TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

abbiewhitlock03

Distinguished Member
Dec 13, 2022
50
120
Do you have any email correspondence from your school that confirms the results (from when you got them)?
I've scrolled back in my emails, and I can't find any record of it. I would assume it was sent to my old secondary school / sixth form email which I no longer have access to, unfortunately. I've emailed my school to see if they have anyway of showing proof of my results retrospectively whilst I apply for replacements.
 

yuk0n

Star Member
Apr 4, 2021
26
72
This is reassuring, thank you!! I’m just slightly panicked about it as I got the offer two weeks before it starts haha!

I will definitely do this, and I’ll likely order my GCSE and A-Level replacements anyway as I have some more VS and want to avoid this situation again 😭

Thanks again, I appreciate your help! :)
As long as you've kept grad rec in the loop and are making an effort to ensure the documents are forwarded you will be absolutely fine! It would be totally unreasonable for them to renege because of this, especially when you're demonstrably willing to sort it out at short notice. Go smash it! :)
 

abbiewhitlock03

Distinguished Member
Dec 13, 2022
50
120
As long as you've kept grad rec in the loop and are making an effort to ensure the documents are forwarded you will be absolutely fine! It would be totally unreasonable for them to renege because of this, especially when you're demonstrably willing to sort it out at short notice. Go smash it! :)
Thank you 😭 Graduate recruitment have been super nice so far, so I know its unreasonable for my brain to automatically assume the worst. I really appreciate your reassurance!! I hope your vacation scheme goes well too, I'm sure you'll ace it! :)
 

toad92

Distinguished Member
Jan 21, 2025
56
221
does anyone know what the target audience is for the kingsley napley's work experience?

the website doesn't specify if its for first years, second, third or graduates
I remember on the open day I think they said it's okay for anyone to apply, and you can apply as well as applying for the TC but just keeping it in mind that you have to apply for a TC separately and the work experience does not include the opportunity to convert to a TC
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohnoselim

jfb

Star Member
Premium Member
Nov 13, 2024
35
43
This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.
 

Zzzz

New Member
  • Dec 19, 2024
    3
    1
    This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.
    I am in the same boat here. I emailed the firm I am expecting responses from to let them know my situation. They completely ignored my emails. So I think it's good for us to still inform them, even though they might completely disregard it.
     

    billyonthespeeddial

    Legendary Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Jan 21, 2023
    231
    634
    This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.

    I am in the same boat here. I emailed the firm I am expecting responses from to let them know my situation. They completely ignored my emails. So I think it's good for us to still inform them, even though they might completely disregard it.
    I've had a 30 min telephone interview with a firm while abroad without telling them about this hahah. I just figured they'd be used to it as a massive US firm
     

    VacSchemer

    Distinguished Member
    Premium Member
    Dec 6, 2023
    53
    101
    This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.
    I think it is good to inform. I let a firm know that I would be visiting my family and it’s just my UK number on file and supplemented an additional number incase they needed to reach me regarding outcome. They said it was really helpful to have it in hand so there weren’t back and forth emailing about it haha
     

    jta227

    Legendary Member
    Nov 10, 2024
    146
    283

    Does anyone know which firm this could have been?
     

    Livelaughlove

    Standard Member
    Feb 6, 2023
    6
    12
    This might be a silly question but do I need to let firms i am waiting to hear from that I’m going to be abroad the next two weeks, just in case they call (i hope) because of international call fees? I don’t want them to think i’m presuming an offer but also wouldn’t want them to incur a cost.
    I was in the same situation a few years ago. I got an offer and the firm called my UK number but I was doing my year abroad so wasn’t using that number. They just emailed me immediately telling me to call them back. I doubt they’d rescind your offer if you missed 1 call.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Ash4202

    Wannabe_Lawyer

    Legendary Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Jul 22, 2018
    195
    234

    Does anyone know which firm this could have been?

    It says "She has lost a training contract worth income of £90k+ over two years." So, not the Magic Circle firms because I imagine 2 years of salaries exceeds 90K for them. Unlikely a silver circle too for the same reasons.

    What's left of the top 20 firms? Genuinely curious to know which firm this is...
     

    BillSikes

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Feb 16, 2024
    292
    339

    Does anyone know which firm this could have been?
    Honestly is this even real or is the bloke just engagement farming?

    Literally zero reason not to name the firm.
     

