TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Donna Paulsen]

Second ever AC and rejection. I’m floored. This thread helped me a lot to get these ACs and can’t thank everyone enough- I’ve ever had the opportunity to get to the video interview stage with big firms like Dechert, Dentons etc. so im forever grateful.

HOWEVER I DONT KNOW WHAT IM DOING WRONG!!!! ( in person) it’s my first ever cycle. How many cycles does it actually take. I’m not from the UK so it’s not as competitive but it’s pretty similar lol. I feel like genuinely giving up. Does it ever get better? I genuinely feel like I can get any app I want to the video/ interview or TC interview stage, BUT THEN IT ALL GOES WRONG IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE OR/ AND THE INTERVIEW.

How specific are you meant to be with STAR- is anyone able to answer a STAR competency question for a TC? Maybe my examples are too long. Could anyone pretty please provide me an example of this?

100 million thoughts are going into my head I just feel like maybe I’m not good enough and I’m not cut for this, maybe I should change careers, I’m 28 soon, it’s concerning
THANK YOU ALL!

I’m basically in the same boat and honestly I think that ACs are something that we just have to get used to, each AC gives us a better idea of what is expected/desired so ‘failing’ one is never a waste of time. Plus, making it to the AC stage is so impressive in itself and it says that we are desirable candidates, we just need to work on interviewing/exercises/etc.

With STAR I think just briefly explaining the situation and task for context and really focusing on the action and result is the best approach. The situation and task can be one sentence each.

 

[alanshore]

There were a lot of students doing it last year so I think it's safe to say that they will be sending more offers. They may also be waiting for people that currently have an offer to reject or accept before they send any more out.

In all fairness, it doesn't seem like many have received offers at this stage, so I still think more people will be receiving offers.

 

[Matt Murdock]

Any insights for White & Case VI? I can trade with Reed Smith VI, Stephenson Harwood VI, OR (Morgan Lewis TI and Macfarlanes VI - they allow reapplications)

 

[nonlawstudent98]

Any insights for White & Case VI? I can trade with Reed Smith VI, Stephenson Harwood VI, OR Morgan Lewis TI and Macfarlanes VI (they allow reapplications)

Congrats! Did you get sent Stephenson Harwood VI for DTC? Or is this from VS?

 

[Matt Murdock]

Congrats! Did you get sent Stephenson Harwood VI for DTC? Or is this from VS?

Thank you! Let's continue on chat/DM!

 

[legal world]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, hope your week's going well! I've just received a 45-minute interview invite for Stephenson Harwood's Dubai VS, and it's supposed to be held with the future talent team and a colleague from the Dubai office. Do you have any advice on how I should best prepare for this? The email doesn't state if it's a skills/competency/commercial awareness-based interview so I'm a bit unsure of what to expect. I'd appreciate any insight you have. Thank you!

 

[Bah Bah Pink Sheep]

Thank you so much. I always feel out of place in most firms so I think it must be imposter syndrome. I do have a somehow strong Eastern European accent and I often feel like this may be the problem, but that’s impossible because the firms I apply to are international, and I also speak 4 languages so my accent is all over the place. However, I still articulate myself well I feel. I just wish I was a native English speaker, so I wouldn’t make silly mistakes when I’m nervous e.g saying one thousand hundred instead of one hundred thousand but that’s because I’m nervous

And thank you. DLA told me I’m not structured and I need to use different examples for star. So I’ve done that, but I have not received feedback for my second AC. I will get it in a couple of weeks.

Hey! So I failed 4 ACs this cycle - but I managed to pass 2 (what's even worse were that they were in no particular order, so my failures and successes seemed super random).

Sometimes it's really just a combination of luck, preparation, and circumstances! All I can recommend is to keep working at it, learn what you did well and what you should avoid for next time, and keep at it! I trust you will be successful in due course!

But I also suffer from imposter syndrome haha, try not let it eat at you!

 

[Rafa]

Hi! Does anyone have any advice on completing w&c VI? I can give insights into all the stages for Latham and Macfarlanes.

 

[AS24]

Anyone got insight into Perkins Coie VI?

 

[StudentWP]

anyone applied to Brandsmiths vs like this

 

[StudentWP]

Anyone got insight into Perkins Coie VI?

genuinely cant prepare for it, but you have enough time to think on it in the time they give

 

[AS24]

genuinely cant prepare for it, but you have enough time to think on it in the time they give

Thank you so much for your reply. Can I ask you if you would practice something anyway or not? If yes, how would you prepare?

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi! Does anyone have any advice on completing w&c VI? I can give insights into all the stages for Latham and Macfarlanes.

congrats, gl! can I ask when you applied to W&C and when you received the VI?

 

[Rafa]

congrats, gl! can I ask when you applied to W&C and when you received the VI?

I applied recently and received the VI today.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Second ever AC and rejection. I’m floored. This thread helped me a lot to get these ACs and can’t thank everyone enough- I’ve ever had the opportunity to get to the video interview stage with big firms like Dechert, Dentons etc. so im forever grateful.

HOWEVER I DONT KNOW WHAT IM DOING WRONG!!!! ( in person) it’s my first ever cycle. How many cycles does it actually take. I’m not from the UK so it’s not as competitive but it’s pretty similar lol. I feel like genuinely giving up. Does it ever get better? I genuinely feel like I can get any app I want to the video/ interview or TC interview stage, BUT THEN IT ALL GOES WRONG IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE OR/ AND THE INTERVIEW.

How specific are you meant to be with STAR- is anyone able to answer a STAR competency question for a TC? Maybe my examples are too long. Could anyone pretty please provide me an example of this?

100 million thoughts are going into my head I just feel like maybe I’m not good enough and I’m not cut for this, maybe I should change careers, I’m 28 soon, it’s concerning
THANK YOU ALL!

