TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Goingtogetatc]

Have you completed the job sim?

yup like 2 weeks ish ago

 

[baj5]

Has anyone heard from covington?

 

[c.t.tc]

Mishcon test finally came through!

 

[Lawlife5]

Hey, I spoke to them at an event a few weeks ago and they said they want to see how you have interacted with Hogan Lovells through these events or how they relate back to Hogan Lovells. So for example, in my application, I talked about attending Skadden's Open Evening and a discussion I had about Competition Law, and linked that back in terms of international firms doing international work at the intersection of government/regulation and business (something HL strategically aims towards).

As a general rule of thumb with questions like these, you should try and list what it was, talk about what you learned/gained from it or any positive outcomes, and try and link that back to the firm you're applying to.

The question does not ask this though lmao they just make up their own rules

 

[Lawlife5]

Does everyone get invited to do the Macfarlanes simulate? Does it mean my app review was successful?

 

[Harvey Specter]

The question does not ask this though lmao they just make up their own rules

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go.​

 

[Lawlife5]

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go.​

That is not fair at all. If they want this then they should be asking it. How is everyone who applies meant to know this?!

 

[Lawlawland]

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go​

This is true.
In the last week open day, they advised me to always link back all the questions to the firm specifically, even if that wasn't explicitly stated in the question!

Given the fact that they wouldn't read our application until we clear their 3rd stage of application (job simulator), this seems tiresome.

 

[ali-k]

Hello,

I have asked a similar sort of question before but just wanted to make sure now. I have an AC coming up in a week, I got told about it 3 weeks ago and have been prepping since. I have got my answers for motivational and competency style interviews, and I am just now brushing up on commercial awareness (reading the FT etc.). My AC has a written exercise, group exercise, case study interview and motivational and competency interview. How can I maximise the utility of this week? I probably have not done as much for the written exercise: all I have done is learnt the structure of a memo, report, and letter. For the group exercise I am also unsure, just been learning the ins and outs of M&A deals and other types of stuff. Is this enough?

Would appreciate any help anyone could give me on how they have prepared.

 

[jojo23]

Anybody heard from:
cms post test
Reed smith post test
taylor wessing post test
Akin

 

[c.t.tc]

Anybody heard from:
cms post test
Reed smith post test
taylor wessing post test
Akin

Taylor Wessing won't be in touch until they've finalised all people they are putting through to the written exercise I don't think - that's how they did it last year and people found out at the end of November.

 

[qwop881]

White & Case AC!
Also, Linklaters said they filled places for the winter scheme but offered an AC for the spring scheme instead.

 

[johnsmith]

Taylor Wessing won't be in touch until they've finalised all people they are putting through to the written exercise I don't think - that's how they did it last year and people found out at the end of November.

Think one of their emails advised this was the case for this year as well!

 

[Jennifer2003]

For Pinsent Masons, how much time do you get to prepare for the VI and how long do you get to record your answer?

 

[whywhy88]

Safe to assume PFO from freshfields if I haven't heard back post-stage 1 test and it's been three weeks? 😅

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

I think this structure makes sense; when answering this kind of question, I also used to split it up in a 'Why commercial law generally" and a "Why the firm" part, allocating around 1 minute of speaking time to each. I like this structure because it makes it very clear that you are addressing both points in the question directly; and ensuring the recruiter doesn't get lost when listening to your answer is crucial for progression.

That said, if there is significant overlap between your general why commercial law reasons and your firm-specific motivations, you could also bridge the analysis and go for the following approach:

1. Explain reason 1 why you want to work in commercial law; and the explain how this motivation makes the law firm particularly well-suited for you (e.g. if you want to go into commercial law because you enjoy advocacy and working on contentious matters in a business context, you could make a nice link to how this fits well with the strengths in disputes of firms such as HSFK).
2. Explain reason 2 for pursuing commercial law, and then explain how this also makes the firm a particularly good fit.

Nonetheless, if you choose to go down this route, you should be careful of two things: (i) you should avoid making strained connections between the "why commercial law" and "why the firm" motivations; and (ii) you should ensure you are very clear as to when you are discussing the general commercial law point and when you are discussing the specific firm point, so that the recruiter can be sure you have adequately addressed both.

Hi @Andrei Radu, sorry to ask you questions repeatedly. But do you think having 2 points is enough for the law firm part because I don't think I'll be able to fit 3 in. Also, is it okay if it is one point is about one of their practices and other one is about their pro-bono/EDI ? Or would you recommend doing both about interested practice areas.

 

[e_turbo2]

Outside of what TCLA offers, are there any other (paid or free) sources to help prep for a written exercise?

 

[e_turbo2]

Does everyone get invited to do the Macfarlanes simulate? Does it mean my app review was successful?

Believe it is selective! Congrats

 

[LawAspirer]

Mishcon test finally came through!

When did you apply if I may ask? Applied last week and still heard nothing

 

[LawAspirer]

Same positions here and I am assuming so

Safe to assume PFO from freshfields if I haven't heard back post-stage 1 test and it's been three weeks? 😅