TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Cookiemonster]

Hi all, quick check if anyone’s had something similar with Slaughters. I applied for the work experience scheme and my application portal now shows “withdrawn". They emailed me saying they don't sponsor visas but I literally don't require one cus I’m on a Student visa, don’t require sponsorship, and the scheme dates are outside my term dates. I wanted to ask whether this is usually just an automatic eligibility screen on the portal, or if it means the application is dead.
Any insight appreciated.

Hi, sorry this has happened, that’s understandably stressful.
This does sound like it’s likely been triggered by an automatic eligibility screen, rather than someone actually reviewing your circumstances properly.


That said, “withdrawn” on the portal usually does mean the application has been closed on their end, rather than still being live. It’s important to not assume it’s final without checking.

I would recommend emailing graduate recruitment directly.​

• You are on a Student visa
• You doo not require sponsorship
• The scheme dates fall outside your term dates
• Asking whether this was an automated decision that can be reviewed

Good luck

 

[lalalailovelife]

Hi, sorry this has happened, that’s understandably stressful.
This does sound like it’s likely been triggered by an automatic eligibility screen, rather than someone actually reviewing your circumstances properly.


That said, “withdrawn” on the portal usually does mean the application has been closed on their end, rather than still being live. It’s important to not assume it’s final without checking.

I would recommend emailing graduate recruitment directly.​

• You are on a Student visa
• You doo not require sponsorship
• The scheme dates fall outside your term dates
• Asking whether this was an automated decision that can be reviewed

Good luck

Yes I'll do that, thank you so much. I was actually panicking lol...

 

[adh3]

I absolutely don't want to diminish what you are feeling, and as you have said you have already tried to spin your experiences, but I truly think that any experience you have can be used in an impressive way. I found that the work experience/CV sections meant a lot for my applications, so While I didn’t need to write about how working at McDonald’s made me want to be a solicitor in my main application, it was hugely beneficial in the work experience section to highlight transferable skills and basically tell firms that if I can handle all the downsides that come with a job like that, I can handle a law firm.

My second piece of advice is to call/email anywhere with a legal team and see if they have the capacity to offer you work experience. Most of my experience was outside traditional law roles and I really struggled to secure vac schemes, but I managed to get experience in a company’s in-house legal team. It’s probably one of the most valuable things on my CV now.

I know how disheartening the process can be. All it takes is one firm to say yes, and that will happen if you keep going!

Once again, I do appreciate the advice.

However, I disagree that I have what firms want to see.

I have retail experience. I have tried my hardest to highlight the wide array of transferrable skills which I gained from these experiences.

However, when a firm asks you to describe a time "...where you overcame a challenge" or "...where you showed initiative", one's experience working at Sainsbury's (etc.) pales in comparison to somebody else's experience throughout their internship in finance or completing a vacation scheme.

If I'm being completely honest, firms want to see potential. After graduating with a mid-high 2:1, without extensive experience in a relevant field, I have essentially proven to firms that my potential is minimal. And, the likelihood is that I won't land a role in commercial law by completing forage experiences to bolster my CV... so, you're right that cold calling law firms might be one of my best options at the moment.

If I can chime in, I just want to broaden the perspective a little, because what you’re describing is honestly very common.

It’s completely normal not to have anything secured before graduating, even though it can feel like you're falling behind when you see people around you succeeding. However, I personally know many people who only secured training contracts after graduating. I’m one of them. I came to the UK for an LLM with absolutely no UK law firm experience and still managed to secure a TC after completing my degree.

After my first two rejections, I realised I was becoming really stressed and couldn’t keep up with both my studies and constant applications. Everyone around me was applying to countless firms, but that approach just wasn’t working for me. When I was almost done with my degree, I took a step back, waited until I had less academic pressure (though I was definitely stressed about my visa timeline), and focused properly on the quality of my application rather than the volume. That’s when things finally clicked.

