-
TCLA Premium: Now half price (£30/month). Applications, interviews, commercial awareness + 700+ examples.Join →
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
Hey,
quick question for anyone who has experience with this, but a firm are asking for proof of address for background checks and have said this can be in the form of a bank statement, does anyone know if it is allowed to cover account information and my balance? and if so do you think it would look weird if I did cover it?
quick question for anyone who has experience with this, but a firm are asking for proof of address for background checks and have said this can be in the form of a bank statement, does anyone know if it is allowed to cover account information and my balance? and if so do you think it would look weird if I did cover it?
Lee & Thompson VS interview invitation! In person, London office. What a lovely way to end the week.
Hi everyone,
I’m honestly feeling really low at the moment and quite lost about what I’m supposed to do differently. This is my first cycle and boy has it has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected
. I think I’ve reached the point where I genuinely can’t tell whether I’m actually close or just repeatedly failing in the same way. I’d really appreciate any advice, perspective, or honestly even just hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar position or would be willing to talk.
For context, I reached 6 final-stage processes this cycle:
The outcomes have been rough though. I got immensely close at one boutique firm, was waitlisted by another, rejected by one US firm, couldn’t attend another vac scheme because of a conflict, got rejected by one MC firm, and now have a vac scheme this summer at the other MC firm.
The thing is, despite getting this far repeatedly, I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I come from a scientific background and have basically no legal experience, so commercial awareness and the whole “corporate law mindset” really does not come naturally to me, and after every rejection I end up feeling like I’m fundamentally missing something everyone else seems to understand intuitively.
I’ve got about 6 weeks until my vacation scheme and I really want to make the most of it. How much detail do I actually need to know about the firm beforehand? What do people who successfully convert schemes into TCs tend to do differently? And how do you improve commercial awareness when it just does not feel intuitive at all?
I’m also finding myself in a massive slump generally. I’m struggling to focus on work, constantly thinking about applications/rejections, and finding it hard to properly enjoy downtime, holidays, or socialising without guilt or stress sitting in the background.
Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who came from non-law backgrounds or struggled with commercial awareness initially.
Thank you
I’m honestly feeling really low at the moment and quite lost about what I’m supposed to do differently. This is my first cycle and boy has it has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected
. I think I’ve reached the point where I genuinely can’t tell whether I’m actually close or just repeatedly failing in the same way. I’d really appreciate any advice, perspective, or honestly even just hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar position or would be willing to talk.For context, I reached 6 final-stage processes this cycle:
- 3 direct TC processes
- 3 vacation schemes
The outcomes have been rough though. I got immensely close at one boutique firm, was waitlisted by another, rejected by one US firm, couldn’t attend another vac scheme because of a conflict, got rejected by one MC firm, and now have a vac scheme this summer at the other MC firm.
The thing is, despite getting this far repeatedly, I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I come from a scientific background and have basically no legal experience, so commercial awareness and the whole “corporate law mindset” really does not come naturally to me, and after every rejection I end up feeling like I’m fundamentally missing something everyone else seems to understand intuitively.
I’ve got about 6 weeks until my vacation scheme and I really want to make the most of it. How much detail do I actually need to know about the firm beforehand? What do people who successfully convert schemes into TCs tend to do differently? And how do you improve commercial awareness when it just does not feel intuitive at all?
I’m also finding myself in a massive slump generally. I’m struggling to focus on work, constantly thinking about applications/rejections, and finding it hard to properly enjoy downtime, holidays, or socialising without guilt or stress sitting in the background.
Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who came from non-law backgrounds or struggled with commercial awareness initially.
Thank you
bless you, I completely understand that here, second cycle starts feeling low after a whileHi everyone,
I’m honestly feeling really low at the moment and quite lost about what I’m supposed to do differently. This is my first cycle and boy has it has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected
For context, I reached 6 final-stage processes this cycle:
These were across 2 Magic Circle firms, 2 US firms, and 2 smaller/boutique firms.
- 3 direct TC processes
- 3 vacation schemes
The outcomes have been rough though. I got immensely close at one boutique firm, was waitlisted by another, rejected by one US firm, couldn’t attend another vac scheme because of a conflict, got rejected by one MC firm, and now have a vac scheme this summer at the other MC firm.
The thing is, despite getting this far repeatedly, I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I come from a scientific background and have basically no legal experience, so commercial awareness and the whole “corporate law mindset” really does not come naturally to me, and after every rejection I end up feeling like I’m fundamentally missing something everyone else seems to understand intuitively.
