TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[johnsmith]

Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps

It’s ok I’ve had like 15 🤣 but honestly you'll still find a great home to train at and you can always move later once qualified.

Edit: it's actually 17!

 

[BobThebIlly]

Guys can anyone PLEASE shed some light on what to expect for Weils SJT and VI

Is the SJT similar to lathams? How many VI qs are there and are the questions mostly motivational/competence rather than commercial?

I’ve never sat a VI before so I’m bricking it and am clinging onto this small glimmer of hope with dear life

 

[futuretraineeihope]

When did you hear back? Is this for VS? I did my assessment yesterday for Spring VS!

Yes for Spring! I got the VI invite 12/12

 

[TortillaTC]

Thank you! I’ll keep the forum updated

As I promised, just got the Weil SJT+VI!

 

[yk1906]

Guys can anyone PLEASE shed some light on what to expect for Weils SJT and VI

Is the SJT similar to lathams? How many VI qs are there and are the questions mostly motivational/competence rather than commercial?

I’ve never sat a VI before so I’m bricking it and am clinging onto this small glimmer of hope with dear life

I haven’t done it yet (received an invite yesterday), BUT I do believe VIs are going to be heavily motivational, due to lack of such questions in the application. Also, I am going to prep “why me?”

 

[charlieefinch]

Macfarlanes PFO after 2nd Assessment

Hi, do you have any advice on the second assessment?

 

[sooae]

Skadden and Sullivan & Cromwell PFO

Sorry to hear! Is the S&C app for VS or DTC?

 

[Amgrad]

It’s ok I’ve had like 15 🤣 but honestly you'll still find a great home to train at and you can always move later once qualified.

I was hoping like getting a one AC before Xmas, but it seems impossible now 😮‍💨. I am aiming to apply 24 firms by end of this month and got an AC mid of Jan. Otherwise, will apply more from 36 to 54 if don't get an AC before Ramadan 😭

 

[Madison Pinewall]

just did the AG test and lowkey found it way harder than their practice ones oh dear

 

[Amgrad]

Good morning all,

I take a glance at the forum here and there nowadays and it’s so nice to see how supportive everyone’s being!

Time for my quarterly (or monthly??!) update:

PFOs so far:

• Reed Smith post app
• Taylor Wessing post SJT
• HSF Kramer even after passing SJT
• Skadden post app (today) 😭
• NRF post VI but I’ve reapplied for summer lmao
• Paul, Weiss post app
• Hogan Lovells post 1st test
• Covington post app
• Willkie post VI
• Bird & Bird post VI
• CMS post WG
• WFW post app

Waiting to hear back from:
• Clyde & Co VI (pleaseeee give me an AC 😭😭😭)
• Goodwin post app
• Cooley post app
• Mishcon post chat interview
• Withers post SJT (assuming PFO)
• Hill Dickinson post app
• Stephenson Harwood post app
• Travers Smith post app
• NRF post Arctic Shores (recycled my score lmao please gimme another VI)
• Ropes & Gray post app
• Farrer & Co post app (got to 1st stage interview for DTC last year, hopefully I progress)
• HFW post app

Will do Womble Bond Dickinson and other DTC apps from next month… 😭😭 planning my wedding is a delight compared to this and that’s saying something !!!

Hey I hope my advice on DM for Clyde VI would get you to AC. Good luck!!! I'm planning to apply 6 of your submitted apps by end of Jan!

 

[AGB2060]

Skadden Written Exercise!! No idea how I got it but really happy. Last night I stayed up till 7 watching stuff and just woke up, how am I gonna do those slots😭😭

 

[elle woods]

Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps

I don’t think you’re screwed!! 4 is actually not bad at all in the grand scheme of things, usually the ratio out of 15ish apps (according to my friend and experience) is typically you might progress to next stages on only half of them if you’re lucky (ofc it depends on lots of factors too tho like the competitiveness of the firms you’re applying to etc)

I’ve applied to 16 I think and have gotten PFOs or will definitely be getting a PFO (ghosted after first test) by like 7 - and others are still pending, but I know the likelihood is that there will be some PFOs in the rest too.