In my final-stage interview, the other candidates were a mix of final-year students, people who had paralegalled for a few years, consultants, and career-changers. It really reinforced for me that there isn’t one “right” timeline. If you don’t secure a vac scheme, there are still plenty of other ways to build relevant experience that firms value.

There are genuinely many paths to becoming a solicitor. It doesn’t have to look like the fresh-out-of-uni route we often imagine. The average age of qualification is around 30 for a reason. Taking longer, working elsewhere, or doing things in a different order doesn’t mean you’ve failed;it just means your path looks different.

Yes, you can chime in!

I understand that my experience isn't uncommon and that everybody works at their own pace towards getting a TC. That's why I'm making these posts – in the hope that they resonate with other people (graduates) in my position.

I have been focussing on the quality of my applications – I have actually always been the type of person to spend days on an application, rather than firing them off without much care. This cycle, I've managed to send off 11 high-quality applications. As mentioned earlier, the outcome has been less than desirable.

I agree that working elsewhere might be valuable for securing a career in commercial law. However, finding a role in an adjacent field is nowhere near as easy as it is described on this forum. Most paralegal roles I see going nowadays require applicants to be future trainees. And, alternatively, other (legal) roles in related fields (e.g. tech, finance, life sciences) are highly competitive.

Yes, I do agree that taking longer (or doing things in a different order) isn't indicative of failure. Still, what frustrates me is how undesirable I am to firms at this point in time (despite my genuine desire to work within the areas of law I have developed a passion for throughout my degree and personal life).

 

[e_turbo2]

Hi everyone! I’m a graduate and I currently hold a TC at a UK firm. I’ve done a mix of vacation schemes across UK, US and boutique firms, so I’ve seen a few different processes and cultures.😄

I’m a non-RG graduate and definitely dealt with imposter syndrome, especially when going into US firms. I didn’t secure a TC during university or in my first application cycle (so if you’re a graduate and feeling stressed, you’re not alone). I also didn’t convert every scheme, so rejection is very familiar to me 😬

Happy to help where I can and share anything useful from my own experience.​

Such a lovely introduction! Your experiences are inspiring, thank you very much for sharing your story with us 🙏

 

[elle woods]

i think you should be excited! its nice hearing good things about yourself. pay attention to the things they said you could work on of course, but in my experience they are nothing to worry about and its definitely not an assessed call haha, youve already left a good impression by now !!

So true haha thank you!! I’m just overthinking it haha

 

[AMullin]

Hi Amullin,

I really wouldn’t worry about this. Firms are very used to applications having minor date overlaps or typos, especially where someone’s been in continuous employment. It’s extremely unlikely they’ve interpreted this as you having a decade+ of paralegal experience or that it played any part in the decision to give you a test invite.

That said, I’d probably suggest flagging it briefly for transparency, especially if it’s playing on your mind. A short, factual email is more than enough — e.g. “I’ve just noticed a date overlap in my work experience section and wanted to clarify that my paralegal role ran from 2012–2013.” Grad rec will understand it was an honest admin error.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, that's exactly what I did in the end. Except I then started stressing about the fact I didn't apologise for the mistake and was worried my email would come across as "Hey, FYI, I made a mistake on my application. Cheers" 🤦‍♂️

BUT, they replied with a "Thanks for the clarification" and nothing about binning me off so I'm assuming it's full steam ahead!

