TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[trainee4u]

In 100 apps, how many offers did you get?

wdym by offers?

I have a thread over here https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/rejections-thread.9520/

I had two clashing VS last year so only did one and didn't convert.

I had about five Zoom interviews for VS or TC, and two (I think?) ACs.

My conclusion was I needed to improve interview performance, basically. This still applies, but this year I'm finding:

1. I've figured out the SJTs pretty much, so hopefully won't fail anywhere there
2. I've done all the WG questions before (but I think I did well enough on them before)
3. I can apply more easily using AI so hopefully I can use the time saved to improve my interview performance.

 

[Jennifer2003]

Has anybody been sent the baker mckenzie test after applying to their summer vac scheme? Applied on the 27/12 and deadline was New Year’s Day

 

[Dannie]

How manyy first stage interviews does Jones Day do?

 

[tc2026]

Have latham pfo's gone out post test 2?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Oooooof I just finished Reed Smith's VI and that took me so long. Will this ever get easier? lol

I got my amberjack scores and I'm shocked tbh. I did better than I thought. Got 7-6-4-9 with verbal at 2/3(cursed at this point) and numerical at 3/3

Let's see if I met the benchmark lmao

 

[EfficientBag123]

Oooooof I just finished Reed Smith's VI and that took me so long. Will this ever get easier? lol

I got my amberjack scores and I'm shocked tbh. I did better than I thought. Got 7-6-4-9 with verbal at 2/3(cursed at this point) and numerical at 3/3

Let's see if I met the benchmark lmao

That will almost defo be enough. Don’t stress yourself out, well done.

 

[Sharkfin]

I wonder how Bakers expect people to do the AC on the 9th if they don’t reply by today legit will be like 2/3 days notice 😭

Wait, where did u see the AC dates? On the timeline email it says Jan - Feb for Spring AC dates?

 

[Madison Pinewall]

I did 100 apps last year without using AI. Once you have 2 or 3 "commercial news story" and an answer to "why do you want to be a lawyer" it's not that hard.
However, with AI rather than copying and pasting my "why do you want to be a lawyer" from another app, I can have it edit my answer to better fit the specific firm/wording of the question.
I find the AI creates annoying and obvious verbal tics which I do edit out (it likes to end its last paragraph with Finally, for example, and there are a bunch of unnecessary adverbs and common buzzwords), but it's got a lot better over the last 12 months, so why not use it.

I think i'm a bit too careful when i'm writing apps. I sit there going over wordings etc and always take ages finding the best deals to talk about. A simple why this firm can take me like 1-2 hours and even tho i have a couple commercial stories im following i always try and be uber specific to why it impacts their practice area by naming a deal they've worked on and how transactions similar to this would be impacted

 

[elle woods]

FINALLY HL PFO thank you

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

This is the first thing I’ve done. I can’t seem to find anything, hence why I’m asking here.

I just blew away the dust over my historic "welcome to the firm" booklet and honestly I don't know if they have any formally written out. However, the ones that come to mind (and these are self-prescribed) are social impact (based on its dedicated award-winning pro bono practice), collaboration (based on its lack of target hours and unique seat structure) and independent thought (based on its dedication to weekly learning opportunities and outsourced courses).

 

[anon78365222111]

Wait, where did u see the AC dates? On the timeline email it says Jan - Feb for Spring AC dates?

On the email they sent I forgot which one it said first AC’s are 9th and 14th Jan also in line with last years dates

 

[llblawstudent]

Anyone know when we might expect a response from PW?

 

[Harvey Specter]

Reed Smith PFO post app lmao. At least I finally got an update from a firm. Maybe applying on the day of the deadline wasn’t such a bright idea.

 

[GKT]

Anyone applied to these firms, would love some insights:

Browne Jacobson
Boodle Hatfield
Glaisyers ETL
Capsticks
VWV
Joelson
Gide Loyrette Nouel
Howes Percival
Lockton?

Can't search more other than their websites, it's not on legal cheek firm's most list directory

Applied for Capsticks and VWV (attended open day). Also planning to apply to Joelson

 

[radssss]

Reed Smith PFO post app lmao. At least I finally got an update from a firm. Maybe applying on the day of the deadline wasn’t such a bright idea.

Exact same situation mate!

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

I am really struggling to think of how I would answer when is a time you made a serious mistake, does anyone have any tips for coming up with examples @Afraz Akhtar ?

@alphabravocharlie this has always been my favourite question, and if its one that's asked in an interview, it's a great chance to add some humour in there and really built a rapport with your interviewer.

This question, although it may seem negative, is actually assessing a strength and thats your ability to rectify something or learn from something that has set you back. The truth is, we all make mistakes, so think deep about what sort of issues you've made in the course of work and the impact that this may have had on operations. Once you've explained that, focus the bulk of your answer on what you did to rectify this, and how you've learned to approach/avoid similar situations in the future.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

I think i'm a bit too careful when i'm writing apps. I sit there going over wordings etc and always take ages finding the best deals to talk about. A simple why this firm can take me like 1-2 hours and even tho i have a couple commercial stories im following i always try and be uber specific to why it impacts their practice area by naming a deal they've worked on and how transactions similar to this would be impacted

I’m exactly the same, I do want to speed up to hit my applications target but rn it takes me a good few days to finish an application

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

I’m exactly the same, I do want to speed up to hit my applications target but rn it takes me a good few days to finish an application

Quantity does improve odds, but without quality then quantity is pretty useless. To get through early stages, the application needs to stand out - and I guess unless you can do this at a big quantity, then it's better to take more time.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Jheeze Akin selective online test invite! I sent my app mid Dec (13th - 15th).​

 

[Donuttime]

Reed smith test and VI! Is this automatic or do they read the app first?