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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Prudentia

Legendary Member
Oct 21, 2025
155
385
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 29 and WLB doesn’t bother me at all. I’m a workaholic by nature. I figured if I’m going to work stupid hours I might as well get paid extremely well for it. There are plenty of professions that require more hours than law but get paid a fraction of the money. Besides, it’s not forever. If you go into Big Law you can easily set yourself up for life after a decade or less of working and move into a firm/in-house that has a better WLB. That being said, I’m not in a relationship and I’m not planning on having kids.
 
they already started? how do we know?
People posted it in the Direct TC thread that they received DTC AC invites from Freshfields. It seems they all did their stage 2 in Nov. So if yous did it later in Dec/Jan maybe we will hear slightly later in a separate batch? Idk for sure just hoping it’s not a definite PFO for now lmao.

Sad Am Fine GIF by MOODMAN
 

Rosie_Kitten

Valued Member
  • Dec 26, 2025
    114
    231
    Initially posted this in the wrong thread accidentally :p
    Anyways... another week without news 😅 (personally not promising). It would be a pretty bad nightmare to end up getting an AC that I wouldn't be able to attend, and if most firms give 2 weeks' notice to their first AC that will pretty much be the case 🤷‍♂️🫠.
     
    Initially posted this in the wrong thread accidentally :p
    Anyways... another week without news 😅 (personally not promising). It would be a pretty bad nightmare to end up getting an AC that I wouldn't be able to attend, and if most firms give 2 weeks' notice to their first AC that will pretty much be the case 🤷‍♂️🫠.
    Have you had no updates at all so far?
     

    Rosie_Kitten

    Valued Member
  • Dec 26, 2025
    114
    231
    Have you had no updates at all so far?
    Last week I had a couple PFO's, but I haven't had any updates this week (I guess nobody has had updates yet for those firms). I know not to expect every week, but there are a few that I made to 1st/2nd stage of testing (but ACs are usually scheduled early Feb for these firms.)

    EDIT: Just looked back into past forums, and most have AC's that run nearer the end of February as well? (Specifically clyde & co, white & case, osborne clarke etc?) Can anybody who has applied in previous rounds comment?
     

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