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    597
    2,201
    It says "She has lost a training contract worth income of £90k+ over two years." So, not the Magic Circle firms because I imagine 2 years of salaries exceeds 90K for them. Unlikely a silver circle too for the same reasons.

    What's left of the top 20 firms? Genuinely curious to know which firm this is...
    The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔

    It is unlikely to be Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing, Osborne Clarke or Pinsent Masons as they also offer around £100k+ to trainees across their training contract. All these firms are top 20 UK headquartered law firms. The only exception is if OP’s TC was for a regional office, in which case it could be Osborne Clarke or Simmons & Simmons (Reading and/or Bristol). 🙂

    The only firms it could be is one of these firms: Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland or RPC. I suspect it’s probably Bird & Bird or RPC that the OP is referring to. These firms are all also in the top 20. 😮

    It says the maintenance grant was in excess of 5 figures. I think this implies it was probably over £10k but below £15k, at least for the SQE grant itself. These firms have a SQE grant between that range, and/or trainee salaries above £90,000 but below £100,000 (see below):

    1: Bird & Bird trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £52,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £99,000. Their SQE grant is £15,000.

    2: Clyde & Co trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £97,000. Their SQE grant is around £10,000.

    3: Eversheds Sutherland trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £7,000.

    4: RPC trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £12,000.

    Whichever firm it is, I think it’s really unfair to not give the person at least 1 chance to retake the SQE. To then demand the cost of fees back despite being such a major UK firm, is pretty surprising tbh. 🫤​
     
    Last edited:

    BillSikes

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Feb 16, 2024
    292
    339
    The top 20 is dominated by Magic and Silver Circle firms which all pay £100-£110k to their trainees and offer grants of £15-20k. It can’t be HL or NRF either as they offer similar amounts to future trainees. That’s at least 10 firms out of question, which leaves 10. 🤔

    It is unlikely to be Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing, Osborne Clarke or Pinsent Masons as they also offer around £100k+ to trainees across their training contract. All these firms are top 20 UK law firms. 🙂

    The only firms it could be is one of these firms: Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland or RPC. I suspect it’s probably Bird & Bird or RPC that the OP is referring to. These firms are all also in the top 20. 😮

    It says the maintenance grant was in excess of 5 figures. I think this implies it was probably over £10k but below £15k, at least for the SQE grant itself. These firms have a SQE grant between that range, and/or trainee salaries above £90,000 but below £100,000 (see below):

    1: Bird & Bird trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £52,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £99,000. Their SQE grant is £15,000.

    2: Clyde & Co trainee salary is £47,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £97,000. Their SQE grant is around £10,000.

    3: Eversheds Sutherland trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £7,000.

    3: RPC trainee salary is £46,000 (1st year) and £50,000 (2nd year). This adds up to £96,000. Their SQE grant is £12,000.

    Whichever firm it is, I think it’s really unfair to not give the person at least 1 chance to retake the SQE. To then demand the cost of fees back despite being such a major UK firm, is pretty surprising tbh.​
    Honestly - no big firm is gonna be rescinding TC offers

    Only Mickey Mouse firms we’ve never heard of will be let’s be real
     
    • Haha
    Reactions: FM302989 and Chris Brown

    Chris Brown

    Legendary Member
    Jul 4, 2024
    597
    2,201
    Honestly - no big firm is gonna be rescinding TC offers

    Only Mickey Mouse firms we’ve never heard of will be let’s be real
    Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes have rescinded offers in the past. Last year, I’m sure there were people who were told that they had failed the SQE but they had actually passed. Despite that, their TC offers were rescinded. They were future trainees at big city law firms. I think it’s a policy that TC offers get rescinded, but most law firms are generally lenient about it and allow at least 1 retake. @Jessica Booker will know more about rescinding offers and whether it’s common.​
     
    Last edited:

    BillSikes

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Feb 16, 2024
    292
    339
    Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes have rescinded offers in the past. Last year, I’m sure there were people who were told that they failed SQE but they’d actually passed. Despite that, their TC offers were rescinded. They were future trainees at big firms. I think it’s a policy that offers get rescinded, but most firms are generally lenient about it and allow at least 1 retake. @Jessica Booker will know more about rescinding offers and whether it’s common.​
    They were probably applicants who flunked it hard - unless we are saying these firms rescind all TC offers?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Chris Brown


    Write your reply...

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.