So don’t worry! - best of luck!

 

[Rads]

Sorry to hear! Is the S&C app for VS or DTC?

VS

 

[adh3]

Yeah, I understood this in the end.

I think what ruffled my feathers was actually the other person implying tailoring apps doesn't matter if you have the right credentials. I think the correlation between the posts probably got the better of me there.

OK, I can see that you're referring to me. But, that's not really the point I was trying to make.

What I was trying to say, is that tailoring your answers (and getting them reviewed) will only take you so far. There are other aspects of your application which are equally, if not more, important. And, from my observations, applicants who are stronger all-rounders tend to get further despite obvious flaws in their application answers.

If I could show you what my friend wrote without identifying myself, I would. For a bit more context, his applications simply mentioned PE being a firm's strength, and then he copy/pasted an explanation about why he (given his experience) would thrive at that firm.

The most important takeaway here (for me) was that the age-old advice from graduate recruitment, that your answer must be "unique" (in the sense of not being applicable to another firm), is clearly untrue by looking at his answers. For each of them, you could have plugged in the name of another small-intake US firm specialising in PE and it would have been equally as valid.

 

[AGB2060]

VS

I'm sorry to hear that, keep your head up I'm sure it will work out elsewhere!
I was also just wondering around when did you apply for SullCrom

 

[BealMcAlly]

OK, I can see that you're referring to me. But, that's not really the point I was trying to make.

What I was trying to say, is that tailoring your answers (and getting them reviewed) will only take you so far. There are other aspects of your application which are equally, if not more, important. And, from my observations, applicants who are stronger all-rounders tend to get further despite obvious flaws in their application answers.

If I could show you what my friend wrote without identifying myself, I would. For a bit more context, his applications simply mentioned PE being a firm's strength, and then he copy/pasted an explanation about why he (given his experience) would thrive at that firm.

The most important takeaway here (for me) was that the age-old advice from graduate recruitment, that your answer must be "unique" (in the sense of not being applicable to another firm), is clearly untrue by looking at his answers. For each of them, you could have plugged in the name of another small-intake US firm specialising in PE and it would have been equally as valid.

Thank you for clarifying.


I think what you said here also shows what sorts of firms care about what. US firms are known to care about credentials a lot, hence their really high entry requirements to begin with. Maybe your friend just looked really good on paper that they did not care. Great for your friend, sucks for everyone else trying really hard though.

 

[oliviabeijing]

Yes for Spring! I got the VI invite 12/12

Okay amazing good luck! When did you do the assessment? Did you hear back soon after?

 

[Amgrad]

I don’t think you’re screwed!! 4 is actually not bad in the grand scheme of things, usually the ratio out of 15ish apps (according to my friend and experience) is typically you might progress to next stages on only half of them.

I’ve applied to 16 I think and have gotten PFOs or will definitely be getting a PFO (ghosted after first test) by like 7 - and others are still pending, but I know the likelihood is that there will be some PFOs in the rest too.

So don’t worry! - best of luck!

TYSM! That's really good to know. This is my first cycle, coming from non law and non British uni would be hard to start, but this community lightened my burden! My close friends always think I am a dependable person, but of course in the field that I knew or experienced. I've always known as a fast learner and high tenacity to be curious, so I thought I am fit to firms like these. 😢

I am also international and come from low income and first generation student. Been livin and studyin around wealthy and poor, just hope that this cycle isn't ended up like my American college app where I decided to pick a very low ranked college as I couldn't afford the elite schools even though admitted, I can't imagine with Trump now, the UK is my only hope ✌🏻

Afaik I was applying like 21 universities, got in to 15, waitlisted by 3 (which ended rejection) and rejected without waitlisted by 3 too. Fingers crossed for these law firms app, I kind get of the vibes because of the essays 🤣 my previous jobs didn't make me Dejavu lol

 

[c3alg]

has anyone heard from Davis Polk yet?

 

[LawAspirer]

has anyone heard from Davis Polk yet?

Nothing here