TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[RJ Ruban]

I received it for Summer. I don't know if it is automatic but it does seem to depend on when people sent their applications (did the AI test in mid november).

Same here

 

[tjeya26]

When I was rejected from the placement last year they automatically considered me for the TC

Thank you so much. That makes a lot of sense.

 

[agx]

Does anyone have any tips for amberjack situational judgement? Its these I keep doing really poorly on and really would like to not fail on SJTs.

 

[anna1289]

Any insight to Mishcon SJT? Is it just a generic one?

Just generic amberjack I think

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

what is the difference between a skill, a characteristic, a trait, a culture etc etc.. Trying to write my answer to the Ropes&Gray question but I am not sure how broad to go in defining a characteristic. Should I mention more basic things like collaboration, communication or excellent client service or be more precise with things like expertise and value of AI or analytical precision?

Hello!

This is a great question - the way that I would split them up is:

1. A skill is something that you can actively do (e.g. legal analysis or drafting)
2. A trait or characteristics is more about how you tend to behave or think when using those skills (e.g. collaborative, analytical, or commercially minded)
3. Culture describes the shared values and expectations of the organisation as a whole (e.g. how people at this specific organisation typically work together and what the firm rewards in practice).

For the Ropes & Gray question, I would say it's best to strike a balance - you don't need to list very generic qualities alone (such as "good communication"), but you also shouldn't go so narrow that you sound overly technical. I'd aim to discuss some broader qualities that show you would be a strong trainee generally, while also highlighting a few more specific characteristics that Ropes & Gray particularly values.

Best of luck!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I applied to Gibson Dunn's TC. I think I'm cooked, but hey.. I see Travers Smith on the list too but they're still considering 2027 TC this cycle, hopefully it's not accurate. A&P too 🥲

I wouldn't assume you're cooked just because they hire predominantly from VS! Whilst vacation schemes do tend to be the main route for firms offering TCs, plenty of candidates secure a TC through the direct route when the odds are statistically low! I secured my TC at Reed Smith last cycle in their first cycle of taking DTC applicants, and I'm by no means the perfect candidate on paper

Ultimately, you miss every opportunity you don't take - it's always worth applying to the firm if you are genuinely motivated to work there, despite the odds!

 

[TS.Law]

Just to weigh in on the other side, I don't think it's unreasonable for law firms not to provide feedback at the application stage. This is quite normal for companies.

I do appreciate it's very frustrating for applicants, and I can completely see why. You spend so much time working on your applications and going through the tests. Equally, from the side of a business, it's more time (with a small team) on people a firm has decided not to progress. There would need to be some type of reason to provide feedback (e.g. if you feel the person is likely to reapply with a stronger application or just slightly missed the mark.)

I know it can feel like it's just one more thing they need to do. But each of those emails invites a lot more queries, especially given the volume of applications they receive. People who get rejected are also more likely not to take the feedback on graciously (as is the nature of feedback), which is why it is often generalised.

I say that as someone that used to hate the feedback I used to receive. But it is also easier to see the other side now.

Hi Jasen, I agree that providing holistic, personalised feedback to thousands of candidates is simply not feasible. It actually is impossible.

However, with modest organisation and investment in a digital process, firms could meaningfully acknowledge the effort that tens of thousands of candidates invest in their application forms and multiple assessments. They should consider that these efforts represent not just career aspirations, but life decisions.

Given that technology is fully embedded in our lives, and firms do have the resources to invest in sophisticated platforms, there is no compelling reason why a modest feedback report couldn't accompany each rejection email. Such a report could offer transparency through aggregated statistics, selection criteria, and threshold benchmarks, without requiring individualised commentary.

To illustrate: in my previous career, I worked in project management and got involved in sophisticated digital initiatives. In finance, for example, I engaged in receivables securitisation for a major telecoms company with millions of customers across the EU. We tracked payments and consumer behaviour in granular detail, applied analytics combined with economic scenarios, classified tranches, and delivered comprehensive reports justifying risks, rates, and variations by jurisdiction, demographic, and other factors. If that level of data transparency is standard in capital markets, surely recruitment processes could adopt something similar.

From my perspective, the current approach feels dismissive of the genuine commitment candidates bring to these applications. But that's perhaps a broader conversation for another time, either in a coffee shop or a pub

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

High 2.1

Well...
I wish if firms were strict about no mitigating circumstances they would just say.

 

[lucky gal]

Hi @Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock!

I have a strengths-based interview with BCLP next week and am awfully nervous about it.

Do you guys have any tips on how to build rapport with the interviewers/answer strength-based questions?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Just to weigh in on the other side, I don't think it's unreasonable for law firms not to provide feedback at the application stage. This is quite normal for companies.

I do appreciate it's very frustrating for applicants, and I can completely see why. You spend so much time working on your applications and going through the tests. Equally, from the side of a business, it's more time (with a small team) on people a firm has decided not to progress. There would need to be some type of reason to provide feedback (e.g. if you feel the person is likely to reapply with a stronger application or just slightly missed the mark.)

I know it can feel like it's just one more thing they need to do. But each of those emails invites a lot more queries, especially given the volume of applications they receive. People who get rejected are also more likely not to take the feedback on graciously (as is the nature of feedback), which is why it is often generalised.

I say that as someone that used to hate the feedback I used to receive. But it is also easier to see the other side now.

I wonder if, with the advent of AI, firms will begin to use it in some way to streamline the process.
It would be terrible for applications to not be read by humans but if they integrated it in some way where they could give some reason for a rejection and the AI could communicate that to applicants, it may give a better understanding of how to improve.

 

[Jaysen]

Also, a big welcome back to @Abbie Whitlock to the TCLA forum.

(I have missed her presence here!)

 

[ilikelaw]

COOLEY WG !!!! (summer scheme applied idk like mid december)

 

[Dannie]

Does the Mishcon Amberjack have math...

 

[Dannie]

Has anyone heard from Cleary post-WG who did it in Dec....

 

[tedkiss]

Just got my TI invite for Morgan Lewis and SJT for MdR summer vac scheme. Literally made my day😍😍😍

 

[RJ Ruban]

Does the Mishcon Amberjack have math...

I think it does cause i reread the email and said have a calculator at hand but it does say it’s an SJT so im confused

 

[summersun]

Just got my TI invite for Morgan Lewis and SJT for MdR summer vac scheme. Literally made my day😍😍😍

Congrats that's amazing !!!

 

[tedkiss]

Congrats that's amazing !!!

thanks I was in a slump so I'm really glad there's some movement😁

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Am I right in saying the Mishcon de Reya SJT is untimed? (Recommended 1 hour though.)

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

Just got my TI invite for Morgan Lewis and SJT for MdR summer vac scheme. Literally made my day😍😍😍

When did you apply for ML?