TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[soph107048]

I don't even think I did that badly. This application season was just brutal for me.

May i ask how youre even applying as a first year? (Seeing as most on here are penultimate onwards)

 

[ababababba]

same boat unfortunately but definitely expecting a PFO, mine went horrid hahhaah

Omg same was this for the GSA?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Eeek so nervous for my VS - emotions have gone from excited to nervous the closer it gets haha

@Abbie Whitlock Would I be able to ask you for your best tips on how to bring your best self to work each day despite having to be "on" all day long during the scheme? I've heard from people that the scheme is intense in terms of workload, and they hold regular socials too... as an introvert I am afraid I might tire out too soon! I also don't drink alcohol so that's one way to relax and "let go" out the door

Also any tips on how to adapt quickly when first entering a new environment completely out of your comfort zone? It normally takes me a few days to get used to things and how people work but I think it would be helpful if I could adapt faster!!

Thank you! Hope you have a great Tuesday as well Abbie!

Hey!

This is definitely a normal feeling, and I think I felt nerves pretty much after I accepted a VS offer haha!

On the "being on all day" point, I think this is something I really struggled with as an introvert + someone who is neurodivergent. I would say that you don't actually need to be "on" all day in the way you might be imagining - you'll usually have a free period at lunch, which is a nice way to speak to your fellow vac schemers in a more informal way (and I'm still friends with lots of people I met on vac schemes!). This can help break the day up a little bit, and gives you some time to recharge. Additionally, people are much more interested in you being engaged, polite, and easy to work with, rather than being high-energy 24/7. It is completely fine to be a bit quieter as long as you are still showing interest, such as asking thoughtful questions and contributing when it counts. In some ways, this can often be better than constantly asking questions and trying to 'perform' in front of your supervisor.

A few things that helped me with maintaining energy over the scheme:

• Pace yourself: you don't need to say yes to absolutely everything! There are usually only a few socials that are organised by the firm (e.g. an activity outside of work hours, networking at the firm, etc.) and I would definitely try to go to these if you can. However, I didn't always go to the more informal socials (i.e. the other VS' candidates going to the pub after work) as I needed the rest and I knew it would be more beneficial to go back to the hotel and sleep early!
• Take small rests during the day: even something like grabbing a coffee, going for a short walk, or having 10 minutes to yourself can make a big difference if you are feeling overwhelmed or drained.
• Drinking at socials: if this is something you are worried about, it genuinely isn't an issue! I don't drink either and there were always plenty of other people on my schemes that were the same, and it made no difference on the social side at all.

On adapting to a new environment, whilst I had worked in an office prior to any of my vacation schemes, I do remember feeling like a total fish out of water on my first day working in an office as there are lots of unspoken rules that can feel confusing. However, I would focus less on trying to adapt to everything immediately and focus on doing a few things well that can help, such as:

• Be observant: how do people communicate? I'd have a look at things like email style, level of formality, how they structure work, etc. Picking up on this early might help you get started on tasks, and it can be a good way to slot in naturally.
• Ask as early as possible: if you are unsure about a task, it can sometimes be more efficient to ask a quick clarifying question at the start of the task, rather than going too far in the wrong direction.
• Organisation: you are usually given a notebook on the scheme, and I would use that to keep a note of tasks, deadlines, and who gave them to you. It helps to have everything you need to do in one place, so that you can quickly glance at it before taking on more work, etc. I also found that adding any scheduled sessions with the grad rec team helped too, as I could quickly let my supervisor know if they asked!
• Have a simple intro ready: this is definitely something I wish I had done before my schemes, and I'd definitely encourage you to have a few sentences that outline who you are and your journey so far. You'll end up repeating it a lot, and it helps with those first interactions (particularly with those in your team!).

I would also give yourself a bit of grace in the first couple of days, as no one expects you to feel fully settled immediately. The people running the scheme will know it is a new environment for a lot of vacation schemers, and they aren't necessarily judging you on how quickly you "become comfortable" - instead, they'll likely focus on your attitude and how you approach things.

