TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[trainee4u]

anyone knows what the OC test is?

we require you to complete an online verbal reasoning test and an online deductive reasoning test with our provider, SHL

It took me 32 tries to get 30/30 on the practice VR test.

 

[ttso]

No bc why is it the middle of January and I'm still in flux (ie not rejected, but not AC) with 20 firms man 😭

Collective grad recs got me feeling like Bart

 

[BealMcAlly]

How bad is an amberjack score of 20 (for Reed Smith). It’s a shame, because my VI went well. And I genuinely did think my SJT performance was decent.

I hope it's of comfort to hear* that their Amberjack has been one of the hardest this year. I saw a lot of people say this as well. In fact, I found it harder than last year's iteration.

*syntax/poor grammar lol

 

[calebnash]

Burges Salmon ac! Any advice on how to prepare as it’s my first ac and I have no idea what to do. The day consists of a scenario discussion, group exercise, written exercise and an interview.

 

[T. Rainee]

Not yet, received holding email on Tuesday but nothing since - have you?

Nah man, same situation here. They said end of this week though.. but then again that email came at 10:45 PM so who knows what time we’ll hear. All I know is that last year all PFOs and invites went out at once so hopefully either way we’ll know tonight.

 

[T. Rainee]

Burges Salmon ac! Any advice on how to prepare as it’s my first ac and I have no idea what to do. The day consists of a scenario discussion, group exercise, written exercise and an interview.

Congrats! Is this for Bristol or Edinburgh?

 

[BealMcAlly]

Think for the workshop I remember getting 15 seconds to prepare and a minute to answer, or maybe a minute and a half?

It can change, but most recently, the trend has been 15 seconds prep time for 60 seconds answering time.

I would like to assume that given they are stress testing the three 'Whys' at every stage of their process, they may expand on the answering time. I can't remember if I read anything about VI length on the premium database. I'll verify and report back.

Just prep for why you, why them and why commercial law based on what they said at the workshop.✨️✨️✨️ WE CAN DO THIS.

Also, the VIs are reviewed by partners, so you can refer to your application and expand.

 

[TS.Law]

Cooley VS Spring: WG!!!! Applied on 01 Jan'26 (last day)

 

[Novaa]

Cooley VS Spring: WG!!!! Applied on 01 Jan'26 (last day)

I’m guessing the pub trip was successful? 👀🤣

CONGRATSSS!! 🤩

 

[calebnash]

Congrats! Is this for Bristol or Edinburgh?

For Bristol

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Taylor Wessing's grad rec has to check on their attention to detail skills because I was confused for a solid minute on what the hell communciation means when it was a misspelling of communication 💀

 

[startupgeek]

weil letting me wait over the weekend for a response is not it...

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Nah man, same situation here. They said end of this week though.. but then again that email came at 10:45 PM so who knows what time we’ll hear. All I know is that last year all PFOs and invites went out at once so hopefully either way we’ll know tonight.

Exactly, hoping they haven't sent them out for Edinburgh yet and will do so later tonight. You're right though at least we'll have closure

 

[elle woods]

weil letting me wait over the weekend for a response is not it...

honestly I don't think there's no chance of an AC for you yet

because from talking to ppl who got AC invites recently, the dates they were given were in the same week as the ppl who got the very first batch of invites.

I've been told they will hold ACs the week after too (since I needed to move my date), and I think they're doing more the week after my week. (sorry ik this is vague but can't really go into specifics). So I think there are still AC offers to go out!

(tdlr: they havent sent out invites for the ACs of the 2nd week of ACs or onwards yet I believe)

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Just realised I had applied for DTC for Burges, so obviously won't hear back. I applied for Mills & reeve summer - was there a spring? And if so, are the people hearing back now spring instead of summer?

 

[AMullin]

If I went over the prescribed time for NRF VI (two questions over 7 mins and one was just under 5 so it's okay) is that bad? I initially thought the preparation time was all 5 mins

Not an answer but if it helps I went way over on most of them, like 15 mins 😂 It said the time was "recommended" so I took that as a guideline rather than a rule but we shall see...

 

[Eudora]

is anyone still waiting on latham for spring

Yep, I’m also still waiting on Latham Spring. I completed my VI pretty early on, so the silence is definitely a bit nerve-wracking 😅

 

[startupgeek]

honestly I don't think there's no chance of an AC for you yet

because from talking to ppl who got AC invites recently, the dates they were given were in the same week as the ppl who got the very first batch of invites.

I've been told they will hold ACs the week after too (since I needed to move my date), and I think they're doing more the week after my week. (sorry ik this is vague but can't really go into specifics). So I think there are still AC offers to go out!

(tdlr: they havent sent out invites for the ACs of the 2nd week of ACs or onwards yet I believe)

tysm for this info it was smth i needed to hear!!! may we all remain positive for the upcoming week

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

if nothing from akin should i assume a pfo now?

They recently gave me an update, saying they are reviewing a large volume of applications submitted just before the deadline, and they would get back to everyone in due course.

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Anyone else had a responseless week? I’m bored now x