TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[TCLA Community Assistant]

how does one go about reneging on a TC offer? - do you have to give a specific justification @Jessica Booker

You will need to send something in writing to formally withdraw your candidacy. If this is before you have taken any financial support or started the onboarding process for the GDL/SQE, then this will be fairly straight forward. Normally I would recommend speaking to the GR/HR team over the phone before sending something in writing, especially if you have had a lot of interaction with the firm (such as attending a vacation scheme), but a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this and so they just send an email instead.

I would recommend being clear on why you are reneging. If you don't, the firm is likely to ask why you are reneging anyway, so probably worthwhile disclosing anyway. The firm is likely to ask which firm you will be joining instead if you are reneging for another offer.

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

When you receive a call with a TC offer, how long after does the email/paperwork typically come through?

During the call, the partner mentioned 'within 24h' but I also think it is normal for there to be slight delays if grad rec is busy. I am inclined to wait a bit before following up - my question is how long should I wait?

The paperwork is quite relevant to me as I have other vacation scheme offers and I would be keen to start figuring out how to proceed depending on the terms of the TC offer (including how long I have to respond to it, whether I would be allowed to go ahead with my upcoming vac schemes etc).

Thanks in advance if anyone has any insights on this! particularly @Jessica Booker

 

[Kodak123]

Anyone have advice on how to convert VS to TC, I keep struggling starting to think I might never will?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When you receive a call with a TC offer, how long after does the email/paperwork typically come through?

During the call, the partner mentioned 'within 24h' but I also think it is normal for there to be slight delays if grad rec is busy. I am inclined to wait a bit before following up - my question is how long should I wait?

The paperwork is quite relevant to me as I have other vacation scheme offers and I would be keen to start figuring out how to proceed depending on the terms of the TC offer (including how long I have to respond to it, whether I would be allowed to go ahead with my upcoming vac schemes etc).

Thanks in advance if anyone has any insights on this! particularly @Jessica Booker

How long have you been waiting since the call?

24 hours can be a possibility but given its the Easter week, many people might be off on holiday this week so there could be a delay.

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

How long after the WG did you receive an interview invite?

Tuesday of the next week I think. Are they keeping you on hold post-WG?

 

[aspiringcitylawyer]

How long have you been waiting since the call?

24 hours can be a possibility but given its the Easter week, many people might be off on holiday this week so there could be a delay.

Just over a day, so I am definitely not too worried yet! But just wanted to anticipate any delays and understand how long it is appropriate to wait

 

[Alex02]

Is anyone still waiting to hear back from Paul, Weiss post the online test. have sent a follow up email but still no reply.

 

[EA95]

Received a PFO from Paul,Weiss, as expected tbh, but pretty demoralising that they took this long to hand it to me.

 

[Babablacksheep]

With group exercises, I mainly have experience with case study ones where We need to advise a client or find a solution. For these, it was just keeping up with commercial awareness but also making sure I am confident in the firms practices and capabilities (for example explaining recommending to the client [role played by partner] a specific practice that could help with this issue).

On the day, it was just being friendly, getting into the character (e.g., associate in corporate), including quiet people, and also creating a time plan for the exercise (e.g., if we had 1 hour to discuss and create a presentation breaking down the time into discussions, voting, presentation plan, and practise).

Thank you!

 

[lawyersum]

Hey, I can totally resonate with how you’re feeling! I graduated in 2017 with a degree in psychology and decided to pursue law instead a year later. I constantly applied for VS/TCs year after year for three years to no avail; never even getting past the application/testing stage. You can only imagine how demoralising getting rejection after rejection was. But I guess one thing this taught me was resilience.

The next year (2022/2023 cycle), I approached the cycle differently. I spent the summer really researching, trying to actually understand what I was looking for from a firm. I narrowed down the firms I wanted to apply to 8. From September-November, I made 3 applications, ended up with 2 VS offers and a training contract. You’ve got to bounce back. My mentality at the time was, ‘I’m eventually gonna get a TC, it’s just a matter of when. Just keep at it! It only takes one. You’ve got this💪🏾
Also, utilise all resources at your disposal: aspiring solicitors, STRIVE, rare, TCLA, the commercial law academy etc.

