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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
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If I got told I’d hear back by the end of this week, and I’m seeing a small number of offers roll out, do we assume rejection?
Hi, guys!
I hope you’re all having a fantastic summer break.
I was looking for advice regarding whether firms would reject me straight away because of my poor first-year results (low 2:2), although I managed to get a First Class in my second year.
I know grades form only one part of the whole application, and although I have legal and non-legal work experience and have attended many open days with leading law firms, where they emphasize strong communication, teamwork, and resilience skills, no one seems to answer my question on whether I could be a strong candidate just because of one setback in my first year of law school.
I hope you’re all having a fantastic summer break.
I was looking for advice regarding whether firms would reject me straight away because of my poor first-year results (low 2:2), although I managed to get a First Class in my second year.
I know grades form only one part of the whole application, and although I have legal and non-legal work experience and have attended many open days with leading law firms, where they emphasize strong communication, teamwork, and resilience skills, no one seems to answer my question on whether I could be a strong candidate just because of one setback in my first year of law school.
I would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who provided advice, guidance and reassurance on this forum (new account as I forgot my previous account details),this was my first round applying for a TC and I managed to secure it at my dream firm (DLA) thanks in part to the advice and guidance on this platform.
To those wondering, I did not go to a Russell Group university, I don't have perfect grades. My two cents is to remember to be kind, on my Vac scheme I was reminded that I wasn't in competition with the other applicants, those that could set aside that mindset, work together and form friendships and partnerships appear to have been successful.
I can't say if my approach was the correct one given how many different people are successful with various approaches but I only applied for one firm because it resonated with me and I felt as though it was a cultural fit for me and thankfully they agreed.
To those wondering, I did not go to a Russell Group university, I don't have perfect grades. My two cents is to remember to be kind, on my Vac scheme I was reminded that I wasn't in competition with the other applicants, those that could set aside that mindset, work together and form friendships and partnerships appear to have been successful.
I can't say if my approach was the correct one given how many different people are successful with various approaches but I only applied for one firm because it resonated with me and I felt as though it was a cultural fit for me and thankfully they agreed.
I got multiple 2:2s in first and second year with mitigating circumstances but firsts in my third and fourth year, and graduated with a first class degree overall. I completed a VS at an international firm and also got a TC offer a couple of years ago. This year I managed to pass a few firms application stage. There are some firms that outright rejected me this year and I do believe it may have been because of my grades (such as slaughters and Davis Polk.) So my experience is that many firms will definitely consider you if you have a good degree classification overall and extracurriculars / work experience. Just be conscious of the few that really care about grades.
- Sep 7, 2024
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THIS! No Russell Group? No perfect grades? Didn't stop you and you nailed it! Big, big congratulations!! Also appreciated the emphasis you put on showing kindness and choosing collaboration over competition during your vac scheme. Hope you can rest easy for a few weeks and enjoy the win 🥳
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @x_lauren112
Not necessarily, since firms don’t always release outcomes all at once. It’s possible you’re still under consideration, or they’re just moving more slowly than expected (which, to be fair, happens a lot). Once the deadline they've sent passes, I think you can send a polite follow up email, but try not to take the silence as a bad sign just yet. Good luck and I hope you hear back soon.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @Charles Leclerc
Just wanted to add to what @legallady123 has already insightfully said in response to your question.
I don't think your grades will necessarily be an issue. Many firms understand that first year can be a difficult adjustment, and what matters is how you’ve responded since (great job on getting that First in your second year!).
That said, whether you’re ultimately seen as a strong candidate depends on a range of factors; not just your academics or experiences, but also how effectively you present your story, how competitive the cycle is, which firms you’re targeting, and whether you can convincingly demonstrate commercial awareness (this last point is where I see many candidates struggle, even when they have excellent grades and decent work experience).
At this stage, your focus should be on presenting your narrative in a compelling, reflective way on your application forms. To help with this, I’d strongly recommend getting a full application reviewed by someone who has experience reading or marking applications for the kinds of firms to which you're applying. Personally, I found TCLA's application review service really useful after my first cycle. It gave me clarity on both my written style and what needed strengthening in my profile. If your university has careers advisers with experience in legal recruitment, they can also be helpful, but it really depends on how well they understand the legal market.
