TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Icantstopeatingfood]

hi,
how long does milbank take to go back after the first test?

 

[JBM]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to be in a position where I have two AC's. However, they are both next month and I am quite stressed about them. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with nerves? I believe my nerves are what ultimately get in the way. I need to stay calm somehow. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

see if AS does mock interviews for that firm

 

[yk1906]

LSE sending me an offer again this year… please give me the scholarship and I’ll come

 

[Goingtogetatc]

Hey so the advice I got for my AC this year was to treat it like a mock interview rather than the real thing - this allows you to come across more authentic and at ease rather than blanking due to nerves. I know it’s easier said than done, but truly calming down helps a lot with performance (speaking from experience)

I also find just engaging with the other candidates there helps me forget about my stress a little haha

And congratulations on your two ACs that’s amazing!

Thanks so much that’s really useful advice

 

[boots pharmacy]

Hi guys, I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who's sat an AC with Bird & Bird. The email says it will include a timed WE and an interview. Some primers on what to expect/how to prepare would be really great

 

[Amgrad]

Got an email from Candid in my dinnertime, expect it was PFO from Weil, but turns out invite details from Stephenson Harwood! What a day full of jumpscare

 

[Madison Pinewall]

On another note would love to know if Mishcon is expecting ppl to do an sjt over christmas and nye…the whole 2-4 weeks thing sort over expires basically on Christmas day…

has Mishcon sent the SJT out? I'm still waiting after the AI thing

 

[LawAspirer]

Hi @LawAspirer

I definitely do not think that the work experiences you have listed is off putting to law firms.

During my vacation scheme, I met candidates with experiences ranging from simple retail roles (like myself) to work experiences in tech start-ups, banks and other large corporations. Therefore, I believe it is very unlikely that your work experiences itself is preventing you from getting a vacation scheme.

Instead, I would reflect upon how you are potentially framing your experiences throughout your applications and interviews. Are you properly tailoring your experiences to your interest for each firm and commercial law more widely? Are you correctly using your experiences to demonstrate alignment with the skills required of a trainee solicitor at a particular firm?

A simple shift in the way you sell your experience can genuinely take you from receiving rejections to receiving a yes.

Feel free to reach out via DM - hope the above helps!

I see - thank you!
I suppose part of my issue is that I am not clearly linking it to the specific law firm, and instead, I'm simply stating my roles and responsibilities within that role... Tough it's something to realize after I've already sent out most of the applications

 

[SBD total 1000lbs (and an applicant)]

seeing HSF PFOs go out is terrifying, opening my email feels like an explosion waiting to engulf me... "Unfortunately..."

 

[Dannie]

Are links spring ACs already coming out?

 

[TheLegalEdit]

Hi @TheLegalEdit

I applied to Reed Smith in my last two cycles. I do not recall any particular timing in relation to when the test invite is sent out. From what I can remember, it was very different for me and a lot of my friends.

Regarding the Amberjack assessment, it’s helpful to practise numerical and verbal reasoning and situational based questions. You may find free samples online with ‘JobTestPrep’ and ‘Practice Aptitude Test’. From my experience, the sample questions are not very similar, but are great for warming up your mind to think logically and critically.

I hope this helps!

Hey!

Thank you so much for your tips! I will definitely do some prep. I’m the same, I find the practice tests are nothing like the real thing!!

Thank you again!

 

[sjm251102]

Assuming no one has heard back from W&C or Sidley yet? I'm just forgetting about them atm and focusing on my applications that aren't US firms cause I have no energy anymore

 

[RSC2001]

omg are they just constantly handing out PFOs? I'm so scared ahhhh honestly I feel like most people have amazing applications already and sometimes it comes down to which one resonates with grad rec more... imo (especially for the question on a topic that interests you)

Oh great so I'm just boring ahahaha

I'm so sorry. I know this is insensitive but can I ask when you applied. I think from what I've seen they give PFOs first and are screening the earlier applications. I didnt apply til the day before the deadline.

28th October

 

[maylawwww]

Congratulations! I was under the impression that Milbank is non-rolling, is that still the case?

Yes, they definitely were historically non-rolling, but the application has changed a lot this year so ig they have changed the process too! The deadline hasn't passed and they're clearly assessing and progressing candidates already so theyre defo rolling now. However, my AC is not until a week or so after the deadline, so there is still definitely a chance for those who applied after me

 

[sadlawyer01]

Just received Kirkland VI invite, anyone else heard back yet?