 

[Amgrad]

I got to the WE so hopefully I'm qualified to give some advice haha
This is just my personal opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

- Usually I would use up as much as the word count as possible - I see your draft is at around 320, so it's close enough, but I personally would always aim for at least 340 if it's a 350 maximum. But don't fill it with words for the sake of it, each line or word you write has to add value and substantiate your answer.
- Usually I would also try to stay away from any negative phrasing such as "despite..."
- The use of the em dash stood out. Grad Rec usually think em dashes equal AI so just try to stay away from using them nowadays.
- The question is on why SKADDEN, and not why you, so I personally wouldn't include your second paragraph here unless you can link it to a concrete Skadden USP (in which case it still may need to be made more concise).
- I usually give 3 concrete reasons for Why the Firm (3 distinguishing factors that the firm has that draws me to them) and then substantiate that with WHY it appeals to you (maybe by linking it to a personal characteristic or alignment), but the main focus of the answer must be on the firm specifically, and then why THAT particular aspect of the firm motivates you.
- You could also be slightly more concise. For example "the second reason is" isn't needed. You could use "secondly" or just go straight into the reason. But then again, that's just a personal writing preference of mine (it definitely helps with cutting word count to use for more reasons though)!
- Usually I would reference a deal in your practice area paragraph as that helps tailor the answer to the firm - as this means you can't apply this answer to any other firm.
- Also idk if the extra paragraph space was intentional or an accident, but if that was how it was on your application, I think grad rec may care about small details like that too.

I do like how personal your answer sounds though and your use of varied sentence lengths which help readability! Once again, take this lightly as I'm not grad rec!! Best of luck with your future apps - you're doing really good!

I've already done all of your advice, esp abt using the max word count, but I do believe for my case I was not aware of:

• Transactional focus, at the end of paragraph of 'why Skadden' I linked it back with my regulatory aspect of my work at the UN, I should have highlighted more of the non-contentious work and London office in this section.
• I made 2 abbreviations like my CC's TC & GD's OD apps. I knew I wrote things like 'don't' or "it's" which is grammatically correct, but I've realised that some firms don't like this type of writing, especially for bigger firm. I made to Goodwin, Cooley, and Taylor Wessing Open Day with these mistakes, but they care more about your topic than sort of aspects.
• I do believe I've also had some unmatched to their expectations on different part of other Essay Qs 😭 I am wondering that by written TCLA when they asked about "which organisation help you on this application?" won't lower your chance to pass as I didn't request for one on one paid session like others prev said yet got PFO as me.

Their feedback on to ask other poofreading provider to review your app is so vague! I only use general tips from everybody on this forum esp Abbie and Andrei. 🥲

Now I am wondering "WOULD KIRKLAND DUMB ME TOO?" as these firms share common value lmao I applied on Friday (2 days before deadline), yet no VI invite

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

How would you go about answering why transactional law and not investment banking?

As a future trainee at a US firm with a strong transactional focus, I’ve come across this question (or variations of it) quite a lot, and the strongest answers I’ve seen tend to do three things well.

Firstly, they acknowledge the overlap. Transactional law and investment banking both sit at the heart of deals, involve intense workloads, and require strong commercial awareness. Recognising this upfront shows you’re realistic about what the work actually looks like.

Secondly, they demonstrate a clear understanding of the distinction between the roles. Interviewers want to see that you understand lawyers and bankers do fundamentally different things on the same transaction. Lawyers act as advisers and problem-solvers, focusing on structuring, legal risk, negotiation and drafting, while bankers concentrate on valuation, financing and driving commercial execution. You don’t need technical depth, just clarity.

Thirdly, they explain why law genuinely appeals more. This is where the focus shifts back to personal fit. Many strong answers touch on enjoying analytical and detail-driven work, preferring an advisory role with ongoing responsibility rather than a revenue-driven one, and being interested in being involved throughout the lifecycle of a transaction (for example, from the early structuring discussions, through due diligence and negotiation, and then seeing the deal through to signing and completion). You can lightly anchor this to relevant experiences, but the emphasis should be on reasoning rather than credentials.

I’d finish by reinforcing that your interest in transactional law comes from a genuine understanding of what the role involves and a considered comparison with investment banking. The aim is to leave the grad rec team with the sense that this is a deliberate, well-informed choice rooted in how you like to think, work, and add value on deals, rather than a default option. Framed this way, the answer demonstrates clarity of motivation and long-term commitment, which is ultimately what this kind of question is testing.

