TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker !!

I have an interview coming up for a work experience placement with AS. they are taking the interview virtually with 3-4 other candidates who will be able to hear each others' answers. however, they have also made it explicit that this is not a group exercise and we will be marked individually. the questions are likely to be the basic competency/motivation/ maybe commercial ones.

I have never navigated an interview like this so I am really confused what the expectations would be? any insight you may have on this would be super helpful! thank you so much in advance ))

The advice from @Legal Wizard above is great - I agree with what they have said.

I'd also add to try and not change your answers just because another candidate has said something you think is impressive. You can always be a bit clever with it and say something like "I agree with what Joe Bloggs said in their answer earlier but my additional thoughts are....". This shows you are actively listening to other people's answers while still making sure you present your thoughts rather than repeating what someone else may have said.

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

I have an upcoming ac and have to prepare a commercial story. I was thinking about talking about the labour government’s plans for a cleaner britain and renewable energy goals. I was also thinking about then linking it to the contentious work that could pop up about greenwashing claims. Do you have any thoughts on whether this is a good topic and how i could possibly outline this to make it as structured as possible?

 

[panon]

Don’t overthink this. Prepare solid responses for why law, and in particular, commercial law; why you as in attributes that are unique to you that make you well suited to the profession. I would also prepare as much info as you can in the firm or company that the placement will be at because you will probably also be asked why your interest in that organisation. To that end, I would have 3 clear points starting with explaining your attraction to THE WORK that the firm/organisation does and tying that to past work you have done, your studies/ interests etc. Then you can go into things like culture, pro bono, diversity etc. I would imagine the group setting is just a time economising measure so don’t be put off by having to let your passion shine through in front of other applicants. Good luck!

The advice from @Legal Wizard above is great - I agree with what they have said.

I'd also add to try and not change your answers just because another candidate has said something you think is impressive. You can always be a bit clever with it and say something like "I agree with what Joe Bloggs said in their answer earlier but my additional thoughts are....". This shows you are actively listening to other people's answers while still making sure you present your thoughts rather than repeating what someone else may have said.

Thank you so much both!! this is really helpful )

 

[mulan0]

Does anyone know what type of video interview Moore Barlow will be eg competency or strengths based? I can’t find any information!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

I have an upcoming ac and have to prepare a commercial story. I was thinking about talking about the labour government’s plans for a cleaner britain and renewable energy goals. I was also thinking about then linking it to the contentious work that could pop up about greenwashing claims. Do you have any thoughts on whether this is a good topic and how i could possibly outline this to make it as structured as possible?

I am tagging in @ZNadeem as I know Ram, Andrei and Amma are quite busy with exams at the moment.

How long do you have to present/talk about this topic?

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

I am tagging in @ZNadeem as I know Ram, Andrei and Amma are quite busy with exams at the moment.

How long do you have to present/talk about this topic?

I have to speak for five minutes but there will be a 15 min q&a afterwards with questions about the presentation

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I have to speak for five minutes but there will be a 15 min q&a afterwards with questions about the presentation

Five minutes is not really a lot of time to present.

I would consider three key points/themes you want to make and stick to those - it will be important to provide depth in the analysis of those points rather than trying to cover more themes but at more superficial level.

By focusing on these three points you’ll probably recognise that there are certain things you can’t necessarily cover in you presentation. Prepare your thoughts on these areas as this is what your Q&A could be on.

Also be prepared to be challenged on your thinking. Be prepared to see things from different perspectives but still back the points you have made.

 

[Ceal@26]

1) Yes - if you are applying in the autumn/winter, then most likely you wouldn't start the SQE until September 2026. You could potentially join a January/Feb SQE intake, but given most firms are recruiting for intakes at least 30 months ahead at that point, you would have plenty of time to start the SQE in September 2026 (or even later).

2) For the next cycle, firms will be generally recruiting for September 2028 or Feb/March 2029 TCs. If we take September 2028 as a minimum, your timeline is likely to be:

• October 2025 to July 2026 - Recruitment process
• August/September 2026 - SQE prep
• January 2027 - Sit SQE1
• April 2027 - Sit SQE 2
• August 2027 - Receive SQE2 results
• August 2027 - September 2028 - Gap year

The gap year and SQE period could potentially be swapped over.

3) Yes - unless a firm recruits exclusively or exceptionally heavy from their VS

4) I wouldn't worry about this as TC roles won't close as early as September. It would be November by the earliest (and for some it will be as late as July 2026) and by then you would have many months of experience.

@Jessica Booker, Thank you for clarifying these questions 1 and 2. I am sort of in a similar timeline as I will be graduating in July 2026 from university ( Law degree ) and have not secured any VC and training contract thus far.

My add-on questions are :
1) I would like to apply again for VS / TC schemes in the upcoming autumm/winter cycle. Would it be possible to apply for VS/TCs directly for 2027 to avoid having a gap year ?
2) Will there be firms still recruiting for direct TCs commencing mid-2027 ?

The timeline that is outlined here involves a gap year,

• October 2025 to July 2026 - Recruitment process
• August/September 2026 - SQE prep
• January 2027 - Sit SQE1
• April 2027 - Sit SQE 2
• August 2027 - Receive SQE2 results
• August 2027 - September 2028 - Gap year

3) Will doing a year of LLM specialism ( eg..in IP etc. ) during that gap year be beneficial vs obtaining practical legal work that may count towards QWE ?

Thank you.

 

[KBanana]

Hi everyone, I am doing a direct TC app to Fried Frank and recall seeing a post here not too long ago about how much to write for each question (since there's no word count except for the cover letter). I can't seem to find the post now but if anyone remembers the details, I’d be really grateful if you could share.

Thank you!

