TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Tsitsipas10S]

for a question like this "Describe your proudest achievement and what challenges you have had to overcome?" is it okay to discuss a period of time more than a literal achievement? I've really not 'achieved' anything as such. other than the typical getting into uni, getting this job or that job, getting a committee position. Could I talk about a few months of time where I had a lot of challenges and had to step up, overcome obstacles etc?

@Jessica Booker or anyone else i'd really appreciate any insight! thank you xxx

I've done this in applications successfully - as with most things, the question is what it says on the tin. What is *your* proudest achievement? If that's coming through a particular stage in your life that was difficult, then of course it's fine.

 

[Tsitsipas10S]

I've heard that Kirkland now primarily recruits from its direct TC route - is this true?

Does anyone know the answer to this?

 

[👩🎓]

I have not received the artic shores test for NRF yet and I applied for the summer scheme on the 25th Nov. Anyone else?

I applied around the same time and have not received it yet - I thought it was automatic?

 

[thelawstudent]

I applied around the same time and have not received it yet - I thought it was automatic?

someone else said you have to do a RARE form, sent a few days post submission. maybe test only comes after submitting that? also, form and/or test could have gone to your junk mail....

 

[Legallyunobliged]

Did anyone else get a 'you have a strong application but we're going to bench your application for now - we'll let you know if you get through to AC in Jan' from CC?

What is the determining factors here? I’m so confused.

 

[Zaraa.x]

NRF sector led question do be tricky, any one who has been successful with the application, have any insights?

I approached it by looking at their sectors and picking one and did some research to see if there has been any recent developments in my chosen sector. In my answer, I mentioned the sector I chose, what the developments were, how this can affect clients in that sector and how NRF can position themselves to I.e help clients mitigate risks arising from the developments etc. I only spoke about one specific development btw.

That’s how I did it but I’m yet to know whether that approach has been successful or nah 😭

Hope this helps.

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Hi @Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu @Ram Sabaratnam. Could you help me navigate the question '' If you were the CEO of Penningtons Manches Cooper, where would you look to open a new office and why? (Max. 250 words)''? Thank you!

I don't think there is anything unambiguous in this question which needs explaining. You are being asked where you think they should open their next office and why? Have a look at where they already have offices and use those locations to determine where might be appropriate based on current locations and recent openings.

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

MoFo system is a mofo

 

[Cool pigeon]

Does anyone know the answer to this?

Past few years they have cancelled their vac schemes and just invivted those who would have done a vac scheme to a final stage partner interview.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Do national firms that have a home base located outside of London, such as, Burges Salmon in Bristol, place greater emphasis on finding candidates who have connections to the firm's home base?

I'm a Midlands candidate and there are very few firms I can apply to close to me. As a non-law grad, I'm finding it hard to get taken on by local, and regional firms because they lack the support system for non-law w/o PGDL. The nearest city is Nottingham (just 1 hour away by train), with very few firms. Resultingly, I have focused mostly on the London firms as it is still only 1hr 10 away by train from where I live.

This massively affected me with the 10k Black interns' scheme because their algorithm assigns companies based on your proximity to partner companies' locations. They haven't been able to find me a place for one of the streams I applied to because there are none nearby. Moreover, the companies they have assigned are all located 1hr 30 mins away by car drive, well over 2 hours by train in a one-way commute from where I live!

I want to be able to use all the firms available but I fear the options I have are incredibly limited to the city, especially since they place less emphasis on why candidates want to work in London.

Is it best that I accept that London is my best bet at a TC or is it worth shooting my shot at regional offices if I like their work? Many national firms like Burges do work nationally, as aforementioned, and internationally. So it is clear the job is not Bristol-centric.

I'm finding very few options because the cost of a PGDL is too much for me as a recent grad who has heavy student loan debt. After all, my loan was above the maximum as I'm low-income. This means I can't apply directly for many in-house and governmental positions that also don't provide PGDL/accept non-PGDL grads.

 

[👩🎓]

someone else said you have to do a RARE form, sent a few days post submission. maybe test only comes after submitting that? also, form and/or test could have gone to your junk mail....

I completed the form as soon as I received the email and have been checking my spam mail, so not too sure why I haven't yet received it but thank you

 

[member7830]

if you applied to a firm previously and got to ac, and are re-applying do I directly address this in the cover letter?

 

[liv]

Has anyone received positive word from HSF regarding their summer vacation scheme?

hey I haven't heard anything either, do you think its because of the xmas period ?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

if you applied to a firm previously and got to ac, and are re-applying do I directly address this in the cover letter?

You don’t have to - but depending on your feedback from the AC, you may want to try and demonstrate how you have worked on that development area since your AC.

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Is stage-fear/ presentation a bad area of growth to mention?

 

[Tintin06]

Best thing I watched before ACs. I can’t praise this video enough. It’s extremely useful in all honesty. Watched it daily during a VS.

 

[gazdgazd11]

Are fatter & co, and macfarlanes strict on grades?

 

[jojo23]

Hi all- I’m about to submit my Reed Smith application. The FAQs state they permit AI to be used to help in the application form (which I’ve taken advantage of), with the usual caveats.

But at the end of the form, they have a box to tick to confirm your responses are free from ‘any influence or assistance’ from AI.

Has anyone else come across this? how did you deal with it? Did you just tick the box?

I just ticked it, but i think (don't quote me on this) all applications through the vantage system have that same tick box at the end.. I'm sure i remember dentons having it too

 

[kokoprep]

I approached it by looking at their sectors and picking one and did some research to see if there has been any recent developments in my chosen sector. In my answer, I mentioned the sector I chose, what the developments were, how this can affect clients in that sector and how NRF can position themselves to I.e help clients mitigate risks arising from the developments etc. I only spoke about one specific development btw.

That’s how I did it but I’m yet to know whether that approach has been successful or nah 😭

Hope this helps.

thank you, very helpful

 

[member7830]

You don’t have to - but depending on your feedback from the AC, you may want to try and demonstrate how you have worked on that development area since your AC.

thank you! basically in my AC feedback, they told me I just wasn't reflective enough in some examples of transferrable skills, etc, would highlighting these and linking them to a legal career more clearly in the cover letter help?