TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[madso]

anyone have any experience with being put on an AC reserve list… i’m terrified by the idea of being called up as late as the day before the assessment centre…

I’ve had this twice and been told the day before and two days before respectively - so if you’re keen and able to cancel plans to attend last minute then prepare as if you are going to attend!

 

[lawcool]

Forsters reserve list, hill Dickinson pfo

 

[jagath]

omg im so happy for uwell done!!!!

thanks!!

 

[m.0untainhermit]

anyone know if dechert is done sending out their spring ACs? did their WE on 19/01 but haven't heard anything since

 

[sadlawyer01]

not Kirkland snatching up all the people on LinkedIn who received 3+ vacation schemes haha...their other firms must be fuming

trickle-down vacation schemes needed

 

[ArthurWeasleyLaw]

Anyone know how long Cleary or Akin take to get back to people post AC?

 

[yasmars]

Anyone know how long Cleary or Akin take to get back to people post AC?

Can be as quick as a day later

 

[sbbusybee]

Seeing a friend from an open day who is a year below me get a TC at KE is both heartwarming and agonising lol

 

[Bruce Wayne Attorney at Law]

Is it over if I still haven't heard back from Paul Hastings for their VS, Dechert WE invite (applied on the deadline), or Akin test invite (applied on the deadline too).

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

almost can’t believe it but got hsf ac summer almost 100 days since app

 

[yasmars]

Seeing a friend from an open day who is a year below me get a TC at KE is both heartwarming and agonising lol

I know how you feel! I’ve met any people from open days who managed to secure TCs in the same cycle. I am of course delighted for them but it does feel a little demoralising for myself.

 

[trainee4u]

Forsters reserve list, hill Dickinson pfo

how does the reserve list work, is it first-come, first-served, or is there a ranking?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Is it over if I still haven't heard back from Paul Hastings for their VS, Dechert WE invite (applied on the deadline), or Akin test invite (applied on the deadline too).

I saw a few people mention they had interviews for Paul Hastings and I read somewhere they acc don’t send PFOs they only contact people if they are invited to interview or to the AC.

Someone who recently got the Dechert AC posted on the forum that Dechert have wrapped up Spring ACs but are still doing Summer ACs so you probs still have a chance for them ngl.

Akin is super rolling and they’ve done loads of TIs and 2-3 ACs so idk but it’s not impossible.​

 

[lawcool]

how does the reserve list work, is it first-come, first-served, or is there a ranking?

No clue it didn’t say

 

[Novaa]

Ropes & Gray’s first AC being the 3rd of March… is today the Friday we start hearing?

 

[Cece176]

greenberg traurig pfo and now expecting another pfo from Bristows…ugh

why are you expecting a pfo from Bristows? have they sent all WE invites?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Ropes & Gray’s first AC being the 3rd of March… is today the Friday we start hearing?

We probs won’t hear until w/c 23 Feb like a week before the first AC date cos they’re non-rolling. I think based on last years forum it was 25 Feb.

 

[Bruce Wayne Attorney at Law]

I saw a few people mention they had interviews for Paul Hastings and I read somewhere they acc don’t send PFOs they only contact people if they are invited to interview or to the AC.

Someone who recently got the Dechert AC posted on the forum that Dechert have wrapped up Spring ACs but are still doing Summer ACs so you probs still have a chance for them ngl.

Akin is super rolling and they’ve done loads of TIs and 2-3 ACs so idk but it’s not impossible.​

Thanks, sorry to be a bother but anything on Katten as well ?

 

[radssss]

I have not finsihed the SQE yet but plan on applying to flex legal in May to try and find soemthing before a permanent contract. Not sure how well this is going to work though..

very happy to help you with flex legal as I’m employed with them for over a year but I gotta tell you they have not given me work even once…
Like they emailed me twice about work and having to go through interviews with firms for a 3 month or less fixed contract roles only and then ghosted me…
That said, that’s just my experience and people might have had pleasant experiences with them! so do apply fs!

 

[Novaa]

We probs won’t hear until w/c 23 Feb like a week before the first AC date cos they’re non-rolling. I think based on last years forum it was 25 Feb.

Eek

Do you know if they drop them all at once?