TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Donna Paulsen]

Hi everyone, I’m said Kirkland & Ellis guy who’s been talked about here a bit - appreciate all the best wishes and I realise how lucky and privileged I am to get those offers. Happy to help anyone who needs any advice j text me on LinkedIn and I’ll respond as soon as I can

Massive congratulations!!🎉🎉

 

[jojo23]

OUR OFFER** ❤️

But trust and believe, because I REFUSE to do this for another cycle!!

OUR* ?

Im very bored.

 

[nonliquetagain]

How does one ask for feedback post AC failure? Kirkland rejection but they don’t offer any precise reason. Do you just email back and ask?

I was unsuccessful at AC stage for Kirkland last year - they don’t provide feedback and ban you from applying for two years

 

[johnsmith]

From what I’ve seen on the forum and messages I’ve received privately it’s baso like this so far for all the firms that you’ve listed here:

Paul Weiss: Spring VS offers have gone out but it seems Summer VS apps are still being reviewed?
MoFo: nothing for anyone yet it seems post app.
Sidley: TIs have gone out for Spring and Summer VS but for people that applied much earlier.
Vinson: VIs have gone out but not sure about ACs.
Covington: ACs were sent end of Jan but nothing else since so either more ACs or PFOs post app.
Greenburg: idk tbh haven’t seen anything yet.
Ashurst: WEs and ACs seem to be going out atm.
Dechert: Spring and Summer WEs and ACs have gone out but mostly for Spring so far.
Gibson Dunn: ACs and VS offers for both Spring and Summer have gone out (quite a lot tbh).

I’m still waiting for Sidley and Covington post app and my Gibson Dunn AC is in a few weeks. I just got a PFO from Dechert post WE for Spring.​

Covington grad rec indicated they’d invited 45ish for ACs and that was going to be it - think there is one more day of ACs next week but bulk were this week across 4 sessions. Tough AC as well.

 

[elle woods]

I was unsuccessful at AC stage for Kirkland last year - they don’t provide feedback and ban you from applying for two years

oh...

 

[Novaa]

OUR* ?

Im very bored.

Hold on, let me just add my name next to yours on that dotted line.

Yes firm this TC is ours!

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

OUR OFFER** ❤️

But trust and believe, because I REFUSE to do this for another cycle!!

Doing this for just one cycle is painful enough. I applaud the patience of everybody who has been here multiple cycles (and hope I have the mental fortitude to do the same assuming everybody PFOs me this year).

 

[SophiaW]

kirkland pfo post AC but white & case final interview ?! any insights on WC interview would be soo appreciated and id love to help you on other things in return

 

[sagekensuke]

Anyone else still not heard from Morgan Lewis post app?

 

[ABC234]

Anyone else still not heard from Morgan Lewis post app?

I only heard back yesterday so I wouldn’t be set on a pfo yet!

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hi everyone, I’m said Kirkland & Ellis guy who’s been talked about here a bit - appreciate all the best wishes and I realise how lucky and privileged I am to get those offers. Happy to help anyone who needs any advice j text me on LinkedIn and I’ll respond as soon as I can

The man himself.. Absolute legend! Congratulations to you 🎉

 

[cinnamonspice]

A bit of an unrelated query sorry - is it wiser to take a paralegal job (that pays less) rather than a legal team assistant job (that pays more)?

Take what pays more because A. in some firms Paralegal is just a fancier title to a Legal Assistant.. not everywhere, but I certainly currently feel more like I'm being a Legal Assistant/Secretary than a Paralegal, while at my old job I was definitely a full fee-earner Paralegal and I frequently gave my tasks away to Trainees... Guess which pay(s) more! lol B. If they do have Paralegals in that firm, you can always progress and get paid even more!