Overall, my main advice for a VS is to focus on being someone that people would enjoy working with - i.e. reliable, positive, and easy to get along with. I found that the work itself wasn't particularly challenging, so ensuring that you maintain a good balance across the scheme and remain engaged and interested will go a long way!

I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine! I remember feeling so nervous approaching the office on the first day, but once you get through the first day, it gets a lot easier

 

[at1234]

Anyone heard from Faegre post interview ?

 

[tc2026]

hi everyone. how long did wfw take to get back to ppl after the vi?

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

I got invited to Harbottle AC! Haven't confirmed the dates though.

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Random but I wish firms let you know how you did on all tests. I wish I knew how I could improve

 

[at1234]

Anyone know which firms are still recruiting? (those which don’t rely on vacation scheme)

 

[toughluck]

sh i'm not ready to let go please say something...

 

[Raquelle's Legal Drama]

Hey!

This is definitely a normal feeling, and I think I felt nerves pretty much after I accepted a VS offer haha!

On the "being on all day" point, I think this is something I really struggled with as an introvert + someone who is neurodivergent. I would say that you don't actually need to be "on" all day in the way you might be imagining - you'll usually have a free period at lunch, which is a nice way to speak to your fellow vac schemers in a more informal way (and I'm still friends with lots of people I met on vac schemes!). This can help break the day up a little bit, and gives you some time to recharge. Additionally, people are much more interest in you being engaged, polite, and easy to work with, rather than being high-energy 24/7. It is completely fine to be a bit quieter as long as you are still showing interest, such as asking thoughtful questions and contributing when it counts. In some ways, this can often be better than constantly asking questions and trying to 'perform' in front of your supervisor.

A few things that helped me with maintaining energy over the scheme:

• Pace yourself: you don't need to say yes to absolutely everything! There are usually only a few socials that are organised by the firm (e.g. an activity outside of work hours, networking at the firm, etc.) and I would definitely try to go to these if you can. However, I didn't always go to the more informal socials (i.e. the other VS' candidates going to the pub after work) as I needed the rest and I knew it would be more beneficial to go back to the hotel and sleep early!
• Take small rests during the day: even something like grabbing a coffee, going for a short walk, or having 10 minutes to yourself can make a big difference if you are feeling overwhelmed or drained.
• Drinking at socials: if this is something you are worried about, it genuinely isn't an issue! I don't drink either and there were always plenty of other people on my schemes that were the same, and it made no difference on the social side at all.

On adapting to a new environment, whilst I had worked in an office prior to any of my vacation schemes, I do remember feeling like a total fish out of water on my first day working in an office as there are lots of unspoken rules that can feel confusing. However, I would focus less on trying to adapt to everything immediately and focus on doing a few things well that can help, such as:

• Be observant: how do people communicate? I'd have a look at things like email style, level of formality, how they structure work, etc. Picking up on this early might help you get started on tasks, and it can be a good way to slot in naturally.
• Ask as early as possible: if you are unsure about a task, it can sometimes be more efficient to ask a quick clarifying question at the start of the task, rather than going too far in the wrong direction.
• Organisation: you are usually given a notebook on the scheme, and I would use that to keep a note of tasks, deadlines, and who gave them to you. It helps to have everything you need to do in one place, so that you can quickly glance at it before taking on more work, etc. I also found that adding any scheduled sessions with the grad rec team helped too, as I could quickly let my supervisor know if they asked!
• Have a simple intro ready: this is definitely something I wish I had done before my schemes, and I'd definitely encourage you to have a few sentences that outline who you are and your journey so far. You'll end up repeating it a lot, and it helps with those first interactions (particularly with those in your team!).

I would also give yourself a bit of grace in the first couple of days, as no one expects you to feel fully settled immediately. The people running the scheme will know it is a new environment for a lot of vacation schemers, and they aren't necessarily judging you on how quickly you "become comfortable" - instead, they'll likely focus on your attitude and how you approach things.

Overall, my main advice for a VS is to focus on being someone that people would enjoy working with - i.e. reliable, positive, and easy to get along with. I found that the work itself wasn't particularly challenging, so ensuring that you maintain a good balance across the scheme and remain engaged and interested will go a long way!

