Hi guys! I have my first AC coming up which includes a group exercise, interview and individual presentation. I don't really know what to expect and am quite nervous but equally excited. If anyone has any tips on how best to prepare (for a specific component or overall), I would highly appreciate it!
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
BoE Interest rates reducing from 4% to 3.75% (the lowest for nearly two years)
Oh this brings up a whole question around the interview sections of ACs, or freestanding interviews. What's the vibe on taking in and making notes?
Hello!
That's a great question, and I think the answer genuinely depends on the firm in question. Using Farrers as an example, they offer a significant proportion of their training contracts through the DTC route, which makes it a very viable option. That said, I would generally encourage applications to apply for the vacation scheme route if possible. They are an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the firm's culture, practice areas, and way of working, and they allow you to demonstrate your abilities over a longer period of time. In many firms, the chances of securing a training contract through a VS are higher, simply because they often hire from the VS in the first instance.
However, as you have mentioned that this is mainly for firms whose vacation scheme applications have closed, there is absolutely no harm in submitting a DTC application if that route remains open. Given your background and experience, you are well-suited to the DTC process - particularly if you feel more confident in structured assessments. When I applied for my DTC, I had a similar background of vacation schemes and paralegal experience, which I found helped me articulate my motivations and competencies more clearly.
It's also worth remembering that there are so many variables in this process and you truly never know what might come of an application. For example, I submitted my Reed Smith DTC application after seeing it advertised on TCLA, with relatively low expectations and a general fear of assessment centres! Despite that, it ended up being my only offer. I think this really reinforced to me that it is always worth putting yourself forward, even if you think the chances are low - you might be pleasantly surprised!
I hope that helps give some perspective, but shout if you have any other questions!
I know some people may say that you can take in notes so long as you disclose them and ask for permission to refer to them in the interview. However, I don’t think this is the strongest look. If you can, avoid taking in any notes with you.
As for taking notes whilst you’re in there, there is no issue with doing so. Just make it known that you may take a few notes whilst they’re speaking as you may refer to it later. I did this for most of my interviews, and never had an issue.
Hi!
When answering this sort of question, it might help to focus less on the specific action and more on the skills that the question is testing. Therefore, have a think about how you would show:
- Awareness of deadlines and responsibility
- The ability to prioritise realistically
- Proactive and early communication
- Offering solutions rather than creating / bringing problems
The graduate recruitment team won't necessarily be looking for the 'perfect' outcome - they are much more interested in your judgement and thought-process whilst making the decision!
Lowkey interested in this topic too so if anybody has any insights pls do share them. What sets Akin’s funds practice apart from Debevoise and vice versa? Idk if this question was alr answered by someone so I have decided to bump it lmao.
See I have this but I’m so bored of banks and blah blah blah. I want something spicy
Super helpful, thanks Abbie!Hi!
When answering this sort of question, it might help to focus less on the specific action and more on the skills that the question is testing. Therefore, have a think about how you would show:
The way that I would structure it is: briefly assess the situation -> explain how you'd communicate with supervisors -> show how you'd agree a sensible way forward and deliver on it.
- Awareness of deadlines and responsibility
- The ability to prioritise realistically
- Proactive and early communication
- Offering solutions rather than creating / bringing problems
The graduate recruitment team won't necessarily be looking for the 'perfect' outcome - they are much more interested in your judgement and thought-process whilst making the decision!
Thank you so much Abbie!Hello!
That's a great question, and I think the answer genuinely depends on the firm in question. Using Farrers as an example, they offer a significant proportion of their training contracts through the DTC route, which makes it a very viable option. That said, I would generally encourage applications to apply for the vacation scheme route if possible. They are an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the firm's culture, practice areas, and way of working, and they allow you to demonstrate your abilities over a longer period of time. In many firms, the chances of securing a training contract through a VS are higher, simply because they often hire from the VS in the first instance.
However, as you have mentioned that this is mainly for firms whose vacation scheme applications have closed, there is absolutely no harm in submitting a DTC application if that route remains open. Given your background and experience, you are well-suited to the DTC process - particularly if you feel more confident in structured assessments. When I applied for my DTC, I had a similar background of vacation schemes and paralegal experience, which I found helped me articulate my motivations and competencies more clearly.
It's also worth remembering that there are so many variables in this process and you truly never know what might come of an application. For example, I submitted my Reed Smith DTC application after seeing it advertised on TCLA, with relatively low expectations and a general fear of assessment centres! Despite that, it ended up being my only offer. I think this really reinforced to me that it is always worth putting yourself forward, even if you think the chances are low - you might be pleasantly surprised!
I hope that helps give some perspective, but shout if you have any other questions!
The normal 4 pillars - Digital mindset, applied intellect, creative focus and grit and then you have numerical and verbal intellect. It’s very important when you’re doing it to try and recognise which of these pillars the question is examining and then make your decision based on that. The VI questions are not too bad but instead of prepping for specific questions (like i did) think about the skills they’re looking for and examples where you showed those skills because you might not get the questions you prepped for. Think mainly of your experiences and use the two minutes to integrate them into the question. I tanked mine so I hope it goes better for you.
I’m not going to pretend to know anything about something I have no idea of. Trust me, 8 months with Blackstone and I still can’t tell you the rationale behind a funds flow. Safe to say it’s not for me. However, one thing I repeatedly see with Debevoise is their industry specific knowledge is constantly commended. What’s interesting about this is that industry specific knowledge can sometimes translate to creative drafting for what seems to be very tedious funding documents - in a way that encourages investment whilst protecting the client. For example, they have a have a long standing relationship with Kelso, having most recently advised them on the formation of the Kelso Investment Associates XI fund and Kelso tend to create funds for investment in the healthcare space. I’d be curious to look into whether there are any concerns here with regards investment in healthcare e.g. is there less ROI on certain aspects of clinical measures that hinder investment - how are Debevoise forming funds that actually surpass the expected pool of money to be coming in here? How are they structuring the documents to appeal to investors. Is there a certain insight have that other firms maybe don’t? Seems like a long shot, but worth looking into. Work backwards and look at their success, scrutinise it in line with market concerns and consider what they did to alleviate them. Hope this helps, but if it didn’t, it may be my last post on funds at all.
What differentiates Gibson Dunn from other competitors? Other than the standard 'free market system', 'low leverage' etc.
I've done my internet research (but there's nothing I know that will make me different from other peoples' knowledge) but does anyone know if they have an all-equity partnership or do they have non-equity partners as well?
Vault says they mainly have equity partners but I didn't know whether they have non-equity partners like other American law firms?
I've done my internet research (but there's nothing I know that will make me different from other peoples' knowledge) but does anyone know if they have an all-equity partnership or do they have non-equity partners as well?
Vault says they mainly have equity partners but I didn't know whether they have non-equity partners like other American law firms?
Congratulations ✨
May I know when did you apply?
Out of curiosity, did anyone here apply to ES' Cardiff office? Haven't seen anyone say so and was just wondering
Guys I’m going to apply for HR internships or smth next summer and report back about how they actually do things behind the scenes because this is curiosity is eating at me (half joking)
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