TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[J53]

Stephenson Harwood Summer VS!!

 

[Legal Beagle]

Has Winston and Strawn given out all their SVS offers?

 

[JustwantaTC]

Hi @Jessica Booker how do people navigate paralegal roles in law firms and completing vacation schemes? Do many people have paralegal roles and still manage to do vacation schemes? Would this come up in reference checks to your employer or in any other way? thank you

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi @Jessica Booker how do people navigate paralegal roles in law firms and completing vacation schemes? Do many people have paralegal roles and still manage to do vacation schemes? Would this come up in reference checks to your employer or in any other way? thank you

Unfortunately It isn't always straight forward. However, some paralegals manage to still do vacation schemes.

Generally, most employment contracts will have a term that will say you cannot work for another organisation without approval from the firm. For law firms, this may also specifically say you cannot do any other legal work outside of those opportunities provided by the firm.

Such terms in employment contracts generally mean you can't do a vacation scheme without approval from the firm you are a paralegal with. If you choose to breach this term, don't tell the firm, and are then found out, you are at risk of 1) losing your paralegal job and 2) being dismissed through a form of misconduct.

Even if you do get approval, there can also be challenges with:

• Getting the specific time off for the vacation scheme, especially if you have colleagues who have already booked annual leave ahead of you.
• Conflict checks - if the two firms are very similar, compete for work with the same type of clients, or if they are working on the other side of major matters/cases to one another, conflict checks could stop you from working for both firms. Sometimes to get around this, vacation scheme students can be allocated to specific departments to ensure you wouldn't have access to information.

Some paralegals still manage to deal with all of this and complete vacation schemes. Some firms are very open to allowing their paralegals seek out other opportunities, while others can be very restrictive.

You would need to declare any employment in a reference check process for the vacation scheme too.

 

[toad92]

Seeing more SH SVS offers (for which congrats!!!!) and i’m still waiting post-app … I only applied for summer but still guessing this is a pfo🥲

As I ticked the box to be on the disability confident offer an interview scheme I thought I’d get invited to the VI ??

Really thought my application was strong and I’m not sure how I don’t meet the ‘minimum criteria’ that they use for the disability confident scheme… I have really strong academics and non-legal, legal and volunteering work experience, went to an open day at the firm, really put a lot of effort into the (incredibly long) application

I must have messed something up I guess 😭

 

[trainee4u]

Seeing more SH SVS offers (for which congrats!!!!) and i’m still waiting post-app … I only applied for summer but still guessing this is a pfo🥲

As I ticked the box to be on the disability confident offer an interview scheme I thought I’d get invited to the VI ??

Really thought my application was strong and I’m not sure how I don’t meet the ‘minimum criteria’ that they use for the disability confident scheme… I have really strong academics and non-legal, legal and volunteering work experience, went to an open day at the firm, really put a lot of effort into the (incredibly long) application

I must have messed something up I guess 😭

they haven't responded to me either.
when did you apply?

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi @Amma Usman @Andrei Radu I've been asked to prep a commercial story for an upcoming interview, do you think discussing the rise in private credit would suffice or is that too broad?

Hi,

Absolutely, I think discussing the rise of private credit can make for an excellent commercial topic. Like with any commercial discussion, what really matters is how you talk about it. It’s less about choosing the perfect topic, and more about demonstrating that you understand the broader commercial context, the key drivers behind the trend, and, crucially, how it impacts law firm clients and, in turn, the law firms that advise them.

With private credit, for instance, you could explore how it has emerged as a major alternative to traditional lending post-2008, filling the financing gap left by banks due to stricter capital requirements. You might also talk about why institutional investors are increasingly drawn to the asset class, namely the higher yields and greater control over terms.

For law firms, this rise presents both opportunities and challenges: new types of financing structures, bespoke documentation, complex cross-border issues, and increased demand for private credit expertise. It’s also reshaping sponsor-lender dynamics in leveraged finance deals, especially as sponsors increasingly look beyond traditional bank syndicates.

