TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Can who you get sat next to in an exit dinner be an indicator for if you are likely to get a TC/ impressed the firm so far in your VS?

Don't think so. They gather feedback after the VS ends usually.

 

[TD]

Hi everyone! I am new here. I am originally from India and will be joining the LLM at LSE this autumn. This group has already been incredibly helpful in giving me a broad overview of how the commercial law recruitment landscape works, so thank you all.

I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions, since I am still new to the UK recruitment process

During my five years of law school in India, most of my experience has been in public policy and technology law. I have worked extensively on research and policy projects (alongside a few law firm internships), so my profile isn't what you would typically describe as "commercial law" focused. However, I am keen to pursue vacation schemes with the long-term goal of qualifying and working in the UK.

I had a few questions:

1. Does having a predominantly non-commercial law background put candidates at a significant disadvantage when applying for vacation schemes? Do firms generally hesitate to recruit applicants whose experience is primarily in policy, research, or the public sector?
2. How common is it for international LLM students to secure vacation schemes and ultimately training contracts? Is the recruitment landscape noticeably more geared towards undergraduate law students, or are LLM students viewed similarly by firms?
3. Given my background, is there anything in particular you think I should be doing over the next few months to strengthen my applications?

Finally, are there any questions you think I should be asking at this stage that I am perhaps overlooking?

I'd really appreciate any advice or perspectives. Thank you!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock.

I was just looking for some advice about changing an application question answer, as it touches on a question someone asked above.

I am planning to reapply to a firm I applied to last cycle, where I reached the AC but unfortunately wasn’t successful.

They had three application questions that individually focused on an ambitious goal, a high-quality piece of work I had completed, and then a situational question surrounding work as a trainee.

As I said, I passed the application stage and then the VI, and they said I could reapply this cycle and would just be judged again against the pool of applicants.

I’m not sure whether I should come up with new examples for questions such as where I worked towards an ambitious goal and a high-quality piece of work, or whether I should keep the same ones. For the situational question, I can’t see how I could or should change it, as it was based on juggling demands as a trainee at the firm.

I was just wondering what you think?

Hey!

Given the fact that you reached the AC last cycle, I don't think there's any need to change your examples just for the sake of it, as they were clearly strong enough to get you through both the application stage and the VI.

However, if you have had any new experiences over the past year (e.g. a vacation scheme, new role, or another achievement) that allow you to answer the question more effectively or from a different angle, then I would definitely consider using those instead. The key thing is whether the new example is stronger and adds new skills to your application, rather than it simply being different.

I would also revisit your existing answers with fresh eyes, as I always found that useful between cycles. Even if you keep the same examples, there may be opportunities to improve the structure, make your reflections more specific, or demonstrate your impact more clearly. These minor improvements can make a really big difference to how your application comes across!

For the situational question, I agree with you - if it is based on a hypothetical trainee scenario, there may not be much scope to change the substance of your answer (as it should be how you'd genuinely approach any given situation!). I would instead focus on whether you can make your reasoning clearer or better align it with what the firm is looking for.

Overall, I wouldn't feel a lot of pressure to use completely new examples for the sake of it. If an example has already demonstrated the competencies the firm is looking for, it is absolutely fine to use it again, provided it is still your strongest evidence from your experiences

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, hope you're well.

I have a few questions, if that's ok!

(1) I was wondering if you could give me advice as to how I should answer this question differently than the classic "why law": "Describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions?"

(2) How would you structure the answer to the following question: "Select one article from the DLA Piper Insights page on a client sector that interests you. How does it align with your personal and professional ambitions?"

(3) So I need to link any of my answers back to the firm and why I am interested in it?

Thanks!

Hi!

I am doing well, thank you - I hope you are too! Of course

For question one, I think this is asking you to be slightly more specific than the classic "why law" question, although they are still similar. Rather than talking broadly about why you want to become a lawyer, I'd focus on one particular experience that genuinely influenced your decision, explain why it was significant, and then show how it shaped your career ambitions. For example, if a particular piece of work or conversation sparked your interest in commercial law, I would explain how that led you to pursue further experience and ultimately confirmed your motivation.

For question two, I would structure this by briefly summarising the article, explaining why the issue interests you, and then discuss the implications for clients. Lastly, I would link it back to your own ambitions - for example, why you would enjoy advising clients in that sector or working on those types of matters. The key part is to make sure that it is personal to you and your ambitions, rather than just analysing the article.

For your third question, yes, where it feels natural. Not every answer needs to end with "and that's why I've applied to DLA Piper", but if you can make a genuine link back to the firm, it generally strengthens your application. For example, in question 2, that is an opportunity to explain why that sector interests you and why DLA's expertise in it makes the firm an attractive place to train. For question 1, I would keep the focus primarily on your own journey, but if your career ambitions align with something DLA offers, it could be worth mentioning it briefly.

I hope that assists, and best of luck with your application!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Can who you get sat next to in an exit dinner be an indicator for if you are likely to get a TC/ impressed the firm so far in your VS?

Hey!

Personally, I would try not to read too much into it. In many cases, the seating plan will have been arranged before the vacation scheme even started, so it is unlikely to reflect how you have performed during the week.

Even if there is some thought behind who sits where, I don't think it is something you can reliably use to gauge your chances of receiving a TC. I would try not to spend too much time analysing it.

Instead, I would treat it as another opportunity to have a good conversation, ask thoughtful questions, and leave a positive final impression. Your overall performance throughout the vacation scheme is going to matter far more than who you happen to be sat next to at dinner.