I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine! I remember feeling so nervous approaching the office on the first day, but once you get through the first day, it gets a lot easier

Thank you SO much Abbie! Golden advice, I really appreciate it!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

has W&C sent out all summer offers?

 

[Lawlilly]

Omg same was this for the GSA?

Yes!!

 

[username10341034]

Offered a Fladgate interview after AC. Is anyone able to say what the diversity was like at the second AC?

 

[meredithgrey]

Anyone heard from Northridge post AC?

 

[James Wakefield]

Hi everyone — I’d really appreciate some advice on a bit of a vacation scheme dilemma.

I’ve been lucky enough to receive two summer VS offers, but unfortunately there’s a clash: the second week of one overlaps with the first week of the other. I’m trying to figure out if there’s any sensible way to navigate this without harming my chances with either firm.

I was wondering:

• Would it be realistic (or acceptable) to ask to attend only one week of a two-week scheme? (Or a week and a half for both)

I’m conscious of not wanting to seem uncommitted or difficult, so I’d be really grateful for any insight on how firms tend to view these requests, or how best to approach the situation.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[soph107048]

Hi everyone — I’d really appreciate some advice on a bit of a vacation scheme dilemma.

I’ve been lucky enough to receive two summer VS offers, but unfortunately there’s a clash: the second week of one overlaps with the first week of the other. I’m trying to figure out if there’s any sensible way to navigate this without harming my chances with either firm.

I was wondering:

• Would it be realistic (or acceptable) to ask to attend only one week of a two-week scheme? (Or a week and a half for both)

I’m conscious of not wanting to seem uncommitted or difficult, so I’d be really grateful for any insight on how firms tend to view these requests, or how best to approach the situation.

Thanks so much in advance!

I’d think missing a whole week may be an issue as it gives the firms much less material to assess you on for the TC. I had to ask to miss one day for an exam which was already a bit of an issue, so i’d assume a whole week would likely not be a great option for TC prospects. If there are any alternative VS dates for each I would personally request to either move to the second set of dates/the spring or summer scheme (depending on which dates you’ve been offered) for either firm where this is an option.

Besides, you wouldn’t want either firm to think you are less committed to them, so I feel asking to move to a different set of scheme dates would be a much better option.

 

[soph107048]

Hey @Abbie Whitlock, I hope you’re well! I sent you a dm about a personal question and would be super grateful if you could check this out at your convenience

 

[James Wakefield]

I’d think missing a whole week may be an issue as it gives the firms much less material to assess you on for the TC. I had to ask to miss one day for an exam which was already a bit of an issue, so i’d assume a whole week would likely not be a great option for TC prospects. If there are any alternative VS dates for each I would personally request to either move to the second set of dates/the spring or summer scheme (depending on which dates you’ve been offered) for either firm where this is an option.

Thanks!

Unfortunately their spring dates both overlap with a spring VS I have too.

I might just have to make a choice and cut one here I guess.

 

[Jaysen]

View attachment 8200

out of everything that I've said on this forum can't believe this one gets featured in a jaysen video lol

(why am I watching this when I have a TC now, idk I got an email and I was bored. good video though)

Ahaha - sorry. I needed an example of how our members talk about which firms are strict on grades, and your post was perfect

 

[DennyCrane]

Hi everyone — I’d really appreciate some advice on a bit of a vacation scheme dilemma.

I’ve been lucky enough to receive two summer VS offers, but unfortunately there’s a clash: the second week of one overlaps with the first week of the other. I’m trying to figure out if there’s any sensible way to navigate this without harming my chances with either firm.

I was wondering:

• Would it be realistic (or acceptable) to ask to attend only one week of a two-week scheme? (Or a week and a half for both)

I’m conscious of not wanting to seem uncommitted or difficult, so I’d be really grateful for any insight on how firms tend to view these requests, or how best to approach the situation.

Thanks so much in advance!

Personally I'd pick the one you like best and drop the other. It's difficult when this happens. I have had to miss an important event for my svs. It's more important to be there for the whole scheme.