TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Winter]

thank you! my ac is for spring though not summer scheme

If you scroll down on the Spring Vac Scheme page to the FAQ's it'll say penultimate can apply.

Spring Vacation Scheme • Baker McKenzie

uk-graduates.bakermckenzie.com

 

[TheGeek12]

some of the firms I have been PFO'd from vs next stage applications seems so random LMAO

 

[Serendipity2026]

Anyone heard from Skadden post WE?

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

There goes that dream for Reed Smith. What a SJT, man!😔

I thought I figured amberjack with 30/36 for Mishcon, but turns out, I still suck at it. It is what it is.

We learn, we move.

Same boat here😭

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Not me seeing people get Baker and Withers SJT 💀
Im hoping they come in waves

 

[BealMcAlly]

for folks doing travers smith apps: does anyone remember if Tara Davidson was at the recent online Travers legal cheek event?? I've got her name down and def remember speaking to a member of the grad recruitment team but literally cannot remember if it was her or someone else who just told us that she was the recruitment manager lol.

Is this the Tax and Private Capital event? If so, Tara was there and briefly spoke at the beginning.

For the networking thing I didn't go to early careers' breakout room so not sure if she was still there. She most likely was though

 

[oliviabeijing]

Does anyone know what time Osborne Clarke, CRS and Cov are actually due tomorrow?

 

[Chak]

Guys, do you have any advise on how to improve your Amberjack scores? I know it has been discussed here extensively, but I would really appreciate your advise. I have tried different strategies to develop my skills and I have succeeded a little bit - by going to like 6666 max. I feel like I understand the meaning behind each question but still cannot score higher than this. Do people encounter same issue and does anyone have any advise to it?

 

[TheLegalEdit]

i really wish jessica were back sometimes. i think i need a reality check. i'm a very well-educated person with legal and non-legal work experience but i graduated from the gdl last year. am I too old to be applying for vac schemes? i just have a hard time understanding what i'm doing wrong, when seemingly loads of second/third year students are doing everything right. How big of a factor is age?

I feel you! In a similar position 😭

 

[BatmanBeyond]

Literally me, if you know the context for the Ted rain dance scene 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭

Make it happen.

 

[PermanentParalegal]

Same boat here😭

I always trash the amberjacks and have still gotten ACs in previous cycles off the back of a terrible score. Don’t worry too much !

 

[shadowboxer909]

i really wish jessica were back sometimes. i think i need a reality check. i'm a very well-educated person with legal and non-legal work experience but i graduated from the gdl last year. am I too old to be applying for vac schemes? i just have a hard time understanding what i'm doing wrong, when seemingly loads of second/third year students are doing everything right. How big of a factor is age?

The average age on qualification is 30.

My logic is, if they're willing to interview you, you're not too old. I graduated 3 years ago and I've still had interviews with a US firm and a regional firm so they're clearly open to it. The law receives lots of career changers as well - also, lots of people take gaps in their career (particularly women who go on maternity leave) so it won't be as hard to catch up.

Entry trends

Demographic information about entrants to the solicitors' profession.

www.lawsociety.org.uk

 

[jamieclarke]

The average age on qualification is 30.

My logic is, if they're willing to interview you, you're not too old. I graduated 3 years ago and I've still had interviews with a US firm and a regional firm so they're clearly open to it. The law receives lots of career changers as well - also, lots of people take gaps in their career (particularly women who go on maternity leave) so it won't be as hard to catch up.

Entry trends

Demographic information about entrants to the solicitors' profession.

www.lawsociety.org.uk

Yeah there is loads of people on LinkedIn who’ve bagged US TC like 3/4 years post grad

 

[avocadob]

Has anyone received Rpc ac invites?

 

[radssss]

Dear Withers, while I’m very grateful for the SJT invite, but 1:30am isn’t the time😭😭😭

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Does anyone know what time Osborne Clarke, CRS and Cov are actually due tomorrow?

Cov is due on friday

 

[lololololol]

Does Forsters send their VIs in batches or is it safe to assume i got pfo’d if I didn’t receive it yesterday 😭😭😭

 

[BatmanBeyond]

Yeah there is loads of people on LinkedIn who’ve bagged US TC like 3/4 years post grad

It's a bit worse if you are an intl student because you don't really have the time or resources to keep going

 

[AMullin]

i really wish jessica were back sometimes. i think i need a reality check. i'm a very well-educated person with legal and non-legal work experience but i graduated from the gdl last year. am I too old to be applying for vac schemes? i just have a hard time understanding what i'm doing wrong, when seemingly loads of second/third year students are doing everything right. How big of a factor is age?

I’m 36 and applying for vac schemes 🤷‍♂️

I’ve got so much respect for people that absolutely smash it at Uni and then get through the process first time round but that isn’t the path for everyone. Run your own race and if this is really what you want to do, then just focus on doing something every day to make you a slightly stronger candidate. If you seem to be getting stuck at the same stage then focus all of your attention on that particular stage until you get past it, then rinse and repeat for the next stage. Just keep going 💪

 

[FutureAntitrustLawyer]

Ive heard that Baker releases AC invites in different batches!!! So hopefully not all is lost.
Also on the online platform has anyone written AC next to their application (in the application stage bit on the right)? Just wondering if it means anything (trying to hold on hope lol)

Someone here said ‘AC’ in the status column likely means application complete