TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Pearl3181]

Hi everyone!

With several firms preparing to open applications for their winter, spring, and summer vacation schemes, we are launching this dedicated thread for the 2025-2026 application cycle.

Please use this master thread to discuss anything related to vacation scheme applications. This can include everything from application and interview queries to news from particular law firms. As ever, the strength of this forum lies in its thoughtfulness and collegiality. Please continue to share your insights and to engage constructively with each other.

Finally, last year’s thread can be found here: TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024–25. Later today, I will post a consolidated list of firms with their respective deadlines, to assist those planning their approach for the year ahead.

Wishing everyone the very best as the new cycle begins.

Ram

Hi trainees!

I’m working on the Farrer VS application, which asks: “In what ways have your academic studies, qualifications, and work experience equipped you for a legal career?”

I've already described my professional experiences in the work experiences section of the application (1. content redesign project at HuffPost, 2. product marketing role at a tech company, 3. communications coordinator at a literary non-profit) in standard CV point form that details my day-to-day tasks and results. For this application question, I’m unsure whether it would be better to:

1. Expand on those same roles, focusing on specific instances where I demonstrate transferrable legal skills (have it drafted and ready to go) or
2. Introduce different experiences not on my CV, such as:
   • My PGDL studies, where I managed eight subjects over eight months and achieved distinction -- hoping to demonstrate time management / resilience here
   • Founding a student start-up, EasyWaste, leading a team, developing an MVP, and pitching to investors -- this would demonstrate motivation and drive
   • My freelance content design practice in San Francisco, where I redesigned small business websites and worked closely with clients -- this would demonstrate client-facing communication skills and analytical skills.

Would it be more effective to go into legal-specific detail on my professional roles, or to bring in new experiences here?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

 

[lillypad321]

I applied to Mishcon the day of the deadline and haven't received anything, it's so over

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi everyone!

My name is Afraz, I’m a future trainee at Travers Smith and I’ll be supporting @Abbie Whitlock and @Andrei Radu as a Community Assistant over the festive period.

A little bit about me. I previously graduated with a Law degree from the University of Salford in 2020 with a 2:1 and although I loved my time there, it was unfortunately my clearance option after I received BCC at A Level (but hey, I got an A in general studies). As you can probably gather already, my legal journey was not as clear-cut as moving from one stage to the other. There were (as I’m sure has been the case for many of you) a lot of challenges, hurdles, and constant rejection – which for me, felt like it was made worse by what I had to offer academically.

However, resilience is truly a powerful thing. Following a break from the TC process, where I spent a year working in graduate recruitment with Clyde & Co, ending my tenure on delivering my own vacation scheme, I sought out new ways to enter the legal field and this started with Slaughter and May’s Innovation Competition. For me, this removed the need to “apply” for something and instead showcase my capabilities first-hand, and ultimately, I won (and the prize was £1,000 and a 1-2-1 week-long internship with various talent across the firm). I would say this achievement snowballed my success, as it has since led to my joining the University of Oxford for an AI research project, the role of an innovation specialist paralegal at Freshfields and most recently an in-house position with Blackstone.

As such, I wanted to join TCLA to help and give back to the community that I too once turned to for support when I began doubting myself. Your journey may look different from everyone else’s, but that doesn’t mean you won’t reach the same destination.

Aside from your general queries, I would also say I am in a strong position to answer queries on:

• Navigating the process with what some may consider less “desirable” academic grades and institution backing.
• Understanding what firms are looking for in an application, assessment centre and vacation scheme and general office etiquette.
• Understanding how the process really works – to place a humane touch on what appears to be a very robotic and mysterious process.
• Generally how to build on your work experience to bulk up your CV and skillset.
• How to be the best version of you in any interview.

If you have any questions, on the above or anything more generally that think I could help with, please let me know.

LET’S GET YOU SOME TC’S!!!!

congratulations and welcome!!

 

[jojo23]

Some firms seem really slow on it... e.g. I did my HL stage 1 test like 7 weeks ago at this point and people have already gone onto stage 2 ages ago, but I've not heard news, good or bad, from them since 😭

It's defo a PFO though, I just wish they'd send it on so I can close that door completely

Oh boy let me tell you about simmons...its been 48 days
Yes, im counting because im petty💅

 

[abc124]

Hi everyone!

My name is Afraz, I’m a future trainee at Travers Smith and I’ll be supporting @Abbie Whitlock and @Andrei Radu as a Community Assistant over the festive period.

A little bit about me. I previously graduated with a Law degree from the University of Salford in 2020 with a 2:1 and although I loved my time there, it was unfortunately my clearance option after I received BCC at A Level (but hey, I got an A in general studies). As you can probably gather already, my legal journey was not as clear-cut as moving from one stage to the other. There were (as I’m sure has been the case for many of you) a lot of challenges, hurdles, and constant rejection – which for me, felt like it was made worse by what I had to offer academically.

