TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

**UPDATE FROM FRESHFIELDS REGARDING REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS TO ASSESSMENTS**

If you contacted the firm for reasonable adjustments for an online assessments and did not receive a response and therefore could not take the assessment, please contact Laura Blackledge directly on:

Laura.blackledge@freshfields.com

Please do not contact Laura for other queries. This is specifically for those who have had issues with responses to their requests for reasonable adjustments.

 

[jojo23]

I imagine it does make up the majority of applications - but no, I applied for Cheltenham. Have you heard anything back?

EDIT - realise I'm posting in the wrong thread. I applied to CRS for a direct TC, not VS. Oops! but if by chance you have applied for TC too, lmk : )

Ahh, fair enough, I applied for the vacation scheme since I have no legal experience i thought it'd be safer for me to go down this route. I haven't heard anything yet either 😒

 

[g.cl.2020344]

Really hope Forsters get back to us soon post VI!

 

[law121]

I’ve given up on RPC…are they going to get back to us anytime soon😭

frr theyve been so silent...i think its gonna be a pfo coz no way theyre gonna send out more AC batches

 

[andrewk]

Anyone got any tips on Goodwin AC after doing it last year? I remember grad rec saying there was a commercial article, is this quite technical? Appreciate any insights

 

[legalxp2]

Akin AC
Goodwin VI
Weil VI
Willkie Written Task
Linklaters
HSF VS
Reed smith AC
Addleshaw Goddard VS

12 applications, 5 ACs, 4 rejections

HSF & AG VS

Dechert WE, Macfarlanes AC, CMS VI and W&C VI rejection

Waiting for Weil, Linklaters and Goodwin tc.

I’ve done Akin, Macfarlanes, HSF and AG Assessment centres.

Hi what was the timeframe for hearing back from Akin. Recently received a holding email

 

[EA95]

Slightly embarrassed to admit this but after 4 years of applications, I have finally got through to the final stage of a vac scheme application for the first time and get to speak to actual people from the firm. No idea how to prepare but been told to celebrate the small wins a bit more so here we are. I'll give it my best 🫡

Congratulations, there is nothing embarrassing about that. Everyone is on their own time and journey. Good luck with the final stage.

 

[Boating]

Off topic, but does anyone think the quality of ziplaw has fallen off, the whole appeal of it was linking it back to law firms but now all they do it’s just give a paragraph summary of a story with no analysis

 

[desperateTCseeker1998]

Does anyone have experience with requesting a video call instead of a telephone interview as a reasonable adjustment? Do you think it may be disadvantageous for other reasons (eg bias etc)?

 

[Babablacksheep]

So the consensus is, if we haven't heard back from Cooley post-WG, its most probably a PFO?

That's a bummer

I heard they send it out in batches with people getting invites on the 6th last year- don’t lose hope yet 🤞🏼

 

[Deleted member 31343]

Off topic, but does anyone think the quality of ziplaw has fallen off, the whole appeal of it was linking it back to law firms but now all they do it’s just give a paragraph summary of a story with no analysis

Yesss!! They released something 30mins ago and there’s nothing linking it back to the firms.

I've found the public articles more helpful. Some daily/weekly updates are under case/deals for specific firms which is annoying. The AC overviews are the same ones on TCLA, many aren’t up to date.

I have an annual subscription so kinda stuck with it.​

 

[👩🎓]

frr theyve been so silent...i think its gonna be a pfo coz no way theyre gonna send out more AC batches

Thinking the exact same thing

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Does anyone have experience with requesting a video call instead of a telephone interview as a reasonable adjustment? Do you think it may be disadvantageous for other reasons (eg bias etc)?

This is an adjustment you can ask for - it can often just be useful to explain why you will benefit from this approach, especially as for some candidates the reasonable adjustment is the other way around (have a video interview, would prefer a telephone call).

 

[legalxp2]

I have yet to hear back from Milbank (post-app, have not received a test), should I assume PFO?

 

[Bloo]

Eversheds post-AC pfo just received. Does hurt getting so close but not enough but we move onto the next💪🏼

 

[zonnonomo]

cleary wg 🐺⛓️❤️‍🔥😈

 

[James Wakefield]

I just realised that we all got individually assigned numbers for the Willkie Written Exercise.

Suddenly realised that “Weds 20” is not in fact Wednesday 20th February, but my personal ID number 🤣

Interesting! 😅

I wonder if we can make a guess how many people were invited to the WE then! Anyone have a higher number than 20 for their slot?

 

[Ellisha]

Off topic, but does anyone think the quality of ziplaw has fallen off, the whole appeal of it was linking it back to law firms but now all they do it’s just give a paragraph summary of a story with no analysis

Totally agree, unsubscribed for this reason

 

[Miss Chocolate]

@Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Hi Both Please could I get your opinion on this. I have applied for Withers VS (scheme week starts 17th March). I haven't heard back yet regarding the virtual video interview after the online test. I work full-time so I would need to know whether to take time off or not at least 4 weeks before. If I still haven't heard back by Friday, should I just drop them an email requesting an update? I want to send off an email today but I don't know if it's annoying for them lol

 

[Boating]

Yesss!! They released something 30mins ago and there’s nothing linking it back to the firms.

I've found the public articles more helpful. Some daily/weekly updates are under case/deals for specific firms which is annoying. The AC overviews are the same ones on TCLA, many aren’t up to date.

I have an annual subscription so kinda stuck with it.​

Same I pay the fee but it’s not really worth it lol