I’ve got about 6 weeks until my vacation scheme and I really want to make the most of it. How much detail do I actually need to know about the firm beforehand? What do people who successfully convert schemes into TCs tend to do differently? And how do you improve commercial awareness when it just does not feel intuitive at all?
I’m also finding myself in a massive slump generally. I’m struggling to focus on work, constantly thinking about applications/rejections, and finding it hard to properly enjoy downtime, holidays, or socialising without guilt or stress sitting in the background.
Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who came from non-law backgrounds or struggled with commercial awareness initially.
Thank you
I’d just like to say that you’re doing so much better than you think, getting a VS at a magic circle is an incredible achievement. Genuinely give yourself a pat on the back and forget about any losses. And please don’t doubt yourself just because you have a non-law background! You’re just as capable as those who studied law.Hi everyone,
I’m honestly feeling really low at the moment and quite lost about what I’m supposed to do differently. This is my first cycle and boy has it has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected
For context, I reached 6 final-stage processes this cycle:
These were across 2 Magic Circle firms, 2 US firms, and 2 smaller/boutique firms.
- 3 direct TC processes
- 3 vacation schemes
The outcomes have been rough though. I got immensely close at one boutique firm, was waitlisted by another, rejected by one US firm, couldn’t attend another vac scheme because of a conflict, got rejected by one MC firm, and now have a vac scheme this summer at the other MC firm.
The thing is, despite getting this far repeatedly, I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I come from a scientific background and have basically no legal experience, so commercial awareness and the whole “corporate law mindset” really does not come naturally to me, and after every rejection I end up feeling like I’m fundamentally missing something everyone else seems to understand intuitively.
I’ve got about 6 weeks until my vacation scheme and I really want to make the most of it. How much detail do I actually need to know about the firm beforehand? What do people who successfully convert schemes into TCs tend to do differently? And how do you improve commercial awareness when it just does not feel intuitive at all?
I’m also finding myself in a massive slump generally. I’m struggling to focus on work, constantly thinking about applications/rejections, and finding it hard to properly enjoy downtime, holidays, or socialising without guilt or stress sitting in the background.
Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who came from non-law backgrounds or struggled with commercial awareness initially.
Thank you
I studied law and still don’t consider myself very commercially aware - it’s definitely something you have to incrementally build up. What helps is finding a niche that you enjoy learning about and really getting to know the market landscape, challenges, potential regulatory or business updates, etc. Podcasts also really help, the Commercial Awareness Compass provides really good breakdowns and essentially tells you what angles you should be thinking about when discussing an issue.
All in all, please be kind to yourself because you have absolutely smashed this cycle getting a VS at a magic circle! You should be incredibly proud
An awesome potential fit with your academic focus - good luck Will!
Hey, does anyone have any tips on preparing for a vac scheme and how to make the most of it? I would really appreciate the guidance!
Thank you so much for the rec and for being so kind!!I’d just like to say that you’re doing so much better than you think, getting a VS at a magic circle is an incredible achievement. Genuinely give yourself a pat on the back and forget about any losses. And please don’t doubt yourself just because you have a non-law background! You’re just as capable as those who studied law.
I studied law and still don’t consider myself very commercially aware - it’s definitely something you have to incrementally build up. What helps is finding a niche that you enjoy learning about and really getting to know the market landscape, challenges, potential regulatory or business updates, etc. Podcasts also really help, the Commercial Awareness Compass provides really good breakdowns and essentially tells you what angles you should be thinking about when discussing an issue.
All in all, please be kind to yourself because you have absolutely smashed this cycle getting a VS at a magic circle! You should be incredibly proud
Hey, i have just submitted my Perkins Coie video interview and was asked only one question when i was under the impression that i would be asked 3. Please let me know if anyone else had a similar experience
Hey!
I have written a few posts on this topic in our Spring & Summer Vacation Scheme thread - you can find it here!
I have quoted a few posts below that I hope are useful - just shout if you have any further questions
Hey!
This is a very normal feeling before a vacation scheme! It can feel a bit overwhelming because you don't really know what to expect, and so it can feel hard to prepare for it! I've highlighted a few things that you could potentially do to prepare below, but don't worry if you don't have any of this information yet - on most of my schemes, I used an hour or so in the evening in the week to prepare for the next day once I had more information!
