TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[InterestInPublicLaw]

For amberjack tests, where do you get the ratings? I see people posting theirs, but can't seem to find mine for Mills & Reeves?

What ratings? You should’ve received an automated feedback report immediately after you finished the test (provided you watched the entire video at the end as mentioned by the firm).

 

[Prudentia]

Just completed the White & Case online assessment and received my feedback. Does anyone know how the report is weighted? I scored highly on personal responsibility, adaptability and credibility, but collaboration was an area of development. Does anyone also know if White & Case have started sending out AC invites for the vac schemes?

 

[elle woods]

Just saw someone on my FYP do a “Training Contract Wrapped” and I want to do one too!

Let me go get my laptop, there are applications to do.

wait omg how does it look

 

[Prudentia]

@Afraz Akhtar and others - what would you say are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the legal sector and/or businesses in 2026?

AI is definitely one of them.

 

[Novaa]

How strict is MDRs Bright Apply?

Like, from what I’m seeing, it’s meant to be a very conversational version of an application form.

So, like can I have my work experiences, notes etc. Printed off to the side and refer to them when answering or??

Very confused on what vibe they’re going for with it.

 

[Novaa]

wait omg how does it look

This is her user: @forcedtosimi

She did 9 applications, 6 ACs (got 4 VS offers) and then 2 VS!!

NEED THAT ENERGY RN

 

[AS24]

Hi @Afraz Akhtar,

I trust you are well.

I am applying to CRS, and one of the questions is about your proudest achievement. I applied to CRS twice and always passed, but this also means that I cannot write again about my two proudest achievements (sigh). I was planning to write about how I am succeeding in my current paralegal job despite not having much experience in this sector. Is this something that I should write about, or is it counterproductive?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hi @Afraz Akhtar,

I trust you are well.

I am applying to CRS, and one of the questions is about your proudest achievement. I applied to CRS twice and always passed, but this also means that I cannot write again about my two proudest achievements (sigh). I was planning to write about how I am succeeding in my current paralegal job despite not having much experience in this sector. Is this something that I should write about, or is it counterproductive?

Hey @AS24 I'm well thank you, hope you are too!

Why is it that you can't write the same things again, if you passed the application two times before? Have they specifically advised against this? I understand if you're told to change the wording, but as for examples or experiences, I would imagine that these would relatively stay the same - and that you would just word it differently. In which case, I would advise that you choose your strongest achievement - one that has allowed you to go into detail about what you've learned, overcome, exceeded at etc.

If however, you feel like its better to change it completely, then your example of succeeding in your paralegal job isn't necessarily counterproductive, so long as you can explain why that makes you proud? You mentioned you don't have much experience in this sector, so focus on the challenges, how you overcame them, what you did and what you've learned about yourself, and lastly why this makes you proud.

If you can't qualify it that much, then I would suggest sticking to an achievement that actually makes you proud - even if you've mentioned it before. Such achievements don't tend change year-on-year, so I wouldn't imagine anyone penalising you for that.

 

[jamsparkle]

Hi guys! I'm currently filling in the Travers Smith application, and I'm a bit stuck figuring out how to deal with the cover letter. There's a couple of things I'm a bit confused about:

1. How long do you reckon the cover letter should be? The word limit on the application form is 1000 words, and there's a post a couple of years ago from @TCLA Community Assistant (who really knows her stuff!) saying that, generally speaking, successful Travers Smith cover letters are about 700-850 words long. However, Travers Smith's own website suggests that the cover letter should be "ideally no longer than one side of A4". Therefore, would it be wise instead to write a shorter cover letter, and if so, how short do you reckon it should be?

2. Ordinarily, when writing a cover letter, I write my address in the top right-hand corner of the letter. However, there's no way of doing this on the Travers Smith application form, as you just write your letter into a standard text box on Vantage (much the same way with any other application question on Vantage), instead of, say, writing your letter in Microsoft Word and uploading it to the application portal. Therefore, would I be right in assuming that candidates don't need to include their address (or the firm's address) in the cover letter?

If anyone has any feedback or advice (no matter how small), I'd be super grateful!

lowkey I've never been bothered enough to do any formatting on cover letters except starting it with [to firm grad rec] and signing it off

#unbothered #lazy?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

@Afraz Akhtar and others - what would you say are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the legal sector and/or businesses in 2026?

Hey @Diana54 I've never really considered this in much detail, although I probably should but for me I would say the opportunities/threats within the legal industry are pretty inter-woven. What may seem like an opportunity, could lead to a challenge and vice-versa - so your answers for both could be the same albeit focusing on different elements. Let's take AI for example, although this has always been leveraged as an opportunity due to greater efficiency and lower costs, it runs the risk of eradicating admin oriented tasks that allow trainees to learn the foundational blocks of any given matter, e.g. proof-reading (which for firms like Freshfields, Litera takes the lead) would allow trainees the chance to take time to read up on a matter in great depth, develop attention to detail and keep an eye out on key concerns. Although, I am sure they still do, it is still a risk that can feed into a heavily reliant workforce in the future.

In light of that, what comes to mind for me is AI, the war for talent, economic pressure, skill development - and for all, there seems to be a pro and a con.

 

[iklawapps]

OMG I did this - thought I absolutely fumbled the bag in my interview because I was already nervous and was being asked very broad technical/ case study/ commercial awareness questions alongside back to back questions while I'm answering BUT it turned out fine in the end.
I'd say - try and distract yourself from the AC experience and don't assume an outcome until you hear back. I hope it works out in your favour!

