TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[flower1]

I applied to a few firms on this list, and the Debevoise application stood out for asking an unusually large number of first-stage questions. It look me a long time to draft the answers, and knowing what you're getting into is helpful here. These may not be verbatim (2025):

• Please explain why you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor and what has attracted you to Debevoise? (250)
• Please indicate if there are any preferred practice areas that interest you. (250)
• Please detail any extra-curricular activities and leisure interests, including any relevant responsibilities and achievements. (250)
• Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, focusing on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal. (250)
• Please tell us something that not many people know about you. (250)
• Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why? (300)
• What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours? (250)

Thank you

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone! Can anyone give me advice on how to mentally prepare for an interview? While I feel excited to be given this opportunity, I am genuinely an anxious person and I feel like it is more nerve-racking than exciting for me at the moment. For any fellow anxious friends, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Hi!

Congratulations on the interview invite!

I would echo what others have said already, and try to reframe that anxiety into excitement instead. @thesauce made a great post on this a few days ago, so I have quoted it below!

The most valuable advice I received was from a partner at a firm where I previously completed a vacation scheme, just before my interview for the TC. He emphasised that feeling nervous or anxious isn't a negative thing at all - it usually reflects that you care about the opportunity and are invested in the outcome. That in itself is a positive sign.

Therefore, I would encourage you to not try to suppress the nerves, but to channel that energy into demonstrating genuine enthusiasm, curiosity and motivation for the firm. Rather than focusing on delivering perfectly rehearsed and polished answers, concentrate on having a thoughtful and engaged conversation with the interviewers. You can do this through listening carefully, responding directly, and showing authentic interest in the people and the work.

As someone who was a bundle of anxiety for days before every interview too, I personally found that reframing nerves as a sign of commitment, rather than a weakness, made a significant difference in my mindset (+ I received positive feedback after that interview, which I'd say is a sign it works!).

Wishing you the best of luck - you've got this!! 💪

As someone said before, other candidates are defo feeling the same way as you. Interviewers expect you to be nervous and take that into consideration, in my experience. But something that's really helped me, surprisingly, is just reframing those 'nerves' into excitement. Studies say that the symptoms of being nervous and excited are actually the same (heart rate increases, being short of breath, even shaking). We've worked really hard to get to the interview stage and I found it useful to think of these feelings as excitement to finally be in that position, rather than being nervous. You finally get your chance. If they called you to interview, they're willing to make you an offer. If you're prepared, there is no reason to be nervous at all. Reframing my mindset (as cheesy as it sounds) genuinely helped me get rid of those nerves and negative thoughts and turn them into confidence in my interviews. Hopefully this can help you too. There are some videos about it on YT.

 

[justagirl23]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

 

[TCLAuser2002]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

A rejection by call is a torture tbh! heads up you will do great!

 

[silonthesofa]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

You can always ask, but it’s probably more work for them than a phone call and admittedly, they’d probably be less inclined to put feedback in writing.

Maybe take a few days and then have the call?

 

[I_hate_pickingusernames]

Hi, If you don’t mind me asking, when did you submit your WE?

And all the best for your interview

Thank you! It was the Thursday of the deadline last week

 

[justagirl23]

A rejection by call is a torture tbh! heads up you will do great!

it was genuinely the worst, even the lady didn’t know how to deliver the news, she kept pausing and saying erm, then i just burst into tears lol and said i’ll take a call later not now

 

[Jaysen]

Hey everyone,

I'm really happy to see so many successes this week. I’m really proud of all of you!

I also appreciate how disheartening it must be if that isn't you and you've heard back from most of the law firms you applied to. If that's you, I'm hoping what I’m working on will help next year be *the one*. I'll be using the announcements forum to keep you all updated on what is changing to TCLA.

Private Messages

I also wanted to share a caution. A couple of situations have happened recently through private messages, including:

• A user pretending to have completed an AC to another user in order to get information about that AC
• A user pretending (as far as we can tell) to have reached a stage in order to trade experiences

With this in mind, please be careful when responding to private messages. So many of you are so helpful to one another, but it saddens me that not everyone comes in with the best intentions, and it’s perfectly okay not to respond to someone with information if you don’t want to.

As always, please use the report button if a situation occurs that makes you feel uncomfortable, and the moderation team will respond as fast as possible.

Thank you!

 

[nonlawstudent98]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

So sorry to hear this. I don't know why they give PFOs over the phone. I think you could ask however I would say that a phone call may be more beneficial as you would be able to ask follow up questions etc. and make the most of the opportunity for feedback. I relate as I got very emotional on my feedback call post VS but I am genuinely glad I had the call for feedback rather than via email. Take a few days to yourself and see how you feel. Head up though! I know it hurts right now but use this as fuel to keep going!

 

[Tintín]

I had deadline of 19 Feb (did WE on 16 Feb) and haven’t heard anything.

Same. Deadline on the 19, no PFO or information yet

 

[WeGotThis!]

Has anyone heard from Sidley or Stevens & Bolton recently?

Nothing from S&B

 

[abc123333]

Has anyone heard from Paul Hastings First Steps scheme post interview?

 

[trainee4u]

i received a pfo over the phone earlier and i was too upset to continue the conversation about my feedback so I asked for a call back later. Is it rude if I just ask to receive my feedback via email, just really upset and can’t be asked for a conversation tbh.

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

 

[SueD]

Same. Deadline on the 19, no PFO or information yet

Ahhh! That is good to hear (but feel bad for you too) - I thought I was the only one! Fingers crossed our batch haven’t had consideration yet..

 

[justagirl23]

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

Sorry you also experienced this. Honestly the worst feeling. Especially when it feels like you are so close. Calling to give a PFO then feedback is not an appropriate approach at all, like you said an email with the PFO first would have been better.

That said, think my journey with law is over. This cycle was my last hope and don’t think I have the time or energy in me anymore lol.

 

[lp770]

Has anyone heard from Paul Hastings First Steps scheme post interview?

i was told we might not hear back until march!

 

[Prudentia]

Sorry to hear that.

After my VS last year they gave me the FIRST feedback call of all participants.

I was pretty excited and then to be phoned up to receive the PFO, you'd have to be unhuman not to sound disappointed. I did point this out to them and said "you know I appreciate receiving feedback but I'd prefer to know that the outcome is PFO before you call me up so I have time to digest and can concentrate on what you are saying insted of just realising I get nothing".

They said they'd take my feedback into account, idk if it they changed anything tho.

Completely agree with this.

I interviewed for a promotion in my current role last Friday and I was told I wouldn’t be progressing to the next stage via a Teams call yesterday. I appreciated the call from the hiring manager, but I would have much preferred to have such news via email so I could digest it in my own time. Bad news = email. Good news = phone call.

 

[Saul_specter]

Anyone know how long travers tend to take post interview?

 

[Prudentia]

Sorry you also experienced this. Honestly the worst feeling. Especially when it feels like you are so close. Calling to give a PFO then feedback is not an appropriate approach at all, like you said an email with the PFO first would have been better.

That said, think my journey with law is over. This cycle was my last hope and don’t think I have the time or energy in me anymore lol.

How many cycles have you done? Don’t give up if it’s something you really want! It’s really hard to get into law, so try not to be too disheartened if this cycle didn’t work out. Every no brings you closer to the eventual ‘yes’.

 

[lp770]

Final ACs are this week for VS im pretty sure.

yeah which is why I'm confused i haven't received a pfo yet as it's too late for an AC