TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Madison Pinewall]

Would you happen to know how many Cleary ACs are left/how many they do per cycle?

2 left I think! 40 spaces on each

 

[hey1238390u]

Has anyone heard back from Burges Salmon post AC? They told us to expect a response by today, but I haven't heard anything yet.

hope you don’t mind me reaching out. I’ve got a Burges Salmon assessment centre coming up and saw your post about the Winter AC.
we’ve been told the assessment centre will consist of:

• a scenario discussion
• a group exercise
• a written exercise
• and an interview with a lawyer

I’d really appreciate any advice you’re happy to share on what to expect and how best to prepare — even just what each part felt like on the day, what you think assessors were looking for, and anything you wish you’d known beforehand. Thanks so much! Please dm me with ant advice id be incredibly grateful

 

[lelezb1]

I am so done with the entire process. I have a VI to complete in two days but I don’t find any motivation to prepare. I am grateful for making it till this stage but sometimes all I want to do in my free time is sleep not prepare for VIs or write apps
sorry for the rant guys ..

 

[OliviaHB]

Has anyone who applied for Mishcon Cambridge scheme not received anything past the AI interview? Or have people received SJT's?

 

[ABC234]

Really interested to hear some opinions on this. Either on here or pm is fine!
Is HFW a respectable/good firm to train at? Are there any possibilities of lateraling to SC/MC firms after qualifying?
Lmk your thoughts pls.

Just from my experience - they’re quite niche so perhaps it depends on which area you qualify into

 

[silonthesofa]

there’s a firm asking for it before the AC

Then I’d say call your high school maybe? Or check through you digital files to see if you have scans from when you were applying to universities.

 

[Bbhu19]

Really interested to hear some opinions on this. Either on here or pm is fine!
Is HFW a respectable/good firm to train at? Are there any possibilities of lateraling to SC/MC firms after qualifying?
Lmk your thoughts pls.

Have you gotten an offer or AC with them?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

is there any disadvantage to doing one of the later AC dates for a summer scheme? I was offered one next month and had to request to be moved to the one in March (which the firm agreed to) as I had my final exams during the same dates as the initial AC I was offered. Is there less chance of receiving an offer later on if people have already secured offers by then?

Hey!

I'd say generally there's no disadvantage to attending a later AC - it is highly unlikely that a firm would allocate all of its offers at the first few ACs, as they're well aware that there will be very strong candidates attending the later ones too.

Firms usually plan their recruitment process across all dates, rather than treating early ACs as "first come, first served", so what matters most is how you perform on the day rather than when you attend. It might even be that they wait until all of the ACs are completed before making any final decisions.

Best of luck with the AC - I'm sure you'll smash it!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi! How does everyone do their work experience sections? I have been doing paragraphs but I have now started to doubt myself and think probably short sentence like a CV could be better?

Hey!

I'd say that either way is generally fine, but some firms do prefer prose over shorter, bullet-point style entries. This is because short paragraphs allow you to explain what you actually learned and how it is relevant in more detail, rather than just listing tasks and skills.

However, being concise is key. I would aim for tight paragraphs (e.g. a few sentences each) that focus on your main responsibilities, insights, and any transferable skills gained. It is definitely quality over quantity, so I would make sure that each experience clearly adds something to your application

 

[Novaa]

For Mishcon, I got high applied verbal and numerical, but only 23/36 in the pillars

I got 24 and honestly think they may have capped it, and are expecting us to have areas of development.

Like reading the report, it gives off that they aren’t expecting us to be perfect. (Well, that’s what I’m telling myself to help me sleep at night )

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

I got 24 and honestly think they may have capped it, and are expecting us to have areas of development.

Like reading the report, it gives off that they aren’t expecting us to be perfect. (Well, that’s what I’m telling myself to help me sleep at night )

I didnt do it, but did your SJT have a lot of slider questions? Because by default (unless one value is totally undesirable), it will be making one higher and one lower no matter which direction you move it.

 

[radssss]

I didnt do it, but did your SJT have a lot of slider questions? Because by default (unless one value is totally undesirable), it will be making one higher and one lower no matter which direction you move it.

You’re completely right if it’s cappfinity.

Mishcon was amberjack so completely different

 

[Novaa]

I didnt do it, but did your SJT have a lot of slider questions? Because by default (unless one value is totally undesirable), it will be making one higher and one lower no matter which direction you move it.

Nope, it was just the select your most and least options in a scenario questions, and looking at the options, some of them seemed to address different qualities as opposed to there being an outright right and wrong answer.

So I do think it’s expected that we won’t score high across all traits, right?

 

[user55998384]

hi, is anyone else still waiting to hear back from latham for summer? i haven't heard a single thing from them since the stage 2 invite

im still waiting on them for spring

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Any news from Mayer Brown post-AC?

They will probs get back in three weeks I heard.

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

im still waiting on them for spring

I applied for spring and as at the time I booked my AC, they had ACs up until 11th Feb. I’m not sure if that helps?

 

[lolololol]

any more ac invites from covington? dream firm tbh

 

[t2so]

Anyone who is doing/has done the Ashurst AC, when do they send you their "guidance note"?

The email says they will give one, but does not specify when.

 

[Saul_specter]

Farrer proofreading task!!!!! Dream firm

is this for dtc or vs? thanks

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Andrei Radu @Abbie Whitlock
For the interview with a partner, when they ask "why X firm?" and when discussing what practice areas particularly interest me, would you recommend talking in depth about deals here or just being general and focusing on the rankings of the practice areas? Sorry to ask this silly question, as it's my first AC, so just trying to be prepared.

Hey!

Not a silly question at all!!

A good rule of thumb is depth over lists - you don't need to recite rankings, and partners aren't necessarily looking for a catalogue of deals either. Rankings can definitely be a starting point, but on their own they don't say much about why the practice area interests you.

For practice areas, it is usually strongest to:

• Pick one or two areas that you are genuinely interested in
• Mention briefly what the firm is known for in that area (this could be a headline deal, a sector focus, or a type of client that they work with)
• Then go into more depth - explain what about that work appeals to you based on your past experiences and future career goals (e.g. the kind of clients, the mix of advisory vs transactional work, the exposure that trainees get, or how it links to your past experiences in a certain area).

You don't need lots of technical detail on deals, as the partners won't be testing recall, but being able to talk about a deal in a commercial way can show engagement with the firm and its work.

Overall, they'll be trying to understand your motivation and whether you have thought about how the firm's work aligns with you, rather than specific facts that you can memorise.

I hope that assists, and best of luck with the AC - I'm sure you'll do great!!