TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[jojo23]

As the new cycle opens, I'm prepared to be victimised by Reed Smith's VI and all amberjack assessments for another year😪

I'll get it this year...

 

[AnAnonymousDuck]

hey @Ram Sabaratnam @Jaysen i have sent a dm with a personal question, i hope that's okay?

 

[Jamtaz12]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Jaysen. Hi guys, can anyone help me find the application questions for Herbert Smith Freehills and Norton Rose Fulbright winter vacation schemes so I can prepare in advance? Also, do you have any insights into what Paul Weiss's new winter vacation scheme questions are likely to be?

 

[tosin4774]

@Ram Sabaratnam @Jaysen. Hi guys, can anyone help me find the application questions for Herbert Smith Freehills and Norton Rose Fulbright winter vacation schemes so I can prepare in advance? Also, do you have any insights into what Paul Weiss's new winter vacation scheme questions are likely to be?

HFW
1.Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you (300words)
2. Why are you interested in pursuing a career at HSF (300words)

I am not sure about NRF because it keeps on changing every year.

 

[Jamtaz12]

HFW
1.Introduce us to a topic you know about and explain why it interests you (300words)
2. Why are you interested in pursuing a career at HSF (300words)

I am not sure about NRF because it keeps on changing every year.

Thanks you!!!!

 

[tosin4774]

Thanks you!!!!

HFW
What skills qualities and attributes would you bring to the role (300words). So sorry forgot about this one

 

[Jamtaz12]

HFW
What skills qualities and attributes would you bring to the role (300words). So sorry forgot about this one

wait sorry i said hsfk, is that for hfw?

 

[tosin4774]

wait sorry i said hsfk, is that for hfw?

Its hsf

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Do we have any Paul Weiss events with TCLA before their Winter deadline?

 

[Formerrejectnowatrainee]

I made a new account as I announced where my vacation scheme was on my other one and don’t want to be identified.

Happy to announce I was offered a TC a few weeks ago. This has not been an easy road at all. This was not my first cycle. I am not an A* student. Non Russell group law degree. I have failed in converting vacation schemes previously so this was not my first rodeo. I did not make 5 applications nor did I do 40.

I don’t have a detailed application strategy. Having attended multiple schemes I can say luck plays a massive factor. As well as the resources your university offers you. A low 2:1 LSE applicants has more exposure to the process than a 1st class non law applicant (in which 0 top firms attend their law fair if they have one or do dinners).

The biggest advice I have for those still pushing is to have hope. Hope and determination is what will push you through. I have cried numerous times this cycle. I have wanted to quit many a times. I didn’t because I had an ounce of hope left in me. All you need is one yes.That one yes ultimately saved me going down another route and being extremely unhappy and feeling like a failure.

The legal route is tough. Anyone who opens their laptop to apply to vacation schemes, open days and training contact is a fighter in my eyes. Fight for the career you want, fight for the type of firm you want to work at. If you’re rejected fight back and apply again. Post vacation schemes rejections are by far the worst but just know if you’ve experienced this feeling you are deserving of a training contact because that firm would’ve never took you on if they didn’t believe it.

Keep applying and keep fighting!!!

I’m sure we’ll all be sipping cocktails on our firms roof Terraces one day ❤️

 

[Hanzeeb]

Hi guys, I would really appreciate some advice! On a particular application it only allows for 4 work experience/ employment places. I have done 3 mini pupillage's, a commercial law virtual programme via forage and also have quite a lot of paid employment with one tech company. Within this company, I have progressed and been in 3 different roles and I am currently still employed there.

For a vac scheme application would you advise that I only use my legal experience in the work experience section, or use my current employed role and legal work experience and if so which ones.

Thank you so much!

 

[trainee4u]

Hi guys, I would really appreciate some advice! On a particular application it only allows for 4 work experience/ employment places. I have done 3 mini pupillage's, a commercial law virtual programme via forage and also have quite a lot of paid employment with one tech company. Within this company, I have progressed and been in 3 different roles and I am currently still employed there.

For a vac scheme application would you advise that I only use my legal experience in the work experience section, or use my current employed role and legal work experience and if so which ones.

Thank you so much!

so the tech company you put "Lead Developer" or whatever your current role is, and within the description you describe the different roles you've done. this is one job.
the 3 mini pupillages you enter each individually
the forage you don't enter because it's not work experience, not competitive, not paid, and not assessed. you can however mention it elsewhere on the form, typically.

 

[llblawstudent]

as an aside, do you think it's worth applying for mini pupillage, even if your preference is to go down the solicitor route? My thinking was that a Mini could indicate strong interest in commercial law anyway, especially contentious practices

 

[Hanzeeb]

so the tech company you put "Lead Developer" or whatever your current role is, and within the description you describe the different roles you've done. this is one job.
the 3 mini pupillages you enter each individually
the forage you don't enter because it's not work experience, not competitive, not paid, and not assessed. you can however mention it elsewhere on the form, typically.

Thank you I appreciate this! I was only thinking the forage experience, as I have no vac scheme or law firm experience and wanted to show some interest into being a solicitor

 

[Hanzeeb]

as an aside, do you think it's worth applying for mini pupillage, even if your preference is to go down the solicitor route? My thinking was that a Mini could indicate strong interest in commercial law anyway, especially contentious practices

I don’t think there’s any harm applying. By having both you would be able to confidently say having done experience at the bar and with solicitors, this is why I definitely want to go down this route.

 

[dannyp123]

Hey guys, Obviousy applying early as possible for rolling deadlines is ideal. However, would applying 2-3 weeks after the application opens prove to be a disadvantage versus an individual who applies the day applications open or is unlikely to make a difference?

 

[SoonToBeTrainee]

Hey guys, Obviousy applying early as possible for rolling deadlines is ideal. However, would applying 2-3 weeks after the application opens prove to be a disadvantage versus an individual who applies the day applications open or is unlikely to make a difference?

Hi! Don’t worry at all! Applying a few weeks after an application window has opened will not disadvantage you
In fact, I’d say whether you applied on the first day, or half way through the window, you have an equal chance. No advantage or disadvantage either way.

Both rolling and non-rolling firms typically receive 50% of all applications during the last 2 weeks (before their deadlines close).

As long as you submit a strong application, it doesn’t really matter when you submit it for 99% of firms.
This is even more true given your intention to submit only a few weeks after an application window has opened.

———

(Most firms aren’t fully rolling-basis, even if they claim to be. However, there are one or two firms that genuinely recruit on a first-come, first-served basis. But, we’re so early into the application cycle that I wouldn’t worry. If a winter scheme was hypothetically full because you were the last person to apply, you’d be considered for the spring and summer schemes instead.
What therefore matters is submitting a strong application, rather than the timing of when you submit).

 

[trainee4u]

Thank you I appreciate this! I was only thinking the forage experience, as I have no vac scheme or law firm experience and wanted to show some interest into being a solicitor

mini pupillages are good.

you don't need any legal experience to get a vac scheme - working in a tech career for several years is highly relevant.

I guess there's a question of whether you actually want to be a barrister or solicitor, so if you feel your CV looks bar-focused you could always leave a weaker/less relevant mini pupillage off

 

[Maddy]

Has anyone previously applied to Sidley Austin? Is the firm very strict with their candidates having top score?

 

[amrita6399]

I wanted to get my Sidley Austin VS application reviewed and was wondering if TCLA does reviews?