TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[RJ Ruban]

Anyone invited to Freshfields AC?

Any advice on the second stage questions? Were they more strength-based or freshfield and commerical related?

 

[manifestingthetc]

Fieldfisher holding email post assessment (completed a month ago)

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Covington PFO

 

[jojo23]

Covington pfo at 8:26pm... take a day off and have a social life😭

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Alas, Covington PFO.

 

[elizabethkate]

i’m

Congrats!! Can I ask how you know this? Did you reach the next stage?

just got an email saying passed and now they’ll look at my application

 

[baj5]

Covington PFO…that was my strongest application. 🫠

 

[legallybrunnette]

Covington pfo at 8:26pm... take a day off and have a social life😭

same LOL

 

[lelezb1]

Covington pfo. Can peacefully book that Christmas trip now😂

 

[Lawlawland]

Covington PFO
Potential PFO from Cleary after second stage (WGT)...

This is gonna be a tough week smh.

 

[Sharkfin]

Covington pfo at 8:26pm... take a day off and have a social life😭

Trust me, like F*** off i dont want to join ur teams call gimme a TC 😭😭😭

 

[Lawlawland]

Trust me, like F*** off i dont want to join ur teams call gimme a TC 😭😭😭

That was the worst part😭😭😭😭

Like why are you promoting your event in the same mail asking me to FO... When I have no use out of it?

 

[Sharkfin]

That was the worst part😭😭😭😭

Like why are you promoting your event in the same mail asking me to FO... When I have no use out of it?

Had to reiterate that no feedback would be provided, cheers m8 i read that the first time 👍👍👍

 

[yasmars]

Trust me, like F*** off i dont want to join ur teams call gimme a TC 😭😭😭

Does everyone get invited to the teams call

 

[jojo23]

Trust me, like F*** off i dont want to join ur teams call gimme a TC 😭😭😭

I didn't even clock the teams call... I stopped reading after 'we regret to inform you' 🤣🤣

 

[Mikeross750]

Fieldfisher holding email post assessment (completed a month ago)

Did you apply for the TC or Pathways to Practice?

 

[jojo23]

Covington pfo. Can peacefully book that Christmas trip now😂

Do we get an invite?🤣

 

[abc124]

Covington pfo at 8:26pm... take a day off and have a social life😭

Who does that 😭😭 I finally relaxed thinking I survived another day but no they had to interrupt my wind down tiktok scroll

 

[lelezb1]

Do we get an invite?🤣

yesss 😂 let’s all get together and have a party to roast these pfos!

 

[FutureTrainee100]

I’m in my second cycle and I’m honestly shaken.

Last year I applied to 7 firms and got through the application stage at all of them (some rejections came after the VI / written exercises). I made it to 3 ACs, but I was rejected post-AC every time.

I spent the past year fixing the exact things I thought sunk me — I drilled interviews weekly, I read the FT daily, listened to the FT News Briefing, read All You Need to Know About the City, and I genuinely feel like I understand the market now. I’m far more fluent talking through deals, current trends, and events.

So far this year I’ve applied to 3 winter schemes — 3 straight rejections at the application stage. I don’t understand how it’s gone backwards.

I feel like I’ve done everything you’re “supposed” to do. I graduated with a first from an RG university and ranked in the top 5% of my cohort while working multiple jobs. I published research and was invited to present at Harvard. I sat on committees for multiple societies. I took a chance and moved to London to make this career work. I couldn’t get a paralegal role, so I’m in retail.
I don’t know anyone here (only moved to the UK to go to uni) and then to London to get a TC and build a life. I feel so stupid and SO defeated.

Right now it feels like I’m free-falling and I genuinely dont know what to do.

I’m not looking for sympathy I just need clarity. Is this normal? Are firms just this cut-throat this year? Is it algorithmic screening? Is it the market? What do I do????