TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

I think my cycle has finally closed, still awaiting a few firms but assuming PFOs from them. From 33 applications, I managed to get to 3 ACs and fortunately managed to convert all of them! Unfortunately, two of them do clash at the exact same time... Feeling slightly bummed about this since I'd worked a lot towards them but the timing was just unfortunate. Anyways, just wanted to say to everyone to never give up. There was so much I learnt from applying this cycle, through rejections and progressions. There were so many times I felt so demoralised and wanted to give up, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I believe that persistence will pay off! All the best to everyone!!

This is such an amazing outcome - huge congratulations!! Converting all 3 ACs is super impressive and clearly shows how much work you've put in this cycle.

I can also completely understand why you'd feel gutted about the clash, and it is definitely unfortunate that most firms run their schemes at a similar time! However, having that choice in itself is a strong position to be in (even if slightly frustrating!), and given your success rate with the ACs, I'm sure you'll see similar results with the schemes themselves!

It is also a good reminder that the process is tough, but persistence genuinely does pay off in the end! Massive well done again, and I hope you get the chance to properly celebrate!!

 

[Mikeross750]

Guys during my VS offer call the HR lady told me that they "over-offered" places on the scheme - am I cooked?

I'm wondering how many more places a firm can in theory offer than they planned for, does anybody have any thoughts on this and/or similar experiences?

HR did take a reassuring tone immediately though, saying that they "hope to place some participants on a 2027 TC" (which seemingly wasn't an option during the cycle). The conversion rate was 50-53% originally, I hope it won't dip much because of this. This is a US firm.

@Abbie Whitlock would really appreciate your thoughts on this!

 

[TCComingSoon]

Any advice on a question that asks during the Vacation Scheme please indicate if there are any specific areas you would like to experience during the vacation scheme. But there is another question in the application about which practice areas would you like to specialise in during your training contract and beyond and why? I don't want to sound repetitive in the both questions. Any advice would be insightful.

 

[radssss]

Does anyone know the approximate timeline for Freeths to get back to people post online test for legal assistant/grad scheme?

 

[Leader of the Night Watch of the Contractless]

Hey everyone,

Perkins Coie just opened up applications for its vacation schemes. It runs in summer, and you can apply here before the 30th April.

Ahead of the deadline, you can join our event with the Perkins Coie team on Thursday at 6pm. Here's the link to register.

@Jaysen, many thanks for sharing this. Would it be possible to get them to grant us access to their virtual internship?

 

[SlippinJimmy]

From someone who failed 3 ACs - do you have any top tips?

As cliche as this piece of advice is, I’d say to be yourself. Throughout this application cycle, I told myself to be as authentic as possible and that the firms that like my real self would be the ones I would want to be at. I find it best shows during interviews, I even told a partner once that a day in my life sometimes includes pub hopping, and he said he would love to speak more about that if only he had the time.

During group exercises, there isn’t a need to make yourself the dominant person or the leader. There’s a fine line between being comfortable and confident in your own voice while not shoving your opinions down other people’s throats, which I’d advise to keep mindful of. Keeping the group on track is definitely helpful to show presence!

For written exercises, try to think from the perspective of a trainee, and the context of the task. If you are writing a memo, think about who you are writing it for. If it was for a partner, you’d especially want to include a summary at the start and your recommendations at the end for easy reading. I felt that this was what worked for me, and I hope this helps you too! Rooting for you!

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Hi - has someone done particularly well with applications? I'm looking to gain some insight/mentorship prior to the next cycle.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any examples of group tasks they’ve come across in assessment centres? They can be from previous years and do not need to be recent. I’m just not entirely sure what to expect and whether they tend to be more legal-focused or something broader.

Hey!

In the group exercises that I have completed previously at ACs, I've found that they usually focus more on commercial awareness rather than being legal-focused. For example, things such as client pitches to win work for the firm, delivering a presentation to a client / supervisor on recent trends in a specific industry, a negotiation for a draft contract, etc.

I'm sure it differs between firms, but I'd say generally, group exercises will usually involve being given a commercial scenario (in some format) and then having to reach a conclusion as a group based on all of the factors / risks / opportunities. It's less likely that they'll be asking complex legal questions - particularly as the exercises need to be accessible to non-law students.

