-
Paul, Weiss's Insight Days are now open! Apply to the first Insight Day by 7 September 2026.
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
- Thread starter TCLA Community Assistant
- Start date
-
- Tags
- vacation scheme
- Status
I think it’s more common to request after the event than before, simply because something can happen last minute (e.g., train cancellation or illness) that means you can’t travel. I think some firms will give in advance though, if you would struggle financially with buying the train tickets (e.g., HSF, Slaughters, CC). 
In my experience, having gone to a few open days, firms sent travel reimbursement forms to attendees after the event. It normally takes up to 4 weeks for the money to appear in your bank account. For some firms, it took around a week. It depends on how many reimbursement forms they have to handle.
In my experience, having gone to a few open days, firms sent travel reimbursement forms to attendees after the event. It normally takes up to 4 weeks for the money to appear in your bank account. For some firms, it took around a week. It depends on how many reimbursement forms they have to handle.
Hi @Ram Sabaratnam
Thank you for your previous answer to my question it was very helpful in me ascertaining “why Cooley”
Just wanted to double check that cooley is a full service firm.
Do you have any advice on cooleys competency interview and what questions to ask the partner at the end?
Thank you for your previous answer to my question it was very helpful in me ascertaining “why Cooley”
Just wanted to double check that cooley is a full service firm.
Do you have any advice on cooleys competency interview and what questions to ask the partner at the end?
Did Bevan ask that stupid superhero power question like they did last year?
Currently doing the SQE - finished the GDL in 2020 and started the SQE last September. It’s very intense as there is *so much content* (I’m not exaggerating). I would recommend a month or two before, begin refreshing your memory of the functioning legal knowledge/academic law as once classes start, you will be learning the practice content and it is assumed that you already know the academic law.
Has anyone done the Paul Hastings interview for the PHirst Steps Summer Scheme? I did mine yesterday and wondering when we’ll hear.
So excited to say that I converted my vacation scheme to a training contract. Thank you to everyone for their advice, and encouragement!!
How amazing, congratulations!!! All the best on your legal journey
TCLA Community Assistant
Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Employers and universities can provide any information that aligns with their reference policy, even if not requested by the potential employer.
I would say a standard is to only provide factual information though. For employers, this tends to be limited to job title and employment dates, unless there were any disciplinary matters. Similarly, universities tend to only provide confirmation of academic results but can flag any misconduct issues as well. Any misconduct for both employers or universities would be something you are aware of (you would have to be involved in a misconduct process).
If you are ever unsure, you can always ask the previous employer or academic institution to provide you with the reference they would provide to someone requesting it.
I would say a standard is to only provide factual information though. For employers, this tends to be limited to job title and employment dates, unless there were any disciplinary matters. Similarly, universities tend to only provide confirmation of academic results but can flag any misconduct issues as well. Any misconduct for both employers or universities would be something you are aware of (you would have to be involved in a misconduct process).
If you are ever unsure, you can always ask the previous employer or academic institution to provide you with the reference they would provide to someone requesting it.
TCLA Community Assistant
Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
guys can someone please give me some motivation. feeling like a sack of nothing right now. am so scarred from getting nothing this cycle that with every app I try to rewrite I keep second guessing it thinking nothing I write is decent. even if you do get onto ACs and VSs, it seems like the margins are so fine, you can rejected with unconstructive feedback that makes you feel like crap. don’t know if I’ll ever make it. I already had such a tough journey into law, made the last minute decision during clearing as I wasn’t happy with my original course choice during sixth form. Felt depressed for the 1st year of degree as I was at a non target uni. Only really got into law my 2nd year and was too focused on grades to apply anywhere. Now graduated and can’t block out the noise or pressure. How to feel
better idk. Sorry just needed to vent.
better idk. Sorry just needed to vent.
Apologies in advance for this long post. I hope this helps and gives you the motivation you are looking for @lawyersum.
I completely empathise with how you feel right now honestly. I have a similar journey. I too had originally applied for a different course during sixth form. During the COVID pandemic, I had the realisation that I wanted to study law. I took a risk and decided that I would go down that path for my university course. Coming from a socially mobile background, I struggled so much with imposter syndrome at uni. I felt so out of place in first year. I had some MC during first year as well which made things harder.