Perhaps the best part of picking a topic like this is that it’s evolving, so it's a great chance to engage your interviewers. I’d suggest ending your discussion by asking them about their own views. For example, how do they see private credit shaping the market over the next five to ten years? This shows curiosity and opens the door to a genuine commercial conversation, which is often more memorable than a rehearsed monologue.


Jaysen had also made a post on this a few months back. Here it is -

What I found out about private credit

Full Disclosure: What I found out about private credit By Jaysen Sutton 📩 Sign up here to receive a new edition of 'Full Disclosure' directly into your inbox, every week. Hi Reader 👋🏽, Okay - I have been hearing this term a lot...

www.thecorporatelawacademy.com

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi all, just wanted to ask what kind of information do you guys asked when going to a law firm open days? I just want to know what kind of "insider scoop" that I can asked for to demonstrate my research and my motivation to apply for that particular firm. I would really appreciate any examples or things i could consider.

One thing I’d say is to retain connections - some of my closest mentors are lawyers I met at open days! Try your best to get some form of connection, like their LinkedIn and follow-up after with a thanks. If you can also spark a genuine connection, maybe through shared interests, this makes it all the better!

The rest has been wonderfully covered by @Andrei Radu ‘s past post on this!

 

[Apple]

Seeing more SH SVS offers (for which congrats!!!!) and i’m still waiting post-app … I only applied for summer but still guessing this is a pfo🥲

As I ticked the box to be on the disability confident offer an interview scheme I thought I’d get invited to the VI ??

Really thought my application was strong and I’m not sure how I don’t meet the ‘minimum criteria’ that they use for the disability confident scheme… I have really strong academics and non-legal, legal and volunteering work experience, went to an open day at the firm, really put a lot of effort into the (incredibly long) application

I must have messed something up I guess 😭

Pretty sure the "guaranteed interview" is misleading. It is guaranteed if you meet their arbitrary requirements, which can be judged on work experience, test results etc etc. So it really isn't guaranteed.

 

[Chris Brown]

Has anyone received a Paul Hastings PFO post interview for the Phirst Steps SVS? I had my interview a while ago but I have not heard back so assuming it is a PFO. 🥲​

 

[baj5]

does anyone have any tips on how to prep for critical reasoning tests and group exercises? At the end of my VS I will have to do a critical reasoning test and a group exercise and I'm not sure what resources there are out there.

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Applicants who reached the interview/AC stage for Paul Weiss this cycle, could you please tell me what your academic profile looked like? Thanks!

 

[johnafleck6]

Has anyone received a Paul Hastings PFO post interview for the Phirst Steps SVS? I had my interview a while ago but I have not heard back so assuming it is a PFO. 🥲​

Yeah I haven’t heard back either. Has anyone?

 

[jfb]

If I got a PFO from a firm but have since (a month later) received an email that they will give me an update soon, do I presume that the second email was a mistake?

 

[aphelion]

has anyone who got a summer VS offer from mishcon received an email after the phone call? they did say it would take about a fortnight but would be good to know

 

[ashwright]

Hi guys! I have some quick questions I'd really appreciate some help with

I've got a legal role lined up for when I graduate. The position is for a year & so would finish August/September 2026. It's in-house & the work is transactional so I'm hoping that I could just straight-up apply for TCs rather than VS (I'd prefer not to request as much time off).

1. Can I apply for TCs/VS for the upcoming cycle (i.e. those with applications opening in autumn/winter 2025)? I don't really know what turnaround time firms expect between them offering someone a TC and them starting the SQE. If i applied for TCs this upcoming cycle, might my SQE start in September 2026?

2. The timeline of things is a bit fuzzy for me so I'd also really appreciate any insight on a rough timeline between getting your TC offer, starting your SQE, doing the exam(s), starting the TC etc.

3. Will applying for TCs be sensible given my circumstances? Or would vac schemes be better? Other than this upcoming grad role, I've had no formal legal experience.

4. Hypothetical: a TC deadline closes in September 2025. By that point, I would have been in my graduate role for a couple weeks. Would that be a sufficient basis for me to apply for the TC or would it still be too early (and should therefore apply to the VS, and only apply to TCs once I've been in my grad role for a few months?)

