TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Chris Brown]

how much of the word count are people using for travers smith? is 800/300/300 too little?

For the cover letter I used around 850 to 900 words.

For the two questions I used 500 each so the maximum word count. 🙂

Ideally you want to be within 20% of the word count.

This ensures the responses are detailed but concise so there has to be a balance. 🫡

For the cover letter I think 800 is fine but for the other two questions I’m not sure if 300 is enough. It might be fine tbh. 🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[NCTC2025]

Seeing a lot of people asking about the Travers wordcount. I did the SVS last year and wrote 860 words so definitely no need to reach the wordcount!

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

I feel like it’s very difficult to get 500 words out of your leisure activities tbh.

For example, I run (which I can include) and I watch Netflix (can’t include). That’s about the only 2 things I have time for outside of work and applying to TCs lol

I feel like Travers have a real emphasis on applicants being authentic, so I’d rather just be honest

 

[member7830]

For the cover letter I used around 850 to 900 words.

For the two questions I used 500 each so the maximum word count. 🙂

Ideally you want to be within 20% of the word count.

This ensures the responses are detailed but concise so there has to be a balance. 🫡

For the cover letter I think 800 is fine but for the other two questions I’m not sure if 300 is enough. It might be fine tbh. 🤷🏾‍♂️

thank you! I was just struggling to fill the word count for the second question, as I feel like a lot of my extra curricular cross over with positions of responsibility, and idk how much there is to say about leisure activities

 

[andrewk]

I feel like it’s very difficult to get 500 words out of your leisure activities tbh.

For example, I run (which I can include) and I watch Netflix (can’t include). That’s about the only 2 things I have time for outside of work and applying to TCs lol

I feel like Travers have a real emphasis on applicants being authentic, so I’d rather just be honest

Yeah I wrote like 100 words for leisure interests (cooking, running, sports). I don't see how much you can elaborate on non-position of responsibility extracurriculars (you can't really do STAR stuff). Then I did 300 for the other question.

I don't think they actually expect 500 words for each of those, I think it's more just they're giving you the freedom to express yourself however you want. Although, I am curious why they didn't just combine those two questions into one...

 

[Uch21]

No and I reread their email and they said you’ll hear back within 6 weeks. I guess they’re still moving through some apps to sjt/VI and then they’ll decide

If I may ask, what email was this? The only email I got was from Vantage (Candid), which confirmed my application.

 

[kokoprep]

Yeah I wrote like 100 words for leisure interests (cooking, running, sports). I don't see how much you can elaborate on non-position of responsibility extracurriculars (you can't really do STAR stuff). Then I did 300 for the other question.

I don't think they actually expect 500 words for each of those, I think it's more just they're giving you the freedom to express yourself however you want. Although, I am curious why they didn't just combine those two questions into one...

ohhnooo I might have got it wrong then since it said extra circulars I wrote things like volunteering

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

ohhnooo I might have got it wrong then since it said extra circulars I wrote things like volunteering

Volunteering could quite easily fit into either of these sections, I wouldn’t worry.
I’d be more inclined to put volunteering in extracurriculars, unless you volunteer on a overseeing board or committee or some sort

 

[Lawyering13]

To be honest I did struggle with the word count for both questions. 500 is a lot especially when there is also a cover letter with a 1,000 word limit. 🥲

I asked @Jessica Booker for some advice on the thread a while back and that helped me to figure out what kind of approach to take. 🫡

Did the SVS last year, my cover letter was just under 700 words and for the two other questions, I wrote about 250 words. I got rejected from them previously with an arguably more 'tailored' CL that was 950 words long. Being concise is incredibly important, and it is not pertinent to reach the word counts.

 

[BillSikes]

has anyone heard from Reed Smith who applied close to deadline

I’ve still heard nothing as well for reference - I know there been activity from them today.

 

[aphelion]

lol at freshfields' grad workshop literally a month ago they told us the application process is a simple personal statement - watson glaser - assessment centre process and I come on here to find they've randomly introduced the worst form of automated test where your application won't even get read if you don't pass. freshfields has always been one of my fave firms but this just sucks tbh.

 

[kokoprep]

I was surprised they had two questions as well as a cover letter. 🥲

I agree it would have been way easier had the questions been combined. 🫡

It might be that they wanted to give people the space to write what they wanted to get across.

just submitted ts app, that was honestly a long app

 

[kokoprep]

lol at freshfields' grad workshop literally a month ago they told us the application process is a simple personal statement - watson glaser - assessment centre process and I come on here to find they've randomly introduced the worst form of automated test where your application won't even get read if you don't pass. freshfields has always been one of my fave firms but this just sucks tbh.

ikr

 

[Rhohia]

If I may ask, what email was this? The only email I got was from Vantage (Candid), which confirmed my application.

On the email inviting to complete VI and SJT

 

[shays]

I was surprised they had two questions as well as a cover letter. 🥲

I agree it would have been way easier had the questions been combined. 🫡

It might be that they wanted to give people the space to write what they wanted to get across.

I chose three EC/leisure interests and described those in a STAR/PEEL structure and for the positions of responsibility I also chose three and did the same approach. Most of the things I mentioned in those two are not in my cover letter and if so only as a sentence or so. So idk, I was advised to do it like this

 

[LawfullyHopeful]

HSF AC 🥰 I’d be highly appreciative of any advice or tips from those who have done it before please (especially when it comes to the case study presentation)

 

[2100v78]

Freshfields AC - never done one before so would be v grateful for any advice!

 

[LawyerUpPal]

HSF AC 🥰 I’d be highly appreciative of any advice or tips from those who have done it before please (especially when it comes to the case study presentation)

When is your AC?

 

[M123]

lol at freshfields' grad workshop literally a month ago they told us the application process is a simple personal statement - watson glaser - assessment centre process and I come on here to find they've randomly introduced the worst form of automated test where your application won't even get read if you don't pass. freshfields has always been one of my fave firms but this just sucks tbh.

can you elaborate what the automated test tests for?

 

[shays]

Yeah almost everything I included in the two questions were things I didn’t mention anywhere else. 🙂

I just followed the advice I was given on TCLA because I had no idea how to start otherwise. 😭

Hoping for the best but seeing what people are saying on here I think I’m officially cooked. 😂💀

yeah honestly I dont even think it matters because they are looking for authenticity and whether it matches to their values, the way we approach it is up to us - at least, that is what I was told by a different law firm, and it was during an AC, but oh hey I think the principle stands