TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Jessica Booker]

What are some good questions to ask at the end of an interview? I would appreciate any advice!

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker @Amma Usman @Ram Sabaratnam

I’d always go with genuine questions you want to know the answer to that will help you work out of the firm is the right one for you. I think many people feel like questions at the end are part of the assessment of you, but it’s really the other way around. You have to think about it as if you could get multiple offers from firms and can only accept one - what type of information would help you work out whether that firm is the right one for you?

If you are really stuck on what to ask, ask your interviewers about their experiences of or opinions on something that is important to you. For instance, you might prioritise a firm with good training and so you may ask them specifically about the type of training their department gives trainees or junior lawyers. You may care about the firm’s initiatives towards something like CSR or ESG and so may ask for their opinions on this topic - for instance, what do they think about the firm’s strategy in that area or have they themselves been actively involved in anything related to that area.

 

[Star Light]

I received an email on the 27th December at 14:55 inviting me to take the Mayer Brown job simulation. The email states that "you will have one week to complete it from receipt of this email." On the portal, the deadline issued is stated as "03/01/25" - does this mean it is until the end of day or 00:00 on the 3rd of January?

 

[legal18]

Does Weil change the VI questions for candidates?

 

[suhana]

Anyone just got an update email from Dentons?

 

[cjwx]

"Placement schemes are open to anyone in their penultimate year or final year of a law degree, or final year of study of a non-law degree. We also welcome applications from postgraduates and individuals who have pursued other careers before committing to the legal profession." - anyone who has graduated and is currently employed are eligible? SH graduate recruitment take a long time to reply so please someone help me out if you can.

 

[Chris Brown]

Just to mentally prepare myself: how pointless is it for me to have sent an application the day before a rolling deadline (for HL)?

To be fair I imagine most applications are sent close to or on the deadline and so HL will most likely have only began making decisions on who to invite to AC over the last few days and will send out those decisions over the next few weeks.

If your application is well researched and error free and you do well on the WGT (which is what everyone is expected to have done) I don’t think the date you apply would matter too much. So it isn’t really pointless at all to apply even if it is super close to deadline date.

For context, I applied and did my WGT around a week ago so quite close to the deadline.​

 

[Rosscarr08]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[ashwright]

Honestly, depends on what year you are... if you're a penultimate student then just wait for the next cycle, because your chances are extremely slim (+ you would have to ace your Watson Glaser unimaginably in order for them to actually look at your application (I personally think)); and then you would be decreasing your chances for next year I suppose since they would already have you on the system as rejected (and here you would be rejected because of your last minute submission and not due to an actually valid reason)... Idk if that makes sense, but strategically, just gain some experience, enhance your answers for the questions, and apply next cycle, at least that's what I would've done!

Thank you for the reply I'm a final year student but it's my first VS app to them (and my first proper app cycle). I applied to LaunchPad this year (early-ish) but got rejected hopefully they'll not mind too much but my expectations are low

 

[jacksollaf]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Was that for the summer vs?

 

[lawyersum]

Anybody who has applied to NRF in recent days, have you received the Artic Shores test yet?

 

[Rosscarr08]

Was that for the summer vs?

that was for summer

 

[BillSikes]

Genuine question - can we read off a script for VIs that are part of the first stage - that essentially replace written Qs? @Jessica Booker

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

I have just received an invite to a MoFo first round interview. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

When did you apply? Only sent my application a few days ago but thought they were one of those firms that says they’re rolling but doesn’t actually reply until after the deadline most the time

 

[jacksollaf]

When did you apply? Only sent my application a few days ago but thought they were one of those firms that says they’re rolling but doesn’t actually reply until after the deadline most the time

Sadly no, they actually review on rolling basis. Kind of shocked that I did not hear from them yet, considering I applied on the 6th of October, and I completed their online virtual work experience program... + have a dual degree in English and French Law from a UoL... with 1 month internship at Baker and 2 months somewhere else in Paris...

 

[jacksollaf]

that was for summer

when did you apply ?

 

[jacksollaf]

Holding myself accountable again (PH app).

CC* ✅📝❌
HSF ✅📝❌
NRF ✅📝❌
Weil ✅❌
Akin ✅
Sidley ✅❌
Orrick ✅
Willkie ✅🎥❌
Cooley ✅
Latham ✅
Milbank ✅
Kirkland ✅
Dechert ✅❌
Skadden ✅❌
Goodwin ✅
Covington ✅❌
Linklaters* ✅📝❌
Paul, Weiss ✅
Slaughters* ✅❌
Fried Frank* ✅
Gibson Dunn ✅
Macfarlanes* ✅📝
White & Case ✅
Morgan Lewis ✅
Paul Hastings* ✅
Hogan Lovells* ✅
Cleary Gottlieb ✅❌
A&O Shearman ✅📝❌
Vinson & Elkins ✅
Arnold & Porter ✅
Baker McKenzie ✅📝
King & Spalding* ✅
Winston & Strawn ✅
Morrison Foerster ✅
Sullivan & Cromwell ✅❌

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🎥 = video interview; ❌ = rejection.

*Training Contract applications

TC apps left to do: Stephenson Harwood; Sullivan & Cromwell.

we need an update!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

 

[ziyadelk]

Anybody who has applied to NRF in recent days, have you received the Artic Shores test yet?

I think they send all candidates the Arctic Shores test after the deadline (6th January). I applied to their insight event in November and didn't get the test invite until after the submission deadline. I assume it's the same process for VS/TC apps, but I could be wrong.

 

[legallyells]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

Unsure if this is still the case, but I know in previous years that were particularly competitive they explicitly said that they filtered candidates based on grades

 

[jta227]

Does anybody know if Farrer & Co places a lot of emphasis on grades?

Grades at the lower end of their requirements can definitely be offset by great applications/extra-curriculars. I will say though that all of their trainees that I know personally achieved a 1st. I would imagine that if you make it to AC you can stop worrying about that as the ball's in your court at that point.