TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

[James Wakefield]

RIP bro, thats arguably the hardest area of law. I sat in tax for a spring vac scheme and didnt convert despite having two years tax working experience. Not to scare you but idk anyone who has got a TC after sitting in tax so prepare yourself and get ready for the challenge. Feel free to message me and i can give you a few pointers.

I didn’t convert after sitting in tax last year too but I think that’s because I was disappointed to be there and maybe that came across.

But I was silly to be disappointed really. This is a 1 or 2 week experience which is so short. It’s not a career in tax and as long as you’re in the right headspace, and not acting like you're disappointed, you’ll do fine.

You can arrange coffee chats with lawyers from the other teams and show your enthusiasm that way. You may even be able to ask for some work from a different team too if you’re ahead of things!

 

[Jessica Booker]

RIP bro, thats arguably the hardest area of law. I sat in tax for a spring vac scheme and didnt convert despite having two years tax working experience. Not to scare you but idk anyone who has got a TC after sitting in tax so prepare yourself and get ready for the challenge. Feel free to message me and i can give you a few pointers.

Just the counter this, I have seen plenty of people with no tax experience do well on their vacation schemes and convert.

 

[trainee4u]

As @Chris Brown has pointed out, that is not the case. This is a feeder programme to their Legal Business Analyst programme that is also mentioned in my post. We will check with the firm on the eligibility point as this has been raised in our WhatsApp chats as to whether graduates can apply.

Vacation schemes with any firm don't lead to permanent employment though, only a fixed-term contract of two years if you secure a TC.

It seems rather different in that normally you either sign a direct TC leading to guaranteed qualification as a solicitor, a title you can keep for the rest of your life and be eligible for NQS roles at the end, or you spend a few days on a VS pursuant to the same goal, whereas with this it appears that you get a fixed-term sink-or-swim role where if you don't make it you realistically are going to be looking for another two-year TC, so e.g.:

LBA 2025-6 - successful to 1-year TC 2026-2027 - qualify in 2027
or
LBA 2025-6 - unsuccessful to TC after 12 months; 2026-2027 (hopefully!) find TC, 2029-2031 - conventional training period - qualify in 2031

So the stakes are very high as you don't have the guaranteed qualification upon accepting the role, and if you don't make it, then you can be set back by four years.

 

[Jessica Booker]

It seems rather different in that normally you either sign a direct TC leading to guaranteed qualification as a solicitor, a title you can keep for the rest of your life and be eligible for NQS roles at the end, or you spend a few days on a VS pursuant to the same goal, whereas with this it appears that you get a fixed-term sink-or-swim role where if you don't make it you realistically are going to be looking for another two-year TC, so e.g.:

LBA 2025-6 - successful to 1-year TC 2026-2027 - qualify in 2027
or
LBA 2025-6 - unsuccessful to TC after 12 months; 2026-2027 (hopefully!) find TC, 2029-2031 - conventional training period - qualify in 2031

So the stakes are very high as you don't have the guaranteed qualification upon accepting the role, and if you don't make it, then you can be set back by four years.

I’d stress that there is no guarantees of qualification anymore. Unlike the old qualification system, firms are no longer tied to employing you for two years as a trainee.

But yes, it is a slightly different graduate opportunity to a traditional training contract. I see it as an interesting opportunity for those who are looking for something to start sooner rather than later and maybe considering other opportunities like paralegal roles this autumn.

 

[saminoriya]

Hi, guys!

Today it finally happened. I got offered a training contract!
It was a long journey. I had at least 10 unsuccessful interviews/vac schemes. I felt so discouraged every time, but I kept going and it worked!
Thanks to all of you, I wouldn’t make it without the TCLA support!
You are the best❤️

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi, guys!

Today it finally happened. I got offered a training contract!
It was a long journey. I had at least 10 unsuccessful interviews/vac schemes. I felt so discouraged every time, but I kept going and it worked!
Thanks to all of you, I wouldn’t make it without the TCLA support!
You are the best❤️

Love to see it! Huge huge congratulations. I hope you celebrate well

 

[futuretrainee2025]

Just the counter this, I have seen plenty of people with no tax experience do well on their vacation schemes and convert.

Thank you! Any specific advice?