I hope this helps, feel free to DM me!​

 

[lawrlah]

Has anyone heard from Kirkland since applying?

yes i just got the video interview. anyone have any advice?? do you know what they may ask?

 

[Trophy]

Hi everyone! I’m a graduate and I currently hold a TC at a UK firm. I’ve done a mix of vacation schemes across UK, US and boutique firms, so I’ve seen a few different processes and cultures.😄

I’m a non-RG graduate and definitely dealt with imposter syndrome, especially when going into US firms. I didn’t secure a TC during university or in my first application cycle (so if you’re a graduate and feeling stressed, you’re not alone). I also didn’t convert every scheme, so rejection is very familiar to me 😬

Happy to help where I can and share anything useful from my own experience.​

Finally a human response 🤯

How did you overcome rejection after your vacation schemes?

 

[Cookiemonster]

Once again, I do appreciate the advice.

However, I disagree that I have what firms want to see.

I have retail experience. I have tried my hardest to highlight the wide array of transferrable skills which I gained from these experiences.

However, when a firm asks you to describe a time "...where you overcame a challenge" or "...where you showed initiative", one's experience working at Sainsbury's (etc.) pales in comparison to somebody else's experience throughout their internship in finance or completing a vacation scheme.

If I'm being completely honest, firms want to see potential. After graduating with a mid-high 2:1, without extensive experience in a relevant field, I have essentially proven to firms that my potential is minimal. And, the likelihood is that I won't land a role in commercial law by completing forage experiences to bolster my CV... so, you're right that cold calling law firms might be one of my best options at the moment.



Yes, you can chime in!

I understand that my experience isn't uncommon and that everybody works at their own pace towards getting a TC. That's why I'm making these posts – in the hope that they resonate with other people (graduates) in my position.

I have been focussing on the quality of my applications – I have actually always been the type of person to spend days on an application, rather than firing them off without much care. This cycle, I've managed to send off 11 high-quality applications. As mentioned earlier, the outcome has been less than desirable.

I agree that working elsewhere might be valuable for securing a career in commercial law. However, finding a role in an adjacent field is nowhere near as easy as it is described on this forum. Most paralegal roles I see going nowadays require applicants to be future trainees. And, alternatively, other (legal) roles in related fields (e.g. tech, finance, life sciences) are highly competitive.

Yes, I do agree that taking longer (or doing things in a different order) isn't indicative of failure. Still, what frustrates me is how undesirable I am to firms at this point in time (despite my genuine desire to work within the areas of law I have developed a passion for throughout my degree and personal life).

Hey,

Just to add another perspective here, because I recognise this mindset and I fell into it myself.

I also had part-time retail experience and for a long time I avoided using it in competency answers. Whenever I was asked about challenges, initiative, or teamwork, I’d default to my legal experience because I assumed that’s what firms wanted to hear.

Interestingly, feedback I received from one firm was the opposite. They said I was diminishing my non-legal experience, and that they actually wanted to see candidates who valued all of their experiences, not just the “legal” ones. Retail roles can show resilience, communication, problem-solving, and handling pressure far more convincingly than some vac scheme examples, if they’re reflected on properly.

That doesn’t mean retail experience magically levels the playing field, and I completely get why it feels weaker when you’re comparing yourself to candidates with internships. But firms are often more interested in how you extract learning and insight from an experience than how prestigious it sounds on paper.

I know it’s frustrating when effort doesn’t translate into outcomes, especially as a graduate, but I wouldn’t write off your experience or your potential on that basis. A lot of people reading this will be in the same position, even if they don’t say it out loud.​

I hope this helps

 

[oliviabeijing]

If I haven’t been invited to VI, and someone on here has for Bakers, am I screwed? Do they release them in rounds?