Thank you in advance

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hi guys! I have some quick questions I'd really appreciate some help with

I've got a legal role lined up for when I graduate. The position is for a year & so would finish August/September 2026. It's in-house & the work is transactional so I'm hoping that I could just straight-up apply for TCs rather than VS (I'd prefer not to request as much time off).

1. Can I apply for TCs/VS for the upcoming cycle (i.e. those with applications opening in autumn/winter 2025)? I don't really know what turnaround time firms expect between them offering someone a TC and them starting the SQE. If i applied for TCs this upcoming cycle, might my SQE start in September 2026?

2. The timeline of things is a bit fuzzy for me so I'd also really appreciate any insight on a rough timeline between getting your TC offer, starting your SQE, doing the exam(s), starting the TC etc.

3. Will applying for TCs be sensible given my circumstances? Or would vac schemes be better? Other than this upcoming grad role, I've had no formal legal experience.

4. Hypothetical: a TC deadline closes in September 2025. By that point, I would have been in my graduate role for a couple weeks. Would that be a sufficient basis for me to apply for the TC or would it still be too early (and should therefore apply to the VS, and only apply to TCs once I've been in my grad role for a few months?)

Thank you in advance

1) Yes - if you are applying in the autumn/winter, then most likely you wouldn't start the SQE until September 2026. You could potentially join a January/Feb SQE intake, but given most firms are recruiting for intakes at least 30 months ahead at that point, you would have plenty of time to start the SQE in September 2026 (or even later).

2) For the next cycle, firms will be generally recruiting for September 2028 or Feb/March 2029 TCs. If we take September 2028 as a minimum, your timeline is likely to be:

• October 2025 to July 2026 - Recruitment process
• August/September 2026 - SQE prep
• January 2027 - Sit SQE1
• April 2027 - Sit SQE 2
• August 2027 - Receive SQE2 results
• August 2027 - September 2028 - Gap year

The gap year and SQE period could potentially be swapped over.

3) Yes - unless a firm recruits exclusively or exceptionally heavy from their VS

4) I wouldn't worry about this as TC roles won't close as early as September. It would be November by the earliest (and for some it will be as late as July 2026) and by then you would have many months of experience.

 

[ashwright]

1) Yes - if you are applying in the autumn/winter, then most likely you wouldn't start the SQE until September 2026. You could potentially join a January/Feb SQE intake, but given most firms are recruiting for intakes at least 30 months ahead at that point, you would have plenty of time to start the SQE in September 2026 (or even later).

2) For the next cycle, firms will be generally recruiting for September 2028 or Feb/March 2029 TCs. If we take September 2028 as a minimum, your timeline is likely to be:

• October 2025 to July 2026 - Recruitment process
• August/September 2026 - SQE prep
• January 2027 - Sit SQE1
• April 2027 - Sit SQE 2
• August 2027 - Receive SQE2 results
• August 2027 - September 2028 - Gap year

The gap year and SQE period could potentially be swapped over.

3) Yes - unless a firm recruits exclusively or exceptionally heavy from their VS

4) I wouldn't worry about this as TC roles won't close as early as September. It would be November by the earliest (and for some it will be as late as July 2026) and by then you would have many months of experience.

Thank you so much, Jessica!!! This is super helpful & reassuring!! I really appreciate your help - you're the best!! <3

1. What do people tend to do during the 'gap year'? I've tried having a look at some LinkedIn profiles but the people I've come across seem to list their SQE taking place over 2 years - I assume because they've also done an LLM (usually from the University of Law etc.) along with their SQE.

2. This is probably a silly question but do firms ever accomodate earlier start dates for the seat-rotation bit (i.e., skip the gap year)?

3. Is there a benefit to doing an LLM along with your SQE? It seems like the choice is spending the gap year either in a job or doing an LLM (which I'm assuming the firm does not fund & maintain you for?). [edit: a benefit other than a pure love for learning ]

Thank you

Edit - Apologies, I just remembered another two questions!
5. I understand that there's no disadvantage to doing the SQE independently - although I'm not really sure if firms prefer you to study it in a certain way (e.g., ULaw vs. BPP, the City Consortium version seems to have an extra element)?

