TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[yk1906]

is this for vac or DTC? I've not heard any AC offers for direct tc yet

VS

 

[Amgrad]

Makes me remember how I got into LSE but couldn’t pay

Harvard admit here, but I went to Cali community college instead :')

 

[cookedlawstudent]

not too sure on the stage 2 part, but what I do know rn is that they've already held quite a few ACs and are currently giving out offer calls. I've heard that they will be holding some last few ACs in January so maybe they're focusing on their current task at hand before going back to invite people to the next set of ACs?

That's true, and they have still been handing out invites for their Stage 1 and 2 online assessments in the middle of these ACs, which implies they're still open to more applications. The people on this forum have said that they were invited on Nov 28th and then they held their ACs 2 weeks after one day after another, so I think the final invites will be sent within the next two weeks.

 

[yk1906]

Harvard admit here, but I went to Cali community college instead :')

I ended up doing an LLM in Europe

 

[lawstudent2]

Guys in my stress induced madness from not getting a response from Freshfields, I just realised that I never got an email confirming my completion of the FF stage 2 assessment, but I am 10000% sure I submitted it correctly. Should I be concerned?

I didn't get a confirmation email, but I had to email them to check that my audio could be heard as I had some weird warning symbols whilst I was speaking and they confirmed that they received it so I think it should be fine

 

[AMullin]

Hey, just a quick one as I’m 99% sure what to do…

I’ve had a test invite from Kennedys and I just went back over my application and saw that for me WE section I didn’t just list my current job as 2013-Present, I also listed my previous job (Paralegal) as 2012-Present rather than 2012-2013. I’m thinking I should make their Early Careers Team aware of this in case they think I have all of that experience as a paralegal and that affected their decision to give me a test invite?

 

[NorthernerInLondon]

Clyde & Co Spring Vac scheme VI - any insights appreciated!

 

[Lawlawland]

Day spoilt hearing THE A&O Shearman doesn't sponsor Visa for their Legal -tech programme.

Like you're literally a top global law firm, do something.

 

[llblawstudent]

Clyde & Co Spring Vac scheme VI - any insights appreciated!

When did you do the OA if you don’t mind me asking

 

[ExcitingEasting]

Clyde & Co VI! Completed their test yesterday.

 

[NorthernerInLondon]

When did you do the OA if you don’t mind me asking

Completed the OA at lunchtime today

 

[asplawyer100]

those guys legit have 5 direct tc spots just to give 4 of those to their paralegals

Is this for their Milton Keynes office? I believe the London office has around 20 TC's a year, or is that not correct?

 

[Madison Pinewall]

I haven't been sent the Clyde and co test yet? How long does it take? (I know it isn't automatic!)

 

[DavidJC]

Would anyone please be able to share if Weil VI is primarily motivational or competency/strengths/situational questions or an even mix of both? Though I suppose it doesn't really make a difference as long as I'm clear on my answers for why commercial law and why Weil

 

[SM2001]

Nvm B&B post-VI PFO just came through. That's my top choice firm gone LMAO

Me too!!

 

[SM2001]

I did Simmons VI on the 13th of November. Please if anyone also did their VI around this time and have gotten AC invite , kindly let me know!

Congratulations! Have you had it yet?

 

[Bree]

Are you supposed to get an email after you finish Macfarlanes Stage 2? I did not get one - I hope it got recorded

 

[Rads]

Hello, if the grad rec has not replied to a grade correction email, good idea to follow up?

 

[Amgrad]

Are you supposed to get an email after you finish Macfarlanes Stage 2? I did not get one - I hope it got recorded

Yeah, I got it a day after for the holding email

 

[adh3]

love it when my linkedin feed is full of £60,000 a year privately educated students getting tcs

Honestly, I get what you mean. I wrote something relevant a couple of days ago:

Yeah, instead Sidley's selections heavily depend upon university, grades, experience and extracurriculars. Which, at first, sounds fair. Of course, that's only until you realise that almost 40% of their intake is from Oxbridge and the other 60% is effectively LSE/UCL/Durham. Then consider how many of that firm's intake went to top (private) schools – i.e. Le Rosey, Raffles Institution, Eton, Westminster, etc.

And, just for context, I'm complaining about this as a graduate from one of the universities mentioned above... As much as I hate psychometric testing (and believe that it's not conducive to effective hiring) at least it functions to even the playing field between those people and others who might not have been so well 'prepared' for taking this career path.

The thing is, I also went a private school. Not an egregiously expensive international or 'public' school – but a decent independent school, on a means-tested bursary and scholarship.

I can tell you that the issue isn't where somebody went to school, it's the resources and particular knowledge they had/have.

Despite going to a 'good' school, I always played catch-up when it came to careers. My parents didn't (and wouldn't have known how to) guide me towards a career in commercial law. In contrast, there are students at both private and 'state' (elite grammar) schools whose parents/grandparents exist within a network of people in 'elite' careers. These students can get high-quality work experience at the drop of a dime, and they are taught the exact path to IB/consulting/commercial law while the rest of us are left to figure it out.

Relatedly, this is why I hate 'competency' questions. Asking applicants to "tell us about a time where you overcame a challenge" or "show us how you demonstrated your initiative" is covertly asking which social class we belong to. While overcoming challenges and demonstrating initiative (etc.) is not exclusive to certain classes, the type of answer which firms generally seek will select for a particular type of individual. They're not interested in how underprivileged people overcame long-term challenges (i.e. getting a part-time job to contribute towards household expenses) because these lack immediate-term remedial actions and quantifiable results. They're also not interested in the low-level challenges which you'd overcome in such a part-time role. Instead, they want to hear about how somebody single-handedly improved the efficiency/profitability of a club/society/business (as an intern). And, given the limited amount of executive roles/professional internships, you can guess who's gunning to secure these from the outset!