Hey

I would really try not to be too hard on yourself (easier said than done, I know!) - getting to AC stage in your first cycle is a really strong sign that your applications are working and that firms clearly see a lot of potential in you. As Jaysen mentioned, it is incredibly common to go through a few cycles in the legal application process simply due to how competitive it is.

I can totally relate to what you are saying as well because applications were usually the part I had the most success with too - I often felt like I "got it wrong" at the later AC/interview stages, and it was incredibly frustrating to feel like the opportunities were slipping through my fingers. From personal experience though, this genuinely was something I improved at over time just by doing more of the types of exercises you typically get in ACs and becoming more familiar with them. Eventually you start recognising the skills they are looking for, learning how much detail to give, managing nerves better, and becoming more confident in the environment itself.

I also think it sometimes comes down to very small margins. Two candidates can both perform well and it can end up being something tiny like perceived confidence, communication style, or simply who connected slightly better with the interviewers on the day. Whilst I appreciate that is a frustrating concept (especially when so much time and effort goes into preparing for ACs), I ultimately think it means that you'll have the most success with firms that are a good fit for you.

On STAR, I'd definitely agree with other forum posts and say that I found it helpful to keep the situation/task element quite short (+ simply give enough context), and focus on the action part. Interviewers essentially want to hear what you did in the situation, so I'd make sure to highlight how you were directly involved and why that contributed to the overall success.

Also, please do not think that 28 is too late for law at all!! I have met so many trainees or people on vacation schemes that entered the profession at different ages, and they all bring a unique perspective or experience that make them fantastic solicitors. The fact that you are consistently reaching the interview stages in your first cycle is already a huge achievement, even if it probably doesn't feel like it right now. Those who end up succeeding in the process are usually those who keep showing up and learning from each experience, rather than getting it right on the first try.

Wishing you all the best

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, hope your week's going well! I've just received a 45-minute interview invite for Stephenson Harwood's Dubai VS, and it's supposed to be held with the future talent team and a colleague from the Dubai office. Do you have any advice on how I should best prepare for this? The email doesn't state if it's a skills/competency/commercial awareness-based interview so I'm a bit unsure of what to expect. I'd appreciate any insight you have. Thank you!

Hey!

I've had a good week, thank you! I hope you have too

Congratulations on the interview invite!! Whilst I'm not too sure on the specifics of the invite itself, I've found that when firms don't specify the interview type, it is usually best to prepare for a mix of motivational/competency questions with some commercial awareness woven in, rather than anything super technical.

As it is with both the future talent team and someone from the Dubai office, I'd definitely prepare for questions such as:

• Why Stephenson Harwood specifically
• Why Dubai/international work
• Why commercial law
• Competency questions (e.g. teamwork, leadership, handling challenges, etc.)
• Discussion around commercial stories or trends relevant to the region and firm

For competency questions, I always found it helpful to create a mini-bank of my past experiences and highlight what skills or traits I could discuss for each. This meant that I had a few ideas that I could fit into STAR examples for different questions that they may ask. I would try to keep the situation/task element of the STAR structure pretty concise, and focus most on the action that you took and the overall result.

I would also make sure that you have looked into and researched things such as:

• Stephenson Harwood's key sectors and practice areas
• Recent deals/news involving the firm
• Why Dubai is an important legal/commercial hub (both for the firm, and more generally in the market)
• Trends in the Middle East market (e.g. energy, infrastructure, disputes, investment, etc.)

As someone from the Dubai office will be interviewing you, they will probably be interested in your genuine motivation for the region. Therefore, I'd make sure that you can clearly articulate why you are motivated to work there and back it up with examples.

Best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!!

 

[legal world]

Hey!

I've had a good week, thank you! I hope you have too

Congratulations on the interview invite!! Whilst I'm not too sure on the specifics of the invite itself, I've found that when firms don't specify the interview type, it is usually best to prepare for a mix of motivational/competency questions with some commercial awareness woven in, rather than anything super technical.

As it is with both the future talent team and someone from the Dubai office, I'd definitely prepare for questions such as:

• Why Stephenson Harwood specifically
• Why Dubai/international work
• Why commercial law
• Competency questions (e.g. teamwork, leadership, handling challenges, etc.)
• Discussion around commercial stories or trends relevant to the region and firm

For competency questions, I always found it helpful to create a mini-bank of my past experiences and highlight what skills or traits I could discuss for each. This meant that I had a few ideas that I could fit into STAR examples for different questions that they may ask. I would try to keep the situation/task element of the STAR structure pretty concise, and focus most on the action that you took and the overall result.

I would also make sure that you have looked into and researched things such as:

• Stephenson Harwood's key sectors and practice areas
• Recent deals/news involving the firm
• Why Dubai is an important legal/commercial hub (both for the firm, and more generally in the market)
• Trends in the Middle East market (e.g. energy, infrastructure, disputes, investment, etc.)

As someone from the Dubai office will be interviewing you, they will probably be interested in your genuine motivation for the region. Therefore, I'd make sure that you can clearly articulate why you are motivated to work there and back it up with examples.

Best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!!

Thank you so much Abbie!! This is incredibly helpful

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Hi - would it be possible to know your uni grade profile? Thanks!

Hi! Does anyone have any advice on completing w&c VI? I can give insights into all the stages for Latham and Macfarlanes.

 

[FutureLawyer_]

Hey, has anyone done the Freeths first interview for the graduate programme? Would really appreciate some insight!

 

[username10341034]

Just had a feedback call for a pre VS interview which I failed. Feel so disheartened. She basically said I scored well on one question, weaker on another and the rest average. :/ I feel like my abilities aren’t enough to succeed