• Hey Guest, want to be shortlisted for law firm open days? Start using our free Workspace.

TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sort by date Sort by reaction score
#30,801
futurelawyer45 said:
Hiii, I just wanted to ask if anyone has ever received feedback like this after an AC/interview and how you’re supposed to navigate it? (Mind you, I got this feedback 2+ months after my rejection) I was told that my experiences and answers were “unusual” and that I was “believable,” partly because I mentioned academic publications and having worked on multi-million euro matters at a law firm abroad, and that this contributed to me not getting the offer. I’m honestly SO confused about how I’m supposed to take this feedback on board or improve from it, because I never got any actual clarity on what I did wrong. I’ve never previously had feedback suggesting there was an issue with how I present myself or speak about my experiences, so this has genuinely made me question myself a bit. Has anyone dealt with something similar or have any insight into what they may have meant?
Click to expand...
Hey!

I can totally understand why that feedback would leave you confused, especially since it took so long to receive it after the rejection. It does sound like the wording itself is quite unclear and not especially actionable, and I've had my fair share of similar feedback in the past!

From what you have said, my guess is that they may have meant one of two things, either:
  • They struggled to contextualise your experiences because they were less typical than other candidates' experiences, or
  • They wanted more detail/examples showing your personal contribution to those matters, rather than the scale of the work itself.
I think sometimes interviewers can become sceptical if candidates mention very high-level work without clearly explaining what they actually did day-to-day, particularly where the experience is abroad and they are unfamiliar with the context. That does not mean you should stop mentioning these experiences - they are clearly strong experiences to have, and it's all about making sure you just frame it in the right way.

If anything, I'd just focus on grounding those examples more concretely in future interviews and highlight:
  • What exactly you were responsible for
  • What skills you developed
  • What challenges you faced
  • What you learned from the experience
I also think it is really important to remember that feedback after ACs/interviews is often subjective and sometimes poorly phrased, particularly where the level of competition/strength of candidates was so high. One firm's comment about your style or experiences can be completely contradicted by another firm later on - in previous assessments, I've been told I had the joint highest score in the written assessment in one, and told I didn't receive it due to my written assessment in another afterwards. Sometimes it just comes down to your performance on that specific day, or whether you were displaying things the individual firm was looking for. I really would not let this make you doubt yourself too much, and just focus on whether there are any ways you can make the discussion about your experiences a bit clearer.

The fact that you have had no similar feedback elsewhere could suggest it was more about that particular interviewer's interpretation, rather than any fundamental issue with how you present yourself (which I appreciate is still frustrating).

Try not to let one piece of feedback overshadow the fact that you clearly have some interesting and valuable experiences - the right firm for you will recognise that and see it as a strength! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: WillKitchen, Jaysen and Prudentia
#30,802
Abbie Whitlock said:
Hey!

I can totally understand why that feedback would leave you confused, especially since it took so long to receive it after the rejection. It does sound like the wording itself is quite unclear and not especially actionable, and I've had my fair share of similar feedback in the past!

From what you have said, my guess is that they may have meant one of two things, either:
  • They struggled to contextualise your experiences because they were less typical than other candidates' experiences, or
  • They wanted more detail/examples showing your personal contribution to those matters, rather than the scale of the work itself.
I think sometimes interviewers can become sceptical if candidates mention very high-level work without clearly explaining what they actually did day-to-day, particularly where the experience is abroad and they are unfamiliar with the context. That does not mean you should stop mentioning these experiences - they are clearly strong experiences to have, and it's all about making sure you just frame it in the right way.

If anything, I'd just focus on grounding those examples more concretely in future interviews and highlight:
  • What exactly you were responsible for
  • What skills you developed
  • What challenges you faced
  • What you learned from the experience
I also think it is really important to remember that feedback after ACs/interviews is often subjective and sometimes poorly phrased, particularly where the level of competition/strength of candidates was so high. One firm's comment about your style or experiences can be completely contradicted by another firm later on - in previous assessments, I've been told I had the joint highest score in the written assessment in one, and told I didn't receive it due to my written assessment in another afterwards. Sometimes it just comes down to your performance on that specific day, or whether you were displaying things the individual firm was looking for. I really would not let this make you doubt yourself too much, and just focus on whether there are any ways you can make the discussion about your experiences a bit clearer.

