TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[futuretrainee7]

has anyone heard from Browne Jacobson post TI today? (Losing patience now😭)

Same! Their first AC is next Wednesday I think - would anyone know if it’s normal for firms/Browne Jacobson to wait until the last moment to send out AC invites (or should I expect a PFO in due course)?

 

[Legal Beagle]

Any insights on Winston and Strawn final interview? I’m really panicking (it’s tomorrow!) and I can’t seem to find anything online.

 

[louislittup]

Hi, I reached the VI stage for Willkie but did not realise that we could ask for feedback at that stage and did not. Is it too late to ask now / will it reflect badly on me?

 

[User5678]

Same! Their first AC is next Wednesday I think - would anyone know if it’s normal for firms/Browne Jacobson to wait until the last moment to send out AC invites (or should I expect a PFO in due course)?

Same, I don’t know tbh, but I don’t think they’ve gotten back to anyone at all yet! Hope they get back by this Wednesday!!

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

I think W&S sent out a few AC invites last Friday, but given that they staggered their WGT invites i'm assuming that their AC invites are staggered too.

They have said that all interviews will be between 16 and 25 April. I was a Friday notification with my interview scheduled at the end of that period.

 

[johnnysins]

They have said that all interviews will be between 16 and 25 April. I was a Friday notification with my interview scheduled at the end of that period.

Oooh okay, thank you for the clarification, must have bombed the WGT HAHA

 

[19.mfjones]

Brabners AC lancashire office! Ahhh I'm so excited! Got a chance to fix my mistakes from last year. 🤞 this will be my last cycle

 

[Jessica Booker]

I think it’s called TCLA Academy. @Jaysen what’s the commercial awareness course called again pls?

It is the TCLA Academy - you can find out more here: https://tcla-academy.circle.so/checkout/commercial-awareness

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I was just wondering which TCLA course it was that gave you the quizzes as I cannot seem to find it? Everything seems to be not relevant or closed for enrollment.
Thanks!

The TCLA Academy is open currently - you can find it here: https://tcla-academy.circle.so/checkout/commercial-awareness

 

[👩🎓]

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any advice on how best to answer this question or what things I could focus on as I am struggling to think of ideas:

If you were to create a new law, what would it be and why? (250)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[trainee4u]

🎉​

Dear trainee4u

We are pleased to inform you that you've been selected for our summer vacation scheme. Please confirm if you are available to attend the vacation scheme on either of the weeks listed and if you had a preference for a particular week.

 

[JasmineM9]

I wouldn’t worry too much. Sometimes progression emails or next stage invites can be delayed for all sorts of reasons, especially around capacity or internal scheduling. It’s not always a reflection of how you’ve done.

In the meantime, I’d really recommend using this period to keep building on key skills that will help you regardless of what happens next. For example, brushing up on commercial awareness, practising your interview skills, or even doing mock case study exercises. These will not only prep you for an AC if it comes, but also sharpen you for future applications down the line. Also, don’t underestimate how helpful it can be to reach out to trainees and lawyers at firms you’re interested in/even outside the firm. Their insight can really shape how you approach interviews and give you a more rounded view of the industry. It’s such an underrated part of preparation that often makes a huge difference.

You’re doing all the right things by staying proactive. Keep going…things often fall into place when you least expect it.

Thank you Amma for the detailed response! I am a currently subscribed to Little Law, and the Morning Brew! I started small by picking one article a week to analyse in detail. I will definitely start to create some sort of index with terminology just so I can understand everything better. My biggest pitfall is lack of consistency, I could be doing well for one week then stop for months 😭 I will try and do better!

 

[JasmineM9]

The TCLA Academy is open currently - you can find it here: https://tcla-academy.circle.so/checkout/commercial-awareness

Hi Jessica, do Gold subscribers have to this or it needs to be purchased separately?

 

[trainee4u]

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any advice on how best to answer this question or what things I could focus on as I am struggling to think of ideas:

If you were to create a new law, what would it be and why? (250)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

It might depend on the firm. I think there are any number of things you could go for, and the question can show both commercial awareness and wider legal knowledge.

For example, GenAI is very controversial with issues like the "Studio Ghibli image generator", and here the government has made statements about its plans, so for this you could look at how other countries are managing AI and where the balance might be between protecting creative industries and enabling tech.

Similarly you could look to solve problems in society, e.g., https://www.macfarlanes.com/what-we...veroo-drivers-not-workers-says-supreme-court/ the SC decided Deliveroo drivers are not workers, which means that Deliveroo (et al) are not responsible for illegal immigration offences and don't have to provide employment benefits to staff. A law could change this.

You could talk about proposed legislation too - for example there is the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which imo is not a new law, but a whole raft of them, but in that context you could propose a specific planning reform that are not in the bill, but has been suggested by others, on the basis that your particular law would enable more economic growth/housing/whatever.

If you look at the Law Commission and others, there are proposals for law reform that are made and perhaps you think are great, but haven't been implemented, and you could look at those.

 

[seraysawaneh]

Does anyone know which London law firms offer paralegal positions? Thank you

 

[Jessica Booker]

Does anyone know which London law firms offer paralegal positions? Thank you

I would say most firms have some paralegals. Few have dedicated recruitment programmes for them though - most firms will just recruit paralegals on a on-demand basis for individual departments, especially within London.

 

[zeydi]

Has anyone hear back from Sky? I was asked to upload my CV - did anyone got asked this as well?

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

Any insights on Winston and Strawn final interview? I’m really panicking (it’s tomorrow!) and I can’t seem to find anything online.

They have said that all interviews will be between 16 and 25 April. I was a Friday notification with my interview scheduled at the end of that period.

You guys have received interview invites?



I got the collective email but still waiting for the Teams invite

 

[trainee4u]

Has anyone hear back from Sky? I was asked to upload my CV - did anyone got asked this as well?

when did they ask you this?

I've not heard back from Sky since my interview last week.

They told me they'd get back to us this week.

Therefore, if you've heard from them this week (i haven't!), I'd interpret that positively.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica, do Gold subscribers have to this or it needs to be purchased separately?

The TCLA Academy is a separate purchase but currently a one-off payment for access with no time limit/no rolling subscription.