TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[legallyells]

Congrats! Can I asked which branch you applied in for CRS and when did you receive the invitation.

London and received just after 12 this afternoon!!!

 

[legallyells]

Was this for the London TC or VS?

london placement scheme !

 

[dm_corporate]

Does anyone know what Kirkland and Skadden's policy on reapplying post video interview and interview respectively are?

Thanks

 

[sapphireoreos]

Holding email from CRS made tooo excited I thought I got a VI

Is this for London? If so, when did you get it and when did you apply? Worried a PFO is incoming …

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Does anyone know what Kirkland and Skadden's policy on reapplying post video interview and interview respectively are?

Thanks

Many US firms like Kirkland and Weil don’t re-interview. They don’t advertise this, but I’ve spoken to senior partners at the firms who confirm that this in the case. It would make it a lot easier if they were transparent about it…

I’m not sure on Skadden though, as I personally have no experience with the firm.

I do partly understand why some firms don’t re-interview, but it is incredibly frustrating! People change! Also, it’s crazy to me that someone can have a bad day on a single AC, feel unwell, or just be unlucky, and then that firm will purposely never interview you again. It just doesn’t even seem logical.

Our chances become slimmer and slimmer each year

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Is this rule the case even if someone had EC/MC on the day of their AC?

I don’t really understand the reasoning behind it either tbh.

A lot of firms do also re-interview. It’s kinda on a firm-by-firm basis as to who re-interviews or not though.

Generally, I’d say it’s more likely that a US would not re-interview than a UK firm

 

[Deleted member 31343]

Is this rule the case even if someone had EC/MC on the day of their AC?

I don’t really understand the reasoning behind it either tbh. Guess it helps filter numbers.

With Acs they may take a fit to sit approach. Otherwise you’d reschedule?

 

[ysr567]

Out of curiosity, how many work experiences should we be listing. I did a lot of extra curriculars inside and outside of uni that amounts to around 15 from sixth form up until now. I have a feeling that this is in a way holding me back and getting me the PFOs. Should I be including all of them or limit them to what I mention in my application form plus a couple extra relevant ones.

 

[Thom&as]

It's a bit of a late update as I found out exactly two weeks ago, but I got an offer for the HSF Spring VS!

Following a string of rejections last year where I had just fallen short at the final stages, I had doubts about whether I was good enough for commercial law. Reflecting on these experiences, I can say for sure that perseverance pays off.

It might seem unfair, but luck definitely plays a part in whether you succeed. Whether it's in the form of a news article you stumbled across, or an area of law you explored in depth at uni, what's important is that you put in the effort to take advantage of the moments where luck is in your favour, and that you keep putting in the effort with the faith and confidence that your time to shine will come.

Although I might not be the most active on this platform, a lot of the materials and discussions here have helped tremendously. Thank you to everyone for fostering such a supportive environment, and good luck to everyone yet to receive their offer!

 

[Miss Chocolate]

Holding email from CRS made tooo excited I thought I got a VI

What's a holding email?

 

[Ricky]

Many US firms like Kirkland and Weil don’t re-interview. They don’t advertise this, but I’ve spoken to senior partners at the firms who confirm that this in the case. It would make it a lot easier if they were transparent about it…

I’m not sure on Skadden though, as I personally have no experience with the firm.

I do partly understand why some firms don’t re-interview, but it is incredibly frustrating! People change! Also, it’s crazy to me that someone can have a bad day on a single AC, feel unwell, or just be unlucky, and then that firm will purposely never interview you again. It just doesn’t even seem logical.

Our chances become slimmer and slimmer each year

I previously interviewed at Weil in 2021. I got through to video interview again this cycle.

 

[bangarangbass39]

Lewis Silkin rejection post app

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

I previously interviewed at Weil in 2021. I got through to video interview again this cycle.

They continue to put people through the process, but then won’t progress to AC.

Perhaps there’s a very very slim chance that they change their mind or you slip through the net. But, I’ve spoken to the partners in charge of recruitment at these firms, and unfortunately they are very clear that they do not re-interview

 

[tdbaby]

is this for summer?

Yeah it is

 

[Deleted member 31343]

I suppose so. I was thinking about last minute things like maybe falling ill the day of the AC or something. Would a firm be able to reschedule at short notice? Sometimes they have limited AC days.

I guess it depends if there are dates available after the original one and the type of illness.

common cold/flu may impact the way you sound in your interview but the content shouldn’t be as you’d have prepared prior to becoming sick. Sore throat may affect participation in group exercises so that’s very understandable. migraines/headaches etc is down to the individual to decide how severe they are. Only illness I'd personally reschedule an AC for is period cramps. You’d never catch me at an AC with that. I’ve done video interview whilst being bed bound, tests after throwing up etc I guess it depends on how much you want it…​

 

[avocadob]

Lewis Silkin rejection post app

I also did not expect to randomly open my emails on a friday night to that.. thought they were getting back to us week of 17th...

 

[James Wakefield]

They continue to put people through the process, but then won’t progress to AC.

Perhaps there’s a very very slim chance they change the mind. But, I’ve spoken to the partners in charge of recruitment at these firms, and they are very clear that they do not re-interview

From their perspective, it does make some sense. They can only invite so many to AC and all of the candidates they are considering at that stage will be strong on paper. One of the distinguishing factors they’ll have is whether someone was rejected after interview before and that’s an easy (but arguably lazy) factor to narrow down the list.

I think firms which take a “never reinterview’ mindset will potentially miss out on good lawyers. Reapplying is a good indication of resilience, which is a characteristic they’re actually looking for!

 

[l789]

Out of curiosity, how many work experiences should we be listing. I did a lot of extra curriculars inside and outside of uni that amounts to around 15 from sixth form up until now. I have a feeling that this is in a way holding me back and getting me the PFOs. Should I be including all of them or limit them to what I mention in my application form plus a couple extra relevant ones.

Is the 15 entires a mix of work experience and extra curriculars or just 15 extracurriculars ?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

From their perspective, it does make some sense. They can only invite so many to AC and all of the candidates they are considering at that stage will be strong on paper. One of the distinguishing factors they’ll have is whether someone was rejected after interview before and that’s an easy (but arguably lazy) factor to narrow down the list.

I think firms which take a “never reinterview’ mindset will potentially miss out on good lawyers. Reapplying is a good indication of resilience, which is a characteristic they’re actually looking for!

I completely agree. I’ll die on this hill arguing for why firms should reinterview haha

 

[ke.nabbk26]

You definitely can, especially if the overall size of the team is quite small and therefore it would have not been expected for them to achieve a department ranking. To make your reasoning more convincing, if you mention the ranked partners, I would phrase your motivation as a desire to work with and learn from the best practitioners in that field. Ideally, you could also explain how working in a smaller team with more exposure to seniors would suit you, to explain why you are not preferring firms with bigger teams in that area.

Thanks! That’s the case for two firms.

One has a small team in this practice, and the lawyer ranked in Chambers is actually a senior associate. From what I found on the firm's structure, a litigation partner seems to be overseeing his work. He’s also been on a podcast and shared insights in the FT about a major case.

The other firm has a partner I met at an in-person seminar in London. They offer seats in her practice, which is ranked in Chambers. There are two more senior partners ranked in Chambers (she is only in The Legal 500). I wasn’t too familiar with this national firm’s reputation in this practice, but they represented a client in the "first-ever CPS deferred prosecution agreement" in late 2023. They also have a strong presence in the transactional areas I’m interested in (banking and finance).