TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[WillKitchen]

Planning to wrap the applications by jan 31 and lock in for SQE from Feb 1st. We got this!!!
(Happy to share SQE prep progress and stay motivated together, we're already connected on LinkedIn xd)

Sounds great - let's hope we have TC offers by the time we sit the exams. That would be a morale boost!

 

[Lawlawland]

Happy plate spinning!

How are you finding it so far? And what affected your decision to do it now, instead of waiting for a TC offer?

Anticipating this is for everyone on the same boat:

1. I have two years to secure a visa sponsorship. My hunt is not just for a TC but for a stable work sponsorship. If TC plans fails I think having a SQE qualification would help me reach out to mid tier and small firms that may not sponsor for SQE but can take me in for traineeship.

2. Opens doors for me in the Dubai and Singapore market (I also have language advantages there). So I can spread my focus even if London and UK market fails me.

3. Getting it out of the way as early as possible is honestly so relaxing, I don't want to be anxious about it down the lane. I feel like I have the time and the right mindset now, and shall put it for good use.

4. Having at least SQE 1 done by next cycle shall helo me look good for firms that wants their trainees to start early (like GD). Trying to tap into that.

5. I'm getting really old, I don't think I wanna be doing this in my laste 20s. So getting it out of my way by the mid-20s.

 

[iklawapps]

Did they tell you when to expect to hear back?

Sometimes if there are ACs still to run after you've done yours, it can take much longer to hear back. Most firms have to finish all their ACs before they take some time to make final decisions. Obviously other firms do things differently, especially if they give out offers on a rolling basis

it depends on the firm, for Macs they would usually call in the evening after the AC if u have been successful but I have also heard of some other firms taking longer to respond due to high number of strong candidates.

I got told I would hear back by the end of the week, heard back the following week with a positive response, sometimes GR can just be a bit slow

thank you all so much < 3 they haven't said how long they'd be, but I'll just keep on waiting patiently and pray the case is that they're just busy :' ) good luck to your apps and I hope you all get tons of Acs!

 

[WillKitchen]

I'm getting really old, I don't think I wanna be doing this in my late 20s. So getting it out of my way by the mid-20s

I'm 32, and have also met much older people who are in the same boat.

I was talking to a lawyer at Simmons recently, and he said that the average age of NQs is going up gradually, and is now over 30. So we probably shouldn't worry about it!

 

[lolololol]

Any advice for JD interview? Specifically the commercial side of things which is typically my weakness

 

[WillKitchen]

Any advice for JD interview? Specifically the commercial side of things which is typically my weakness

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, did you complete the JD Forage before applying?

 

[ACHat8r]

Still haven’t heard from W&C for their SJT. Applied on Sunday.

Haven’t heard from P, W or David Polk either

isnt their SJT in the email that confirms they received your app

 

[Donna Paulsen]

it's not me - I've done

View attachment 7692

Any tips?

 

[lolololol]

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, did you complete the JD Forage before applying?

thank you! No I did not complete it i couldn’t find it for some reason

 

[Legalfreak212]

Thank you!! I got high verbal and numerical then 9,7,4,6

ok that gives me a bit of hope, because i got a 4 for creative force too hopefully my high verbal and numerical intellect, as well as my VI offsets this

 

[Novaa]

isnt their SJT in the email that confirms they received your app

@BobThebIlly - Pls have a look, if you submitted on Sunday the deadline for the SJT should be today. So you still have time

 

[Legalfreak212]

Can someone explain why the Clyde and co vi is 40 mins…

 

[Novaa]

Can someone explain why the Clyde and co vi is 40 mins…

 

[lelezb1]

So, I am preparing a list of questions that can be asked at an AC. Any ideas on how to approach this question: What transferable skills do you wish to pick up between now and the vac scheme/training?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Yeah. It’s short but a lot harder than your standard WG.

Harder like how? Longer questions or just more confusing?

 

[bmn45]

I got through to the second stage. I applied on 31 December.

Thank you so much!

 

[Novaa]

So, I am preparing a list of questions that can be asked at an AC. Any ideas on how to approach this question: What transferable skills do you wish to pick up between now and the vac scheme/training?

Sorry just to confirm, do you want to know how to answer what skills you’d want to pick up between the AC and vac scheme? Which would assess how you’d prepare for the vac scheme?

Or what skills you’d want to pick up between the AC and training, which would assess how you’d use the vac scheme to prepare for your training?

Or both? Let me know and I can try to give a couple of options

 

[whywhy88]

Anyone know if the W&C capp test has a VI? Trying to work out why it's supposedly going to take 90 minutes!

 

[lelezb1]

Sorry just to confirm, do you want to know how to answer what skills you’d want to pick up between the AC and vac scheme? Which would assess how you’d prepare for the vac scheme?

Or what skills you’d want to pick up between the AC and training, which would assess how you’d use the vac scheme to prepare for your training?

Or both? Let me know and I can try to give a couple of options

Both will be helpful. Thank you so much.

 

[Novaa]

Anyone know if the W&C capp test has a VI? Trying to work out why it's supposedly going to take 90 minutes!

It doesn’t, but there are videos which they say you “have” to watch and material to read. But it’s mainly just content providing you insights into firm departments and culture.

I’m assuming they’re probably expecting people to spend more time on the critical reasoning part.