TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi everyone! Have the CRS AC coming up soon, wanted some tips for the group exercise we’ve just been given two of the topics that will be discussed but I’m feeling a bit stressed about the format (discussing 7 topics in 30 minutes in groups of 7), I’m not sure what the best way to make a valuable contribution in such a setting would be.

Hiya @sc13

I actually found this to be the most fun part of the AC once it got going! One thing I’d really emphasise is that the exercise isn’t about picking the “correct” view in relation to any given topic (there usually isn’t one). I was surprised by how many different approaches people took to each topic. What really mattered was how we engaged with each other, not what side we took. So even if a topic isn’t something you're completely familiar with, there are still really valuable ways to contribute. A few things that helped me:

Think broadly: I found it helpful to reflect on some of the big issues facing the legal profession and the UK more generally. Doing a quick PESTLE analysis for each topic (or just mentally considering political, economic, social, tech etc. angles) gave me a good starting point for framing my thoughts.

Ask commercially aware questions: If you're unsure how to make a strong point, asking thoughtful questions can be just as effective. It shows you’re thinking critically and can help move the discussion forward, which assessors will definitely notice. I used this approach for a few topics I knew less about, and it went down well with others and my assessors.

Build on others' ideas: You don’t always have to bring brand new points to the table. Showing that you’ve listened and then asking someone to expand, or gently challenging a point in a constructive way, can really show your collaboration skills. It’s a great way to engage meaningfully without needing to dominate.

Best of luck and happy to answer any more questions if that's helpful 😊

 

[johnnn821]

Hey guys, to those who have an insight day and a final interview with Hill Dickinson could you please tell me whether your interview is taking place during the insight day or whether it is on the 18th? I am very confused so would appreciate any insight.

 

[jasonbourne]

hey guys, so I received an email from a firm offering me a place on their vac scheme, which I replied back saying I accepted. This was on the 19th May. I didn't hear back, so I sent a follow-up email to ensure that my email wasn't lost and to reiterate my acceptance. That was on the 27th May.

I still haven't heard back and the scheme is due to start on the 9th June. Should I be worried or am I getting a little too excited lol. I don't want to miss out on my place and I want to ensure I have time to prepare for it to make a good impression and ensure I am able to convert it. It was literally my last vac scheme application, all the rest were rejections so I don't want to potentially 'lose' it

 

[Kakaboo]

Just seen the gov’s plans to get rid of level 7 apprenticeship funding. I am in the final round for a solicitor level 7 apprenticeship. Does this mean it will be cut? I’m very worried and upset

 

[Jessica Booker]

hey guys, so I received an email from a firm offering me a place on their vac scheme, which I replied back saying I accepted. This was on the 19th May. I didn't hear back, so I sent a follow-up email to ensure that my email wasn't lost and to reiterate my acceptance. That was on the 27th May.

I still haven't heard back and the scheme is due to start on the 9th June. Should I be worried or am I getting a little too excited lol. I don't want to miss out on my place and I want to ensure I have time to prepare for it to make a good impression and ensure I am able to convert it. It was literally my last vac scheme application, all the rest were rejections so I don't want to potentially 'lose' it

Given the scheme is in less than two weeks I would call them tomorrow - if they have not responded to email there is no point emailing again. I would call instead.

Just check your junk mail and that your email was correct on your application just in case either of these points could be the issue as to why you haven't received anything yet. With the scheme effectively starting a week Monday, I would expect the firm to have been in contact by now.

 

[jasonbourne]

Given the scheme is in less than two weeks I would call them tomorrow - if they have not responded to email there is no point emailing again. I would call instead.

Just check your junk mail and that your email was correct on your application just in case either of these points could be the issue as to why you haven't received anything yet. With the scheme effectively starting a week Monday, I would expect the firm to have been in contact by now.

Thank you Jessica, and yes it's pretty strange. I've checked my junk too and nothing is there. I'll give them a call tomorrow

 

[bsh]

Hi all, could anyone please confirm whether PGDL/SQE grants are tax free (inc. those of £20,000 offered by US firms)? Thank you!

 

[theruleofno]

Hi all, could anyone please confirm whether PGDL/SQE grants are tax free (inc. those of £20,000 offered by US firms)? Thank you!

