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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25
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Hi @bangarangbass39
Yep, many firms do have waiting lists for training contracts. The size of the list tends to vary based on the size of the intake. From what I've understood, these lists are usually made up of strong candidates who just narrowly missed out on an offer and are kept in reserve in case places become available. That said, if a firm has already sent a rejection after a vacation scheme and final interview, it unfortunately means the candidate wasn’t placed on the waiting list. In those cases, it's not a matter of waiting to hear back, because the rejection is a final decision during that cycle.
- Sep 7, 2024
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Hiya @Kakaboo
I'm sure @Amma Usman would also have more to add here, but wanted to get something to you in the meantime
I'd say don't overthink your intro. You can send an email and say something alone the lines of: “Hi, I’m [Name], I’m here on the vacation scheme this week. I'd be really grateful to schedule a chat to discuss [your work in X team/your experiences at the firm]." That said, I'd say try to arrange coffee chats with people you genuinely want to speak with; I really believe those are the conversations that will seem more organic and where your enthusiasm can really shine through.
It’s also completely fine to ask about corporate/IP matters. Just make sure to do some research before each of your coffee chats. It's very easy to tell when candidates are simply scheduling coffee chats for the sake of it, instead of doing so because they are genuinely interested in engaging with the person on the other side. Even having a quick look at the person’s LinkedIn profile and the firm’s corporate/IP page of the website can help you ask genuinely interesting questions. To start off those conversations, you can ask/say something like:
- “What kind of matters are keeping the team busy right now?”
- “What does a typical day look like for you in corporate/IP?”
- “What sorts of clients or industries do you mostly work with? Do you find the corporate team is more sector-agnostic in the work it carries out?”
- “Is there a recent deal or case the team’s worked on that stood out to you?”
With respect to trainees, you'll want to try to get a sense of their professional development, training, and involvement at the firm. Some useful questions to put to them might include:
- What was it like when you actually began at the firm? How did you find the transition?
- How did you end in at your practice area? Where would you have gone if you hadn't ended up here?
- Is there any scope to contribute ideas to the firm as a trainee?
- How is it ensured that trainees on client secondments get the same standard of training?
- How would you describe X firm’s place in the market?
- How has the firm invested in your personal training/development?
- How many of you tend to work on a deal?
- Do you find the culture non-hierarchical? Open door policy?
- What do you wish you’d known about being a trainee before you started that you now do?
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Stay doing the paralegal work. It may end up being qualifying work experience if you end up having to self fund.
Even if you don't have to self fund because you get a traditional TC it is better experience to take into the tasks you may be asked to perform as either a written test or during a vacation scheme.
Has any one
I'm wondering about this too - has anyone been able to clarify - it does say by 23 June which makes me wonder if they do mean by midnight today.
I’m praying the deadline is 5pm tomorrow omg why is it so hard for them to give a clear deadline
Yes I take "by date" to mean before that date so 23.59 tonight.
guys I need some help on the education part of Perkins Coie's application. I can only find my university but cannot find my secondary school/sixth form -- where am I supposed to list my grades? Am I supposed to write them out in the GPA box??
My school isn't on there either but it is on my CV so I am hoping they might see it there? I'm not really sure what else to do atp
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Ah yes, I believe you are right in suggesting that it may not be within seperate timeframes. As the firm has mentioned 90 minutes, there will likely be a different component included - probably more information to come from the firm on this, though it’s worth clarifying if you have any doubts. In any case, however, I’d still reference my old post in saying that it is still risky and clear communication with all parties is still needed if you do decide to attend the AC with the firm that isn’t your VS firm.
I hope this helps, and please do let us know if you have any more questions at all.
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There’s a lot of mobility in the legal sector, especially with skilled roles such as these. As an example, any paralegal experience is valuable, such that you could move from a paralegal role at national firms to even other paralegal roles at bigger international firms. I have seen many people succeed in doing so. I also know of people that move between practice areas for paralegal roles, for example. Therefore, there is not only firm-wise mobility, but also sector-related mobility.
Oh okay, is it just the trainee buddy you should message before then ? And not the supervisors too?
Thanks
They've come back to me today saying that I only need 45 minutes as I can complete the other part the following week - they have offered me 12 or 3pm, neither of which feel exactly ideal - if it was a bit after 12 that would be one thing as it's lunch time, but rushing off at 11:45am would likely raise an eyebrow.
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I completely understand the excitement of wanting to chat with your trainee buddy/supervisors prior to the vac scheme. Though, you do not need to stress with connecting/ building those connections already. There will be plenty of time to do that during the VS, and you’ll even be able to engage more properly in person.
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