TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[londonlawyer]

Everyone who has been offered an AC with Paul, Weiss, did you guys apply for the spring or summer scheme or both?

 

[Chris Brown]

Everyone who has been offered an AC with Paul, Weiss, did you guys apply for the spring or summer scheme or both?

I applied for both Spring and Summer VS. At this point I’d be happy to get anything. 🥲​

 

[theruleofno]

Yeah, I'd like to know if they've finished all their ACs. I recall one poster saying that she was registered for the last interview slot.

Even if they have and you haven't received word yet they might still interview you for summer. I assume they have had a massive amount of applications this year and are struggling to get through them all.

 

[theruleofno]

Question for Linklaters/Hogan Lovells/Mishcon summer VS applicants...
Is it fair to assume PFO if I haven't heard back yet? Please reply if you have any insights - I've heard Links has sent some AC invites so I'm not sure whether anymore will be sent out 😔

I heard back from Linklaters last week. I assume there are more AC invites to come so I wouldn’t let up hope yet.

 

[Wannabe_Lawyer]

Even if they have and you haven't received word yet they might still interview you for summer. I assume they have had a massive amount of applications this year and are struggling to get through them all.

I really hope you're right! I was looking through past years' comments and the pfos seemed to have come in early Feb and the interview invites were given earlier than that.

 

[ashwright]

I heard back from Linklaters last week. I assume there are more AC invites to come so I wouldn’t let up hope yet.

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kindness and reassurance ☺️ may I ask if there are many AC slots available or is it just a few to choose from? (and if you know if they've filled up?) thank you

 

[floral.tcla]

a bit random but has anyone been to the LSE non law to law conference? Is it worth it?

 

[Whopsydopey567]

Haven’t got a call from Milbank for the LevFin summer AC last wednesday. Saw some people get the call on the forum. Safe to assume a PFO?

 

[a1024]

Has anyone heard back from Dentons after the VI?

 

[tcfighterrr]

a bit random but has anyone been to the LSE non law to law conference? Is it worth it?

I went last year, and it was pretty good! There were some workshops and panels you could choose between. If tickets are reasonable, I would def say go.

 

[floral.tcla]

I went last year, and it was pretty good! There were some workshops and panels you could choose between. If tickets are reasonable, I would def say go.

Thanks!

 

[shadowbaklava]

Has anyone heard back from Dentons after the VI?

I completed my VI on 01/01/25 and haven't heard back. I think ACs have been running since last month, but I wouldn't assume a PFO just yet.

 

[via1511]

gowling svs offer! i think i may have used up all my good luck at the AC though cause i accidentally got the wrong train home going the opposite direction of where i live...

heya which AC day did you do? I was told we wouldn't hear back about whether we'd get the vac scheme or not for a few weeks?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is it worth at all checking with firms offering vacation schemes during term time to see if they can adjust timings or make arrangements (such as visa sponsorship) to accommodate the 20-hour term-time limit for international students? @Jessica Booker or anyone else? 😊

You can ask.

Sponsorship is unlikely as it’s pretty costly for a scheme that is going to last a 1-3 weeks.

A reduction in working hours could be more likely or alternatively a change of vacation scheme dates.

Some firms may also transfer you to a direct TC process instead as an alternative too.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

hi @Jessica Booker, if I am waiting to hear back from a spring ac, but am about to accept another spring vs offer, should I ask now whether I can be moved to consideration for summer, or wait until I hear back and then ask if the scheme can be moved if I receive an offer? thank you!

I would wait until you hear back now and at the point they offer, you can discuss with them the possibility of moving to the summer programme. If they say no, you can then consider whether the firm you have accepted could move you instead or whether this firm could offer you a direct TC process instead.

 

[member7830]

I would wait until you hear back now and at the point they offer, you can discuss with them the possibility of moving to the summer programme. If they say no, you can then consider whether the firm you have accepted could move you instead or whether this firm could offer you a direct TC process instead.

perfect thank you! my only problem is, I know that I cannot do the summer scheme for the firm I have accepted, and I have to accept the offer soon but still not have heard back so cannot make a decision if they are unable to move me to summer. would you suggest emailing them and asking when I will hear back, and what is a polite way to do that?

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi everyone! I have an AC on Monday (scary), and I did a mock interview yesterday. Generally went quite well but was told my answers for why me, tell me about yourself, why do you want to work in London and why not careers like banking and consulting were quite weak. Would appreciate any advice people have on this!

@Andrei Radu @Amma Usman would especially appreciate your inputs as this as fellow international students! Thank you!

Hi @sapphireoreos I will list my best tips for each question bellow:

• Tell me about yourself: explain in a brief summary what your main interests and activities have consisted of in the past 3-4 years, including both the professional/academic aspect and the extracurricular/personal side. You should not delve too much into any given experience or topic (so do not give full STAR-structured descriptions). Instead, you should focus on throwing as many "hooks" as possible - high level inferences and claims that invite further explanation. Ideally, that will lead to the interviewer asking some follow up questions and will give the interview a more conversational flow. A specific example of a structure that worked well for me for this questions was the following: (i) Mention that I came from Romania and explaining how I came to study law in the UK; (ii) a short description of my extracurricular activities and personal interests during my time in university (iii) a short description of how I have found the academic side of law and explain how that informed my career pursuits; and (iv) a short summary of my main work experiences and and an explanation of how my interest in commercial law developed over time.
• Why me: pick three or four key skills for a commercial solicitor. Give a full STAR-structured breakdown of an experience which demonstrates you possess each of the claimed skills. Remember to quantify each achievement where you can and to explain why exactly the skill is relevant for the day to day work you would do at the firm.
• Why do you want to work in London: ideally, you want this answer to distinguish the work done in London from the work done in other offices of law firms in the UK. Moreover, if you are an international student, you should be able to distinguish work done in London from work done by commercial solicitors in your home country. The most persuasive answers I have seen here either pointed at (i) the fact that London is one of the most important financial and commercial centres in the world and thus that many of the most important and transformational international transactions are led from here (which works particularly well if you can justify an interest in transactional work); and (ii) the fact that English law is the default choice of law for most international transactions and thus that the London Commercial Court normally jurisdiction over the most complex cross-border disputes (which works particularly well if you have an interests in contentious work).
• Why not banking and consulting: I would say the best answers here have to emphasize the legal element in commercial law (as the consultants and bankers usually work for the same types of clients and on the same types of matters). Essentially, you have to give a reason for why you want to be a lawyer independent of the aspects related to business. For instance, you could explain how you are particularly attracted to legal reasoning and advocacy, which you do not find in the other two. Another option would be to focus on your skillset and explain it makes you better fitted for a career in law - if you have stronger textual analysis rather than quantitative skills, you have a better chance to excel if you practice law.

 

[londonlawyer]

Could anyone please direct me to where I can find info on trainee-level tasks in a PE buyout?

 

[Broadwater]

Could anyone please direct me to where I can find info on trainee-level tasks in a PE buyout?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

perfect thank you! my only problem is, I know that I cannot do the summer scheme for the firm I have accepted, and I have to accept the offer soon but still not have heard back so cannot make a decision if they are unable to move me to summer. would you suggest emailing them and asking when I will hear back, and what is a polite way to do that?

So this could be your third offer and you can only do it in the summer?