However, resilience is truly a powerful thing. Following a break from the TC process, where I spent a year working in graduate recruitment with Clyde & Co, ending my tenure on delivering my own vacation scheme, I sought out new ways to enter the legal field and this started with Slaughter and May’s Innovation Competition. For me, this removed the need to “apply” for something and instead showcase my capabilities first-hand, and ultimately, I won (and the prize was £1,000 and a 1-2-1 week-long internship with various talent across the firm). I would say this achievement snowballed my success, as it has since led to my joining the University of Oxford for an AI research project, the role of an innovation specialist paralegal at Freshfields and most recently an in-house position with Blackstone.

As such, I wanted to join TCLA to help and give back to the community that I too once turned to for support when I began doubting myself. Your journey may look different from everyone else’s, but that doesn’t mean you won’t reach the same destination.

Aside from your general queries, I would also say I am in a strong position to answer queries on:

• Navigating the process with what some may consider less “desirable” academic grades and institution backing.
• Understanding what firms are looking for in an application, assessment centre and vacation scheme and general office etiquette.
• Understanding how the process really works – to place a humane touch on what appears to be a very robotic and mysterious process.
• Generally how to build on your work experience to bulk up your CV and skillset.
• How to be the best version of you in any interview.

If you have any questions, on the above or anything more generally that think I could help with, please let me know.

LET’S GET YOU SOME TC’S!!!!

Omg what an inspiring journey, we're so lucky to have you here!!

 

[anon78365222111]

NRF just really holding back VI’s rn 😭tryna get all my VI’s out the way

 

[Bbhu19]

NRF just really holding back VI’s rn 😭tryna get all my VI’s out the way

They aren’t sending them till after new yrs

 

[BobThebIlly]

Got 6662 in Weil’s SJT

That aside, I would've gotten rejected for my VI alone (I literally just started at the camera for one qs before moving on)

Bye bye weil it was fun while it lasted

 

[alphabravocharlie]

Does anyone know when Kirkland send out AC invites?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Idk if this is gna make any sense but what’s the diff between applied intellect (verbal and numerical) in the amberjack compared to the applied intellect pillar in the SJT? They both have the exact same label and it’s super confusing to me. What does applied intellect mean in both cases?​

So applied intellect tests the below behaviours:

1.Emotional intelligence
2.Social awareness
3.IQ (this is where it maybe spills into verbal intellect)

Verbal intellect tests:

Your ability to understand abstract, explicit and implicit content. You get given a passage - usually for Amberjack it comes in the form of a client email - and you have to pick up on the details and give the right answer.

 

[BealMcAlly]

Reed Smith amberjack and VI invite finally.

 

[BealMcAlly]

I applied to Mishcon the day of the deadline and haven't received anything, it's so over

'Anything' as in no confirmation?

They've likely received a bulk of their applications on deadline day and the GR team is only three people so it may be a while. Also it's 3 days before Christmas, so you may not hear back till after Christmas.

I wouldn't worry, they are likely slammed.

 

[jamsparkle]

Did all of yous that heard back from Milbank for stage 2 apply for Spring or Summer? I’m trying to figure out if it’s a defo PFO cos I’ve not heard back post stage 1 that I did last Wed. I applied to them for Summer (not LevFin). Also, in the event I do get stage 2 (unlikely), is it just a WG? Then a separate VI stage followed by an AC?​

there is no vi, at the open day grad rec said that the partners had been really against the idea of a video interview so they didn't implement any when they rejigged their app process for this cycle (but this is probs going to change in the future unfortunately...)

 

[lelezb1]

Akin Pfo; applied: 19 November

 

[ttlaw12344]

TW PFO post WG, cheers🫡

 

[Jennifer2003]

Reed smith assessment! Applied on the 14th

 

[Vakil]

HSFK, Weil, Willkie leaving me in the dark 🥺 — my inbox refresh button has taken a beating over the last week.

 

[gigi401]

Does anyone have some tips or advice for the Mishcon SJT?

 

[Ay__n05]

I'm very sorry to hear this, also PFO from DLA and yet to hear back from Fieldfisher. May I ask how you found the interview and if anything stood out?

Thanks, interview was ok, though I found that the way they ask the standard “why law” and “why this firm?” questions were unique. I’d say prepare for those with a focus on any potential competencies that link to them, and make sure you use examples for everything. Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 43292]

I’d say it’s still quite short because you get about 15 seconds to prepare and 1 minute to answer. Hope that helps!

Thank you so much!! wow that is really not a lot of time 😭 i thought they might have changed it this year as I saw in 2020 they had the 15 sec prep and 1 min answer time... I didn't expect it to stay the same haha esp how other firms are moving towards 3 mins or 2 mins answers