6. If I self-funded the SQE whilst I'm in this grad role (it's full-time, not finishing ridiculously late so maybe 7pm finishes), would it be more sensible to go for a 24-month course or a 12-month SQE course? I would have already done a law degree so have some legal knowledge already

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you so much, Jessica!!! This is super helpful & reassuring!! I really appreciate your help - you're the best!! <3

1. What do people tend to do during the 'gap year'? I've tried having a look at some LinkedIn profiles but the people I've come across seem to list their SQE taking place over 2 years - I assume because they've also done an LLM (usually from the University of Law etc.) along with their SQE.

2. This is probably a silly question but do firms ever accomodate earlier start dates for the seat-rotation bit (i.e., skip the gap year)?

3. Is there a benefit to doing an LLM along with your SQE? It seems like the choice is spending the gap year either in a job OR doing an LLM (which I'm assuming the firm does not fund & maintain you for?).

Thank you

1) An LLM would only take a year unless it was part time - I think the people you are looking at have done an LLM level SQE prep course rather than two separate courses. People may have taken longer than a year if they had to resit either SQE1 or SQE2 though. People can do anything in the gap year - work in the legal industry, work outside of it, go travelling. Most lawyers would encourage you to use the time for whatever you want to do as its unlikely you'll ever get a year out to do something like that again without it being a big financial commitment to doing so.

2) Some firms can accommodate earlier start dates but its very dependent on the people in those earlier intakes. If they are full and no one wants to move to a later intake, then you may not be moved forward. You should speak to your firm at the point you are made an offer as to the feasibility of starting earlier.

3) You wouldn't do a separate LLM and SQE - I don't think this is feasible in terms of balancing your studies. There are LLM SQE prep courses though and some firms will sponsor you through this type of course. It isn't really an LLM as such though - its just the SQE prep with some additional modules/dissertation level type project to take it up to a masters level course. The only real benefit of these courses is that you can apply for post-graduate student finance and then move from a student visa to a post-study visa if appropriate (can be a benefit if the firm does not sponsor skilled persons visas). A firm is highly unlikely to sponsor a separate LLM course because it is not necessary for you to become a solicitor. They only sponsor the courses needed to allow you to train and qualify.

 

[ashwright]

1) An LLM would only take a year unless it was part time - I think the people you are looking at have done an LLM level SQE prep course rather than two separate courses. People may have taken longer than a year if they had to resit either SQE1 or SQE2 though. People can do anything in the gap year - work in the legal industry, work outside of it, go travelling. Most lawyers would encourage you to use the time for whatever you want to do as its unlikely you'll ever get a year out to do something like that again without it being a big financial commitment to doing so.

2) Some firms can accommodate earlier start dates but its very dependent on the people in those earlier intakes. If they are full and no one wants to move to a later intake, then you may not be moved forward. You should speak to your firm at the point you are made an offer as to the feasibility of starting earlier.

3) You wouldn't do a separate LLM and SQE - I don't think this is feasible in terms of balancing your studies. There are LLM SQE prep courses though and some firms will sponsor you through this type of course. It isn't really an LLM as such though - its just the SQE prep with some additional modules/dissertation level type project to take it up to a masters level course. The only real benefit of these courses is that you can apply for post-graduate student finance and then move from a student visa to a post-study visa if appropriate (can be a benefit if the firm does not sponsor skilled persons visas). A firm is highly unlikely to sponsor a separate LLM course because it is not necessary for you to become a solicitor. They only sponsor the courses needed to allow you to train and qualify.

Awesome - thank you so much! I'm a British national so visa sponsorship wouldn't be a consideration and my student debt has already piled up so I hesitate to add to it sadly..a little holiday & work sounds like what I'll likely end up doing!

I'll also add two bonus questions here

1. I understand that there's no disadvantage to doing the SQE independently - although I'm not really sure if firms prefer you to study it in a certain way (e.g., ULaw vs. BPP, the City Consortium version seems to have an extra element)?

2. If I self-funded the SQE whilst I'm in this grad role (it's full-time, not finishing ridiculously late so maybe 7pm finishes), would it be more sensible to go for a 24-month course or a 12-month SQE course? I would have already done a law degree so have some legal knowledge already but it is a bit foggy!