 

[lalalailovelife]

Have slaughters and linklaters stopped giving out ACs for summer VS? (Summer work experience scheme for slaughters) i applied way back and haven’t heard back so idk if i should assume PFO

 

[SNA99]

WBD PFO after that online test 😭 . Honestly that test was so dumb how does that decide whether your good for the job like i've been working as a Paralegal for 3 years now and currently in a MC firm like come on

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

hi guys, would appreciate any insights on this:
ive been fortunate to get an AC with one of top choice firms, which was initially scheduled for mid February, but that I had to reschedule as I had my final exams during that exact date. They've kindly rescheduled for an AC in march, but they've been holding ACs in the meantime and have already sent out many offers for the VS. I can't help but feel super discouraged seeing as I'm not sure how many places there will be by the time I get to do my AC, and that my chances are lower just because its one of the later ones (my assumption being that they will be more picky as they've given out a handful of offers already and spots are filling up). has anyone else been on one of the later ACs and ended up getting the VS? is it usually an even spread between recruiting from ACs? seeing as quite a lot of offers went out im lowkey a bit disappointed to have gotten this far in the process to then have my chances be significantly lower because the firm doesnt wait til everyone's completed ACs to give decisions :/ now debating if theres even a point of me relying on the AC to score a place if my chances by then will be basically nonexistent: theres about 15 vac scheme places per scheme (ACs for both spring and summer), and I've seen at least 5 be given out just from this forum...

@Abbie Whitlock / @Jaysen would love to know as well, I am in the same position, thankful for any insights 🙏

Hello!

Congratulations on the AC invite! I totally understand your perspective, and I remember feeling the same way when people would post about offers when I was still waiting to hear back post-AC.

When I completed my DTC AC for Reed Smith, I believe I was one of the later (if not the latest!) ACs, as I had to reschedule due to a clash with a VS. Firms wouldn't continue running ACs or invite candidates if there were no realistic places left, and offers going out early doesn't mean that later ACs are judged more harshly.

It's also worth bearing in mind that online posts can be misleading, as they only show a small snapshot of what is actually happening. Firms expect some candidates to decline offers, so they may plan their recruitment accordingly. If you have been invited to the AC, it is because the firm sees potential, and that doesn't change just because your AC is later in the cycle. Graduate recruitment teams know that there will be strong candidates at the later ACs too, so there is definitely still a chance!

Best of luck with the AC!

 

[Legallywhatever]

Take what pays more because A. in some firms Paralegal is just a fancier title to a Legal Assistant.. not everywhere, but I certainly currently feel more like I'm being a Legal Assistant/Secretary than a Paralegal, while at my old job I was definitely a full fee-earner Paralegal and I frequently gave my tasks away to Trainees... Guess which pay(s) more! lol B. If they do have Paralegals in that firm, you can always progress and get paid even more!

Thank you, this is a very insightful point!!

 

[FutureTrainee100]

Template for asking for feedback from Willkie:

“Good afternoon,


Many thanks for communicating that outcome with me.

However, I am keen for further feedback at a more granular level and pursuant to this, I am making a Subject Access Request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Thank you.


Kind regards
Maxim J. Parr-Reid”

can I use this to request feedback from any firm???? Also can ask this if rejected at the app stage or only for WE ...etc.?

 

[Ernesto]

I also wanted to vent that during the online insight session which was just a few days before the deadline they still hadn’t finalised what the test would be about but said they’re improving and stuff. That meant no one could ask questions about the test or make decisions on whether to apply or even to attend insight events based on the test! I think this is somewhat important given some people decide whether to apply depending on whether the firm has an intermediate pre-recorded video interview or some type of online tests.

Tbf the application was literally just grades and work exp so applying was no effort.

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Tbf the application was literally just grades and work exp so applying was no effort.

Yea I would have applied anyway. But to some who really dislike tests like this, this could've wasted their time beyond the application form, such as research, attending sessions, etc.

 

[soph107048]

Hello!

Congratulations on the AC invite! I totally understand your perspective, and I remember feeling the same way when people would post about offers when I was still waiting to hear back post-AC.

When I completed my DTC AC for Reed Smith, I believe I was one of the later (if not the latest!) ACs, as I had to reschedule due to a clash with a VS. Firms wouldn't continue running ACs or invite candidates if there were no realistic places left, and offers going out early doesn't mean that later ACs are judged more harshly.

It's also worth bearing in mind that online posts can be misleading, as they only show a small snapshot of what is actually happening. Firms expect some candidates to decline offers, so they may plan their recruitment accordingly. If you have been invited to the AC, it is because the firm sees potential, and that doesn't change just because your AC is later in the cycle. Graduate recruitment teams know that there will be strong candidates at the later ACs too, so there is definitely still a chance!

Best of luck with the AC!

thanks so much