Is it hard to get a vacation scheme?

Aug 30, 2023

Written By Alyssa Gibbons

Due to the opportunities it can provide, vacation scheme application processes are particularly competitive. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what makes the vacation scheme application process so challenging and ways that you can get yourself prepared for the application process.

What is a vacation scheme?

Think of work experience and you’d be forgiven for assuming that you’d just be making coffees or running documents from the printer. However, vacation schemes today include talks, skills sessions, group work, socials, and even real client work in some cases. It’s an invaluable experience, and usually good fun, too.

Vacation schemes are generally one or two weeks long, but some can be three weeks long. They can take place during the winter, easter or summer university holidays, and take anywhere from a couple of students up to 100 students across a firm’s schemes.

It’s important that you carefully research the firms that you’re applying to, to make sure that you would be a good fit and that the firm offers the practice areas that you’re most interested in. If you can demonstrate genuine interest in the firm and relate this to your previous experiences, you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Attending a vacation scheme is not only an excellent way to immerse yourself in a law firm and to understand the daily work of a solicitor, but can also be an opportunity to secure a coveted training contract.

What is the vacation scheme application process?

Each round of the vacation scheme recruitment process is designed to reduce the applicant pool, so it makes sense that they get more challenging. However, if you know what to expect, you can go into the process feeling confident in your abilities.

Most vacation scheme applications begin with an application form. This will ask you to note down your previous academic results, any work experience, as well as ask you to answer some motivational, competency, and/or commercial awareness questions.

It’s important that you’re truthful on these applications. Law firms will check and, if there are any inconsistencies found in what you’ve written, you could risk your vacation scheme offer being rescinded.

The next stage may vary, but many law firms commonly set the Watson Glaser, a psychometric test that assesses your ability to understand arguments and to draw inferences. Some people find that they sail through this part of the process, while others find it particularly tricky. So, if you’re looking for some guidance on increasing your grade, check out our guide here and try out a practice test here.

The next stage could be a virtual interview, where you record your video answers to questions, with time to prepare. This can be daunting for many people, especially if it’s the first time you’ve been faced with a virtual interview, so take a look at our handy guide to help you through the process.

Finally, the last stage of a vacation scheme application process is usually an interview, an assessment centre, or both! Many people find this to be the biggest barrier to them getting that vacation scheme offer, so it’s important to set plenty of time aside to prepare. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at this article.

While vacation scheme recruitment processes can vary between firms, understanding what they involve can help you to understand what you need to focus on to improve your chances of being successful. It might be tempting to apply for as many law vacation schemes as you can, but it’s important that you prioritise quality over quantity.

Getting the basics right

There are some simple reasons that can make your application get rejected, and can therefore make it harder to be successful in your vacation scheme application process. These key tips will help you increase your success rate and get you well on your way to receiving an acceptance email:

If you make some simple spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes in your application, you become less likely to secure a vacation scheme. A law firm wants to be confident that should you work as a trainee solicitor for them, you’ll be able to draft and proofread documents clients well.

Some people find avoiding these common mistakes to be difficult, but consider sending your application to a trusted family member or friend to eliminate any stray apostrophes or misspellings. Make sure you do this well ahead of the deadline so you have plenty of time to implement any necessary changes.

It's also recommended to talk about why you’re interested in that specific firm, and what makes it stand out from the crowd. Do some research into the firm (practice areas, core values, pro bono initiatives) so you can explain why this specific firm is right for you.

Meeting the academic requirements

It can be disheartening when a firm’s minimum academic requirements prevent you from applying, but law firms want to hear if there are any mitigating circumstances that meant that you were unable to meet their academic requirements. This helps them to get the full picture of your achievements and to see them in the context in which they were achieved.

When choosing modules at university, where possible, choose modules that play to your strengths and contain subject matter that interests you. Look to course tutors for support during their office hours to maximise your grade potential.

While it’s true that it’s hard to get a vacation scheme, there are some tried-and-tested techniques that can increase your chances at being successful. Some of them are super easy, while others take a little more time. All are valuable. Best of luck!

Vacation Scheme