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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Grad Rec confirmed in an online event that there are a few numerical questions based on datasets. The provider is Amberjack too so it would make sense
Another one is King Spalding which I always want to call Spadling
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I now understand the pain behind this post.
Totally valid. The whole process made me question atleast 10 times that if I'm even worthy enough to be a lawyer...
I have seen that in 2019 Reed Smith introduced an innovation seat on their TC [https://www.legalcheek.com/2019/09/reed-smith-launches-innovation-seats-for-london-trainees/] - is this still offered?
Hi guys, this is my 2nd/3rd application cycle and will require visa sponsorship. I applied to 4-9 firms last year but did not really focus on it, took a break to work on my academics. I have an overall first class degree and decent work experiences. Having graduated it is a bit hard to stay as motivated without my peers at university when we were all working towards the same goal together. I have been fortunate to receive mentoring where they have motivated me to apply this year and give it my all saying that I should have a decent shot. However, recently I have doing my self struggle to apply. I am finding it really hard to focus on written applications and researching the firm. I keep delaying some apps because of the pressure of this being the application cycle and often end up leaving it to the deadline despite having enough time. Due to this I have missed the deadline for 2 firms. It is not a question of being driven to apply or understanding the seriousness of the situation, I am simply unable to get anything out even if I sit down at my desk and spend days on an app until and unless it is the last day. Sometimes I find all this too overwhelming and that is why I suspect am freezing, procrastinating, shutting down, and unknowingly sabotaging myself.
I have thought of these measures but not sure how they will work, would appreciate your advise:
A. Do not try and one shot an application in a day as that often causes me to not get most work done. Rather start earlier and do parts even if it one question or a small part of a cover letter/ research or organising my points.
B. Just better time management and organisation. I am planning an ambitious number of quality applications and December is likely to have the most deadlines, so while this may not prevent being overwhelmed it could at least leave me in a better situation.
C. I think I am over emphasising and trying too much to be a perfectionist leading to worse apps in my mind and also deadline issues, so getting normal drafts out and then editing them later instead of write edit keep editing then continue writing.
D. Sometimes reinventing the wheel, because I have done an application cycle because I feel that I have become over reliant on parts that worked previously whether it is why commercial law, why you, or why this practice area, and using similar iterations. When having to do an application where the practice area of interest is one I have not written about before, it can cause some friction, so embracing these new changes and trying out new iterations.
I feel very unlike myself and all the stress has been overwhelming. I really want to break this vicious cycle of mistakes and make it work. I would appreciate any all advise from those who have or are going through the same.
I have thought of these measures but not sure how they will work, would appreciate your advise:
A. Do not try and one shot an application in a day as that often causes me to not get most work done. Rather start earlier and do parts even if it one question or a small part of a cover letter/ research or organising my points.
B. Just better time management and organisation. I am planning an ambitious number of quality applications and December is likely to have the most deadlines, so while this may not prevent being overwhelmed it could at least leave me in a better situation.
C. I think I am over emphasising and trying too much to be a perfectionist leading to worse apps in my mind and also deadline issues, so getting normal drafts out and then editing them later instead of write edit keep editing then continue writing.
D. Sometimes reinventing the wheel, because I have done an application cycle because I feel that I have become over reliant on parts that worked previously whether it is why commercial law, why you, or why this practice area, and using similar iterations. When having to do an application where the practice area of interest is one I have not written about before, it can cause some friction, so embracing these new changes and trying out new iterations.
I feel very unlike myself and all the stress has been overwhelming. I really want to break this vicious cycle of mistakes and make it work. I would appreciate any all advise from those who have or are going through the same.
30/11 23.59. I have signed up months ago, but ineligible so I'd not submit my app.
Personally I would say create a top 5 of firms you feel you are really interested in and would be most likely to focus on, once that’s done find out their deadlines and prioritise them based on the deadline and your preference, then create an overall plan for what why com law which can be the same for all of them and then why the firm ,allocate some time depending on your availability to then fill out this plan into a draft, and note down your progress each time to make sure you are likely to achieve your goal or if you need to make adjustments, also ask one of your friends to do check ins maybe weekly or every other day to make sure you are on track.
You don’t have to take my advise but that’s what I would do in your situation, Goodluck
Hi @Abbie Whitlock , I am a career changer and, while applying to the Skadden's VS, there is a question re other career would I choose rather than law. However, as I am coming from another direction, law is not a backup plan, but my genuine career of choice. I am unsure about how to describe this 
Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
I was hoping if you could provide tips on how to sound more natural and less robotic in video interviews. This is because I'm noticing that as I practice more, I'm able to remember more information, but this also means I'm speaking quite robotically. I'm trying to pause in between and slow down but I feel like this comes across quite artificially. Do you have any tips to prevent this?
Thank you
I was hoping if you could provide tips on how to sound more natural and less robotic in video interviews. This is because I'm noticing that as I practice more, I'm able to remember more information, but this also means I'm speaking quite robotically. I'm trying to pause in between and slow down but I feel like this comes across quite artificially. Do you have any tips to prevent this?
Thank you
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