What stood weird to me is that someone here asked the grad rec team of a&o shearman whether they're considering graduates for their vac schemes to which they replied that they're not. But I've already applied to their winter vacation scheme and also received online test + interview invite which is quite confusing. Plus they also worded things in the application form in such a way that would make you believe that they are considering graduates which made me continue my application and not doubt. Literally their questions were phrased like "have you graduated or do you anticipate graduating with a 2:1, yes or no"
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📅 Vacation Scheme Applications 2025–26
Planning to apply for winter, spring or summer vacation schemes? Join our dedicated threads for support, deadlines, and discussion:
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
Includes winter, spring and summer deadlines + a handy rolling/non-rolling checklist. -
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread
Ask questions, share tips, and support each other through the application cycle.
Let’s make this your strongest application season yet 💼
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2025–26 Vacation Scheme Deadlines
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
I am happy to confirm that I have secured a training contract with my dream firm, a globally recognised practice. It has taken a lot of perseverance, and I waited to speak with the HR team and finalise everything before sharing the news, but it is official now.
I want to extend my thanks to everyone at TCLA for the support, guidance and encouragement along the way. Your advice helped me improve my interview technique, develop commercial awareness and application strategy, and it made all the difference when preparing for the assessment centre.
I know many of you may have doubts about your background, grades or university . I certainly did. I did not attend a Russell Group university. My university was very much middling, and my final grade was not a first class. In fact, it was significantly below my actual potential due to mitigating circumstances. I did not get AAA at college. I think my highest grade was a C, and although I have 11 GCSEs, they are also well below what I was capable of at the time.
What mattered was that the firm saw past the transcript. They looked at my potential. I performed strongly at the assessment centre and ranked among the top performers in my vacation scheme cohort, thanks in large part to the insight and tools I gained through TCLA.
One thing I would also emphasise is the value of external experience. Working in other fields for a period gave me transferable skills and helped demonstrate a track record of success outside of law. It can really add depth to your profile and show firms that you bring more than just academic credentials.
To anyone still applying, please do not give up. Firms really do take candidates from all kinds of backgrounds. TCLA can help you , and I genuinely would not be in this position without it.
Now the next challenge is the SQE, and I am ready to get stuck in. For anyone else, feel free to reach out. I am happy to share tips as I go.
Wishing you all the very best of luck. If I can do it, you can too.
I want to extend my thanks to everyone at TCLA for the support, guidance and encouragement along the way. Your advice helped me improve my interview technique, develop commercial awareness and application strategy, and it made all the difference when preparing for the assessment centre.
I know many of you may have doubts about your background, grades or university . I certainly did. I did not attend a Russell Group university. My university was very much middling, and my final grade was not a first class. In fact, it was significantly below my actual potential due to mitigating circumstances. I did not get AAA at college. I think my highest grade was a C, and although I have 11 GCSEs, they are also well below what I was capable of at the time.
What mattered was that the firm saw past the transcript. They looked at my potential. I performed strongly at the assessment centre and ranked among the top performers in my vacation scheme cohort, thanks in large part to the insight and tools I gained through TCLA.
One thing I would also emphasise is the value of external experience. Working in other fields for a period gave me transferable skills and helped demonstrate a track record of success outside of law. It can really add depth to your profile and show firms that you bring more than just academic credentials.
To anyone still applying, please do not give up. Firms really do take candidates from all kinds of backgrounds. TCLA can help you , and I genuinely would not be in this position without it.
Now the next challenge is the SQE, and I am ready to get stuck in. For anyone else, feel free to reach out. I am happy to share tips as I go.
Wishing you all the very best of luck. If I can do it, you can too.
When answering a question on which personal qualities make a successful lawyer on an application (250 words) , would you link it back to how you have developed these qualities?
Fun Friday question which I'd love your guys' thoughts on (especially @Ram Sabaratnam and @Chris Brown 😁 )
Which apps/websites/tools do you use to help organise your application process?
Last year, I used a mixture of Notion (to compile my info on firms + shortlist of firms) and MS Word (to write + store my applications). Have you guys enjoyed any other tools? If you use Notion too, I'd love to hear how you structure things!
Which apps/websites/tools do you use to help organise your application process?
Last year, I used a mixture of Notion (to compile my info on firms + shortlist of firms) and MS Word (to write + store my applications). Have you guys enjoyed any other tools? If you use Notion too, I'd love to hear how you structure things!
- Feb 17, 2018
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- 8,902
With video interviews, it's fine to keep the content the same if nothing has changed. I'd just review whether there are any opportunities to improve the structure or delivery
- Feb 17, 2018
- 4,787
- 8,902
We've seen both versions successful so I don't think it matters too much. My general rule here would be to answer the question first (which personal qualities make for a successful lawyer) and if you have a little space to tie it back to you, then that's great.
- Feb 17, 2018
- 4,787
- 8,902
- Feb 17, 2018
- 4,787
- 8,902
I think they have for the last couple of years. However, there’s no guarantee the application questions will be the same this year, especially given the merger.
This early into cycle, most people do some research and bullet points things they want to include for law firms they’re applying to. Generally speaking, I think this is a much better pre-cycle approach in order to save time long-term and help draft more applications when they open.
