TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Saul_specter]

For bakers, I was rejected post SJT this cycle. Am I able to apply for DTC do you reckon?

idt u can, website says cant reapply in same cycle

 

[sadlawyer01]

dechert PFO after WE, no VS secured, no more firms to hear from, and final AC is tmw...

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock Hi! do you have any advice on how to answer 'tell me about yourself' - thank you!

Hi!

I have previously made a post on how I'd approach this question - I have quoted it below! Just let me know if you have any other questions, and best of luck!

Hey!

Great question - this is definitely an interview question that used to throw me off, as it can feel very open ended!

I would say that a good way to structure this is to keep it concise, professional and forward-looking, rather than trying to cram your full life story into a few minutes. A structure that I used to follow is:

• Present: what you are currently doing (e.g. degree, role, or stage you are at) - for example, "I am current a final year Law student studying at X university..."
• Past: one or two experiences that are relevant and show key skills or interests - for example, "I completed a placement year in my third year that reaffirmed my interest in X area of law, and I am now..."
• Future: what you are looking to do next and why this firm fits - for example, "I am particularly interested in X type of law, and therefore I have applied to X firm as it aligns with..."

You could think of it as a 60-90 second overview that answers: who are you academically and professionally, what has shaped your interests and motivations, and what are your future goals. I would also try to link it subtly to skills that the firm you are applying to values (e.g. teamwork, collaboration, entrepreneurialism) and end your answer on a point that leads into "why law" or "why this firm".

Overall, you can use this question as a way of giving the interviewer a snapshot into your legal journey so far

 

[user123987]

Has anyone ever progressed with a low amberjack score?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Has anyone ever progressed with a low amberjack score?

Depends what you consider low. Usually it seems firms set the benchmark to at least 50% so 18/36. I got 24/36 and got the Weil AC.

If the SJT has a VI with it, more weighting is probs placed on the VI than the SJT. But it probs differs between firms as far as cutoffs go.

So 20/36 could be above the cutoff for one firm but significantly below the cutoff for another. It’s best to get at least 60% to be safe I think.​

 

[Rosie_Kitten]

Simmons & Simmons Bristol PFO

When did you submit if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Lamosophia4]

Has anyone ever progressed with a low amberjack score?

I have progressed with quite a poor amberjack before and have got PFOs on ones I scored very highly on. I think its highly dependant on your VI performance and the firm

 

[Diana54]

How did everyone do in the Ropes Thrive assessment? - I completely flopped it. I wonder how much they take the results into consideration

 

[Lissa06]

Congrats!! And thank you, helpful to know

Thank you so much ☺️

 

[Lissa06]

everyone who's applied for SPARK, my application portal says "archived". anyone know what this means?

hey! may I ask where exactly it says so? I do not see that for myself, I only see the progress bar that is still on the 'in review' circle. Also, when did you apply? maybe they have processed you before me, since I sent out the app on the 14th February - pretty late

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

How did everyone do in the Ropes Thrive assessment? - I completely flopped it. I wonder how much they take the results into consideration

I thought there wasn’t a test worse than the CC or Orrick WG. Then I took Ropes’ Thrive test…

I think it’s just used to feed into the questions we get asked during the partner interview tbh.

I don’t think it influences post AC decisions tbh but who knows anything could happen.​

 

[TortillaTC]

I thought there wasn’t a test worse than the CC or Orrick WG. Then I took Ropes’ Thrive test…

I think it’s just used to feed into the questions we get asked during the partner interview tbh.

I don’t think it influences post AC decisions tbh but who knows anything could happen.​

Tbh I still can’t tell if Orrick’s WG was that bad or I was overthinking every single question😂😂😂

 

[Lord Sumption]

Any news from Morgan Lewis post Telephone Interview yet from anyone?

 

[Gr33ntea]

Has anyone who got the CRS holding email or has completed the VI for london heard back yet?

 

[amb303]

Has anyone who got the CRS holding email or has completed the VI for london heard back yet?

Last year VS offers seemed to go out on a couple different days in March over a week apart

 

[yasmars]

How did everyone do in the Ropes Thrive assessment? - I completely flopped it. I wonder how much they take the results into consideration

I could be wrong but the way I think about it is that if you had an amazing interview with brilliant commercial awareness etc but scored lower on the assessment, it would be silly of them to not give an offer based on that.

Alternatively, if you did amazingly on the test but did not do strongly on the other parts of the AC, it feels nonsensical for them to give an offer based on a good test score. I think the test is probably used when deciding between two strong candidates or so.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Has anyone done a HL interview before?

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo sui]

Anyone had their ropes ac today?

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

The Browne Jacobson test deadline is in a few hours and I just realised from the forum it’s 3 instead of 2 questions wtf - I’m still not done with Q1

 

[Hanzeeb]

The browne jacobson test actually drained the life out of me🫠