TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[tianna09]

hello! i have two questions that i would love some advice on

1) after a basically unsuccessful cycle this year i ended up with some informal work experience doing litigation at eon next. i’m super excited about it but now im not too sure how to send an email back. they emailed me saying that if i have any preferred types of law, let them know. my trouble is, i can’t find any information about their legal services ANYWHERE. i don’t wanna guess but also don’t wanna ask what law they do because i sound like ive done no research?!

2) i’ve applied to a firm for a summer vs, i received an email saying id hear back end of april. nobody on this forum or anyone i know has applied so im not sure if they’re halfway through the process or still sifting through applications. i really love this firm so id love to send an email to ask about how long its going to take but im not sure how to word it

thank you

 

[Andrei Radu]

1

hello! i have two questions that i would love some advice on

1) after a basically unsuccessful cycle this year i ended up with some informal work experience doing litigation at eon next. i’m super excited about it but now im not too sure how to send an email back. they emailed me saying that if i have any preferred types of law, let them know. my trouble is, i can’t find any information about their legal services ANYWHERE. i don’t wanna guess but also don’t wanna ask what law they do because i sound like ive done no research?!

2) i’ve applied to a firm for a summer vs, i received an email saying id hear back end of april. nobody on this forum or anyone i know has applied so im not sure if they’re halfway through the process or still sifting through applications. i really love this firm so id love to send an email to ask about how long its going to take but im not sure how to word it

thank you

1. I think you have two options here. Firstly, on a quick look, I have seen Eon's major operations are in the energy infrastructure and distribution space. You could thus research what types of disputes work this normally entails, as this is the area the company's litigation team will likely spend most time in. Secondly, the company should be aware of the fact that information about their legal work is not easily available online, and therefore will likely not expect you to know much. If you want to further hedge against that risk, you could ask a question phrased something like 'I have a broad interest in commercial litigation, but could you please let me know what types of matters the team is working on most at the moment, so that I can tell you what I am most interested in regards to that?' If phrased this way, the question no longer makes it seem like you do not know what legal work they do in general, but just that you do not know what is keeping them busy at this particular moment, which I cannot imagine they will have expected you to know.

2. Unfortunately, it is quite common for firms to take a couple of days or even weeks after their stated deadline before coming back to applicants. If that is the case, the reason is that they are quite busy, and therefore, they may not even have time to respond to your email. That said, there's no real downside to doing it if you word it in a polite manner (although I would perhaps wait a few more days). I would go for something like:

Hi/Dear person's name/Graduate Recruitment Team,

My name is ... and I am writing to ask about my application to the firm's summer vacation scheme (include application reference number if you have one). I appreciate that you will be very busy at the moment, but in light of other professional opportunities and to avoid potential scheduling conflicts, I wanted to ask around what time I could expect to hear back with an update on my application.

Many thanks,
....

 

[legallycece]

Anyone heard from SH post test / vi ?

 

[Justin]

Hi, has anyone heard back from Sky following a successful interview by Aspiring Solicitors for the Sky placement?

 

[tosin4774]

Hi @Jessica. Booker, can I privately message you to ask a personal question?

 

[saminoriya]

Faegre Drinker Summer VS Invite

 

[Amma Usman]

Faegre Drinker Summer VS Invite

Aww Yaaayyy…!!! I remember you posting about the interview invite a while back. This is amazing news, congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself

 

[fairbourne]

Faegre Drinker Summer VS!

 

[Amma Usman]

Faegre Drinker Summer VS!

 

[tianna09]

1

1. I think you have two options here. Firstly, on a quick look, I have seen Eon's major operations are in the energy infrastructure and distribution space. You could thus research what types of disputes work this normally entails, as this is the area the company's litigation team will likely spend most time in. Secondly, the company should be aware of the fact that information about their legal work is not easily available online, and therefore will likely not expect you to know much. If you want to further hedge against that risk, you could ask a question phrased something like 'I have a broad interest in commercial litigation, but could you please let me know what types of matters the team is working on most at the moment, so that I can tell you what I am most interested in regards to that?' If phrased this way, the question no longer makes it seem like you do not know what legal work they do in general, but just that you do not know what is keeping them busy at this particular moment, which I cannot imagine they will have expected you to know.

2. Unfortunately, it is quite common for firms to take a couple of days or even weeks after their stated deadline before coming back to applicants. If that is the case, the reason is that they are quite busy, and therefore, they may not even have time to respond to your email. That said, there's no real downside to doing it if you word it in a polite manner (although I would perhaps wait a few more days). I would go for something like:

Hi/Dear person's name/Graduate Recruitment Team,

My name is ... and I am writing to ask about my application to the firm's summer vacation scheme (include application reference number if you have one). I appreciate that you will be very busy at the moment, but in light of other professional opportunities and to avoid potential scheduling conflicts, I wanted to ask around what time I could expect to hear back with an update on my application.

