TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

I understand the pressure of not hearing back yet. However, often times, GR will review applications in stages and batches. Emailing them will not make them get back to you any faster. Especially now that VS’ are ongoing and there’s a lot of internal work to do. I understand it’s hard, but I suggest waiting till they get back with a response. In the meantime, there are still a couple of direct TCs open, which you could consider applying for. Or alternatively, you could spend the time re-strategising for the next cycle!
Sorry I should have clarified. I meant updating them with my final grades because the applications did not have an option to edit them.
 
I think most of uni have this policy in the handbook- if you achieve half of your modules in the next degree classification (i.e. in your situation: above 70%)- and your overall grade is in the 1.5% margin (some uni is 2%)- then you can submit an application of appeal to the uni: and they will considering your situation. Please check your uni's handbook- this may vary between different universities.
Appreciate this a lot. I meant how do we go about explaining this to a firm if required. I realise I would most likely not have to but I was just being paranoid 🫣
 

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
310
656
On my VS:

* lots of formal events, interviews etc with specific lawyers. however, there's the opportunity to potentially interact with lots of other people by coming and saying "hi", asking out for coffee, etc. - are HR likely to ask the whole office for feedback on each VSer from which it might be ascertained your general level of sociability?
* is it better to ask questions or just get on with the work? I was given some fake work and told to ask if necessary - there's a bit of a learning curve and initially I probably didn't properly understand but while working through it my understanding of the concept improved and I didn't ask questions on the basis that I suppose they have better things to do than talk to VSers - I'm not at this point a trainee so they don't have a commercial interest in teaching me things, prior to me actually signing a TC, so maybe it's better to work things out alone.....
* was asked by partner to consider a client legal enquiry. Wasn't really clear what the purpose of this request was - it could either be because the partner doesn't know, or simply to give me an opportunity to experience client work. Was told "no need to draft but you can take some notes". I drafted because it seems to me more effective to write things formally. Was then asked the next day to have a chat to discuss the matter, which rather awkwardly was five minute before my final interview so very limited time, and I gave my conclusion on the main point based on the UK legislation and EU directive, and also noted a possible complication that I had identified.
Partner had a different conclusion on the main point so I explained why I had come to my conclusion and he said that what I was seeing as multiple things was in fact one. There was also a bit of awkward interaction because the matter could have fallen under one of two subsections, and I'd chosen one subsection and he the other. Ultimately his conclusion was more cautious than mine, and being cautious makes a lot of sense. I wasn't entirely convinced that his was the right conclusion but obviously had to acquiesce after initially explaining why I'd come to my conclusion.
Not sure if I handled this very wrongly and should have treated it purely as an opportunity to learn from him as it might have come across as arrogant - the timing was very far from ideal as I was about to go off to interview so I had a choice between listening to him or trying to share what I'd come up with. I guess it's a question of whether as a VSer one is supposed to show ability to analyse, or more treat it as an opportunity to learn. Bit confusing really.
 

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