TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Bread]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has advice for the Willkie application.

The education section includes the question: 'Please add any supplementary educational information including extra study and international qualifications'
You are then separately asked: Q3 - Please tell us about your achievements and positions of responsibility. (500)

Do I need to write 500 words for the first question? Or just literally use it to factually qualify anything in my work experience section?

These are clearly two very different questions, and I feel like firms use both frequently. The first one is for you to explain anything in your education section, such as professional qualifications or international education. This section would be for you to list and explain.

The second question asks about particular achievements and positions of responsibility, not necessarily related to academics.

 

[Trophy]

How long after submitting milbank first test did people get the second one?

Very irritated at the fact I wasn’t made aware there were written aspects.

 

[msclm]

How long after submitting milbank first test did people get the second one?

Very irritated at the fact I wasn’t made aware there were written aspects.

10 days

 

[anon78365222111]

Anyone that’s done Akin TI pm pls!

 

[Bread]

How long after submitting milbank first test did people get the second one?

Very irritated at the fact I wasn’t made aware there were written aspects.

If they had wanted you to be aware they would state it in their website. It seems like you've been blaming someone else on the forum for not telling you about a written part, really not cool

 

[a0]

How long after submitting milbank first test did people get the second one?

Very irritated at the fact I wasn’t made aware there were written aspects.

A week

 

[user55998384]

Does anyone know if it's worth applying to HSFK with one 2.2 module? On the app form, it does mention they look for consistent 2.1s throughout all modules, but how strictly is this adhered to/enforced?

at an open day they said if you had 1 2:2 model but the rest of your application is strong that would be fine

 

[yk1906]

How long after submitting milbank first test did people get the second one?

Very irritated at the fact I wasn’t made aware there were written aspects.

A couple of hours

 

[Chriss]

anyone heard back from Weil post VI

 

[p2bv]

How many questions does CMS VI have?

Can I ask what office you applied for

 

[Marble_Moth]

Hi guys, I have a question Re application writing / specifically Reed Smith's application. I recently received a PFO post-app from RS and upon looking at the generic feedback sheet I think I've pin-pointed where I went wrong. For my 'Why RS' Q I covered three points: Innovation at the firm / training programmes available / interest specifically in Life Sciences at the firm and linking it back to my own experience in the industry.

In the generic feedback, RS said that honing in on one practice area / industry is a big no-no as it essentially comes across as narrow-minded (AKA what I did in my written app 😬). I always thought that to make an application personal and specific enough, honing in on a practice area can be a good way of doing this espesh when word counts can be tight.

Would love any input from people on how they are integrating their interests for specific practice areas while also coming across as not narrow-minded. Thank you

 

[calebnash]

Has anyone heard back from Reed Smith since test + VI?

Yeah I got rejected

 

[Bread]

Hi guys, I have a question Re application writing / specifically Reed Smith's application. I recently received a PFO post-app from RS and upon looking at the generic feedback sheet I think I've pin-pointed where I went wrong. For my 'Why RS' Q I covered three points: Innovation at the firm / training programmes available / interest specifically in Life Sciences at the firm and linking it back to my own experience in the industry.

In the generic feedback, RS said that honing in on one practice area / industry is a big no-no as it essentially comes across as narrow-minded (AKA what I did in my written app 😬). I always thought that to make an application personal and specific enough, honing in on a practice area can be a good way of doing this espesh when word counts can be tight.

Would love any input from people on how they are integrating their interests for specific practice areas while also coming across as not narrow-minded. Thank you

would also love insight into this as I really struggle with discussing a firm's work in "why this firm" questions

 

[Hopeful applicant]

Hi guys, does anyone know much about Slaughters' post AC process? How long does it take? Do they always call referees? If so, is it more of a final check to make sure they are not taking someone terrible, or is it a meaningful part of the asessment, where they may take someone with strong refs over somoene with slightly weaker ones? Thanks!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock and others! For Skadden’s Q3, do we need to go into details on what the firm’s practices and teams can do to help clients navigate the development we’re describing? I structured my answer like:

Paragraph 1 - describing the development
Paragraph 2 - describing how it affects clients (now that I’m rereading, I’m thinking perhaps I could go into details on Skadden’s specific teams here?? Even though the question doesn’t expressly tell us to do)

Thanks in advance.

Hey!

Without seeing the specific wording of the question, I couldn't give a definitive answer either way. However, as a generally rule of thumb, I think it is a good idea to strengthen your answer by briefly connecting the development to how Skadden is positioned to help clients - as long as it feels natural and not forced.

Your structure, therefore, sounds solid, and would look like:

1. Paragraph 1: Explain the development clearly (showing research and commercial awareness)
2. Paragraph 2: Discuss the impact on clients, and this is usually where you can add a line or two about which practice areas at Skadden would get involved (e.g. regulatory, disputes, transactions, finance, etc.).

This doesn't need to be a deep dive, but I do think it is advantageous to make that link - even if they haven't explicitly asked for it in the question. It's a good way of adding context, and showing commercial awareness of how a law firm adds value to their clients.

I hope that assists!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Have people progressed to later stages with applications written in a day?

Hi!

I have received vacation scheme offers (and my DTC offer) from applications that I wrote in one day - however, I still spent a few hours on each of them. I really do think this is something that is dependant on how you work best - for me, I found it easier to get it all done in one day as I'm a pretty bad procrastinator and would often let it sit until last minute if I spread it out! However, for others, it might help to break it down and do separate questions across different days.

Additionally, writing applications is something that becomes a bit quicker over time, so a lot of my earlier applications spanned across a couple of days. There isn't necessarily one right answer / method, so I'd focus on making your applications as strong as possible

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has advice for the Willkie application.

The education section includes the question: 'Please add any supplementary educational information including extra study and international qualifications'
You are then separately asked: Q3 - Please tell us about your achievements and positions of responsibility. (500)

Do I need to write 500 words for the first question? Or just literally use it to factually qualify anything in my work experience section?

Hey!

For the first question ("supplementary educational information"), you don't need to write anything close to 500 words. It's really just a space to add factual details that don't fit neatly into the standard fields - these could be things such as extra courses, certificates, study abroad, international qualifications, etc. Most people will only write a few lines (or nothing at all!).

The 500-word answer is only for Q3, where they want a fuller reflection on your achievements and responsibilities. That's the section where you should go into detail and give proper examples.

I hope that helps!