TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TCGrad1642]

Anyone heard from Akin?

Haven’t even heard about TI after initial application from early Jan

 

[AryanAgg]

Does anyone have any idea regarding the timelines for winston & strawn and orrick?

 

[WillKitchen]

If you've completed this VI, I would really appreciate any insight, are the questions motivational, competency, SJT, prep time + record time....thanks in advance!!!!

do they assess your practice ones? bit of a strange way to do things no? 9 practice questions is crazyyyy

I'm afraid that prep for another VI has shuffled a lot of the details from my mind. But here is what I can recall about the CRS VI...

The practice questions are not assessed, of course, but it is possible that they may be viewed by the grad team. Always assume that someone is on the other end of a camera. Personally, I find having a lot of practice questions to be great for settling the nerves, but in my experience, the longer the VI and the more questions involved, the more likely things are to flag and loose structure. You may end up drawing on the same example twice, for example, or hesitate if this was also covered in the practice questions.

There was a mix of competency, motivational questions and commercial awareness; no SJT, as far as I can recall. The prep time was about 30 seconds for a 90 second answer, but don't quote me on that.

If you're prepping for yours now, good luck!

 

[lawcool]

2 assessment days on the same day. The invite I received today I want more. Can anyone help with advice as its in one week today 🥲🥲🥲I've emailed to ask if there is any flexibility

 

[yasmars]

Bristows Partner review stage 🎉

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Anyone know if CRS sends VI invites in batches? If its different for spring/summer VS?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

Can anyone who has done their OC AC message me plssss 🥺🥺🥺🥺

 

[TCLAuser2002]

I have a clash with akin’s assessment day. Does anyone know if they have multiple?

Heyy, Congrats on your assessment day, hope you will convert it to a VS! May I ask when you completed your TI

 

[ciaoooooo33]

any news from skadden??

 

[futuretrainee10123]

Can anyone who has done their OC AC message me plssss 🥺🥺🥺🥺

I have one this week! When is yours?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Any willkie rejections today or do they usually do it at the end of the week altogether?

 

[Donna Paulsen]

I have one this week! When is yours?

Tomorrow!!

 

[Vgsgsgshus]

Anyone heard back from Mishcon for the spring VC AC?

 

[Myparentsdream]

Kirsty just answered this in the Willkie thread btw!
But essentially, interview invites have now been sent out. However, if some people don’t confirm their slot, then that will be given to someone who’s score just missed out on the interview. So If ur still waiting, I think It all depends on how many people confirm or not.
Best of luck!

This is ridiculous. I highly doubt a bunch of people will reject an interview. This is the exact thing they did post app leaving people in limbo land whilst everyone had taken the WE already promising them they may get a VI then a WE invite if people performed bad.

It feels like genuine false hope. There are most defintley people who did not meet the benchmark so just reject... why leave everyone waiting? at least those who don't get a pfo or invite know they were close and just missed out.

The process from last year to this year is massively different although it was stated it would be the same. It is very frustrating to have to sit here checking your emails not knowing where you stand at all.

 

[Partcore22]

Guys I have a VI with Dac Beachcroft i don't even know why I applied, their practice of areas are not my cup of tea but their application process was CV submission only. Any insights on the VI will be appreciated

What were the questions like? Did you do ok

 

[ssch7]

Anyone heard back from Mishcon for the spring VC AC?

they're running AC's all month, aiming to communicate outcomes by mid-march. if you haven't heard back, might be worth emailing although i had about a weeks notice for my AC so possible they'll reach out to you soon

 

[llblawstudent]

How soon did people hear back from cleary after doing their WG?

 

[lawyersum]

can someone please make me follow my own advice (‘if it’s meant for you it won’t pass you by’) because I had an AC today and just feel so ickkkyyy after it ahhh. I barely had time to complete the written exercise (only used half the word count) and I just felt like I was rambling the whole time. Anyone else felt this way and still made it through? And I like the firm so much, makes it feel worse🥲

 

[EfficientBag123]

Another day, another radio silence. Thank you, law.

 

[Sharkfin]

can someone please make me follow my own advice (‘if it’s meant for you it won’t pass you by’) because I had an AC today and just feel so ickkkyyy after it ahhh. I barely had time to complete the written exercise (only used half the word count) and I just felt like I was rambling the whole time. Anyone else felt this way and still made it through? And I like the firm so much, makes it feel worse🥲

Might be counter-intuitive, but what helped me process all the rejs last year (and probably this year) was to actually just give urself the time to feel like s***.
What I used to do, and still inadvertantly do sometimes, is just try to charge it and move on. But i've realised that's not fair to the version of myself that really put alot of effort into all the different stages: the written apps, sjts, VIs, 1st and second stage interviews - all while becoming more and more attached to the firm. Again, this may not work for everyone, but personally I'd give urself some time to actually let urself feel like s*** as a way to burn / exhaust all the negative stuff outta ur mind - so you can then focus on the more positive & detached stuff like "whatever will be, will be".