 

[W5690]

How long does it generally take for DLA Piper to inform whether you’ve passed or failed the WG? Just got my feedback report and I can’t lie it’s not looking good 😭

@whywhy88 Hi! What do you mean by "not looking good"? Thank you.

 

[nbjani]

Totally normal to feel that way — honestly, feedback calls are usually much less scary than they feel beforehand 😅 You don’t need to be super eloquent or have loads to say. It’s completely fine to mostly listen and take notes.

If it helps, you can have a couple of simple questions ready, like:
. “Is there one area you think I could most improve for future applications?”
. “Was it more about my written answers or my interview performance?”

Even just thanking them and engaging a little shows professionalism. Remember, it’s not an interrogation, it’s meant to help you, and the fact you’ve been offered feedback at all is a positive sign. You’ve got this!

Very this. I owe a lot of this cycle going better to Gibson Dunn for this very reason - last year it was my only human interview and they agreed to a feedback phone call after rejecting me. It was useful to know specific questions I could have answered better and also where I was successful and so what to keep doing the same.

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

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

Hi Rads,

In short yes. It’s usually fine to follow up, as long as you do it politely and with the right timing. I would suggest waiting 7–10 working days before following up. Grad rec teams are often swamped, especially during application season, and silence usually reflects volume rather than disinterest.

When you do follow up:

• Keep it brief and courteous.
• Reference your original email so they don’t have to search for context.
• Re-attach any supporting documents if you included them before.
• Avoid sounding anxious or pushy, frame it as a gentle check-in.

Grad rec generally appreciate clarity and accuracy, and it’s reasonable to ensure your application is being assessed on the correct information.

 

[Cookiemonster]

If I haven’t been invited to VI, and someone on here has for Bakers, am I screwed? Do they release them in rounds?

Hi Olivia,
Last year I applied to bakers and If I remember correctly they were sent in batches. The process could’ve changed this year but no response doesn’t = a bad outcome!

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

Does anybody have any tips on how to write about a different firm's vacation scheme that you have completed in the work experience section of job apps?

Hi,

I think the key thing to remember from the outset is that grad rec aren’t looking for loyalty tests here. Instead, they’re trying to understand what you did, what you learned, and how that experience has shaped your understanding of commercial law.

With that in mind, when you’re writing about another firm’s vacation scheme, it helps to focus on the work rather than the brand. Deal exposure, research tasks, drafting, client interaction, teamwork, or responsibility you were given all translate well regardless of firm, and that’s what grad rec are most interested in seeing.

Building on that, what matters most is the learning and reflection that came from the scheme. You might explain how it clarified the realities of transactional work, improved your commercial awareness, or helped you understand how lawyers add value on deals. This shifts the emphasis from simply having done a scheme to what you actually took from it.

At the same time, it’s important to keep the tone neutral and professional. You don’t need to explain why you didn’t apply there again or why you prefer the current firm. Avoid overt praise or comparisons and stick to a factual, reflective style that keeps the focus on your development.

Finally, where it feels natural, you can subtly link the experience to your current application. For example, you might mention how the scheme strengthened your interest in law generally or helped you refine what you’re looking for in a firm. That reassures grad rec that you’re applying with intention. At a practical level, concise bullet points often work well in work experience sections, but even in paragraph form the same principle applies: action, responsibility, and outcome or learning. Written thoughtfully, prior schemes at other firms are usually seen as a strength rather than a weakness.​

 

[Cookiemonster]

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?! 😀

Helloo

Honestly, I think this feeling is incredibly common as a graduate, especially if you’re comparing yourself to people who seem to have everything lined up already.

For what it’s worth, I didn’t get a TC until two years after I graduated, and I applied consistently during that time. I felt like I was “behind” pretty much the whole way through. But when I did a vacation scheme, the age range was much wider than I expected. The oldest person on mine was 33. It really put into perspective how artificial the pressure is to have everything sorted at 20–21.

