• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • A Deep Dive Into Reed Smith's Sector Focus (Transportation)
    24 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Dive into Reed Smith’s transportation practice to see how their legal advice drives the world’s largest shipping, aviation, and logistics businesses, and how trainees can make their mark.
    Register on Zoom →
  • How to Secure a Vacation Scheme (Ropes & Gray)
    1 Dec 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    In this interactive session, Maya Shah, Senior Early Careers Specialist at Ropes & Gray, will walk you through every stage of the firm's application process.
    Register on Zoom →

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Abbie Whitlock

Administrator
Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 11, 2025
484
416
Does anyone know how firms tend to deal with requests to unsubmit an application?
Hi!

Whilst I can't say with complete certainty, the outcome will probably depend on what you want to do next. If you're hoping to unsubmit the application but not reapply in this cycle, it may be best to simply leave it as it is (as it won't affect any future applications you make). Alternatively, you could politely contact the graduate recruitment team and ask whether they can withdraw it from their end.

If the intention is to unsubmit and then resubmit a new application in the same cycle, this is less likely to be permitted. Many firms don't allow candidates to reapply within the same recruitment round once an application has been submitted, and they may not be comfortable accepting a second submission, as you would have technically already applied in that cycle.

I'd say the safest approach is to email the graduate recruitment team, explain the situation, and see what they can do - they'll be able to give you the most definitive answer! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: ninarosee

1stCycleApplicant

Distinguished Member
Sep 9, 2024
50
137
End of Week Update: Travers pfo post app | W&C pfo post vi | DLA submitted | Sullivan & Cromwell submitted | Akin/K&E this weekend

Weil ✅📝
W&C ✅📝🎥
Sidley ✅❌
Cleary ✅❌
Willkie ✅🎥✍️
Milbank ✅📝🔵
Dechert ✅✍️❌
DLA Piper
Jones Day ✅❌
Slaughters ✅❌
Paul, Weiss ✅❌
Freshfields* ✅📝🔵
Macfarlanes ✅📝🔵
Mayer Brown ✅📝
Gibson Dunn ✅📝
Travers Smith* ✅
A&O Shearman* ✅📝
Clifford Chance* ✅📝🔵
Latham & Watkins ✅📝🔵
Sullivan & Cromwell

Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🔵 = Invited to 2nd test/met benchmark; ✍️ = Written Exercise; 🎥 = VI; ❌ = rejection

*Training Contract applications.
 

Abbie Whitlock

Administrator
Staff member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 11, 2025
484
416
thank you so much - sorry just another thing - would you just focus on one change?
Hey!

No worries! This depends on the word limit that you have for the question, but I think discussing 2-3 well-developed issues would be the optimal amount. This allows you to cover a few things, but also go into depth and tailor your points.

If the word limit is relatively small, I’d say 1 well developed point works well! The focus should be on depth not breadth, so I’d focus on writing in more detail on fewer issues where you can :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: user55998384

MattSmith

Standard Member
  • Jul 21, 2025
    7
    0
    Hi everyone - I have a Latham Q. I was successful for their open day which fast tracks to the vac scheme (don't need to do SJT or VI again but still need to write written app). BUT one of the Qs for the vac scheme is exactly the same as the one I wrote for the open day (a question on extracurriculars, interests, etc...). Is it alright for me to reuse the same Q? I forgot to ask this with gradrec!
     

    DavidJC

    Legendary Member
    Dec 29, 2019
    129
    280
    Does anyone know if Hogan L’s second stage online assessment video is timed or is it unlimited time to prepare?
    (PS : haven’t received the invite yet) just anticipating my folly😭😂) VIs will not be the end of me, I refuse😩😤
    Timed. As for first stage, HL seems to send tests in batches but I know for a fact that they don't review your application until after you complete 2nd stage it seems i.e. they review it with the 2nd stage test result
     
    • 🤝
    Reactions: Someoneinlaw

    shadowboxer909

    Well-Known Member
    Oct 20, 2025
    22
    25
    End of Week Update: Travers pfo post app | W&C pfo post vi | DLA submitted | Sullivan & Cromwell submitted | Akin/K&E this weekend

    Weil ✅📝
    W&C ✅📝🎥
    Sidley ✅❌
    Cleary ✅❌
    Willkie ✅🎥✍️
    Milbank ✅📝🔵
    Dechert ✅✍️❌
    DLA Piper
    Jones Day ✅❌
    Slaughters ✅❌
    Paul, Weiss ✅❌
    Freshfields* ✅📝🔵
    Macfarlanes ✅📝🔵
    Mayer Brown ✅📝
    Gibson Dunn ✅📝
    Travers Smith* ✅
    A&O Shearman* ✅📝
    Clifford Chance* ✅📝🔵
    Latham & Watkins ✅📝🔵
    Sullivan & Cromwell

    Key: ✅ = application submitted; 📝 = test received; 🔵 = Invited to 2nd test/met benchmark; ✍️ = Written Exercise; 🎥 = VI; ❌ = rejection

    *Training Contract applications.
    I assume most of them are winter vacations right?

    When did you apply to Travers Smith? I ask because they still haven't rejected me and so I'm wondering what on earth is the hold up or whether they're just going through applications in order rejecting them.
     

    1stCycleApplicant

    Distinguished Member
    Sep 9, 2024
    50
    137
    I assume most of them are winter vacations right?

    When did you apply to Travers Smith? I ask because they still haven't rejected me and so I'm wondering what on earth is the hold up or whether they're just going through applications in order rejecting them.
    Winter apps: W&C, Cleary, Sidley, Dechert, JD, PW.
    Travers was a DTC app sent on the 5th Nov
     

    shadowboxer909

    Well-Known Member
    Oct 20, 2025
    22
    25
    Winter apps: W&C, Cleary, Sidley, Dechert, JD, PW.
    Travers was a DTC app sent on the 5th Nov
    Have I just missed the email then because I applied to Travers well before the 5th?

    What on earth is going on with this recruitment process? Maybe I'm just going crazy or they just decided to give you a special rejection as my application wasn't even worth the effort lol.

    Or is it like last in-first out where they review from last in and then reject as they go down the pile.
     

    yk1906

    Legendary Member
    Aug 26, 2024
    179
    129
    Have I just missed the email then because I applied to Travers well before the 5th?

    What on earth is going on with this recruitment process? Maybe I'm just going crazy or they just decided to give you a special rejection as my application wasn't even worth the effort lol.

    Or is it like last in-first out where they review from last in and then reject as they go down the pile.
    I applied to Travers a long time ago and also received a PFO recently. Check the Direct TC Thread, a lot of people received rejections. Maybe it’s good that you haven’t! Although some people also received PFOs post-interview
     

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Get Our 2026 Vacation Scheme Guide

    Nail your vacation scheme applications this year with our latest guide, with sample answers to law firm questions.