TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Trainee590]

I imagine week commencing Feb 23 is when they will send the invites out

Last year, I got my invite late Feb

 

[Rafa]

Hey guys, any advice about a Latham & Watkins AC would be really appreciated!

 

[Lawlawland]

Howdy!
I am just curious if Anyone else is participating in the Ropes and Gray AI Prompt Competition...

 

[sebcathrew]

DM me - I did their interview last year!

Hi I'm also a non law student, i have my interview on Tuesday with slaughters do you have any advice. Thanks

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Director]

There was one test (I can't remember which, but one of the ones I did (maybe M&R, but I could be mistaken - I took the test a couple weeks back, so it could have been multiple ones), my answers were slightly off - a rounding error, either in the working or in the final answer. It was untimed, so I did them multiple times, getting the same answer (I got good maths grades at GCSE, A-level and Uni modules). In the end, I realised it was a small mistake in the answers (most people would have just clicked through, for some reason, I was stubborn, trying to get the exact answer). But it definitely was a mistake on their end, which I find ironic for a law firm.

I've spotted some mistakes as well in the questions

 

[sebcathrew]

Hi non law student here i have slaughters interview/AC in two days any advice. Still unsure on the written exercise in particular thanks.

 

[Legallylaw]

Not sure if you use LawCareers.Net and Chambers Student. Some are on there and they are actually more helpful than Legal Cheek imo (e.g., perks are good to know but it never impacted how I write or perform at each assessment stage lol). Would also recommend emailing the early talent teams for more info.

I did the Howes Percival Summer Vacation Scheme last summer, happy to share insights!

 

[nonliquetagain]

Howdy!
I am just curious if Anyone else is participating in the Ropes and Gray AI Prompt Competition...

Hiya! I submitted mine about half an hour ago - just wanted to check if anyone got a confirmation email after submitting because they said there would be one but I don't seem to have received it...?

 

[User2640]

Just curious, what do people wear during VI?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Just curious, what do people wear during VI?

 

[Novaa]

Just curious, what do people wear during VI?

I usually opt for a button-up shirt. I get quite flustered doing VIs, so I avoid jumpers/blazers😭😭

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

I have had similar experiences and amended it retrospectively. Do you think it comes across as poor attention to detail?

@llblawstudent I don't think it does, and I've dealt with a few instances where people have amended their applications post-submission. Truth is, the systems can make format errors, or there are personal updates e.g. exam results - so it's more common than you think.

 

[Novaa]

The vibe I bring to a “How has our strategy changed over the last 5 years?” question:

(I only prepped to explain their strategy for the NEXT 5 years)

 

[floral.tcla]

hey! does anyone know what it means if you’ve finished the final stage and your online application portal changes to a message saying thanks for getting involved in the recruitment cycle and we are enjoying getting to know you, but you haven’t had an email or phone call? 😛

 

[Novaa]

Um what does it mean if you’ve had an AC and your online application portal changes to a message saying thanks for getting involved in the recruitment cycle and we enjoy getting to know you, but you haven’t had an email or phone call? 😛

I wouldn’t think about it too much, it doesn’t signal a yes or no.

But trust and believe… GOOD NEWS IS COMING! ❤️

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hi guys - so I completed my online video interview and aptitude test the day of the deadline but I had technical issues (of course!). I had to reach out to grad recruitment, it was all ok in the end but im scared this is going to count against me. I know it's not a great impression, but will it be held against my application? What do you guys think?

@nalinp of course not! If they've rectified the issue you were facing, nothing will impact you here, especially not the fact you left your test till the deadline they awarded. Don't worry yourself too much!

 

[floral.tcla]

I wouldn’t think about it too much, it doesn’t signal a yes or no.

But trust and believe… GOOD NEWS IS COMING! ❤️

thank you and likewise… I’ve never come across that type of post AC message but I AM DOING THE MANIFESTING DANCE💃

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

thank you and likewise… I’ve never come across that type of post AC message but I AM DOING THE MANIFESTING DANCE💃

 

[Novaa]

I’m an ESG lover, so I usually go for the regulators becoming more strict line of approach and the implications this has.

UK = The CMA now has the power to fine companies up to 10% of their global annual turnover for breaches of consumer protection law, which includes greenwashing.

Italy = Investigated Shein for greenwashing and fined them €1 million (Shein also struggled to launch their IPO in London because of similar concerns).

France = Ruled that TotalEnergies had misled consumers by greenwashing via an advert, and they were ordered to remove them or face fines.

This tells me in Europe at least that ESG has shifted from something which was good for PR/optics to now being legally enforceable for companies. Which then also means, law firms particularly “full-service” ones with many offices have an opportunity to advise companies across jurisdictions on these ESG regulations.

@Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock I just wanted to confirm for a question on commercial trends. Are firms expecting multiple trends or just one? Because I feel like I can do this ESG one in the allocated time (Introduce the trend > Explain 2/3 real-life examples > Briefly explain how firms can advise on this).

But I really dislike VIs because without that human interaction, I struggle to gauge how much is actually being expected from my response.

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

@Afraz Akhtar @Abbie Whitlock I just wanted to confirm for a question on commercial trends. Are firms expecting multiple trends or just one? Because I feel like I can do this ESG one in the allocated time (Introduce the trend > Explain 2/3 real-life examples > Briefly explain how firms can advise on this).

But I really dislike VIs because without that human interaction, I struggle to gauge how much is actually being expected from my response.

@Novaa I suppose it heavily depends on the way the question is asked. If it's asked in the plural sense, such as identifying key trends then firms are looking for at least two. Given that, you can afford to keep it very high level, so you don't need to stretch out what is going e.g. providing 2-3 examples of it but more so introduce it, briefly highlight what this means, and explain how law firms are impacted by it. The focus here should be on the explanation of the latter (given the limited time).

If however, they focus on the singular, then thats where your plan above comes in (which, I think is a great approach).