TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[msclm]

Just spotted a spelling typo in one of the vac scheme applications I sent off. Jesus take the wheel.

I spelt Sidley Austin “Sidney Austin” in my first sentence of my first question. And I still got the vac 💀 one typo isn’t the end of the world

 

[M_m]

I feel like I majorly messed up the Taylor Wessing cover letter by adding a “why commercial law” paragraph, even though I tried to keep it really short. Could have used the space to expand more on skills 🥲

 

[Lawlawland]

I feel like I majorly messed up the Taylor Wessing cover letter by adding a “why commercial law” paragraph, even though I tried to keep it really short. Could have used the space to expand more on skills 🥲

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. The successful applications from last year have that part. I believe it also comes under the "why the scheme", question.

Especially as a career changer (the firm hires a lot of people from STEM), none can write a cover letter without answering why commercial law.

So I believe that's totally okay.

 

[M_m]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. The successful applications from last year have that part. I believe it also comes under the "why the scheme", question.

Especially as a career changer (the firm hires a lot of people from STEM), none can write a cover letter without answering why commercial law.

So I believe that's totally okay.

I really hope so. I procrastinated that cover letter for over a month and literally sent the application an hour before the deadline. 😂

 

[Amgrad]

Just spotted a spelling typo in one of the vac scheme applications I sent off. Jesus take the wheel.

Just don't everthink if your typo doesn't change the meaning of it or have hilarious recourse of words. Eg. Bowling, Growling, Growing when the actual name is Gowling 🤭

 

[tcla02]

does the mayer brown assessment have a numerical reasoning section??

 

[DavidJC]

does the mayer brown assessment have a numerical reasoning section??

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

 

[yk1906]

Just don't everthink if your typo doesn't change the meaning of it or have hilarious recourse of words. Eg. Bowling, Growling, Growing when the actual name is Gowling 🤭

Another one is King Spalding which I always want to call Spadling

 

[yk1906]

Guys, is there someone knowledgeable about gaining QWE abroad (and what counts as QWE) that I can talk to, please?

 

[Lawlawland]

just completed my FF stage 1 test…. I want to hide and crawl under a blanket 😭😭

I just know I fumbled it so badly it sucks so bad.

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...

 

[deejaykay]

Yup. I used the next section to apologise lol

They should offer you a place just for that.

 

[ghost08]

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?

 

[Dannie]

does links' cappfinity have a WG / critical thinking component too? I thought you just do the WG afterwards...

 

[a1024]

What is the deadline for Davis Polk?

 

[BatmanBeyond]

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.

 

[Amgrad]

What is the deadline for Davis Polk?

30/11 23.59. I have signed up months ago, but ineligible so I'd not submit my app.

 

[Bbhu19]

when you receive the Willkie Vi how long do you get to do it?

 

[user55998384]

fieldfisher r non-rolling
I emailed to check

is that for dtc or vacation scheme? the website contradicts itself

 

[Bbhu19]

What is the deadline for Davis Polk?

Tomorrow at midnight

 

[Bbhu19]

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.

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