The fact that you have had no similar feedback elsewhere could suggest it was more about that particular interviewer's interpretation, rather than any fundamental issue with how you present yourself (which I appreciate is still frustrating).

Try not to let one piece of feedback overshadow the fact that you clearly have some interesting and valuable experiences - the right firm for you will recognise that and see it as a strength! :)
Click to expand...

Heyy, okay you’re probably going to laugh, but I genuinely did all of the above 😭 which is why I’ve been SO confused by the feedback. Usually, feedback at least makes sense or feels somewhat actionable, but this one just left me confused because I still don’t really understand what I was supposed to improve on.

That’s also why your point about them maybe struggling to contextualise the experience confused me a little, because the firm I interned at abroad actually happened to be a local counsel they use in that region, so I assumed the context/background of the work would be fairly familiar to them (though maybe not to that partner). I also made a conscious effort not to just throw around the scale of matters without substance. I explained what my actual role was, the kind of tasks I was involved in day-to-day, what I learned from the experience, and the skills I developed from it.

I also spoke about extracurriculars, volunteering, society work etc, it’s just that naturally a lot of my experiences are law-related, so those examples came up more frequently throughout the interview.

I think that’s why the feedback has thrown me so much, because I actually came out of the interview feeling like I’d communicated myself quite clearly and in a grounded way 😭 so hearing afterwards that my experiences were unusual and that I was believable as part of the reason for a rejection just caught me off guard a bit.

The only other feedback point I received was that I didn’t use the presentation time appropriately because I presented for around 13 minutes rather than the full 15, which I can understand to an extent. But even then, paired with the other comments, it still all felt a little odd and quite difficult to interpret as actionable feedback overall.

But I do appreciate your perspective because it’s one of the first explanations that has at least somewhat helped me make sense of it 😭
 
  • 🤝
Reactions: Abbie Whitlock
#30,804
futurelawyer45 said:
Heyy, okay you’re probably going to laugh, but I genuinely did all of the above 😭 which is why I’ve been SO confused by the feedback. Usually, feedback at least makes sense or feels somewhat actionable, but this one just left me confused because I still don’t really understand what I was supposed to improve on.

That’s also why your point about them maybe struggling to contextualise the experience confused me a little, because the firm I interned at abroad actually happened to be a local counsel they use in that region, so I assumed the context/background of the work would be fairly familiar to them (though maybe not to that partner). I also made a conscious effort not to just throw around the scale of matters without substance. I explained what my actual role was, the kind of tasks I was involved in day-to-day, what I learned from the experience, and the skills I developed from it.

I also spoke about extracurriculars, volunteering, society work etc, it’s just that naturally a lot of my experiences are law-related, so those examples came up more frequently throughout the interview.

I think that’s why the feedback has thrown me so much, because I actually came out of the interview feeling like I’d communicated myself quite clearly and in a grounded way 😭 so hearing afterwards that my experiences were unusual and that I was believable as part of the reason for a rejection just caught me off guard a bit.

The only other feedback point I received was that I didn’t use the presentation time appropriately because I presented for around 13 minutes rather than the full 15, which I can understand to an extent. But even then, paired with the other comments, it still all felt a little odd and quite difficult to interpret as actionable feedback overall.

But I do appreciate your perspective because it’s one of the first explanations that has at least somewhat helped me make sense of it 😭
Click to expand...
A 15-minute presentation is so long!

But going back to your initial question, I feel like something that doesn’t get talked about in feedback is whether they actually liked you. The feedback you received is so unusual that it makes me think that it was more vibes-based in this case.

If they didn’t like you, it’s their loss and your gain, as you don’t want to work with people that you don’t get on with and who don’t appreciate you!
 
