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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Laurel Lance - Black Canary

Legendary Member
  • Jul 31, 2025
    222
    255
    I mean congratulations if that’s actually the case!🙌 Not trying to undermine you, but you made it sound like you’ve never taken Orrick’s WG but had information from others + you gave me information on the test that turned out completely wrong when I took it IRL, so I assumed you never applied.

    If it was just a misunderstanding, my bad and best of luck with the AC!
    TQ, I am not being mean, just gave a capslock to highlight it so you could understand it better. Similarly yesterday someone replied to my thread about firms policy for reapplications, one was confused so I emphasise again with capslock 🤣:

    "You can't reapply to XX firms in any stages in the same cycle, but you can apply if you failed an AC in the PREVIOUS cycle, many firms won't consider your app if you failed AC last cycle at XX firms"

    I'm tired to give clarify, so sometimes being silent is the best medicine 🤐, I also attached my screenshot of our chat in case someone is confused:
     

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    TortillaTC

    Legendary Member
    May 10, 2025
    287
    297
    TQ, I am not being mean, just gave a capslock to highlight it so you could understand it better. Similarly yesterday someone replied to my thread about firms policy for reapplications, one was confused so I emphasise again with capslock 🤣:

    "You can't reapply to XX firms in any stages in the same cycle, but you can apply if you failed an AC in the PREVIOUS cycle, many firms won't consider your app if you failed AC last cycle at XX firms"

    I'm tired to give clarify, so sometimes being silent is the best medicine 🤐, I also attached my screenshot of our chat in case someone is confused:
    Okay let’s refer this to @Jaysen in PM, as he requested before several times:) You gave me directly false instructions on Orrick’s WG + your English makes me think something is off here. But let’s keep it private and not mess with the public forum, shall we?
     

    Laurel Lance - Black Canary

    Legendary Member
  • Jul 31, 2025
    222
    255
    Okay let’s refer this to @Jasen in PM, as he requested before several times:) You gave me directly false instructions on Orrick’s WG + your English makes me think something is off here. But let’s keep it private and not mess with the public forum, shall we?
    Well done, I am open for investigation, just chat me, would reply in my free time.

    Idk what you mean by my English, I said it in a simple way and straightforward. Many also got passed/at least improved their WG post my feedback at different firms here and group chat. So, def it's not my fault 🤨🫥
     
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    aliiiisonxooox

    Star Member
    Premium Member
    Oct 31, 2025
    31
    84
    I had pretty much this exact thing in my last AC as well.

    This one girl just talked and talked.

    I said "maybe we could take five minutes to each write a script", and she just ignored me and kept talking.

    A couple of times I said "I think we're going to run out of time".

    I didn't find it great because she was just waffling and saying nothing of any relevance, I couldn't understand how she could have got through the application process, so I tried to focus her on the actual topic, but I felt kinda bad for interjecting.

    As in your case there were four of us - the one waffly girl, me, a third person (who contributed appropriately), and then a girl who was naturally quiet. I think I asked the girl who was quiet what she thought once, but mostly I was focusing on stopping Miss Waffle from wrecking the thing for all of us, because I knew that if we ended up wasting all our time and not achieving anything, we'd ALL got rejected.
    Thanks so much. Sounds like the same person.. what was the outcome? I couldn’t even say that we are short on time because she had the last say. And she interrupted people so I didn’t wanna interrupt her cause it’s bad When being asked the questions by the partner, I said I started from the back pages to make sure that we meet in the middle, but we didn’t get to discuss the last task
     

    Abbie Whitlock

    Administrator
    Staff member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Sep 11, 2025
    931
    1,041
    I have vac scheme at bird and bird but I currently live in Leeds and my family live in Durham, so I was wondering if anyone knows if firms generally provide accommodation or funds for accommodation for those who can't commute in? I have contacted the firm about it but was just curious as to whether anybody had previous experience with this sort of thing!
    Hey!

    Congratulations on the vacation scheme!

    This usually differs between firms, so contacting them was the right thing to do! On previous vacation schemes that I have completed, some arranged accommodation directly for those who lived outside of London, and another contributed a certain amount to the cost of it (on top of what you were paid for the vacation scheme). However, another firm expected you to cover the costs of your accommodation out of the money that they paid you for the scheme (however, they did pay the most out of the VS' I did, so it made sense!).

    Firms are generally very understanding that people will need to stay in London during the scheme, so I'm sure they'll do all they can to sort something for you! :)
     
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    summersun

    Legendary Member
    Nov 8, 2024
    248
    372
    oh really? did they ask people to keep it secret last year?
    Yes people last year mentioned they had been asked not to say it but had been given a later date where they were allowed to (did not have that email myself so not sure of the precise content).
    Having analysed last cycle too 😅 they were allowed to say it on what was the week where people received holding emails and PFO.
     

    FutureLawyer_

    Distinguished Member
    Nov 13, 2025
    72
    140
    Had my AC today. Interview and presentation went fab but just have a question on group presentation.

    Unfortunately we were a group of 4 and one of the members took the timekeeper. She failed to keep the time and we didn’t get to finish. She dominated the whole group and didn’t let anyone else speak. Somehow I got my points in somehow but the other person ( I feel so bad for him, with ADHD) didn’t get his points across because she kept cutting him off.

    What happens in this situation? Do you all fail the group presentation because of a member who failed to lead properly? 🤷🏼‍

    Thanks
    I wouldn’t stress too much, one of my friends in her ac for a firm said there was one girl out of around 5 of them who was extremely rude, rolling her eyes when someone else would speak and would interrupt. She was the only one that didn’t get an offer…
     

    Jaysen

    Founder, TCLA
    Staff member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    M&A Bootcamp
  • Feb 17, 2018
    4,895
    9,339
    Hey everyone,

    I'm just running a test of pulling in previews of relevant FT articles into the forum. The idea is that you can see what's interesting to you easily, while you browse the forum.

    Any feedback on what would make it useful, please let me know.
     

    helenaskelton

    Esteemed Member
    Feb 18, 2025
    81
    93
    Just had a Vs Interview and the woman was super rushed and had no time for the actual interview (???) she kept asking me questions and then being like ok one more to go! Like it was a race. It was so strange. Then at the end she didn’t let me ask any questions. I think I got questions correct (they were all like what would you do if … mistake in the contract etc) but at the end she was like ok goodbye! And then hung up. Am I cooked?
     
    Milbank vac scheme offer - thought they were calling to refer me to the SRA for how bad I did on the AC but no 🙏🙏
    WBD virtual AC !!!
    I told you on chat I didn't apply LAST cycle, not this cycle. Got it yesterday evening.
    Morgan Lewis second stage invite! Any tips would be appreciated : )
    gf has a milbank SVS!!
    Ashurst VS Offer! They just called!
    Share Discover GIF
     

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