 

[Rads]

Just received Kirkland VI invite, anyone else heard back yet?

Hello! Congrats! Do you mind sharing when you applied?

 

[sadlawyer01]

not yet when did you submit your app can I ask?

2 minutes before the deadline HAHA i think they are doing it in reverse order! my girlfriend got hers too and she applied the same time as me!

 

[Dannie]

Any tips on the WG for cleary?! happy to share insights on anything else!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

2 minutes before the deadline HAHA i think they are doing it in reverse order! my girlfriend got hers too and she applied the same time as me!

kirkland vi and a girlfriend?

 

[Bread]

Hi guys, I was unfortunately rejected from Willkie at the first stage

I thought I wrote a pretty solid app, could anyone critique it and see what might have been the issue? Thank you.

Q1 - Please explain why you would like a career in commercial law.

Max 250 words


I am motivated by intellectually demanding environments where issues are complex and stakes are high. As a national-level debater, I thrived on analysing dense material under time pressure, anticipating counterarguments, and adapting strategy in real time. Alongside this, founding a small (redacted) business sparked a strong interest in commerce and how relationships shape business outcomes. Commercial law therefore appeals to me because it combines these interests, requiring lawyers to strategically analyse legal risks in achieving their clients’ commercial objectives.

My commitment to this career path has been consistent and long-standing. Before university, I interned in the corporate practice of (law firm), a leading (non-UK) full-service law firm. Despite having to relocate to another state, I seized this opportunity to gain practical experience and developed rapport with a partner by producing high-quality due diligence reports, ultimately securing a letter of recommendation. At university, a first-year scheme with (large US firm)–particularly a panel on cross-border project finance–highlighted how commercial judgement and contractual protections are essential to managing regulatory and investment risk. I later saw this in practice as a summer analyst at (Boutique PE fund), where reviewing investment covenants highlighted the importance of lawyers’ role in preserving investor confidence through the structuring of legal risk.

These experiences confirmed my interest in this field and motivate me to pursue a career at a leading global firm like Willkie, where I would be challenged to think creatively, navigate complex and interesting commercial contexts, and develop the judgment required of an effective commercial lawyer.


Q2 - Please explain why you are applying to Willkie.

Max 250 words

Firstly, I am drawn to Willkie’s dual strengths in transactional and contentious work, reflected in Chambers rankings for PE buyouts and investment funds, alongside Band-1 recognition in competition litigation and growing strength in arbitration and commercial disputes. Having topped my year in (finance module), I am attracted to Willkie’s integrated PE, finance and capital markets practices, which regularly work on innovative and impactful transactional mandates like Belfius Bank’s recent €500m sustainability-linked green notes issuance. Simultaneously, placing in the Top 8 of 120+ teams at the (University) Negotiation Competition–where success depended on distilling complex arguments and advocating persuasively under pressure–highlighted the appeal of contentious work. At Willkie, I could experience the top end of both areas, developing a holistic understanding of how lawyers structure, negotiate and contest deals and disputes.

Secondly, I am attracted to Willkie’s rapid growth and entrepreneurial culture. The London office has expanded at exceptional speed, doubling its lawyer headcount between 2017 and 2025 while delivering double-digit revenue growth year-on-year. As Hiral Jain noted at an Open Evening, this scale of expansion necessitates lean, high-leverage teams and an emphasis on junior responsibility. This environment suits how I work: at (Non MBB Consulting Firm), taking initiative and actively seeking feedback led to strong relationships and being entrusted to support a Director on a Third-Party Risk Management project. This reinforced the value of a self-starter mindset early in a career, and I am confident my proactive approach would allow me to thrive at Willkie.

My stats are: graduate, 2.1 from a target university (2.2 in first year, but mitigating circumstances related to physical health), various open days/1 first year scheme.

Also got rejected from Skadden at the first stage and HSFK at the app review stage
Would be really thankful on points to improve/change; am I missing anything?

Hi! I’m definitely not qualified to give advice but there isn’t anything in this application about you that can’t be inferred from your CV. You never say WHY the aspects that you mention about the firm and law appeal to you, just that you’ve fine things related to the field.