TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Z48]

Hi, anyone know if Orrick is really strict with grades? Checked all trainee profiles on Linkedin and IIRC each and every one of them had listed a first.

On their website they ask for a 2.1, it doesn’t mention strong or high, so I can’t imagine they are as strict as some other firms.

Also from chambers student: “Director of Administration Halina Kasprowiak tells us: “We don’t have any kind of automatic sifting criteria.” She goes on to say that a 2:2 degree isn’t a deal-breaker, but such an application must stand out in other ways, and supporting academics must be impressive.”

LinkedIn might not always be the best measure, some people might not post their grades/people with a 1st might be more likely to showcase that!

 

[applicant457]

Who is still waiting for an update from Hogan Lovells?

are we all waiting for the second batch of rejections?

 

[Gday33]

Any ACs or offers for HL / RPC (Summer VSs)? Still waiting for a response and PFOs are making me check my junk email every 5 mins 😫😂

HL: applied 31/10, WG done 09/12
RPC: applied 24/10, WG done 05/12

 

[johnnysins]

Has anyone else heard back from Milbank post-AC?

 

[Chris Brown]

Any ACs or offers for HL / RPC (Summer VSs)? Still waiting for a response and PFOs are making me check my junk email every 5 mins 😫😂

HL: applied 31/10, WG done 09/12
RPC: applied 24/10, WG done 05/12

A few people have had AC’s and SVS offers for HL and I saw one person for RPC. 🙂

I think the bulk of the AC’s and SVS offers will be given in February/March. Best of luck! 🤞

 

[chlawstudent]

I applied to HL in October, not had a WG invite or PFO yet - should I assume PFO ?

I am in the same boat, I emailed them today and still waiting for a response. Did you apply for a VS or direct TC?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Sorry Jess! I should've clarified that my experience was from the previous cycle!

We’d still ask that such detail aren’t shared as the types of assessments can still be used across cycles.

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Is anyone else starting to get resentful? I feel like I have made so many sacrifices for the TC cycle and so far there's been no good news. I know people always say 'if you want it badly enough just keep going', but how badly does one ever want employment? 😭 I want to work as a lawyer and I want a job. That's all. This is beginning to feel like a waste of my time. Like paralegals get exploited and paid so little and everyone keeps doing these roles until they land a TC...I feel like I would be progressing more if I was doing something else. Negative dump post, sorry guys.

 

[Jessica Booker]

hey guys - when a firm is running two separate vacation scheme dates - ie a June and July scheme - would picking the later one affect my chances of securing the TC in anyway?

No - it really won’t matter which one you choose.

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Is anyone else starting to get resentful? I feel like I have made so many sacrifices for the TC cycle and so far there's been no good news. I know people always say 'if you want it badly enough just keep going', but how badly does one ever want employment? 😭 I want to work as a lawyer and I want a job. That's all. This is beginning to feel like a waste of my time. Like paralegals get exploited and paid so little and everyone keeps doing these roles until they land a TC...I feel like I would be progressing more if I was doing something else. Negative dump post, sorry guys.

100% agree.

This cycle alone, I’ve spent every free minute applying to firms.
Genuinely, no social life, just applications.

All for what? 30+ rejections this cycle…

Incredibly researched, substantially justified applications, all wasted. So much time down the drain. Absolutely nothing to show for it.

I just want somebody, anybody, to throw me a bone

 

[j.thelu]

Anyone got any updates from RPC? They have been awfully quiet 👀

please let me know if you hear of anything, im wondering this too

 

[Jessica Booker]

hi all! i need some advice about staying in contact with partners.

i had a meeting with a partner from one of the firms i'm interested in several months ago. i got this opportunity through a mutual contact. we had a great chat, he was very friendly, and i learned a lot about the firm and decided to apply there. i got rejected post-app (was sad at first but it's okay).

i would like to send an email to the partner, updating him on the progress of my application. i also would like to express my interest in a paralegal position at the firm after my graduation, and ask who can i talk to regarding this to understand whether i'd be suitable for them.

i am not sure how to approach this as i have never had a partner contact before. i would like to maintain this connection as he was extremely friendly, and i feel like i can learn a lot from him in general.

any advice on how to approach it would be appreciated!

You don’t need to overthink/worry about this - just contacting them with the details you have outlined here is fine.

I would start by reminding them of your connection eg “Thank you for your time back in X when we spoke about Y”

And then outline a brief update on your application progression.

I would then mention you are keen to apply to their firm in the future, and particularly keen to apply to paralegal roles in the future, so if they can recommend a point of contact that you could send your CV through to closer to the time of graduation, you’d appreciate any recommendations.

 

[Jessica Booker]

My post was not too offend - but to emphasise my opinion in a tongue in cheek manner regarding the pointless nature of them having a WG, if their ’pass rate’ is gonna be so low.

38th percentile does not mean that 62% of people get through the process.

It could easily be a case the a 38th percentile is filtering out 50-75% of candidates.

 

[j.thelu]

does anyone know how many batches of RPC AC have been sent out or done? its almost end of jan so im wondering if theres any more left

have you heard any updates on this?

 

[MR10]

When/where did they say this?

i emailed them.

 

[j.thelu]

I would love to know this too, getting hopeless.. I did the WG in early dec

have you heard any updates on this?

 

[lawaspirant!]

Is anyone else still waiting for HSF post assessment for summer vs? I have seen some ACs go out and wonder if that means a PFO...

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just curious, does anyone know what the typical percentile for passing the WG is? does it vary by each firm? I scored in the 60s for CC this year and still passed the benchmark, I'm curious if it varies significantly across firms

It will vary between firms - I have seen everything from the 17th percentile to the 65th for the WG.

The issue is they although the Watson Glaser is a standard set of questions (WG is effectively a copyrighted brand), how the answers are assessed can be very different between firms, so you could do exactly the same test with the same answers and get the 20th percentile with one firm and the 60th in the other, and pass the one where you got the 20th percentile and fail the one where you got the 60th percentile.

 

[JamesCCM]

Has anyone else heard back from Milbank post-AC?

Was this for spring or summer?

 

[futuretrainee!]

It will vary between firms - I have seen everything from the 17th percentile to the 65th for the WG.

The issue is they although the Watson Glaser is a standard set of questions (WG is effectively a copyrighted brand), how the answers are assessed can be very different between firms, so you could do exactly the same test with the same answers and get the 20th percentile with one firm and the 60th in the other, and pass the one where you got the 20th percentile and fail the one where you got the 60th percentile.

Ah this makes so much sense! Often times the assumption questions catch me out but when I run the answer key through different AIs to check the rationale, they all come up with different answers. Makes me feel better but also broadens the scope for subjectivity of how law firms grade these. Many thanks Jessica