Same hereWFW PFO.
Feeling increasing like I'm going to strike out again this year.
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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
People who got WG for Cleary - how long did it take post-app for you to receive the invite? Applied a few days before the deadline and am aware ACs are already happening so I'm not too hopeful but I emailed grad rec about mitigating circumstances prior and they encouraged me to still apply so am keeping my fingers crossed!
i applied in late jan and they emailed me the WG a few mins after submitting! think it can take up to a few days though so i’m sure you’ll receive one soon
Willkie partner interview!
Simmons pfo 😍 nice thing to see before I go to work
Also w the 2 emails one of them said effectively they were rolling and they had a cutoff but the second one was a general PFO?
Also w the 2 emails one of them said effectively they were rolling and they had a cutoff but the second one was a general PFO?
Same! OMG congrats!!!
Maybe as they were going through, they were selecting ones to PFO and ones to accept within the system. Then after they did that, they had the rolling email for everybody when sending rejections. So those who got both emails were rejected, those who just got rolling one were not looked at?
I have no idea, just a hypothesis
Hello!
I think the best way to approach it is to treat it like a narrative. A structure that could work well is:
- Start with your story so far - highlight a couple of key experiences or decisions that have shaped your interest in law and Macfarlanes specifically (e.g. academics, work experience, or even something outside of law).
- Draw out the qualities they reveal - look at the qualities that Macfarlanes places a lot of emphasis on, and show these through your story.
- Connect to the firm - end by tying it back to why those qualities / experiences mean you'd thrive at Macfarlanes. For instance, if your story shows you enjoy variety, link it to their broad practice areas, etc.
I would avoid simply listing achievements or traits - it's important to weave them into a personal narrative that feels authentic. I'd focus on showing that your journey and career aspirations naturally align with what Macfarlanes are looking for
I hope that assists!
I applied on the deadline and got both emails so probably just a system error
It is not automatic, some got PFOs post stage 1. I got it 2 days after the first one. Someone also received it on the same day, afternoon after doing the first stage in the morning.
I applied to Simmons and completed the online assessment back in early November and have still not heard anything back!
Hi yes you will have to present under timed limits with the option to share your screen for that questions. Everything is visible when you click on the link in the email. It will bring you to a page with the info without fully starting the VI
Thank you!Hello!
I think the best way to approach it is to treat it like a narrative. A structure that could work well is:
- Start with your story so far - highlight a couple of key experiences or decisions that have shaped your interest in law and Macfarlanes specifically (e.g. academics, work experience, or even something outside of law).
- Draw out the qualities they reveal - look at the qualities that Macfarlanes places a lot of emphasis on, and show these through your story.
- Connect to the firm - end by tying it back to why those qualities / experiences mean you'd thrive at Macfarlanes. For instance, if your story shows you enjoy variety, link it to their broad practice areas, etc.
I would avoid simply listing achievements or traits - it's important to weave them into a personal narrative that feels authentic. I'd focus on showing that your journey and career aspirations naturally align with what Macfarlanes are looking for
I hope that assists!
Thanksss!!! are we expected to do the slides with the shared screen on and present immediately afterwards? It’s kinda new to me.
Hey!
I completed a placement year at a commercial property law firm during my undergraduate degree, and I genuinely couldn't recommend it enough. It is relatively rare to enter your final year of university with a full year of hands-on legal experience, and the skills that you pick up are invaluable.
Beyond the obvious legal exposure, sometimes working in a professional office environment makes a huge difference. During my vacation schemes, I found that simply being comfortable with office normals and professional communication removed a layer of stress that others understandably struggled with if they hadn't had that prior experience. A placement year also gives you a wide range of concrete examples to draw on in training contract applications and interviews - you might have been able to run certain things on your own, interact with clients, or develop specific practice area skills.
On a more general note, the biggest benefit for me was the confidence it gave me. Law firms are ultimately looking for trainees who are proactive and resourceful, and this was something I initially struggled with at the start of my placement year. However, after a year in practice, I became much more comfortable speaking up, volunteering to take on more complex work, and managing tasks on my own. This growth in confidence has carried through into vacation schemes and interviews, and allowed me engage with supervisors and take initiative without second-guessing myself.
In relation to the vacation schemes, I think it is still worth applying if there isn't a clash between the VS and placement. I reached a final stage AC for a vacation scheme that would have run in the summer before I started my placement year and, whilst I was unsuccessful, I would've taken as much experience as I could get! I didn't end up applying for any vacation schemes during my placement year (mainly due to not having the time), but I did attend a few open days and the firm I worked at often let me have the afternoon off to attend as it was a networking opportunity!
Slightly long story short - yes, I would always recommend a placement year if you are able to complete one! I think it was invaluable in my success with applying for VS/TC's last cycle, particularly as a non-RG student, as it gave me something distinctive to offer
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