Thank you so much, your journey is honestly amazing - well done to you! Reading this has definitely given me a push

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Just over a day, so I am definitely not too worried yet! But just wanted to anticipate any delays and understand how long it is appropriate to wait

I'd generally wait until late Tuesday or early Wednesday before chasing up. If they have said 24 hours, I would wait 72 hours before chasing up unless it was super time urgent and you needed the documents ahead of another deadline.

 

[johnnysins]

Tuesday of the next week I think. Are they keeping you on hold post-WG?

They have kept me on hold as well, not sure if a follow-up email is necessary or if I should just assume a rejection haha

 

[billyonthespeeddial]

They have kept me on hold as well, not sure if a follow-up email is necessary or if I should just assume a rejection haha

If there is no second batch, the last interviews are taking place tomorrow. Sadly I think it might be a rejection

 

[johnnysins]

If there is no second batch, the last interviews are taking place tomorrow. Sadly I think it might be a rejection

Yeap seems like the most sensible option

 

[Hghasvision]

@

You will need to send something in writing to formally withdraw your candidacy. If this is before you have taken any financial support or started the onboarding process for the GDL/SQE, then this will be fairly straight forward. Normally I would recommend speaking to the GR/HR team over the phone before sending something in writing, especially if you have had a lot of interaction with the firm (such as attending a vacation scheme), but a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this and so they just send an email instead.

I would recommend being clear on why you are reneging. If you don't, the firm is likely to ask why you are reneging anyway, so probably worthwhile disclosing anyway. The firm is likely to ask which firm you will be joining instead if you are reneging for another offer.

Thanks for this @Jessica Booker Can I ask why they ask which firm I am joining - is it to contact them? I wouldn't want to risk losing my other offer

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

@

Thanks for this Jessica! Can I ask why they ask which firm I am joining - is it to contact them? I wouldn't want to risk losing my other offer

No - they won’t contact the firm. That’s a breach of GDPR.

They want to know who they are losing talent to. It’s a legitimate question to ask. I have asked this question to anyone who has turned down any job I have been recruiting for. Recruiters need to know who they are losing talent to so they can ensure future recruitment is more successful.

 

[AS24]

Has anyone completed a summer vacation scheme AC at Mishcon on the first of April and received a response from the firm?

 

[heyheyyy]

Does anyone have tips on the final training contract interview (post-vacation scheme). I was wondering how you can use your vacation scheme experience to support your answer of Why do you want to work at this firm and why law. Thank you !

 

[a512003]

You will need to send something in writing to formally withdraw your candidacy. If this is before you have taken any financial support or started the onboarding process for the GDL/SQE, then this will be fairly straight forward. Normally I would recommend speaking to the GR/HR team over the phone before sending something in writing, especially if you have had a lot of interaction with the firm (such as attending a vacation scheme), but a lot of people don't feel comfortable doing this and so they just send an email instead.

I would recommend being clear on why you are reneging. If you don't, the firm is likely to ask why you are reneging anyway, so probably worthwhile disclosing anyway. The firm is likely to ask which firm you will be joining instead if you are reneging for another offer.

This is super helpful thank you- could I ask how/if the process would change if you had already started onboarding for a course? I imagine you would have to pay back any money the firm has paid to enrol you in the course, but presuming that the course hasn't started yet (e.g. you withdraw in July) is it reasonable to assume this would just be a deposit, not the entire course fees?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

This is super helpful thank you- could I ask how/if the process would change if you had already started onboarding for a course? I imagine you would have to pay back any money the firm has paid to enrol you in the course, but presuming that the course hasn't started yet (e.g. you withdraw in July) is it reasonable to assume this would just be a deposit, not the entire course fees?

I don't think you can assume it would just be the deposit - the firm could be liable for the full fees, especially if they cannot back fill your place.

Generally my advice is at the point you are starting onboarding processes you are making a commitment to the firm that is sponsoring you. If you are unsure about joining the firm, it is probably best to consider asking the firm to defer you or to decline the offer you have been given.