#30,806
Chelsea101 said:
It’s been a while but I’m super proud to share that I’m a future trainee after 3 cycles and 28 applications. DMs are always open for advice on applications and tests! I actually managed to crack the Watson Glaser this year after serious persistence, happy to offer advice on that also. 🙂
Click to expand...
congratulations !! very happy for you !!
 
  • Love
Reactions: Chelsea101
#30,807
Chelsea101 said:
It’s been a while but I’m super proud to share that I’m a future trainee after 3 cycles and 28 applications. DMs are always open for advice on applications and tests! I actually managed to crack the Watson Glaser this year after serious persistence, happy to offer advice on that also. 🙂
Click to expand...
Huge congratulations!! That is amazing news, I hope you celebrate well! 🥳 🎊

Celebrate GIF by moodman
 
  • Love
Reactions: Chelsea101
#30,808
futurelawyer45 said:
Hiii, I just wanted to ask if anyone has ever received feedback like this after an AC/interview and how you’re supposed to navigate it? (Mind you, I got this feedback 2+ months after my rejection) I was told that my experiences and answers were “unusual” and that I was “believable,” partly because I mentioned academic publications and having worked on multi-million euro matters at a law firm abroad, and that this contributed to me not getting the offer. I’m honestly SO confused about how I’m supposed to take this feedback on board or improve from it, because I never got any actual clarity on what I did wrong. I’ve never previously had feedback suggesting there was an issue with how I present myself or speak about my experiences, so this has genuinely made me question myself a bit. Has anyone dealt with something similar or have any insight into what they may have meant?
Click to expand...
That is definitely some very odd and nitpicky feedback. i agree with what Alice said and I wouldn’t worry too much. I don’t think you should change the experiences that you talk about to try and fit the “mould” of what the firm wants. It’s very strange how they have stated that the experiences were not believable, when they are personal achievements that you have worked hard for. Maybe you could try and quantify them more and have a personal reflection so they do seem more genuine?

I wouldn’t overthink it, as I do believe that what does not work for one firm will work for another. And it can be hard sometimes with feedback, as you do not want to necessarily change yourself as then that risks you not coming across as yourself in future interviews, which could harm your performance. Keep on applying, and as long as your answers are structured, have examples, link to the values of the firm, then you will find a firm that appreciates you :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: futurelawyer45 and Abbie Whitlock
#30,812
tc2026 said:
hi @Abbie Whitlock I hope you are well. I wanted to ask you for advice on how to structure a research note for a client (the note includes a summary of a few articles ), I have never done one of these before so I would appreciate any advise you may have. Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Hey!

I am doing well, thank you - I hope you are too! :)

Of course, happy to share how I would structure a research note! Whilst it depends on the individual task, the way that I have always structured these sorts of documents (i.e. summarising specific articles) is usually:
  • A very short introduction that explains the issue or topic that you were asked to research;
  • Separate headings for each article or source that you have been asked to summarise;
  • Under each heading, a concise summary of the key points/overall findings; and then
  • A short conclusion that covers the overall themes, any practical implications, or key takeaways for the client/supervisor.
I would also try to focus less on describing every detail of the articles and more on answering "why does this matter to the client?". This is usually the most valuable part of a research note, as the client will care most about how it affects them and how they should address what the research shows, rather than the specific details of the articles.

In terms of style, I'd say that keeping it clear and concise is really important. I'd always double check with whoever has given you the task to see if there is a specific way that they would like it formatted, but bullet points can usually work well for key findings, particularly if there are several articles to cover. I also find it helpful to lead with the main point/conclusion first before going into the detail underneath, as it makes it easier to find the key information the client cares about.

If you are emailing the document to your supervisor (for them to use when emailing a client) and it is quite long, I always used to include a short executive summary in the body of the email that covered the main points of each of the articles/questions that they asked me to research in a concise way. This allows them to quickly pick up the key takeaways without having to read the whole note straight away, and I was always given positive feedback on this - it is often better to include it and not need it, rather than the other way around!

