TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[ssch7]

Hi I’ve emailed mishcon twice about reimbursements from AC but not heard back.. should I email again?

is your email about whether they reimburse or you're following up about getting the money back?

 

[hopeful33]

Any advice on preparing for Akin TI?

 

[saltpepper]

Hi everyone,

I am applying to Perkins Coie for their Vac scheme, and I was wondering if anyone knew the general format I should use for my CV. There is so much conflicting information available online (bullet points vs short paragraphs, 1 page vs 2 pages), and I was wondering if anyone here would be able to simplify it for me specifically for Perkins Coie.

Thank you!

 

[Gregglt]

Anybody heard from DAC Beachcroft after VI? Thanks

 

[DennyCrane]

Anyone heard back from Ward Hadaway post AC? They said it would be a week but its now been two.

 

[justagirl23]

Anyone know if Freeths online interview for the Grad legal programme contains video interview?

 

[tc2026]

is your email about whether they reimburse or you're following up about getting the money back?

Following up to get the money back, I’ve already sent my receipts and stuff as they advised me to post Ac feedback call. AC was in Feb, call was in March

 

[Abogabo]

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!​

Has Sidley completed their summer VS? Ghosted after TI

 

[A worried paralegal]

Anyone know if Freeths online interview for the Grad legal programme contains video interview?

It’s a zoom call after the online cappfinity

 

[kllee]

i recently finished my vac scheme and now i'm waiting to hear back

if i get the TC i'll cry and obviously i'll cry if i don't get it. i hate the position i'm in because i feel like i'm literally begging the firm for a TC. looking back there's so much i would do differently if i was given a second chance to do the scheme again but i guess that's a luxury you just don't get in this process...

if anyone is doing a vac scheme soon and would like any tips feel free to message me

 

[lawstudent2]

Has anyone else still not gotten AC feedback from Weil?
I have had such an awful experience trying to get it that I am glad I am not on their vac scheme

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Anybody heard from DAC Beachcroft after VI? Thanks

Not yet for me - completed VI Apr 13th

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

If you emailed a firm to ask for final round interview feedback a week ago and they haven't replied, is it appropriate to follow up? For context, they didn't explicitly state they would give feedback. They did only interview 3 people though so I assume it would be detailed and really valuable.

Hello!

I think it would be absolutely fine to send a brief and polite email asking if there is any update on when you might receive the feedback, particularly if you haven't had any response. It may be that they are gathering feedback from the individual partners involved in the process, as if they are busy it can sometimes take a bit longer. In that sense, the delay isn't necessarily unusual and they may well intend to send some detailed feedback once they have gathered everything.

I would just send a short follow-up reiterating your thanks and saying that you would really value any feedback if available, while acknowledging that they may still be in the process of pulling it together

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone,

I am applying to Perkins Coie for their Vac scheme, and I was wondering if anyone knew the general format I should use for my CV. There is so much conflicting information available online (bullet points vs short paragraphs, 1 page vs 2 pages), and I was wondering if anyone here would be able to simplify it for me specifically for Perkins Coie.

Thank you!

Hi!

There is definitely a lot of mixed advice out there, so it is completely valid to be a bit confused!

The key thing with a CV is to make sure that it is professional and clear, rather than trying to follow one "perfect" format. In practice, I'd say that a concise and structured CV that incorporates some bullet points is generally the safest and most effective approach. The graduate recruitment team are likely to scan a CV quite quickly, so bullet points makes your experiences easier to digest and it helps your key achievements stand out. Alternatively, paragraph-style CVs can sometimes look dense or be a bit harder to read.

In terms of length, 1-page is ideal if you can achieve it without cutting out meaningful content/experiences, but 2 pages should be absolutely fine, especially if you have relevant experience and everything adds value. A solid structure that I would follow is:

• Education
• Work Experience (legal + non-legal)
• Positions of Responsibility / Extracurriculars
• Skills & Interests

For each role, I would focus on the impact you had and any reflections you can make, rather than just a description - briefly show what you did and the skills that you developed, particularly those that are relevant to the role of a trainee. I would try not to overthink the formatting too much, and it helps to have a look at some examples of legal CVs online to get an idea of what they should look like.

Best of luck with your application!