Thank you < 3 I really do appreciate that, and I'm so glad it worked out okay for you!! I really hope it is okay in the end, and if it is I'll be hitting the chat with a big old I was wrong message :' )

 

[AS24]

Hey @AS24 I'm well thank you, hope you are too!

Why is it that you can't write the same things again, if you passed the application two times before? Have they specifically advised against this? I understand if you're told to change the wording, but as for examples or experiences, I would imagine that these would relatively stay the same - and that you would just word it differently. In which case, I would advise that you choose your strongest achievement - one that has allowed you to go into detail about what you've learned, overcome, exceeded at etc.

If however, you feel like its better to change it completely, then your example of succeeding in your paralegal job isn't necessarily counterproductive, so long as you can explain why that makes you proud? You mentioned you don't have much experience in this sector, so focus on the challenges, how you overcame them, what you did and what you've learned about yourself, and lastly why this makes you proud.

If you can't qualify it that much, then I would suggest sticking to an achievement that actually makes you proud - even if you've mentioned it before. Such achievements don't tend change year-on-year, so I wouldn't imagine anyone penalising you for that.

Hello @Afraz Akhtar,

I have been told to change my answer because GR tend to read past applications, but I am not sure.
I feel that my first successful application was pure luck. I only started to seriously apply last year, this year I want to be successful, but still struggling to understand a very tricky industry such as the legal one.

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Just completed the White & Case online assessment and received my feedback. Does anyone know how the report is weighted? I scored highly on personal responsibility, adaptability and credibility, but collaboration was an area of development. Does anyone also know if White & Case have started sending out AC invites for the vac schemes?

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that with many firms, the strengths and weaknesses given on feedback reports are generally relative to you. It's impossible to quantify based on the reports unless they quantify it with numbers. Person A's weakest area might be stronger than Person B's strongest area. Or Person A's strengths are average and below Person C's weaknesses. Probably, they are weighted based on qualities the firm finds most important, but the weighting is useless without quantification. I may be wrong about this, though, but I wouldn't worry too much. What it does mean is if you don't get accepted to the next stage, you know which area tripped you up if you apply again in the next cycle. Although typing that, I guess with SJTs by design, it'll be very rare to score very high or very low across the board?

Speaking of reports... it took BCLP over a day for the automated feedback report.... but it's different to usual reports, I guess? Because, along with the SJT, it had a verbal reasoning and critical reasoning test. If it says critical reasoning was a strength, was that related to the Critical Reasoning test or based on the SJT still? And when it comes to efficiency as a strength, is that related to the SJT, or is it related to time management in completing the tests? And is it a positive that verbal reasoning wasn't a weakness (i.e. the test results for that weren't weak)? At this point, I don't know, and I guess I'm overthinking it. I've done the test now, I need to remind myself it's now out of my control and I can only wait for an outcome.

 

[elle woods]

Has anyone withdrawn from the process in the middle of the application process (aka before AC) before? Would love to discuss thoughts!

 

[Saanvi.r]

chat are we gonna hear back from skadden tomorrow or anytime in the week?

 

[elle woods]

guys lowkey this sounds ungrateful but I don't want to hear back from all the firms all at once 😭 it's too much cognitive load on top of exams, academic reading, committee roles, and just daily life haha

I know most firms will be replying this month right? I just hope it's more gradual than a straight dump of emails tomorrow or smth 😂

 

[Prudentia]

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that with many firms, the strengths and weaknesses given on feedback reports are generally relative to you. It's impossible to quantify based on the reports unless they quantify it with numbers. Person A's weakest area might be stronger than Person B's strongest area. Or Person A's strengths are average and below Person C's weaknesses. Probably, they are weighted based on qualities the firm finds most important, but the weighting is useless without quantification. I may be wrong about this, though, but I wouldn't worry too much. What it does mean is if you don't get accepted to the next stage, you know which area tripped you up if you apply again in the next cycle. Although typing that, I guess with SJTs by design, it'll be very rare to score very high or very low across the board?

Speaking of reports... it took BCLP over a day for the automated feedback report.... but it's different to usual reports, I guess? Because, along with the SJT, it had a verbal reasoning and critical reasoning test. If it says critical reasoning was a strength, was that related to the Critical Reasoning test or based on the SJT still? And when it comes to efficiency as a strength, is that related to the SJT, or is it related to time management in completing the tests? And is it a positive that verbal reasoning wasn't a weakness (i.e. the test results for that weren't weak)? At this point, I don't know, and I guess I'm overthinking it. I've done the test now, I need to remind myself it's now out of my control and I can only wait for an outcome.

Thank you so much for explaining this. I guess it makes sense, as they make it clear the feedback report isn't the outcome. Similar to you, there's no point worrying about the outcome until I hear back. What's done is done. Wishing you all the best with BCLP!

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

guys lowkey this sounds ungrateful but I don't want to hear back from all the firms all at once 😭 it's too much cognitive load on top of exams, academic reading, committee roles, and just daily life haha

I know most firms will be replying this month right? I just hope it's more gradual than a straight dump of emails tomorrow or smth 😂

I think we can only count on the non-rolling firms to reply after the deadlines... beyond that, good luck to us 😅
Knowing my luck, there will be 5 days of an empty inbox, and then 3 assigned tests & 5 rejections & 2 video interviews in the same hour.

 

[boots pharmacy]

You guys are funnyyyy🤣 would be gassed if I end up in a trainee cohort with any of you!

 

[msclm]

Has anyone withdrawn from the process in the middle of the application process (aka before AC) before? Would love to discuss thoughts!

hi! i withdrew from a few firms after i accepted my tc. very short email being like "i accpeted a tc at __, as such i will be withdrawing from your application process"

every response was very nice ... i guess its one less application they need to look at lol