TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[AS24]

Morning forum,

Do you have any tips on how to tackle this year's vacation scheme deadlines? I work full-time and would love to hear from you, especially from those who work full-time.

 

[Tintin06]

Some law firms only allow candidates to put 4-5 work experience, is it better to put formal experience / legal experience rather than extra activities?

Formal work experience including any jobs.

 

[s9111]

Are Travers Smith Winter VS apps open? There's no info on the website for 2024/5 schemes, unless I am doing something wrong. Thanks!

 

[VMS]

Hi everyone! I'm not the best at Watson Glasers so I would greatly appreciate any help on this question:

Damage to roads in the area has made them unsuitable for loads over one ton. These loads are being transported to the capital by air, but as air resources are limited they are restricted to carrying food and medical supplies. Roads cannot be repaired until medical emergencies are dealt with. Therefore:

Statement: Food can be taken to the capital by road

My intuition is telling me that conclusion follows because if food is under one ton surely it can be taken to the capital by road

Statement: Medical supplies need to be taken by air

I have no clue if conclusion follows for this and would love any help!

I would say conclusion follows as well, but I'm no WG expert.

 

[christina04]

Are Travers Smith Winter VS apps open? There's no info on the website for 2024/5 schemes, unless I am doing something wrong. Thanks!

the firm's representatives at the Legal Cheek fair mentioned they're not running a WVS this year, but they're opening direct TC apps to compensate

 

[s9111]

the firm's representatives at the Legal Cheek fair mentioned they're not running a WVS this year, but they're opening direct TC apps to compensate

Ahh, that makes sense, thank you!

 

[Jessica Booker]

“What is your understanding of how a business generates and maintains a profit? (Please provide examples)"

Any one got any ideas on how to approach this question? Would you look at it from a law firm’s perspective or businesses in general? I don’t know if it would be better if I used examples about the firm in particular (for instance how they’ve used legal tech to generate profit/attract more clients).

I would talk about business generally rather than just law firms. However, you could use the law firm example as something to reference to evidence your answer, but the whole answer should not be law firm specific (particularly where law firm business structures can be quite different to most businesses).

 

[Jessica Booker]

Some law firms only allow candidates to put 4-5 work experience, is it better to put formal experience / legal experience rather than extra activities?

I wouldn't include extracurricular activities in work experience sections anyway (no matter how many entries you have), but if you still have a lot fo work experience, choose your entries based one or more of the following factors:

• What roles have been the most complex/challenging for you
• Which roles you have done for the longest period of time
• Which roles have connections to the role you are applying to, whether they be legal or within the type of clients the firm works with

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Interview with Jones Day

Wow that’s quick, thought they only just opened

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Are A&O Shearman rolling or non-rolling?

 

[s9111]

Are A&O Shearman rolling or non-rolling?

Non-rolling, I believe

 

[SamiyaJ]

Skadden VS: “In order to apply, undergraduate candidates need to have reached the penultimate year of their law degree or the final year of a non-law degree”

Can graduates apply?

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Wow that’s quick, thought they only just opened

Rolling applications! Yes opened 1st Sept.

 

[lawyersum]

@Jessica Booker For a question asking us to explain both our motivation for commercial law and for the firm within a 300 word limit, are firms expecting really detailed answers for why them? I can just about expand on two points about the firm in detail but still feel like I’m not mentioning enough…

 

[Tintin06]

Skadden VS: “In order to apply, undergraduate candidates need to have reached the penultimate year of their law degree or the final year of a non-law degree”

Can graduates apply?

I believe these are minimum requirements.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Skadden VS: “In order to apply, undergraduate candidates need to have reached the penultimate year of their law degree or the final year of a non-law degree”

Can graduates apply?

The "reached" to me suggests you can be past this stage.

 

[laurenn42]

Does anyone know of any firms which recruit sooner than 2 years in advance or if they are flexible in trying to place you on an earlier intake if they have availability?
(where recruiting from a successful VS)

 

[legalxp2]

Interview with Jones Day

Congrats! How did you structure your cover letter given that the word count is 300 words?

 

[Amjaya]

Congrats! How did you structure your cover letter given that the word count is 300 words?

Where does it say it’s 300 words. Omg

 

[s9111]

Do the A&O tests (Winter VS) have to be done by the VS application closing date, or within X days of receiving the email? I can't seem to find this answer anywhere. Thank you!