TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[helenaskelton]

Hi

I have been offered a vacation scheme, but I am a paralegal undergoing full time work. does anybody know what I have do, as I would be getting paid from annual leave as well as the vac scheme - would this be some sort of bad conduct? any advice would be much appreciated.

thank you!

No not at all. I’ve also taken annual leave to do a winter vac scheme. You simply take annual leave, tell your firm (both sides have to do a conflicts check but I doubt anything will come up) and then take the leave. If your firm are funny, put your foot down and risk it for a biscuit. I also have friends who have had to ask nicely but it always works out. You’ll probably be paid double and taxed more for that period. Make sure you call HMRC afterwards to change your tax code back (sometimes it doesn’t do it automatically) so that you’re not still on a high tax code for when you return to work. Congratulations and good luck! )

 

[lawcool]

So I haven’t been in this situation as they’ve usually been spaced out, but as an advocate for putting yourself first before a firm…

Don’t feel guilty, sorry they need to respect themselves and realise you are one person!

In fact, tell them you have a “academic” commitment that you’re unable to miss. If they’re willing for you to potentially “fail” an exam rather than shifting your AC, that tells you everything about them.

Hopefully they make something work !!!

Thank you :') This is the mindset I'm trying to keep. I'm just having to prioritise, and it's making me feel a little bit guilty as I know they're rare to come across (especially for me haha)

 

[ridetolegal]

No not at all. I’ve also taken annual leave to do a winter vac scheme. You simply take annual leave, tell your firm (both sides have to do a conflicts check but I doubt anything will come up) and then take the leave. If your firm are funny, put your foot down and risk it for a biscuit. I also have friends who have had to ask nicely but it always works out. You’ll probably be paid double and taxed more for that period. Make sure you call HMRC afterwards to change your tax code back (sometimes it doesn’t do it automatically) so that you’re not still on a high tax code for when you return to work. Congratulations and good luck! )

Thanks so much! do I have to tell my current firm? in all honesty, they will not want to hear this and would be very reluctant to give me the time off. they dont want progression for me at allll

 

[Isobel.liddle]

Anyone heard back for VI for CRS vacation scheme (London). I know a few people have on this thread - does anyone know if they send in batches? I applied on the 14th of January.

 

[helenaskelton]

Thanks so much! do I have to tell my current firm? in all honesty, they will not want to hear this and would be very reluctant to give me the time off. they dont want progression for me at allll

Hmm. It is your right to take annual leave. Is there any way they’d be working on a case that the firm offering your VS would be involved with? If not, it’s probably reasonable to take a ‘holiday’ - as long as you’re filling in all the HR checks for the VS firm. I would always try and be honest about it first though. They can grumble but realistically, there’s nothing they can do. They can’t fire you on the grounds that you want to do a placement at a firm unrelated to theirs. I will say though that (for US firms at least) they make you do hireright background checks before the vac scheme. Hireright will likely contact your firm anyway to make sure you actually work there. So probably worth telling! If not a US firm though, you’re probs fine.

 

[CharlieandLola]

For anyone else who had their Kennedys AC today- how did you find it? I absolutely screwed it, completely ran out of time

 

[ridetolegal]

Hmm. It is your right to take annual leave. Is there any way they’d be working on a case that the firm offering your VS would be involved with? If not, it’s probably reasonable to take a ‘holiday’ - as long as you’re filling in all the HR checks for the VS firm. I would always try and be honest about it first though. They can grumble but realistically, there’s nothing they can do. They can’t fire you on the grounds that you want to do a placement at a firm unrelated to theirs. I will say though that (for US firms at least) they make you do hireright background checks before the vac scheme. Hireright will likely contact your firm anyway to make sure you actually work there. So probably worth telling! If not a US firm though, you’re probs fine.

Thank you. this vac scheme is three weeks so they might think its too lengthly for annual leave, the whole situation is stressing me out lol but yes I think being honest is the best solution here.

 

[ArthurWeasleyLaw]

surely skadden let us know tomo???

 

[Novaa]

Thank you. this vac scheme is three weeks so they might think its too lengthly for annual leave, the whole situation is stressing me out lol but yes I think being honest is the best solution here.

Wait- this just reminded me that my employment contract has a clause that any AL above 2 weeks needs director approval 💔

I’ll cross that bridge when I get there!

 

[madso]

Has anyone heard back from Bird & Bird post AC?

 

[madso]

has anyone heard from bird and bird post AC yet?

I'm still waiting on this - have you heard anything?

 

[soon-to-be trainee]

Has anyone heard back from HL post JSA?
Also, I am wondering if they read applications before sending out invitations to VI

 

[jj238]

Hi has anyone received an AC offer or rejection from Baker McKenzie for the summer vac scheme?

Feel free to dm privately!

 

[pepsicola96]

I'm still waiting on this - have you heard anything?

Apparently the last assessment centre is tomorrow, and decisions will be released either next week or the week after.

 

[elizabethkate]

I'm still waiting on this - have you heard anything?

they said they are doing the last AC 5th feb so probs 16th onwards if i remember correctly

 

[an03]

CRS VI!! Does anyone have any advice on passing those? I find them super stressful!

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!

Do you know if we are able to re-record? Thanks!

 

[AspirationalDream]

DACB VI 🥳, does anyone have any tips for a VI, i’d say its my weakest as I don’t do well without someone in front of me. If anyone can share any insight on the questions DACB may ask / tips for a VI im all ears

 

[Carrington Lane]

Anyone heard back for VI for CRS vacation scheme (London). I know a few people have on this thread - does anyone know if they send in batches? I applied on the 14th of January.

From my little investigation, last year CRS sent 3 VI batches for the London office on the 7th, 12th, and 27th Feb. I hope that answer our questions and best of luck to us.

 

[EfficientBag123]

People who got PFOs from Simmons today (sorry to hear it), when did you complete the test?

What office were people hearing from?

 

[lawstudent2]

Anyone know how long Ashurst take post ac?