TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[aliiiisonxooox]

Hi everyone happy Easter!

I have a few questions.

How does everyone make sure that they stay concise and be specific when doing competency interviews? That’s a feedback I keep getting.. I need to be concise and specific.

Also, one more question. In a competency interview, when they ask about a time you made a mistake- I was going to bring up how I relied on assumption in work that a document has been submitted for a file.. instead of verifying.. and that is a mistake as we didn’t have the document etc.. and what actions I took from and how I solved it.. is this a good mistake or does it have to be a GRAVE mistake? Thank you everyone

 

[TCComingSoon]

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

Thank you Abbie this is helpful and insightful. These are really good points you mentioned and it will help with my application a lot. I never thought about mentioning the bit about pro bono that is a good point to discuss.

 

[TCComingSoon]

Hi! was this for the dubai or london scheme?

No London spring/summer

 

[Florencejones]

How would people go about answering:

1. Tell us everything you know about the firm

 

[Lawlawland]

Hi all!
I hope y'all are doing well and this cycle is being kind to you! Happy Easter too!

I have to get my Dentons VI done by tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any insights you could offer.

Goes without saying, I am happy to help you in all the ways I can!

Thanks in advance.

 

[georgianprincessmwuah]

PMC/Penningtons is meant to get back to us by the end of this week (10th of April) when the AC itself was Feb 25th ... 40 days!! Potentially 44...

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone happy Easter!

I have a few questions.

How does everyone make sure that they stay concise and be specific when doing competency interviews? That’s a feedback I keep getting.. I need to be concise and specific.

Also, one more question. In a competency interview, when they ask about a time you made a mistake- I was going to bring up how I relied on assumption in work that a document has been submitted for a file.. instead of verifying.. and that is a mistake as we didn’t have the document etc.. and what actions I took from and how I solved it.. is this a good mistake or does it have to be a GRAVE mistake? Thank you everyone

Hey!

Happy Easter!

I would say that being "more concise and specific" usually comes down to tightening your structure, rather than saying less overall. A good way to approach competency answers is to try to keep the situation and task explanation quite brief, and then focus most of your time on your actions and the overall result. Essentially, you only want to discuss the situation/task in enough detail to provide context of the actions you took and the reflections you can make as a result. Therefore, I would try to only include details that directly demonstrate the skill that they are assessing - if something doesn't add clear evidence or relate to that skill, I'd say it is probably okay to cut it! It can also help to check whether someone else could easily summarise your example in a few lines, and if not, then you may be including too much background. I definitely used to do this too, as I always wanted to give as much context as possible, but the interviewers will usually be assessing the actions you took and the reflections you make, rather than the way you describe the situation itself.

In relation to your second question, I'd say your example sounds absolutely fine! It doesn't need to be a serious or grave mistake to work well, and it is often better when it is a realistic and professional one like this. What matters is that you can clearly explain what went wrong, take ownership, and show what you learned from the situation (+ what you would do differently if the situation arose again). Your example works well as it shows awareness of attention to detail and the importance of verification, which are both really relevant traits in the legal context.

I would say that the key part is how you frame your answer - briefly explain the mistake (without overemphasising it), focus on the steps that you took to fix the issue, and then highlight what you changed going forward (for example, implementing a habit or system to double-check documents). The interviewers will be much more interested in your judgment and ability to learn from the situation, rathe than the severity of the mistake itself.

I hope that assists!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

How would people go about answering:

1. Tell us everything you know about the firm

Hey!

This is a really interesting question, and it sounds really open-ended which can seem quite overwhelming. However, I don't think the firm is looking for you to list everything, and I'd say it is more about how well you understand the firm and whether you can prioritise what matters.

A good way to approach this question is to be selective and structured with what you include. Rather than trying to cover everything, I would focus on a few key areas that genuinely differentiate the firm in the market. For example, you might touch on its core practice areas, standout deals or clients, international presence (if relevant), and anything distinctive about its culture or strategy. Additionally, I would avoid just naming these things, and make sure that you briefly show that you understand why they matter for the firm.

It also helps to make it feel like a cohesive and well-rounded answer, rather than a list. I would think of it as telling a short story about the firm - for example, what it does, what it is known for, and what sets it apart from its competitors. Finally, where you can, I would link points that you make back to why they are interesting or relevant as this shows that you aren't just repeating research from the firm's website, but that you are actually engaging with it.

Best of luck with the application!