Many thanks,
....

Thank you so much for your insights! I will definitely look into eon and their business operations.

 

[helenaskelton]

Hi guys. I have a VS that starts in a couple weeks and was wondering what the best way is to prepare for one. I'm a non law student and the firm is full service -- we haven't been given our seats yet. This is my first VS and I want to make a good impression, but am unsure which knowledge I should brush up on! Thanks!

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Still no news from Winston post-interview?

 

[Deleted member 30442]

Still no news from Winston post-interview?

A few others and I received SVS offers yesterday

 

[trainee4u]

Hi @Jessica Booker (or others with experience of graduate recruitment)

I wonder how I should handle this situation?

I have two VS offers as shown in this calendar:




I have accepted firm A's four-day VS, which is their only route to a TC. I have now also received a VS offer from firm B, which lasts for 10 days (2 full weeks). Firm B has a direct TC route, and I guess that they take about half the candidates from each route.

I need to be pragmatic in that I want a TC, and I'd like to be open to getting one from either or both of firm A and firm B, so if I were to rescind my previous acceptance to firm A, then I could only get an offer from firm B.

Therefore I want to email firm B, and ask them if I can attend for only the first week and (at their option) the last day of the VS. However, I'm not really sure how this will come across; e.g., is it a good idea for me to mention either or both of these points in an initial email asking to attend for 5 or 6 days of the VS:

1) that firm A does not have a direct TC intake, only via VS
2) that if I'm not able to attend for part of firm B's VS, that I'd like to attend firm B's direct TC assessment centre.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

A few others and I received SVS offers yesterday

Ah well, congrats to you!

 

[law_junkie]

PFO from Stephenson Harwood — I’m a bit confused, as the subject line says "Your Amberjack assessment," but I never received any assessment from them.

 

[tc1999]

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice. Ideally, I’m aiming to train at a leading City corporate law firm. I believe I have the potential to succeed, but I’m also aware of how competitive and uncertain the process can be. Should I continue to pursue this goal, or consider accepting a training contract at a smaller firm but in the top 100?

 

[fairbourne]

Does anyone know when we might hear back from SH re their SVS? Thank you!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica. Booker, can I privately message you to ask a personal question?

I am happy to respond to any messages via private message that may contain personal, sensitive or confidential information. These topics include:

• Mitigating or extenuating circumstances
• Anything relating to a job offer
• Advice relating to personal circumstances that may impact a recruitment process or your time with an employer
• Reasonable adjustments
• Concerns around misconduct, whether that is relating to you, another TCLA member, fellow employees, your employer, or an organisation you have recently applied for a job with.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker (or others with experience of graduate recruitment)

I wonder how I should handle this situation?

I have two VS offers as shown in this calendar:

View attachment 7127


I have accepted firm A's four-day VS, which is their only route to a TC. I have now also received a VS offer from firm B, which lasts for 10 days (2 full weeks). Firm B has a direct TC route, and I guess that they take about half the candidates from each route.

I need to be pragmatic in that I want a TC, and I'd like to be open to getting one from either or both of firm A and firm B, so if I were to rescind my previous acceptance to firm A, then I could only get an offer from firm B.

Therefore I want to email firm B, and ask them if I can attend for only the first week and (at their option) the last day of the VS. However, I'm not really sure how this will come across; e.g., is it a good idea for me to mention either or both of these points in an initial email asking to attend for 5 or 6 days of the VS:

1) that firm A does not have a direct TC intake, only via VS
2) that if I'm not able to attend for part of firm B's VS, that I'd like to attend firm B's direct TC assessment centre.

Don’t rely on email. Call firm B rather than emailing them. This is something you need to discuss not correspond over.

Attending the first week may be a possibility, but many firms will not allow this, especially if there are key assessments or activities in the second part of the scheme.

You can ask, but be prepared for the firm to say no. Attending the last day is highly unlikely, as they will need to turn off all your access and then reinstate it for one day, so really if you do ask to attend part of the scheme I would go in with the suggestion of the first week only.

So I would call them, explain you have already accepted a VS that clashes with the second week that does not have a direct TC process. Ask whether you can attend the first week only and if this is not possible whether you can be transferred to a direct TC recruitment process instead.

If the firm’s answer is no to either option, and firm B is your preferred firm, then think about reneging on firm A.