But, I don’t think you’re necessarily harming yourself by drafting answers to those questions, if HSF is one of the main firms you would like to secure a TC at.
It might feel like a waste of time if those questions don’t come up, but:
A) Those questions will likely overlap with other firms’ application questions.
B) Those questions are sometimes used as interview questions. So, regardless, they’re good to have a think about.
C) ‘Why HSF’ is almost certainly likely to come up as a question anyway, even if they did change their written application process.
I'm also unsure.
This page suggests that vacation schemes are open solely to those in their penultimate year of study:
But the top of this page suggests it's open to those in final and penultimate years of study:
But then further down the very same page, it suggests that graduates are eligible:
🤷♂️
"For our Winter 2025 Vacation Scheme, you will need to be in your final year of study in any degree discipline. Please note, this will be for a spring intake start date. For our Summer 2026 Vacation Scheme, you need to be in your penultimate year in any degree discipline."
Ignore all of the general texts, clearly some of them refer to Summer and some to both. The above should clarify the position
Hey guys,
Those who applied to firms that require passing a game-based assessment (pymetrics test, pump the balloon), what kind of adjustments did they provide? @Ram Sabaratnam, do you have any tips?
Those who applied to firms that require passing a game-based assessment (pymetrics test, pump the balloon), what kind of adjustments did they provide? @Ram Sabaratnam, do you have any tips?
Can't advise on adjustments but I got 4/4 out of all components in NRF's test a while back. The below should help!
- Sep 7, 2024
- 575
- 1,285
Hiya @ashwright
Call me old school, but I’ve always been an unapologetic Excel loyalist (and yes, this is a hill I will die on).
Although some of my colleagues who use other tools would probably disagree, I never really felt the need for Notion or other tools. During my second year, I used an excel spreadsheet to track absolutely everything in one place, e.g. firm names, deadlines, application status, interview dates, and a section for little "miscellaneous notes/links" that were relevant to each firm. I'm also a big fan of the conditional formatting and just generally using colour-codes (e.g. green for submitted, yellow for in-progress, red for “oh no, deadline tomorrow”). This was just my preference though, so I'd say just use whatever platform is helpful to you
Hiya @ashwright
Call me old school, but I’ve always been an unapologetic Excel loyalist (and yes, this is a hill I will die on).
Although some of my colleagues who use other tools would probably disagree, I never really felt the need for Notion or other tools. During my second year, I used an excel spreadsheet to track absolutely everything in one place, e.g. firm names, deadlines, application status, interview dates, and a section for little "miscellaneous notes/links" that were relevant to each firm. I'm also a big fan of the conditional formatting and just generally using colour-codes (e.g. green for submitted, yellow for in-progress, red for “oh no, deadline tomorrow”). This was just my preference though, so I'd say just use whatever platform is helpful to you
I did the same as @Ram Sabaratnam! I used an excel spreadsheet to organise and keep track of my applications. I had separate columns for all of the following categories: 😅
1. Firm names (usually in alphabetical order).
2. VS/TC deadlines for each firm (in order from earliest to latest e.g., WVS or SVS).
3. Application stages e.g., SJT, VI, AC and what stage of the process I was at.
4. Interview dates and type of interview (was it solely commercial or competency etc).
5. Application outcome (whether successful or unsuccessful) for VS and/or TC.
I am also a fiend for formatting and so I colour coded everything (green for submitting an app, blue for passing a certain stage, yellow if it was still in progress and red for a PFO). 🥲
I didn’t even know there was something called notion until now lmao. I think ultimately it just depends on personal preferences but I found it easier to use excel over word. 🙂
1. Firm names (usually in alphabetical order).
2. VS/TC deadlines for each firm (in order from earliest to latest e.g., WVS or SVS).
3. Application stages e.g., SJT, VI, AC and what stage of the process I was at.
4. Interview dates and type of interview (was it solely commercial or competency etc).
5. Application outcome (whether successful or unsuccessful) for VS and/or TC.
I am also a fiend for formatting and so I colour coded everything (green for submitting an app, blue for passing a certain stage, yellow if it was still in progress and red for a PFO). 🥲
I didn’t even know there was something called notion until now lmao. I think ultimately it just depends on personal preferences but I found it easier to use excel over word. 🙂
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I'm autistic and used to struggle a LOT with SJTs. In my opinion, what helps is to read the firm's values so you can apply them to the SJTs. Do not choose extreme options or you won't seem very balanced and there are also a few general rules (with exceptions, hence the need to check the firm's values).
1. Firms are generally efficient, if there is a more efficient way of doing something, do so.
2. Firms are generally collaborative, so pick a more collaborative option if necessary.
3. You are a trainee, so whilst you need to showcase some level of independence and competency, if you truly don't know something, the better option is to seek clarification.
4. The client generally comes first and it is important to be the most careful when it comes to that.
5. Don't do anything which will negatively impact the firm's reputation.
6. Maintain professionalism and calm under pressure.
This thinking helped me go from passing no SJTs to passing them most of the time.
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Hi, may I ask what your grades and University is like? I want to understand if these firms recruit from certain universities only and whether its worth applying… I have a high 2:1 from UoM
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