summer vac scheme? I have received no word since my application - am I to assume that I got rejected?
Think I saw that last year they sent out more tests for the summer schemes in April and May so maybe theres a chance they might send them out once the spring scheme is finished?
 
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