You’ve already done a lot of the right things in terms of gaining experience and building skills, and I'd encourage you to now focus on sharpening how you communicate all of that to firms.
Good luck with applications!
- Sep 7, 2024
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- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @AS24
TCLA had a question bank, which included some scenario based questions. I've attached them below for your reference:
- What would you do if a client asked you to do something which you didn’t think was the best move for them to make?
- What would you do if you have a flight to catch in the morning and work to get done tonight but a partner asks you to attend a client dinner?
- What would be your view on if the firm worked with very wealthy oligarchs?
- A fellow trainee is being rowdy at an event. How would you approach this?
- What would you do if a staff member was being rude to you? Would your response differ if they were a partner?
- What would you do if a client tells you that you've performed a piece of work extremely badly?
- If you were sat on the train and you saw opposing counsel reading a confidential bundle about your case, which you could read, what would you do?
- If you finished a meeting and were clearing out papers and you realised that opposing counsel had left a confidential document on the table, what would you do?
- You’re a trainee going into new seat – how do you prepare?
- You're a trainee. You're moved to another team by an associate. You were doing well so don’t know why you were moved. You aren't familiar with the new deal team's work. What do you do?
- How would you make a client presentation 'innovative'?
- There is a client meeting for a signing of a contract but the partner and senior associate on the case are running late. The printer has messed up the documents which you have gone to collect, and the clients have now arrived. What do you do?
- A partner invites you to a client dinner, but you have a lot of work, what do you do?
- A client wants you to sign a deal, but the partner is not there, what do you do?
- Should [firm you are interviewing at] decide not to take on certain types of clients? Follow up question: Then, specifically, should [firm you are interviewing at] agree to do work for North Korea
- You put your money in a vending machine and don’t end up getting your item. You are a particularly litigious person and want to sue someone for it. Who would you sue and why?
- The other party has made a mistake on a joint venture agreement that benefits your client, what do you do?
- What would you do if you were asked to close down a family factory?
- What would you do if a partner and an associate asked you to do the same work and it was the same deadline?
Hi everyone! I'm an international final-year student and my visa ends 30 June 2026. Does this mean that for summer vac schemes I should be seeking firms that will sponsor my visa for the VS? If so, is there a list of these firms?
Hi! I have an interview on Wednesday and part of the interview includes an 'Individual Task with HR'. Does anyone have any idea what this might be?
I've also been told that 15 minutes before my interview (with partners) I'll be given a document to read and prepare some thoughts on- I've never had to do this before so does anyone have any insight into this?
I've also been told that 15 minutes before my interview (with partners) I'll be given a document to read and prepare some thoughts on- I've never had to do this before so does anyone have any insight into this?
It could be a prioritisation task where you have e.g. 10 emails detailing different tasks you need to complete and you have to rank them in order of priority i.e. which one would you complete first, second, last etc and then you would have to explain why. I had to go through a similar exercise and they only allowed me 15 minutes to complete the ranking. It could also be where you get an email from a client and you have to write a response to that email, in this task I imagine they're just testing your writing skills.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @badmintonflyinginsect
Having been in a similar position myself, I can say that it's highly unlikely that firms will sponsor a visa for a vacation scheme. Most firms expect applicants to already have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme, and I've rarely (if ever) come across examples of firms sponsoring visas just for the VS. Since your visa runs until 30 June 2026, I’d suggest focusing on applying for direction training contracts, as well as vacations schemes that take place outside of term time and before the expiry of your visa.
I should also say that it’s worth checking each firm’s graduate recruitment pages or contacting their HR teams to clarify their position on sponsorship for the training contract. But for VSs specifically, I'm almost certain that there are no firms that will go through the trouble of sponsoring a visa.
Hope that helps and best of luck with your applications!
Hi everyone, I have an interview with Perkins Coie coming up, if anyone has done it can you dm me pls? Would be great to get some insight, thank you 
In terms of applying for open days, do firms typically prefer to allocate spaces to undergrads, or is it still worth applying as a postgrad?
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