TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Bbhu19]

@Lord Sumption did you liking my post mean you attended the OD and get a vac PFO

 

[hxnnahrobinson]

Tell me an interesting/ commercial story you have been keeping up with - how do i structure this question for a vi?

Briefly outline the story and link to the practice area it influences. Three points on how the story directly impacts the firm. If you can link to a firm value, then even better

 

[MusaMoses]

Has anyone gotten a VI invite from NRF recently? I applied for their summer VS on 2nd Dec and scored 4/4/4/4 for the Arctic Shores (11th Dec), but I haven't been sent a VI invite - are they sending out VI invites in batches or should I assume PFO?

Dont worry i did their WVS VI after getting 4/4/4/4 too! Reapplied for summer VS. Still waiting to hear too

 

[Eudora]

I spoke with someone at Mills & Reeve and they said that you’re given points based on your responses. E.g. for ranking questions you need to get the most likely and least likely correct to get the points.

Not sure if this is also the case for other firms but I thought this may provide some insight.

I think they probably have their own ideal candidate profile and hope that the qualities revealed in our SJT report match that profile.

 

[Lord Sumption]

Just following on from the Bank of England announcing the interest rate cut, bringing the base rate down to 3.75% - from a commercial law perspective, what are the main legal and transactional implications of this move (for example, on financing arrangements, M&A activity, restructuring, or disputes)?

Additionally, how would you recommend discussing this development in interviews with commercial law firms in a way that demonstrates commercial awareness rather than just economic knowledge? What practical effects should I focus on?

Thank you for any help or insights lovely people! @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu @Jaysen

 

[RJ Ruban]

are FF doing another round of ACs? does anyone know..

I don’t think for VS cause I saw people on LinkedIn posting about their VS Offer

 

[radssss]

Hi all, I’ve just given the HL test and unfortunately I lost my internet connection in the middle of the wgt which was time recorded but not timed. When I fixed the net, it showed that I took 8 mins to do one ques and I’m now worried. Anyone has any tips on what I should do or if I should email Grad rec?

 

[startupgeek]

Latham PFO

hey so sorry to hear that is this for spring or summer?

 

[Eudora]

DLA Piper TI invite, if anyone has any inisghts I would be very grateful!

Which office?

 

[DavidJC]

Just following on from the Bank of England announcing the interest rate cut, bringing the base rate down to 3.75% - from a commercial law perspective, what are the main legal and transactional implications of this move (for example, on financing arrangements, M&A activity, restructuring, or disputes)?

Additionally, how would you recommend discussing this development in interviews with commercial law firms in a way that demonstrates commercial awareness rather than just economic knowledge? What practical effects should I focus on?

Thank you for any help or insights lovely people! @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu @Jaysen

I'm not really an expert but, depending on what you consider to simply be economic knowledge vs commercial awareness, the most immediately applicable situations are increased transactional work because the cost of borrowing (i.e. most types of finance work) is cheaper, which means more deals and a potential for 2026 to deliver a more active dealmaking environment than this year (which was subdued because of tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty, and now discussions of an AI bubble). So this can translate to the things you've mentioned re financing arrangements, M&A, restructuring debt to more borrower-friendly terms, generally speaking more investment because money that sits around (e.g. dry powder in PE) doesn't generate as much interest anymore.

I think that for commercial law firms, it's really about understanding who their clients are and how this would affect their clients, and in turn how it affects the law firm's workstreams, revenue etc. You could maybe even argue that the BoE cut interest rates because they trust that inflation is falling. This is a vote of confidence in the UK economy and current govt economic policies. This could maybe spur increased economic activity and growth, which in turn means that the UK might see more foreign investment.

That then opens up to things like maybe international trade in Akin/Mayer Brown, or competition/antitrust in many firms re FDI and national security rules, so these firms are well-positioned to get ahead and pitch for client work in these areas by preparing thought leadership pieces or selling their expertise to clients before they even know they need these services, which then introduces new workstreams to the business, hence more revenue and profit.