The reality is the average age of qualification is late 20s, so not securing a TC straight out of university is completely normal, even though it doesn’t feel that way when you’re in it.

I also think the years after graduating can be genuinely valuable. I worked in a graduate role that wasn’t strictly legal, but because of the industry, I ended up learning a lot about areas like IP, alongside developing commercial awareness and confidence. Firms do care about what you’ve done outside academics, including work experience, interests, and how you’ve spent your time.

There’s also so much you can do post-uni that isn’t “wasted time”. Travel, grad jobs, different industries, even just figuring out what you enjoy and what you don’t. Looking back, I’m actually glad I didn’t get a TC during university because of the experiences and people I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and those things have definitely helped me since.

It’s much easier said than done, but comparing timelines really doesn’t help. Everyone’s path looks different, and yours doesn’t need to match anyone else’s to be valid.

From a fellow graduate 🤝​

 

[elle woods]

I've already done all of your advice, esp abt using the max word count, but I do believe for my case I was not aware of:

• Transactional focus, at the end of paragraph of 'why Skadden' I linked it back with my regulatory aspect of my work at the UN, I should have highlighted more of the non-contentious work and London office in this section.
• I made 2 abbreviations like my CC's TC & GD's OD apps. I knew I wrote things like 'don't' or "it's" which is grammatically correct, but I've realised that some firms don't like this type of writing, especially for bigger firm. I made to Goodwin, Cooley, and Taylor Wessing Open Day with these mistakes, but they care more about your topic than sort of aspects.
• I do believe I've also had some unmatched to their expectations on different part of other Essay Qs 😭 I am glad that by written TCLA that advices you won't lower your chance to pass as I didn't request for one on one paid session like others prev said, but just general tips for everybody on this forum esp Abbie and Andrei. 🥲

Now I am wondering "WOULD KIRKLAND DUMB ME TOO" as these firms share common value lmao I applied on Friday (2 days before deadline), yet no VI invite

Hmm sorry correct me if I’m understanding you incorrectly …

But yes, Skadden is very much known for their transactional practice areas I would say, so perhaps mentioning other areas might be a weaker link. And absolutely, the rule is to never use contractions (it’s, I’m etc) and abbreviations unless you’ve expanded on it once beforehand (e.g. Clifford Chance (CC)).

In terms of aligning with what the question asks or with the firm’s expectations, I would say you can choose to pay for services if you wish to, but I personally don’t. Honestly, whenever I don’t fully understand what the question is asking of me, I put it into ChatGPT or something and discuss it with them to ascertain what the question is trying to get at (sometimes questions can have implicit expectations as well).

Don’t worry about Kirkland - I haven’t heard back either 😂 hopefully we’ll hear back favourably soon!

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

gosh I just did my Hogan Lovells test and found the video questions so hard and unnatural. I spoke about the topic of the third question in my second question so it felt a bit too repetitive too, though I did shift focus. I am usually a good speaker but it feels too artificial

That’s a very normal reaction, so try not to be too hard on yourself. A lot of people who are usually confident speakers find video interviews awkward and artificial, especially when you’re talking to a screen with no feedback. It often feels much worse than it actually comes across.

On the repetition point, that’s also very common. These questions are often designed to overlap, so some crossover in themes is almost unavoidable. As long as you shifted the angle slightly, that’s not a bad thing at all. Grad rec expect candidates to reinforce key motivations across answers rather than produce completely siloed responses.

If you do want to feel more comfortable with the format, it can really help to practise in conditions that mimic the real thing. Portals like Assessment Day (https://www.assessmentday.co.uk) are useful for this, as they let you get used to structuring answers under time pressure and speaking naturally to a camera rather than an interviewer.

That said, it’s also worth noting that if you genuinely dislike video interviews, you’re not alone and you’re not stuck with them. There are plenty of firms that don’t use video interviews at all in their recruitment process. Such as Fried Frank, Addleshaw, etc.

I hope this helps​