If you have been given the task by your supervisor, or if you have a trainee buddy on the scheme, it is also completely fine to ask whether there is any specific style the note should follow or if there is a precedent research note that you could look at - this can make the task feel much less daunting once you have an idea of what it should look like!

Wishing you the best of luck - I'm sure you'll do great!! :)
 
#30,813
Hi everyone,



I’m trying to understand the main types of real estate work done at commercial law firms.



I’ve researched real estate finance and property litigation, but what other areas are there?



Also, which areas are most useful for international lateral moves, for example moving from London to Dubai?



My assumption is that transactional, investment and development-focused work is more transferable than purely domestic landlord/tenant or property disputes work, but I’d appreciate views from people in the field.

@Abbie Whitlock @Jaysen @Ram Sabaratnam

Thanks.
 
  • ✅
Reactions: Abbie Whitlock
#30,814
Chelsea101 said:
It’s been a while but I’m super proud to share that I’m a future trainee after 3 cycles and 28 applications. DMs are always open for advice on applications and tests! I actually managed to crack the Watson Glaser this year after serious persistence, happy to offer advice on that also. 🙂
Click to expand...
This is awesome. Well done!
 
  • 🏆
Reactions: Chelsea101
#30,816
hxnnahrobinson said:
DAC Beachcroft VS offer!! 🥳 I am honestly in disbelief. After a gut wrenching TC rejection from another firm at the final stage back in February, I didn’t know if this would happen for me. But it goes to show not to give up, and that resilience really is part of the process.
Click to expand...
Huge congratulations, that is amazing news!! I can totally relate to that - whilst my rejections last cycle definitely stung, it made the offers all the more rewarding when they finally came through! :)

You should be super proud of yourself, especially given how competitive these schemes are. I hope you take some time to celebrate properly!! 🥳 🥳

Happy Fresh Prince Of Bel Air GIF
 
  • Love
Reactions: hxnnahrobinson
#30,820
I am fortunate to have been offered a training contract and have 4 weeks to respond with my decision. However, in 5 weeks' time, I have an interview for a vacation scheme with a firm that I feel would be a better fit, and the vacation scheme wouldn't start until a few weeks after that. So this firm's training contract offers could be about 3 months away. So I don't feel that asking for such a long extension to my TC decision deadline is viable.

I understand it is pretty common to renege on training contract acceptances - if I were to be offered the vacation scheme and it led to a TC at the other firm, in this case, I would not have received any money from the initial firm, and I wouldn't have strung them along for that long.

My question is about the upcoming vacation scheme interview. When they ask, how did your vacation scheme at firm X go? Naturally, it's good to say it went well and led to me being offered a TC from that firm. Makes you look like a competitive candidate. But what do you say when they ask how you plan to respond to the offer? Saying I've accepted it, but I will breach the contract and renege if I get an offer from your firm, doesn't sound great, does it? Or would they not care? Nor does lying and saying I've declined it, or lying and making out I've negotiated an unrealistic and unbelievably long period to accept/decline the TC offer... Any tips appreciated, thanks!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Abbie Whitlock
  • Sticky
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27
Replies
648
Views
91K
Applications Discussion
Novaa
Novaa
Jaysen
[Official] Reed Smith Vacation Scheme Thread 2025/26
Replies
20
Views
12K
Applications Discussion
DaemonBlackFyre
D
Jaysen
[Official] Willkie, Farr & Gallagher Vacation Scheme Thread 2025/26
Replies
93
Views
29K
Applications Discussion
Kirsty Wilkins
Kirsty Wilkins
Ram Sabaratnam
  • Sticky
TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
Replies
6K
Views
938K
Applications Discussion
aanushhhkaaaa
aanushhhkaaaa
Jaysen
[Official] Ropes & Gray Vacation Scheme Thread 2025/26
Replies
15
Views
11K
Applications Discussion
libraryowl7
L

Latest posts

Deadlines

Top Members

Weekly Monthly Yearly
Posts
Show More >

Find member

Top Bottom
Back