 

[Chris Brown]

Hi everyone, I am doing a direct TC app to Fried Frank and recall seeing a post here not too long ago about how much to write for each question (since there's no word count except for the cover letter). I can't seem to find the post now but if anyone remembers the details, I’d be really grateful if you could share.

Thank you!

I’m not sure if these posts are the ones that you are referring to, but they discuss the Fried Frank application and word count. 🙂

They are in the DTC thread, so that’s perhaps why you weren’t able to find them. Best of luck with your Fried Frank application! 😅
​

has anyone else applied to fried frank's TC? if so, does anyone know what the word limit is supposed to be for the questions? The cover letter entry states a 500 word limit but there is no mention for the other 3 questions. There also isn't a maximum word entry in the boxes. I figured the best is just to go for the standard 300 limit but does anyone have any further insight?

Hiya. Me again.

I've had a look, and I genuinely don't think there is a limit. I think anything over 300 words is a bit much, but I did about 300 for the first question; just under 200 for the second; and about 220 for the third, yet still got to the first stage interview, I think it's more to do with the content and quality of your answers. Just aim for about 200-300 words for each answer and you should be solid.

 

[KBanana]

I’m not sure if these posts are the ones that you are referring to, but they discuss the Fried Frank application and word count: 🙂

They are in the DTC thread, so that’s perhaps why you weren’t able to find them. Best of luck with your Fried Frank application! 😅
​

Yes - that's the one!

Thank you so much Chris!!

 

[ZNadeem]

If I was unsuccessful in securing a TC after a vacation scheme, is there a possibility I could get an offer if someone reneges or doesn't accept their offer?

It’s unlikely you would be offered a training contract if you were unsuccessful after a vacation scheme, even if someone reneges or declines their offer. Law firms typically have structured recruitment cycles and reserve lists of strong candidates to fill unexpected vacancies. Once decisions are made, they rarely revisit prior candidates to maintain consistency and fairness.

Take this as an opportunity to grow—request feedback to understand how you can improve, gain additional experience to strengthen your profile, and reapply with a clearer sense of direction. Rejection is not the end; it’s just a stepping stone toward success, and with persistence, your hard work will pay off! Stay positive—you’re closer than you think

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam @Amma Usman

I have an upcoming ac and have to prepare a commercial story. I was thinking about talking about the labour government’s plans for a cleaner britain and renewable energy goals. I was also thinking about then linking it to the contentious work that could pop up about greenwashing claims. Do you have any thoughts on whether this is a good topic and how i could possibly outline this to make it as structured as possible?

Hi @ZNadeem, just wondering if i might ask for some guidance if possible? Thank you so much!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi everyone, I am doing a direct TC app to Fried Frank and recall seeing a post here not too long ago about how much to write for each question (since there's no word count except for the cover letter). I can't seem to find the post now but if anyone remembers the details, I’d be really grateful if you could share.

Thank you!

Without a word count for each question, it’s a good idea to aim for 300 words per response. This strikes the right balance between being concise and providing enough depth to showcase your understanding, experiences, and motivations. Avoid going overboard, as grad rec are unlikely to appreciate overly lengthy responses.

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi @ZNadeem, just wondering if i might ask for some guidance if possible? Thank you so much!

Your chosen topic is good, as it demonstrates commercial awareness by linking political and societal developments to potential legal implications. To structure your story, start by briefly introducing the Labour Government’s plans for a cleaner Britain, including their renewable energy goals and the regulatory push towards sustainability. Highlight how these initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions, promote green investments, and increase scrutiny of corporate environmental practices, framing this as a significant shift for businesses.

Next, connect these developments to the legal implications, particularly the rise in contentious work around greenwashing claims. Explain that as companies adapt to stricter regulations and market their sustainability efforts, misrepresentation or exaggerated claims can lead to disputes, regulatory penalties, and litigation. This opens opportunities for law firms to support clients through ESG compliance, defend against claims, or handle investigations, showcasing how policy changes directly influence legal work.

Finally, emphasise why this topic is relevant and impactful. Highlight its commercial significance for law firms advising industries heavily affected by environmental policies, like energy or retail. Tailor your story by referencing any specific work the firm does in ESG, renewable energy, or contentious litigation to align your insights with their expertise.

 

[m_faiz_m]

Hey, has anyone heard back from Osborne Clarke about VC results? Been waiting almost 8 weeks for the Reading office to respond and it's holding me back from booking a holiday 😭

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica! Is it suggested to list Collection (internal formative assessments) grades for individual modules at Oxford instead of final grades (that are only examined & received after the end of the degree) in VS applications? I do have my first-year Moderations grades, but I was wondering if reporting Collection grades is required (also have a somewhat bad mock grade I would love to avoid haha)!

 

[summersun]

Hey, has anyone heard back from Osborne Clarke about VC results? Been waiting almost 8 weeks for the Reading office to respond and it's holding me back from booking a holiday 😭

Hi,
I think a lot of VS offers were given in March (although not entirely sure about the Reading office).
Hopefully you will hear back soon!

 

[Maddy]

Did anyone apply to the McQueen paralegal position and received an invite to the next stage?

 

[ZNadeem]

@Jessica Booker Hi Jessica! Is it suggested to list Collection (internal formative assessments) grades for individual modules at Oxford instead of final grades (that are only examined & received after the end of the degree) in VS applications? I do have my first-year Moderations grades, but I was wondering if reporting Collection grades is required (also have a somewhat bad mock grade I would love to avoid haha)!

Hi! This varies from firm to firm unfortunately! Some firms know they are just mocks (and not formal assessments that count towards your degree) and so don’t ask for them. However, some firms will request collection grades knowing this is the only way to assess second year grades at Oxford and that they will want to track how you are getting on. You would definitely need to provide your final year results though if you have them.