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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Lollipopx

Active Member
Feb 24, 2026
11
15
Hi @Abbie Whitlock

I just wondered with a law reform question for a firm, should I stay away from slightly political/social law reform topics and just maybe think of a law reform in the typical sense i.e. commercial, real estate etc? I wouldn't really want any bias from the reader even though I know it is just marked based on structure and clarity etc but if they don't agree with my reform proposal/law change then I think it can still present some risk with bias. What do you think?

Thank you!
 
Reactions: Abbie Whitlock

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
652
1,298
Waiting on Faegre Drinker post app and Winston & Strawn post WG if anyone has insight plsss I am refreshing my email too much these days

FD just invited me for a Teams interview. It appears to be a manual email, not an Allhires-type mass spam, so you might still have a hope.

I've already marked Winston & S as PFO due to radio silence where others have interviews (note that I am sure I did well on the W&S test, so I suspect they did a fairly mass spam of WGs, and the rejection is based on the application form.)
 
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trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
652
1,298
As I am (sadly) fast running out of options for getting a TC for 2028 I am looking at self-funding the PGDL in September. But I have just read about the Barbri Foundations in Law course which only costs £499 and, they say, is all you need as a non-law graduate before doing the SQE. Seems a bit strange that it’s enough compared to 9 months of PGDL… does anyone have any experience of it please?

hi,
the lifetime learning entitlement starts January 2027, which MIGHT let you borrow for SQE courses skipping PGDL.

You'd have to check the full details on rules though, I only know it's much more flexible than the current system, but I suspect government has cut corners/delayed full roll out, so not 100% on whether it applies for SQE.

so this course (IDK if it's useful) might segue quite neatly into a funded SQE course.
 

DennyCrane

Active Member
Mar 3, 2026
13
12
As I am (sadly) fast running out of options for getting a TC for 2028 I am looking at self-funding the PGDL in September. But I have just read about the Barbri Foundations in Law course which only costs £499 and, they say, is all you need as a non-law graduate before doing the SQE. Seems a bit strange that it’s enough compared to 9 months of PGDL… does anyone have any experience of it please?
I'd be a bit concerned that law firms would want you to have a much better grounding in law.
 

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