I would start by brushing up on your knowledge of the firm so that you feel comfortable talking about their key practice areas, clients, and what differentiates them (this last point being key!). If you happen to know what team you will be sitting in, it is worth doing a bit of light research into that area (e.g. typical work, recent deals that the firm has completed, and any key terminology). However, if you don't know the area that you will be in yet, that is completely fine too - just having a general understanding of the firm should be enough, as you won't be expected to understand the technical detail from day one anyway! A helpful tip that I was told is to make sure that you have your introduction down for your first day so you can make a good first impression - on nearly all of my schemes, my supervisors took me around the department and introduced me to everyone, so I repeated this a lot!
It is also helpful to make sure that you are familiar with some of the key terms used in commercial law and any of the firm's core sectors, just so nothing feels completely unfamiliar when you are hear it (things like warranties, indemnities, representations, etc.). Alongside that, I would try to get a clear idea of what assessments are involved in the scheme (if any!) and think about how you might approach them, so that you aren't going in completely blind! I was encouraged to speak to trainees at the firm who might have gone through the recruitment process recently to ask about how they prepared for the assessments - it might be worth reaching out, or asking your trainee buddy!
I would also make sure that you can clearly articulate your motivations as well, as this is bound to come up at some point, even in informal conversations. If you have a final TC interview at the end of the scheme, make sure that you incorporate insights and experiences from the scheme to show your motivations - they'll want to see that you have used the scheme to make an informed decision about why you want to train at this specific firm.
One thing that is also underrated that I was advised to do before my schemes is to have a bit of a system for reflecting as you go - for example, keeping a quick daily journal of what you did, who you spoke to, and any interesting insights. On my schemes, I would take 30 minutes or so when I got back to my accommodation to just write down anything that I learned that day or found interesting. This ended up being really helpful when it came to the final TC interview, as I could go over this the night before and have clear examples to refer to that backed up my points.
If they have shared a schedule of sessions in advance, I also found it really helpful to quickly brainstorm a few questions ahead of time for each session. Whilst you should ask any questions that pop up during the session, I found that it helped take the stress off in the moment and allowed me to make the most of the opportunities.
Finally, it is definitely worth having a few competency examples in the back of your mind (e.g. teamwork, leadership, handling pressure, etc.) as they might ask these kind of questions in an interview. I personally found it helpful to create a mini bank of my experiences so that I could briefly read over them before any interviews, but you don't need to script anything - I would just be prepared to speak about your past experiences and relate them to your motivations towards the firm or to a specific scenario.
Overall, the main thing is to go in prepared but not overwhelmed - you won't be able to prepare for every possible scenario, and they're not expecting you to know everything! They just want to see that you are engaged, thoughtful, and someone that they would enjoy working with.
You'll be absolutely fine, and I'm sure you'll smash it! Just shout if you have any final questions before your scheme - best of luck!!
Hello!
No worries at all!! This is a great question, and something that I was particularly concerned about when I started my placement year (as it was my first time working in an office). There are a few things that come to mind, which I'll discuss below!
In terms of general office etiquette, a lot of it comes down to being proactive but polite. Simple things like saying good morning, introducing yourself to the team, and being friendly with absolutely everyone (e.g. secretaries, paralegals, support staff, etc.) go a long way. People do notice how you treat everyone, and this isn't just how you interact with senior lawyers.
On the email point - I haven't actually seen that advice before, and therefore it wasn't something I was ever told about or consciously did on my scheme (or my placement year). I personally wouldn't stress too much about it, but it might be worth getting into the habit of it if it is good practice! I would focus more on matching the tone of whoever you are replying to - for example, a reply to your trainee buddy might be slightly less formal than a reply to a partner. If you are not sure, you can't really go wrong with something like "Kind Regards" or "Best Wishes" as they tend to strike the right balance between professional and friendly. I would also make sure that you double check names / spellings and avoid anything too casual unless they have set that tone first, and ensure that your emails are concise and cover all of the key points.
In relation to formatting, I would say that clarity is really key! Use short paragraphs, bullet points where helpful, and make sure that any attachments are clearly labelled. If you are asked to draft something, don't worry about being absolutely perfect - just focus on making it easy to read and logically structured so that it is easy for the person who assigned the task to see what is missing. If you are doing a research task, I always included a short summary at the beginning of my email that essentially showed the answers to any specific questions I had been asked to cover in my research - this was always praised by my supervisors, so I think it's worth including!
