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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

abc124

Star Member
Aug 9, 2025
36
10
Is anyone familiar with how strict Covington is on grades? I can't find much info online and I'm not sure if it's worth it to obsess over the form questions if they won't even read my application (I did get a 2:1 but don't have amazing grades)
 

chiichii

Distinguished Member
Oct 23, 2024
69
25
Hi @chiichii I agree that Monday is the latest you should wait to confirm - it would be highly unusual for a firm to send invites only one day before an event, as they know many applicants have to juggle busy schedules and to travel significant distances to attend. In case you are accepted, I would to be very candid and transparent but also apologetic when communicating with your new manager. I think you should address the situation upfront, specifying that you really want to avoid causing any inconvenience or starting off on the wrong foot and not appearing committed enough to your new job; but that a quite unique and important opportunity has appeared in your pursuit of your long-term dream of a career in commercial law. As such, you should try to explain that it would mean a lot to you if they would make an exception and allow you to start one day later so that you can attend the event; perhaps offering to also take an extra shift when they will need you to compensate for the present inconvenience. If you approach the manager in this manner, I think there is a high chance they will be very understanding and that they will try to accommodate your request.
Thanks for your reply, Andrei, your advice is really helpful! Would you suggest me giving my manager a heads-up now, or wait/stay silent until Monday and only let him know if I get selected for the insight day? I'm asking this because I've already told him I'll be free on Wednesday, and I'm worried that sending another message to say I might not be available could make me seem indecisive. At the same time, the "what if I get selected" is hard to ignore, but honestly, I have a feeling I might not get selected, so if I stay quiet and end up getting rejected, no explanation would be needed in the first place and I wouldn't look bad. I'm a little bit torn ahhh
 
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Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
852
1,530
Thanks for your reply, Andrei, your advice is really helpful! Would you suggest me giving my manager a heads-up now, or wait/stay silent until Monday and only let him know if I get selected for the insight day? I'm asking this because I've already told him I'll be free on Wednesday, and I'm worried that sending another message to say I might not be available could make me seem indecisive. At the same time, the "what if I get selected" is hard to ignore, but honestly, I have a feeling I might not get selected, so if I stay quiet and end up getting rejected, no explanation would be needed in the first place and I wouldn't look bad. I'm a little bit torn ahhh
I would advise you to wait until Monday. If you were to reach out now, I do not think this would have a significant impact vis-a-vis reducing the potential inconvenience caused to the manager, as (i) you are unable to give them a clear answer at this point, which will disable the manager from making fixed alternative arrangements, and (ii) normally such issues are not addressed during the weekend. If instead you inform them of the situation on Monday after receiving the open day invitation, you can explain that you have not brought up the issue sooner because you perceived your application as a long shot as this kind of opportunity is very competitive; and thus did not want to inconvenience them for no reason.
 

londonlawyer

Distinguished Member
Dec 17, 2024
60
53
Whether you can still include a headline interest in "business advisory" as the underlying reason why you want to be a paralegal at a commercial law firm depends on how you elaborate on what you mean by that. On the one hand, if you specify that you are interested in directly advising business on strategic decision-making and influencing their operations, I do not think this will work. Even when applying for a position of a trainee/junior associate this kind of justification would probably appear inadequate, as such direct and high-level client advice is normally only given by senior associates and partners.

On the other hand, if you specify that what you mean by that is that you want to constantly learn about business in a variety of industries and what about what drives their decision-making, and that it means you want to be involved in helping business navigate complex matters with huge strategic implications, I think the justification would be appropriate even for a paralegal role. Just like trainees, paralegals also need to understand the context behind the matters they work on, and I constantly hear lawyers explain how invaluable their support can be on time-sensitive and complicated matters.

The slight shift in the language and focus of these two formulation of what business advisory means may not appear very significant; however, I think for this kind of question it is crucial to showcase a nuanced understanding of the different types of work and responsibilities that exist for the different roles in a commercial law firm. This takes me to my final point: to really demonstrate your interest in a paralegal role specifically, I would advise you to also mention and explain your interest in the typical tasks a paralegal (as opposed to a trainee/junior associate) gets to work on
Thank you so much!
 
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Andrei Radu

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 9, 2024
852
1,530
Is anyone familiar with how strict Covington is on grades? I can't find much info online and I'm not sure if it's worth it to obsess over the form questions if they won't even read my application (I did get a 2:1 but don't have amazing grades)
From what I know Covington is not generally seen as one of the very grade-focused firms (such as the likes of Slaughter and May and Cleary Gottlieb), so I think your application will be considered even if you do not have an overall "high" 2.1 grade. That said, on their website the firm does specify that they are looking for candidates who have a "strong academic record" - which I interpret as a preference for candidates who have achieved 2.1 grades consistently in their modules (although not necessarily in every single one).
 

chiichii

Distinguished Member
Oct 23, 2024
69
25
I would advise you to wait until Monday. If you were to reach out now, I do not think this would have a significant impact vis-a-vis reducing the potential inconvenience caused to the manager, as (i) you are unable to give them a clear answer at this point, which will disable the manager from making fixed alternative arrangements, and (ii) normally such issues are not addressed during the weekend. If instead you inform them of the situation on Monday after receiving the open day invitation, you can explain that you have not brought up the issue sooner because you perceived your application as a long shot as this kind of opportunity is very competitive; and thus did not want to inconvenience them for no reason.
Ahh that's fair, now i can see this with a clearer sense. Thanks for the help Andrei, your advice is gold! Really appreciate it 😊🙏
 
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