TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[pfoapplicant]

Hi guys,

I'm currently filling in the Mishcon de Reya application form, and I've one got one quick query to ask. If anyone has any tips, I'd be hugely grateful!

On the "Work Experience" section, candidates are asked to specify how many hours they've worked in a typical week, but only if the experience in question is "ongoing rather than one-off". Am I correct in presuming that a two-week vacation scheme counts as one-off?

 

[Amgrad]

Penningtons Manches Cooper Open Day invite!

 

[Lawlawland]

Can anyone let me know what to anticipate in the Mishcon Video interview part of the chat interview?

How many questions and is it motivational/strength based?

 

[Lawlawland]

hey just a bit confused - i sent off my slaughters with just my grade breakdowns on the education section of the app, was i meant to attach a transcript??

I added my grade breakdown, conversion details (international student) and also the full transcripts of all my degrees, as they said they would expect it to be clear and I didn't want to risk it.

The additional documents space is exactly for that purpose.

 

[TCGrad1642]

Does anyone know what the pillars are for the Macfarlanes assessment

 

[Life_of_PFOs]

Did you get first stage interview or later on?

Hi there, I passed the first-stage interview. I completed the assessment centre, but failed to get a vacation scheme offer.

 

[yk1906]

I added my grade breakdown, conversion details (international student) and also the full transcripts of all my degrees, as they said they would expect it to be clear and I didn't want to risk it.

The additional documents space is exactly for that purpose.

Hey! I was wondering, as a fellow international, whether you know (from ODs or whatsoever) if firms prefer us to convert our grades into % or just leave them as they are? My grades are easily convertible to % scale, and I’m honestly afraid to put my actual grades when they explicitly ask for %, because then it’ll read like I have a very low %

 

[yk1906]

I am soooo thrilled for December with all those deadlines coming up 😁😁 Hoping for at least one AC/interview for all of us here

 

[flower1]

Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
In a video interview, what are we supposed to mention for this - Why me? Why should the firm take me as their trainee solicitor? I'm struggling to identify what points the firm expects us to make and how to differentiate answers to make them unique.

Thank you

 

[letsdothis]

Jones Day AC!! Any insights are appreciated especially for the group exercise

 

[tom-sawyer]

How long did it take for people to hear back from Akin after submitting their application?

 

[confusedbird]

Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
In a video interview, what are we supposed to mention for this - Why me? Why should the firm take me as their trainee solicitor? I'm struggling to identify what points the firm expects us to make and how to differentiate answers to make them unique.

Thank you

Hi,

I'm not them but I thought I'll share my thoughts on this because this is something that I struggle with as well.

I approach these questions in a few steps -

1. Reflect on my experiences and see what I learnt from them/what skills I developed.
2. Relate these to the tasks of a trainee
3. Look at what traits the firm values

The first two steps usually give me a few options to go with and the last one helps me narrow it down and relate it back to the firm.

I hope this helps a bit!

 

[James Wakefield]

How long did people wait before getting Bird & Bird WG?

 

[WiddyJ]

Jones Day AC!! Any insights are appreciated especially for the group exercise

Congrats! Is this for spring or summer?

 

[M_m]

For the Taylor Wessing cover letter, the application form says it should include details on my skills and why I have applied for the scheme. Do we still need to outline “why commercial law” then or just stick to “why the firm” and “why me” and elaborate on that instead.

 

[TA04]

Is a simmons 6,5,7 test score good?

 

[wooliewoo]

How long did people wait before getting Bird & Bird WG?

I applied on the 15th, received WG on the 18th, sat it on the 24th and progressed to VI on the 25th.

 

[pepsicola96]

BCLP Interview for Spring! Has anyone done an AC yet for spring? I was told they were starting ACs quite early so I'm hoping I didn't leave it too late when applying, wondering how many ACs will be left. Any advice for the interview would be really appreciated too!

 

[flower1]

Hi,

I'm not them but I thought I'll share my thoughts on this because this is something that I struggle with as well.

I approach these questions in a few steps -

1. Reflect on my experiences and see what I learnt from them/what skills I developed.
2. Relate these to the tasks of a trainee
3. Look at what traits the firm values

The first two steps usually give me a few options to go with and the last one helps me narrow it down and relate it back to the firm.

I hope this helps a bit!

Thank you, that's really helpful

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

BCLP Interview for Spring! Has anyone done an AC yet for spring? I was told they were starting ACs quite early so I'm hoping I didn't leave it too late when applying, wondering how many ACs will be left. Any advice for the interview would be really appreciated too!

Congratulations! Can i ask when you applied?