 

[randomrhino]

Haynes Boone submitted One hour to spare before the deadline

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Haynes Boone submitted One hour to spare before the deadline

This reminds me of Sidley I lowkey applied 45 mins before the deadline... It was me against the clock!!

Whoever said Sidley reads every app even if it was sent on the deadline was telling the truth frfr!​

 

[M_]

Good evening, if anyone has any advice about Dentons' Video Interview, please pm me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have insight with Baker McKenzie, Kennedys, CMS, Clifford Chance, White & Case, Charles Russell Speechlys, Mishcon de Reya and other firms too!

Thank you!

 

[JLaw56]

I was just wondering, has anyone applied for a Winter Vacation Scheme at Vinson & Elkins and secured a place? I’m not entirely sure, but I think they only run a Winter VS when they still have TC vacancies?

 

[helenaskelton]

Guys is funding the PGDL yourself worth it? What are your thoughts?

 

[jessyjimmiejupiter]

Hi everyone — I’m due to attend Burges Salmon’s upcoming spring vacation scheme and I’m keen to make the most of the opportunity and hopefully convert it into a training contract.

If anyone who completed the 2025 winter vacation scheme would be open to sharing any advice or insights, I’d be hugely grateful. Please do message me if you’re happy to chat — thank you so much.

 

[W5690]

Has anyone heard from Mayer Brown or Arnold & Porter for the DTC?

@Ijustwanttobealawyer No for Arnold & Porter (I did not apply to Mayer Brown). You?

 

[W5690]

If anyone has successfully progressed past the application stage for Arnold & Porter, please can you send me a message?

@TCchaser Hi! Have you heard from them? As far as I am concerned, I have not.

 

[W5690]

Arnold and porter PFO post interview. My last one for this cycle. Oh well at least I've managed to get one vac scheme. Hopefully I can convert it

@axk323 Hi! How long did you wait before hearing from them since the submission of your application? Thank you.

 

[W5690]

guys the Arnold & Porter app is not for the weak. x4 300 word questions and one 250 word question ahh...

@lawyersum Hi! Have you heard from Arnold & Porter? As far as I am concerned, I have not.

 

[elizabethkate]

Guys is funding the PGDL yourself worth it? What are your thoughts?

depends on a lot. i worked a bit before (non law) and felt myself getting older. to me, it made sense to do it myself because otherwise it was another year without accomplishing much. and it meant i could apply for paralegal roles much easier (im a paralegal now and would NOT have been without my pgdl) so it was worth it to me but if your a fresh grad and feel like you have time to apply for TCs then there’s no rush

 

[CupOfTea17]

Guys is funding the PGDL yourself worth it? What are your thoughts?

Hey!
So I am currently doing the PGDL rn, and I started it straight after I finished my undergrad.
It obviously depends on each individual's financial situation, but I will say, doing the PGDL has made my applications this cycle 10000% better. I only got one (first stage) interview last cycle (I maybe applied for 7 firms). Whereas this year I applied for maybe 15 firms, and for most of them I progressed past the first round. I have now had 3 last round interviews / AC's, and secured 1 VS (still waiting to here back from the others!). I genuinely believe I wouldn't have been able to do it if I hadn't improved my knowledge of the law, been surrounded by my classmates who obviously were all applying aswell, and also the careers support from my University. Similarly, I got access to so much work experience through the PGDL, through clinics or other volunteering opportunities. I'm not sure I would have been able to do / apply for these without the PGDL. This really depends on the provider though so worth shopping around and seeing what is available. So in that sense the PGDL was worth funding for me.
Obviously if you managed to get a paralegal job then you would get a lot of similar exposure, but from what I have heard the paralegal job market is a mess right now.
I'm not sure if you are about to graduate or not, but another thing which maybe you find reassuring is that most of the people I did the ACs with were paralegals / career changers (the firms are large national firms), which made me realise that not everyone is securing a TC in their second year of University. So don't feel so rushed to secure a TC - I know I was panicked about this.
Lastly, you can work during the PGDL. Don't get me wrong, it is a lot of work, but it is absolutely possible to do 2/3 days a week. If you are planning on working during the PGDL I would recommend getting ahead on reading before you start just to help ease the load at the beginning because it can be a big learning curve.

Sorry that was a lot of info (I am currently procrastinating revising lol) but if you want any more info about the PGDL, PM me and I'd be happy to answer any questions ))