Hey guys! Starting prep for this cycle and would appreciate some guidance on how to decide my top 10 firms. How can I ensure that my applications are super tailored? Beyond just LinkedIn messages and extensive firm research. Thank you for all responses in advance.
TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27
- Thread starter Abbie Whitlock
- Start date
Has anyone heard back from Orrick or Macfarlanes yet?
Anyone heard from STB Open day? Apparently they offered someone a place last Friday.
Hey!
This is a really good question, and I think you have already identified two of the biggest things (i.e. networking and researching firms).
One thing I would add is to think about what genuinely matters to you, rather than just trying to identify the "best" firms. For example, you could consider things like:
- Practice areas you are interested in
- The type of clients and matters the firm advises on
- The firm's culture and training style
- International opportunities or secondments
- Seat structure and qualification process
- The size of the trainee intake and whether you'd prefer a larger or smaller cohort.
In terms of tailoring, I would focus less on trying to mention lots of firm-specific facts and more on explaining why those facts matter to you. For example, rather than simply saying a firm has a strong private equity practice or an international platform, explain why that aligns with your interests, previous experience, or the type of work that you want to do as a solicitor. The graduate recruitment team are usually looking for that personal connection, rather than a list of facts that you have found on the website (which may not be particularly unique on their own).
I also wouldn't be afraid to refine the list as you go. You might attend an event and realise a firm isn't quite what you expected, or discover another firm that is a much better fit. It is much better to submit 10 applications that you are genuinely enthusiastic about than to force applications to firms you don't have a particularly compelling reason for applying to
Update: they just sent a rejection for the 22nd July open day but said that applications submitted for the other dates will be considered separately.
Hi guys - need some advice. If you omit vac schemes from your CV / don’t talk about them in an interview, is that ok as long as you put it in your conflicts check for TC or whatever? Just trying to gauge things
Hi!
I think it depends on the circumstances, but generally I wouldn't recommend omitting a vac scheme from your CV purely because you do not want to discuss it. If it is relevant legal experience, the grad rec team or interviewers may reasonably expect to see it.
However, you don't have to spend lots of time talking about every vac scheme in an interview. You can always focus on the experiences that are most relevant to the role you are applying for.
The conflicts check is a separate process and is there to identify potential conflicts, rather than to verify your CV. I would generally suggest being transparent throughout the application process, as it is always better to avoid any perception that you have intentionally left something out
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