Just broadly speaking, "transactional activity" encompasses so many practice areas so it really depends on the specific firm's clients and strengths if you want to tailor it better as commercial awareness specifically in relation to that firm. These are my two cents really and I hope it helps, but I go back to the first bit I said about what you consider to be economic knowledge vs actual commercial awareness.

 

[legaleagle11]

Bakers and WFW VI! Does anyone have any insights to either? (both for London)

Happy to share Macs AC insights

 

[BobThebIlly]

Guys this is such a dumb QS but how do I pronounce “Weil”? I don’t wanna say “wail” in the VI if it’s incorrect or is it pronounced as “weel” 😭

 

[Bbhu19]

Guys this is such a dumb QS but how do I pronounce “Weil”? I don’t wanna say “wail” in the VI if it’s incorrect or is it pronounced as “weel” 😭

It’s pronounced while

 

[Harvey Specter]

Guys this is such a dumb QS but how do I pronounce “Weil”? I don’t wanna say “wail” in the VI if it’s incorrect or is it pronounced as “weel” 😭

It’s kinda like saying while but without the h so it becomes wile (Weil).​

 

[Bbhu19]

It’s kinda like saying while but without the h so it becomes wile (Weil).​

Isn’t the H in While already silent 😂😂

 

[Lord Sumption]

I'm not really an expert but, depending on what you consider to simply be economic knowledge vs commercial awareness, the most immediately applicable situations are increased transactional work because the cost of borrowing (i.e. most types of finance work) is cheaper, which means more deals and a potential for 2026 to deliver a more active dealmaking environment than this year (which was subdued because of tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty, and now discussions of an AI bubble). So this can translate to the things you've mentioned re financing arrangements, M&A, restructuring debt to more borrower-friendly terms, generally speaking more investment because money that sits around (e.g. dry powder in PE) doesn't generate as much interest anymore.

I think that for commercial law firms, it's really about understanding who their clients are and how this would affect their clients, and in turn how it affects the law firm's workstreams, revenue etc. You could maybe even argue that the BoE cut interest rates because they trust that inflation is falling. This is a vote of confidence in the UK economy and current govt economic policies. This could maybe spur increased economic activity and growth, which in turn means that the UK might see more foreign investment.

That then opens up to things like maybe international trade in Akin/Mayer Brown, or competition/antitrust in many firms re FDI and national security rules, so these firms are well-positioned to get ahead and pitch for client work in these areas by preparing thought leadership pieces or selling their expertise to clients before they even know they need these services, which then introduces new workstreams to the business, hence more revenue and profit.

Just broadly speaking, "transactional activity" encompasses so many practice areas so it really depends on the specific firm's clients and strengths if you want to tailor it better as commercial awareness specifically in relation to that firm. These are my two cents really and I hope it helps, but I go back to the first bit I said about what you consider to be economic knowledge vs actual commercial awareness.

That’s amazing David thank you!!
Definitely will tailor that response to the firm’s clients and their key industry sectors too.

Appreciate the response.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Isn’t the H in While already silent 😂😂

Yeah it is but ppl have accents too so they could pronounce it differently or something idk. Lowkey makes it more confusing now lmao.​

 

[boots pharmacy]

sorry to ask. I wanna know if you got rejected despite passing the SJT? And is it for their spring VS?

Yes and yes.

 

[Amgrad]

Guys this is such a dumb QS but how do I pronounce “Weil”? I don’t wanna say “wail” in the VI if it’s incorrect or is it pronounced as “weel” 😭

Well, since the company is American, the office is London and the word is derived from German surname, you can pronounce either one. I think it's fine 🤣

American/Canadian: https://tophonetics.com/pronounce/zW5XeJPnZoQUmlpDO2szdHRo3Ehr/
British: https://tophonetics.com/pronounce/zW5XeJPnZoQUnlqTaGy8GxsIQkZr/

 

[shortypie90]

random question but is wearing a knitted jumper ok for a video interview?? a button-up is ideal obviously but i'm cold...