TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Carrington Lane]

wondering the same question - unfortunately I’m the same with this forum now too🤣🤣

I have both Outlook and Gmail on my phone to separate the personal and professional emails. For example, I only use Outlook to access the email I used to apply to firms. This way when I see the Outlook notifications, I know I need to check it immediately and ignore the Gmail notifications.

Side note, I never sign up for any newsletter, ads with the professional email so I dont get spam.

 

[lawstudent2]

Mayer Brown AC invite! I applied and did the online assessment on the 27th of October

Well done! Is this for spring or summer?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

speaking of practice areas how would you go about developing your interests especially if they changed? Just by keeping up with trends and researching? I’ve been quite ambivalent about litigation and other contentious areas but have an interest in corproate and litigation as my non-law degree matches onto both quite nicely

Yeah, showing an active ongoing interest by researching is good. Keeping up to date on what's going on. Even doing some writing can help.

 

[givemeajob]

Hey did the invite just come through?

Yeah, it just came through.

Well done! Is this for spring or summer?

Thank you! I put down either in the application, so I'm guessing they are assessing for both at the ACs

 

[PinkZebra67]

My bclp application defo got lost in the post… right ?

 

[anon78365222111]

My bclp application defo got lost in the post… right ?

Same lol

 

[TS.Law]

Yes, that's right.

Its a bit of a shame: You've managed to establish a great rapport with several members of staff, who talk enthusiastically about the contribution you could make to the firm, identify casework you'd be perfect for, and the firm initiatives that you could support, and the clients who be really glad to have you on their team...

...and then you fail the Watson Glaser test.

Smaller firms are more likely to have flexible recruitment policies, of course, but I like the idea of working at bigger, global firms. They replicate that culture of innovation and international collaboration that I love about university roles.

Being a career changer myself, I second this.

There's also another point that crosses my mind with every rejection I face: as UK law graduates, we might be eligible to sit the NY Bar without further education or work experience in America. Last year, my transcripts were sent to the Bar, and they approved my eligibility in a few days.

This means that if I pass the Bar exam on my first attempt (as plenty of people do, including friends from my cohort), I could qualify within six months or so and start building my own clientele from day one. The catch is that for this plan to work, a US work visa isn't simple to obtain, nor is finding an American sponsor.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

 

[ABC234]

Completely bombed the Mishcon SJT 😭

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

has anyone heard from DWF?

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

I kinda gave up on work life balance as a choice after I realised how few firms that left me 😂 (My niche interest in life sciences already narrows it down). It is still really important to me and is a way of ranking my law firms alongside NQ salary (also helps when I get a PFO from a firm I wasnt excited to work at anyway because of their work life balance).

It's why I'm so excited about my TW AC because I ranked them as an A-tier firm for their life science area and reputation for having a good work life balance.

For context, I'm a fresh graduate with a partner of 3 years, which did make me re-evaluate my priorities in terms of realising I may not want to come back at midnight every night and sacrifice all my relationships 😂.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

For me, I don't really care about work-life balance when reviewing firms. I don't think I would ever say this to a firm, but viewing this pragmatically, I have always enjoyed working a lot especially on complex things. I don't really tend to do much now and I have no dependents. I'm in my 20s so this is a prime time to earn a lot & save a lot. Of course, I would like to have some free time but working past 9 (and maybe the occasional weekend) would not necessarily stop me from going out in London.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Completely bombed the Mishcon SJT 😭

Oh no. Was it hard?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

For those who applied to BCLP, if you failed the test, when do you get a PFO?

 

[ABC234]

Oh no. Was it hard?

Not harder than other firms, but my scores were lower in some sections than they were in the other firms

 

[SamiyaJ]

I kinda gave up on work life balance as a choice after I realised how few firms that left me 😂 (My niche interest in life sciences already narrows it down). It is still really important to me and is a way of ranking my law firms alongside NQ salary (also helps when I get a PFO from a firm I wasnt excited to work at anyway because of their work life balance).

It's why I'm so excited about my TW AC because I ranked them as an A-tier firm for their life science area and reputation for having a good work life balance.

For context, I'm a fresh graduate with a partner of 3 years, which did make me re-evaluate my priorities in terms of realising I may not want to come back at midnight every night and sacrifice all my relationships 😂.

Aw bless you! Fair enough. I’m kinda the same as I’m interested in maritime, but do consider work life balance at the back of my mind. I’ve feel like I’ve spent my 20s working across all industries and crazy hours, so slightly cba to do that again but that would be a crazy luxury considering I now want to become a lawyer 😂

Best of luck for TW AC!! You’ll do great xx

 

[Shiv Lawy]

Hi everyone!

Just a random question- how does everyone view “work-life balance” once you get a TC? And yes I’m saying “once” cos we’re all going to get there!!!

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

I'm closer to 30 than being a fresh grad now and tbh I'm welcoming a return to the grind.

My first few jobs out of uni were 9-6 in not particularly exciting roles and then I've spent the last 2 years being completely unbound by time (part time work only/Masters/running a business)

Whereas I love not having a commute and my mental and physical health is at a peak, it can be exhausting always being on the clock and stressing about money.

Now that I've found my commercial niche and enjoy the work of a solicitor I'm ready to go back to a more structured day, especially if it pays me enough to live more centrally and not have a long commute.

The way I see it I work 100hr weeks right now looking for a job and winning new business I rather be paid to do work that feels worthwhile than working 45 hrs a week in a dead end job.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Thanks for sharing your perspectives, I can relate to you all a lot. It does weigh on my mind as I’m getting married soon and inevitably start thinking about next steps, but can be quite daunting to think about it all in one go and how it can all make sense logistically. Happy to have a very supportive and understanding fiance, so I guess things will fall into place at the right times!

Don’t know how to reply to more than one message at once lmao

 

[TCLAuser2002]

Hey guys, I was wondering how to approach this question " Tell us how lawyers can add value for their clients beyond providing technical, legal expertise. Why is this especially important in today's market?"

 

[WillKitchen]

Do you care about it? Do you think it depends on age? Are you picking firms based on their work-life culture? By age I mean someone in their early 20s/fresh out of uni vs 30s for example. But of course it depends on personal circumstances/responsibilities too

I'm not particularly worried about it.

Commercial lawyers work hard, but so do many other professions. I've had plenty of 1am finishes, early starts, weekend work hours, missed lunch breaks, even working on Xmas day.

Luckily, I've really enjoyed my work so far, so that is a big help.

However, it is very important to respect other people's circumstances. I never expect anyone to work outside their contracted hours.