Best of luck!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi everyone! I am new here. I am originally from India and will be joining the LLM at LSE this autumn. This group has already been incredibly helpful in giving me a broad overview of how the commercial law recruitment landscape works, so thank you all.

I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions, since I am still new to the UK recruitment process

During my five years of law school in India, most of my experience has been in public policy and technology law. I have worked extensively on research and policy projects (alongside a few law firm internships), so my profile isn't what you would typically describe as "commercial law" focused. However, I am keen to pursue vacation schemes with the long-term goal of qualifying and working in the UK.

I had a few questions:

1. Does having a predominantly non-commercial law background put candidates at a significant disadvantage when applying for vacation schemes? Do firms generally hesitate to recruit applicants whose experience is primarily in policy, research, or the public sector?
2. How common is it for international LLM students to secure vacation schemes and ultimately training contracts? Is the recruitment landscape noticeably more geared towards undergraduate law students, or are LLM students viewed similarly by firms?
3. Given my background, is there anything in particular you think I should be doing over the next few months to strengthen my applications?

Finally, are there any questions you think I should be asking at this stage that I am perhaps overlooking?

I'd really appreciate any advice or perspectives. Thank you!

Hi!

Firstly, welcome to TCLA, and congratulations on your place at LSE!

I definitely don't think having a predominantly non-commercial background puts you at a significant disadvantage. Firms recruit people from a huge range of backgrounds, and experience in policy, research, and technology law can actually be a real strength, particularly if you can explain the transferable skills you have developed and, more importantly, why those experiences have led you to pursue commercial law.

In terms of LLM students, it is not uncommon for them to secure vacation schemes and training contracts! Firms recruit candidates at lots of different stages, so I wouldn't worry about being an LLM student in itself. Whilst I can only speak from the vacation schemes I completed, there were definitely a significant portion of candidates who had already graduate and were working or in further study.

Over the next few months, I would focus on building your understanding of commercial law and the business world. This includes following commercial news, thinking about how developments affect businesses and the legal advice they need, and starting to refine your answers to the key motivational questions, such as "why commercial law", "why this firm" and "why you". Given your background, you'll want to be able to clearly explain why you have decided to move from policy work into commercial law, and how your previous experiences have led you to that decision. It might also be worth thinking about your application strategy, especially if there are important considerations or features that you are looking for in a firm.

Overall, I think you have a really interesting profile! The key part will be presenting it as a coherent story that explains not only what you have done, but why those experiences have led you to want to become a commercial solicitor.

Best of luck with your applications, and please feel free to ask any further questions as you start the next application cycle!

 

[Reehan23@]

Hi Abbie,


I hope you're well.


I was wondering if you could offer any advice on how best to prepare for the case study exercise at the PwC Assessment Centre.


In particular, I would be grateful to know:

• What the assessors are looking for in a strong response.
• How I should structure my analysis and recommendations.
• Whether the case study focuses more on legal analysis, commercial awareness, or a combination of both.
• Any common mistakes that candidates should avoid.
• Any resources or preparation tips you would recommend.

I appreciate that you may not be able to share specific details about the assessment itself, but any general guidance on how to prepare would be extremely helpful.


Thank you very much for your time and support. I really appreciate it.


Kind regards,


Reehan Acharya

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi Abbie,


I hope you're well.


I was wondering if you could offer any advice on how best to prepare for the case study exercise at the PwC Assessment Centre.


In particular, I would be grateful to know:

• What the assessors are looking for in a strong response.
• How I should structure my analysis and recommendations.
• Whether the case study focuses more on legal analysis, commercial awareness, or a combination of both.
• Any common mistakes that candidates should avoid.
• Any resources or preparation tips you would recommend.

I appreciate that you may not be able to share specific details about the assessment itself, but any general guidance on how to prepare would be extremely helpful.


Thank you very much for your time and support. I really appreciate it.


Kind regards,


Reehan Acharya

Hey!

Congratulations on getting through to the AC!

I haven't been through PwC's assessment process myself, so I can't comment on the specifics of their case study.

More generally though, I would expect assessors to be looking less for the "right" answer and more for how you analyse information, prioritise issues and justify your recommendations. If you are given a lot of information, I would focus on identifying the key facts and issues, rather than trying to mention everything. I would also make sure every recommendation is supported by evidence from the case, and explain why you have reached that conclusion.

In terms of commercial awareness versus legal analysis, I would probably expect it to be a combination of both, but with a greater emphasis on commercial thinking. That means that rather than just identifying the legal issue, I would think about the wider implications for the client, the commercial objectives they are trying to achieve, and any practical risks or trade-offs. It also helps to consider how it might impact the firm too, especially if their clients work in a specific sector that is affected.

I would generally avoid jumping to a conclusion too quickly as well, and make sure that you take the time to understand what the client is actually trying to achieve before deciding on a recommendation. It is also worth acknowledging and highlighting any assumptions you have made or any additional information you would want before giving definitive advice, as it shows the interviewer/assessor how you have reached that recommendation.

If you haven't already, I would recommend looking through PwC's website and thinking about the types of clients they advise, the industries they are strongest in, and any recent deals or developments that they are involved in. You don't need to memorise them, but having a feel for the firm's work can help you approach the exercise in a more commercial and tailored way.

I have also previously shared some resources that I found useful when preparing for case study exercises - I have quoted a post below.

Best of luck with the AC!

Hello!

I used this resource from Jacob Miller when preparing for case studies last cycle, and I found it super useful - it might be a good starting point!

Best of luck