A couple of other things that come to mind:
One thing that is slightly related to the final point is to be mindful of people's time - if someone is busy, I'd try to keep any questions concise and try to group them together rather than asking lots of separate things throughout the day.
- Always acknowledge any tasks that you are sent, even if you aren't able to work on them right away (e.g. a simple "Thank you for sending this across, I'll make a start on this at X time").
- If you are unsure about a deadline, definitely ask rather than assume.
- Keep people updated if something might take longer than expected, or if a scheduled session overruns slightly. Communication is key!
- Bring a notebook and write things down, as people appreciate not having to repeat instructions multiple times. It also shows that you are listening and actively engaging in the tasks you are given.
- If you finish something early, let someone know that you are available for more work. However, I'd try to strike the right balance between asking for more work and 'badgering' your supervisor (if that makes sense?) as they might be busy. If your supervisor doesn't have any quick tasks to give you, it might be worth asking around in the wider team.
Lastly, don't stress too much about getting every tiny detail perfect. People aren't expecting you to know all the "unwritten rules", and they're much more interested in whether you are engaged, willing to learn, and pleasant to work with. If it helps, on my first day working in an office, I didn't go for lunch until the late afternoon as I didn't realise you could just go whenever (as someone who had only previously worked in hospitality, haha!).
I found that I actually worried more about these small things on my first day, rather than the work or assessments themselves - these 'silly' questions are the types of questions that you can ask here (before the scheme) or ask your trainee buddy (during the scheme) without any judgment.
I hope that helps, and feel free to ask anything else before you start (even if it seems silly) - I'm happy to help!
Hello!
I am having a good day, thank you - I hope you are too!!
In terms of preparing for the scheme, I would try not to worry too much about doing lots! The main things that I would focus on are:
You are not expected to come in with lots of technical legal knowledge, particularly as the scheme has to be accessible for non-law students. The scheme itself is designed for you to learn, so your approach matters far more! In terms of tasks, I would say that you are bang on and they are often things like:
- Having a solid understanding of the firm (e.g. their key practice areas, recent deals, commercial awareness of their specific sectors, etc.)
- If you know your seat, doing a bit of background reading so that you are familiar with key terms and concepts
- Thinking of a few questions that you'd like to ask / learn about during the scheme
The most important thing is often how you approach them, rather than whether you get everything right first time. A few things that helped me with tasks during my vacation schemes:
- Research tasks (e.g. looking into a legal issue or recent updates and summarising it)
- Drafting (emails, short notes, sometimes basic clauses in a contract)
- Proofreading or document review
- Sometimes more commercial-style / business development tasks (e.g. preparing an article that discusses a recent legal case)
On timing, I personally found vacation scheme tasks had less time pressure than AC written exercises. ACs are designed to test you under pressure, so they often give you lots of information in a short amount of time. However, on a vacation scheme, you'll usually have more time and supervisors are generally more flexible (i.e. depending on the nature of the task, you might have a few hours or a couple days to complete it). The most important part is that you confirm the deadline when you receive the task, and always communicate if anything comes up that means you might not be able to complete it in time. They are usually happy for you to check in if you are unsure about timing or expectations!
- Make sure that you fully understand the task, and if anything is unclear, it is completely fine (and often encouraged) to ask clarifying questions. Your supervisor would rather you ask a clarifying question, rather than not fully address what they were asking for.
- Do focused research - don't try to include everything, just what is most relevant. At the start, I was including things that weren't directly relevant as I worried that it might be useful for my supervisor to have that information anyway. However, I would ensure that you only include things relevant to the question being asked, and you can always (+ probably should) include a list of sources that you used, so your supervisor can find this information if needed.
- Structure your answer clearly (e.g. intro -> main point -> conclusion) and keep it concise and easy to read. At the end of the day, they are delegating the task to save themselves some time, so you want to ensure that they have easy access to the information they need.
A vacation scheme is a learning experience so, whilst you are being assessed and should produce the best work you can, it is much more about your thought process, effort, and how you take on feedback, rather than whether your work was "perfect". You aren't expected to know everything, and asking questions is a good thing and actively encouraged - try to learn as much as you can throughout the scheme to make the most of it!
You have already done incredibly well to receive the vacation scheme offer, and they definitely would not have picked you if they didn't think you were capable. It might feel overwhelming now, but once you get started, it becomes much more manageable. It is often the unknown that makes you nervous!
Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!!
Similar threads
- Sticky