I only properly settled into my course when I got to 2nd year. It wasn’t until my 3rd and final year that I started to think about the possibility of pursuing a career as a city lawyer. Prior to this, I was leaning more to the bar, in particular criminal or chancery. As a result, I too was so focused on academics and grades that I didn’t apply for insight schemes, open days, VS or TC during my time at university. I remember being concerned that I had left things too late and it would be impossible to get a VS or TC once I finished university.
I ultimately made the decision to focus on my final year grades, mainly to compensate for my grades in first year. I began applying to firms in this cycle. I had no idea where to start. My aim was to have some kind of clear strategy to try secure VS and TC, but it wasn’t clear how that would look. As a result, every single one of my WVS applications was rejected. At that point, I did start to lose faith honestly. I decided to take a pause on VS applications to focus on my strategy for Spring and Summer VS applications.
I prioritised attending virtual events, such as application workshops, practice area sessions, commercial awareness masterclasses and also in-person open days. By doing so, I managed to get past a few application stages. Around Xmas time, a friend of mine who has also been applying this cycle, suggested TCLA. I didn’t know what it was at that point. He offered me his account that he wasn’t using. That is this account here. I honestly think it’s this platform that had the biggest impact on my overall success this cycle!
Fast forward to now, I have received several VS offers from firms I would never have imagined would consider me when I first started working on my applications. This is despite the above circumstances I have mentioned. My point in this post is, you can and will make it! There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I started with constant rejections for WVS to now being someone with 5 VS offers (from 20 overall VS applications). It has been a difficult process in my experience this cycle.
It’s a tough journey. Securing a TC is very hard, with most city law firms having a 0.5 - 3% success rate. However, it is always possible to be in that top 3%. Best of luck with all of your applications my friend.
I completely empathise with how you feel right now honestly. I have a similar journey. I too had originally applied for a different course during sixth form. During the COVID pandemic, I had the realisation that I wanted to study law. I took a risk and decided that I would go down that path for my university course. Coming from a socially mobile background, I struggled so much with imposter syndrome at uni. I felt so out of place in first year. I had some MC during first year as well which made things harder.
I only properly settled into my course when I got to 2nd year. It wasn’t until my 3rd and final year that I started to think about the possibility of pursuing a career as a city lawyer. Prior to this, I was leaning more to the bar, in particular criminal or chancery. As a result, I too was so focused on academics and grades that I didn’t apply for insight schemes, open days, VS or TC during my time at university. I remember being concerned that I had left things too late and it would be impossible to get a VS or TC once I finished university.
I ultimately made the decision to focus on my final year grades, mainly to compensate for my grades in first year. I began applying to firms in this cycle. I had no idea where to start. My aim was to have some kind of clear strategy to try secure VS and TC, but it wasn’t clear how that would look. As a result, every single one of my WVS applications was rejected. At that point, I did start to lose faith honestly. I decided to take a pause on VS applications to focus on my strategy for Spring and Summer VS applications.
I prioritised attending virtual events, such as application workshops, practice area sessions, commercial awareness masterclasses and also in-person open days. By doing so, I managed to get past a few application stages. Around Xmas time, a friend of mine who has also been applying this cycle, suggested TCLA. I didn’t know what it was at that point. He offered me his account that he wasn’t using. That is this account here. I honestly think it’s this platform that had the biggest impact on my overall success this cycle!
Fast forward to now, I have received several VS offers from firms I would never have imagined would consider me when I first started working on my applications. This is despite the above circumstances I have mentioned. My point in this post is, you can and will make it! There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I started with constant rejections for WVS to now being someone with 5 VS offers (from 20 overall VS applications). It has been a difficult process in my experience this cycle.
It’s a tough journey. Securing a TC is very hard, with most city law firms having a 0.5 - 3% success rate. However, it is always possible to be in that top 3%. Best of luck with all of your applications my friend.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
Latest posts
-
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Latest: anon78365222111
-
-
Top Members
Posts
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +0
- 57
Non Billable
- +3
- 7
Novaa
- -2
- 5
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +72
- 150
Novaa
- +194
- 21
user55998384
- +86
- 14
Non Billable
- +70
- 14
Jaysen
- +70
- 9
-
Abbie Whitlock
- +3
- 987
Novaa
- +288
- 433
Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner
- +549
- 371