Yes they aren’t treated as income and are tax free

 

[Legal Wizard]

Anyone doing Skadden in June pm me!!!

 

[annalisekeating]

Hi @Jessica Booker

I've sent you a query regarding a conflict check issue.

I would really appreciate your assistance, if you get the time.

Thank you! 😊

 

[bangarangbass39]

Had a TC interview the other day. Final round post vac scheme.

For the why do you want to be a solicitor question, I think I cocked it up a bit.

I mentioned I like the skillset for the role, like collaboration and varied communication style, and the opportunity for impact amongst clients and beyond. I also brought up preferring the role compared to being a barrister.

However I feel I missed the opportunity to bring up my experiences during the vac scheme and previous internships. I explored these topics a lot in my application, and throughout the rest of my interview which most part I think was decent overall. I’m just disappointed I didn’t do that important question well enough - I think I was just a bit too generic and maybe a little unstructured because of the nerves.

I dunno is what I said that bad?

I know one bad/average response is not enough for a rejection, but I’m worried cause of the post TC over analysis I’m doing.

 

[TA281990]

Super fortunate to have got onto a vacation scheme with a national firm after my second time applying to them! I'm nervous as it's the furthest i've got in my attempts to get a training contract and first ever vacation scheme. One of my seats during the scheme i've been assigned to is Family. I've never studied Family law in undergraduate or postgraduate and truly don't have much interest or knowledge of that area. My main interests are in property, commercial and finance. I'm worried this will stand out as a weakness while being assessed as we're only in two seats for the duration of the week.

Separately if anyone has ideas to what I could expect task wise in Family/ Comm Prop, I would be very grateful!

 

[3000to1shoteverytime]

Super fortunate to have got onto a vacation scheme with a national firm after my second time applying to them! I'm nervous as it's the furthest i've got in my attempts to get a training contract and first ever vacation scheme. One of my seats during the scheme i've been assigned to is Family. I've never studied Family law in undergraduate or postgraduate and truly don't have much interest or knowledge of that area. My main interests are in property, commercial and finance. I'm worried this will stand out as a weakness while being assessed as we're only in two seats for the duration of the week.

Separately if anyone has ideas to what I could expect task wise in Family/ Comm Prop, I would be very grateful!

I really wouldn't worry too much about it. I am going into a vac scheme as a non law student who has not undertaken any legal education at all.

It will be okay to indicate that you have no family law education whatsoever.

The reality is that from what I gather is it is really just another form of litigation which hopefully gets settled before it goes to court but bearing in mind you need to demonstrate empathy for the client.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Had a TC interview the other day. Final round post vac scheme.

For the why do you want to be a solicitor question, I think I cocked it up a bit.

I mentioned I like the skillset for the role, like collaboration and varied communication style, and the opportunity for impact amongst clients and beyond. I also brought up preferring the role compared to being a barrister.

However I feel I missed the opportunity to bring up my experiences during the vac scheme and previous intrnships. I explored these topics a lot in my application, and throughout the rest of my interview which most part I think was decent overall. I’m just disappointed I didn’t do that important question well enough - I think I was just a bit too generic and maybe a little unstructured because of the nerves.

I dunno is what I said that bad?

I know one bad/average response is not enough for a rejection, but I’m worried cause of the post TC over analysis I’m doing.

Candidates often fixate on what they believe went wrong, becoming overly critical in the process. No one, not even an experienced interviewer like me, can truly evaluate how strong your answer to this question was or how it fits into the overall context of your interview. It's tough, but try not to dwell on this answer. You can't change it, so overthinking isn't helpful.

I would wait for the outcome from the interview and then reflect on your experience at that point, and that's on the assumption that you even need to. If you receive a TC offer, you may never have to worry about that question or how you answered it again!

 

[chlawstudent]

Hello, I have a vacation scheme coming up at the end of the month at Addleshaw Goddard and as it is my first and only vac scheme I am feeling very nervous and excited. I was just wondering if anyone who has previously completed one at AG would be happy to provide any advice/tips? Also I understand they solely hire for their Training Contracts through the vac schemes so any insight into the TC conversion process would be great, thanks!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Had a TC interview the other day. Final round post vac scheme.