I'm sure others on the forum might be able to give some other examples too, but those are mainly what I have experienced. As long as your commercial awareness is up to date and you understand the factors and trends impacting the firms' main client industries, I'd say that should be more than enough. Best of luck!!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Guys during my VS offer call the HR lady told me that they "over-offered" places on the scheme - am I cooked?

I'm wondering how many more places a firm can in theory offer than they planned for, does anybody have any thoughts on this and/or similar experiences?

HR did take a reassuring tone immediately though, saying that they "hope to place some participants on a 2027 TC" (which seemingly wasn't an option during the cycle). The conversion rate was 50-53% originally, I hope it won't dip much because of this. This is a US firm.

@Abbie Whitlock would really appreciate your thoughts on this!

Hello!

I would try not to panic too much about this (easier said than done, I know!) - I wouldn't say you are 'cooked'!

Firms fairly often over-offer VS places, either because they have a strong batch of applicants or they're trying to account for people declining offers, and it is really hard for them to predict this perfectly every year. Sometimes more people accept than they expected, which sounds like it could be what has happened here. It is not necessarily ideal from their side, but it also isn't something that suddenly turns the scheme into a free-for-all!

In terms of conversion rates, it's hard to say for sure as I don't know what the firm's policy is. However, I'd say that firms are usually quite conscious of maintaining a relatively consistent intake - especially where they have strong candidates who might receive offers from other firms, and therefore decline this TC offer. The fact that the HR team mentioned potential 2027 TCs is a good sign, as it suggests that they are already thinking about ways to accommodate more candidates rather than just cutting people.

Additionally, whilst each firm will have its own policies when it comes to TCs, most firms don't necessarily offer a strict number of spaces and it is more about whether you meet the standard they are looking for. If you perform strongly, are well-liked, and show clear motivation towards the firm + law, they will usually make TC offers work somehow (even if it means offering a later start date).

At the end of the day, everyone on the scheme will be in the same position as you, and there's no reason why you can't be one of the 50% receiving an offer. As you are being assessed on your own performance, rather than against a fixed number of seats, I would focus on the elements that you can control and make the most of the experience. This is the way to put yourself in the strongest position and give them every reason to want to keep you!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Any advice on a question that asks during the Vacation Scheme please indicate if there are any specific areas you would like to experience during the vacation scheme. But there is another question in the application about which practice areas would you like to specialise in during your training contract and beyond and why? I don't want to sound repetitive in the both questions. Any advice would be insightful.

Hi!

This is a good question, and you are right to be mindful of sounding repetitive- however, I'd say that these two questions are asking for slightly different things.

For the vacation scheme question, I'd think of it more in terms of exploration. You don't need to be set on these areas long-term - instead, I'd focus on what you are curious about and why you'd like exposure to them during the scheme. It is completely fine to say that you are still exploring your interests, and you can frame your answer around wanting to gain insight into a couple different areas to better understand where your strengths and interests lie.

You can also broaden this beyond just practice areas. For example, you might mention an interest in learning more about the pro bono work the firm does, client or international secondments, or business development at the firm. The graduate recruitment team might use these answers to help shape sessions during the scheme, so it is a good opportunity to show curiosity about the wider workings of the firm, not just the legal work itself.

For the training contract / specialisation question, the expectation is slightly different and I'd say you should try to show a more considered and developed interest. That doesn't mean you have to be 100% decided (+ I would avoid sounding completely set on an area), but you should be able to explain why certain areas appeal to you and how that ties into your past experiences, skills, interests, and longer-term career goals.

It is absolutely fine if there is some overlap in the areas you mention, but the angle of your answer should be different - one is about what you want to learn, and the other is more about where you think you'll fit long-term

 

[Mayah123]

was this for London VS?

Birmingham

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Has anyone heard anything from SH post app for DTC, or know when we will hear back. I submitted my app on 11/03/2026. I saw someone say they’re rolling basis on the threads previously but idk how rolling they are for DTC…​

Someone said that they had sent some PFOs out but I haven’t heard of anyone being progressed yet.