TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[johnsmith]

I've had a busy period for open days over the last month: Willkie Farr and Gallagher, Skadden, and Simmons+Simmons.

The experience has encouraged me to apply for more vacation schemes rather than direct TCs, or perhaps TCs that are only available through VS. Gaining that structured exposure to firm culture before deciding where to train is very important.

Up next: Another Simmons day and Lewis Silkin.

What a result, Will, congrats to you - it seems you're making awesome progress. Looking at your intro post, though, I'm not surprised, as you have a super relevant background that law firms will feel fits their work excellently!

 

[elizabethkate]

I received my Linklaters report and I was wondering does anyone know if the benchmark is per section or for the whole exam... Because I got 92%, but scored 69 on one of them (although the two other sections were 99 and 93).... I feel like their benchmark is 70 in general, but do they also apply this for each section?

did u ask for it?

 

[boots pharmacy]

did u ask for it?

You have to email grad rec for it

 

[anon78365222111]

Anyone know if you can apply to AO with a 5 in gcse maths due to mitigating circumstances

 

[WillKitchen]

Well done for getting into so many open days! Has it helped you decide which firm/s you’d like to go for?

Thank you!

Yes, it is very useful to gain a sense of US/City culture for myself, and see which firms replicate that sense of intellectual curiosity and global collaboration that I know from my university teaching and academic publishing work.

In the past, I've been a project manager for international research teams (supervising professionals from Japan, Canada and Sweden), so the larger firms with a portfolio of cross-border work make the most sense. I also have some sector knowledge around commercial media. Aside from that, I'm keeping an open mind!

 

[WillKitchen]

What a result, Will, congrats to you - it seems you're making awesome progress. Looking at your intro post, though, I'm not surprised, as you have a super relevant background that law firms will feel fits their work excellently!

Thank you - I'm hoping that recruitment teams will agree!

 

[Amgrad]

Thank you!

Yes, it is very useful to gain a sense of US/City culture for myself, and see which firms replicate that sense of intellectual curiosity and global collaboration that I know from my university teaching and academic publishing work.

In the past, I've been a project manager for international research teams (supervising professionals from Japan, Canada and Sweden), so the larger firms with a portfolio of cross-border work make the most sense. I also have some sector knowledge around commercial media. Aside from that, I'm keeping an open mind!

That's cool. I am currently drafting for my VS applications and will submit them after the open days:

• Taylor Wessing
• Skadden
• Goodwin
• Shoosmiths
• Reed Smith

Planning to apply/Waiting for the open day outcome:

• Gibson Dunn
• Stephenson Harwood
• Cooley
• Clyde & Co

Hope to get more insights to get well-polished app!

 

[Lawlife5]

For those that passed Freshfields 1st stage assessment how long did you spend on the Watson Glaser section and overall? Just trying to gauge as I feel like it took me ages

 

[johnsmith]

For those that passed Freshfields 1st stage assessment how long did you spend on the Watson Glaser section and overall? Just trying to gauge as I feel like it took me ages

I'd say around 30 minutes, but I'd done quite a few CappFin tests by that point.

 

[Lawlife5]

I'd say around 30 minutes, but I'd done quite a few CappFin tests by that point.

30 minutes overall?

 

[johnsmith]

30 minutes overall?

Oh with SJT perhaps 40-45 mins?

 

[llblawstudent]

Guys I’ve just received my Freshfields stage one feedback form back. My two weakest scoring were collaboration and working under pressure which seems odd because those attributes have been said in other SJTs to be my strongest lol. Is it safe to assume this is a pfo as Freshfields value these especially highly (from what I could gather on their website?)

 

[sooae]

Hi! For those who applied to Milbank, how long did it take to receive a WG invite after completing the online assessment?

 

[a0]

Hi! For those who applied to Milbank, how long did it take to receive a WG invite after completing the online assessment?

`Less than a week. Did mine on the 24th of October and received the WG invite on the 30th.

 

[AS24]

Hi @Andrei Radu, I am applying to both Dechert and Eversheds and would like to ask your opinion on how to approach these two questions.

1) If applicable, please state any additional information which you think is relevant to your application or which you think has not been covered adequately in this form. I have 300 words to answer this question and I really do not know what to write.

2)Please detail all your positions of responsibility including title, date and a brief description. Please separate each position with a bullet point. Do you think I need to provide the exact dates of each position?

 

[sooae]

`Less than a week. Did mine on the 24th of October and received the WG invite on the 30th.

Hey thanks!
Do you know if its selective?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Anyone know if you can apply to AO with a 5 in gcse maths due to mitigating circumstances

Hey!

If you have mitigating circumstances, I would say this is unlikely to be an issue as long as you explain why that specific grade is an isolated incident amongst the rest of your academic profile. The FAQ's on their website state: "We do take into account mitigating circumstances, including those relating to a disability, which may have affected your grades either at school or university and there is a space on the application form to include these."

Best of luck with your application!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Guys I’ve just received my Freshfields stage one feedback form back. My two weakest scoring were collaboration and working under pressure which seems odd because those attributes have been said in other SJTs to be my strongest lol. Is it safe to assume this is a pfo as Freshfields value these especially highly (from what I could gather on their website?)

Hello!

I wouldn't assume that this is an automatic rejection based on the attributes alone. The "weakness" will simply be the score that you scored the lowest in - this doesn't necessarily mean that you had a bad score in it overall! Every applicant will be given a weakness, and it's likely that most of the skills would be ones that are important for the firm / working as a trainee, so I would try not to worry about the specific attributes you have been given.

Best of luck!

 

[Deleted member 42704]

is dla's next stage after the WG a video interview or telephone interview?

 

[llblawstudent]

Anyone else not receive a confirmation email after completing the second Milbank test?