For the why do you want to be a solicitor question, I think I cocked it up a bit.

I mentioned I like the skillset for the role, like collaboration and varied communication style, and the opportunity for impact amongst clients and beyond. I also brought up preferring the role compared to being a barrister.

However I feel I missed the opportunity to bring up my experiences during the vac scheme and previous internships. I explored these topics a lot in my application, and throughout the rest of my interview which most part I think was decent overall. I’m just disappointed I didn’t do that important question well enough - I think I was just a bit too generic and maybe a little unstructured because of the nerves.

I dunno is what I said that bad?

I know one bad/average response is not enough for a rejection, but I’m worried cause of the post TC over analysis I’m doing.

Heya @bangarangbass39

Just adding to what @Jessica Booker wisely put to you! I don’t think what you’ve described sounds bad at all, though of course, it’s hard to say anything definitive without having seen your delivery, structure, and content in full (I've also seen people have excellent content, but fail on the delivery for these sorts of questions). That said, if you highlighted skills that are genuinely distinctive of what solicitor's do and the way solicitors support clients over time, I imagine the core of your answer landed well. Sure, there may have been space to bring in insights from the vac scheme, but it sounds like you wove those experiences in throughout the rest of the interview. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Post-interview over-analysis is brutal, but it doesn’t mean your answer to this question was weak. Hope you hear back with good news soon!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Just seen the gov’s plans to get rid of level 7 apprenticeship funding. I am in the final round for a solicitor level 7 apprenticeship. Does this mean it will be cut? I’m very worried and upset

The funding isn't being cut until January 2026, so if the programme is due to start in 2025, this will not be a problem.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Super fortunate to have got onto a vacation scheme with a national firm after my second time applying to them! I'm nervous as it's the furthest i've got in my attempts to get a training contract and first ever vacation scheme. One of my seats during the scheme i've been assigned to is Family. I've never studied Family law in undergraduate or postgraduate and truly don't have much interest or knowledge of that area. My main interests are in property, commercial and finance. I'm worried this will stand out as a weakness while being assessed as we're only in two seats for the duration of the week.

Separately if anyone has ideas to what I could expect task wise in Family/ Comm Prop, I would be very grateful!

Hiya @TA281990

First of all, congratulations on securing the vac scheme. That’s something to be really proud of, especially after showing such persistence by applying again. Just wanted to add to the excellent advice that @3000to1shoteverytime gave earlier, I really wouldn’t worry about not having studied family law or having a particular interest in it. Vac schemes aren’t meant to test your legal knowledge in a specific area. Rather, they’re an opportunity for the firm to get a sense of how you approach work, how you engage with people, and how adaptable and curious you are. In fact, it’s actually very common for applicants to be placed in departments they're unfamiliar with. For example, I was once assigned to a product liability team, despite having little background in that area at all. What made the experience worthwhile (and helped me make a good impression) was showing genuine interest, asking thoughtful questions, and doing my best with each task I was given. Although brushing up a little on the basics of family law wouldn’t hurt, it's definitely not necessary to making a good impression. Just remember, the team isn’t expecting you to know about the area or have come into the seat with an interest in it.

When sitting in the Family team, you might be asked to carry out legal research, help with bundling, or sit in on client meetings. By contrast, for commercial Property, you could be proofreading leases, help with drafting basic documents, or even assisting with carrying out searches.

Wishing you the best of luck for your scheme! Hope it goes brilliantly

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hey guys, to those who have an insight day and a final interview with Hill Dickinson could you please tell me whether your interview is taking place during the insight day or whether it is on the 18th? I am very confused so would appreciate any insight.

Hiya @johnnn821

I know of at least one person whose interview is scheduled a few days after the insight day, though I’m not sure whether anyone is interviewing on the day itself. From what I’ve gathered from speaking to previous candidates, the interview tends to happen after the insight day, since that day is really focused on giving you a better feel for the firm and the kind of work they do. If you’re unsure, I’d definitely recommend reaching out to the grad rect team to double-check what applies in your case. Best of luck, and I hope the insight day goes really well!