TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

[Abbie Whitlock]

hi @Abbie Whitlock i hope you are well!! in my first year i recieved a 55 in one of my modules but feel i had genuine mc but i always wonder whether disclosing it makes the firm look less favourably. would it be possible to personal pm you the description as i would feel a lot more confident disclosing it knowing that it is genueinyl valid and is to the point

Hey!

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

Yes of course, please feel free to PM me

 

[awatling1]

I got a TC offer!!!!!!

Honestly can't believe it. When I say I couldn't have done it without TCLA I really mean that. All the support and insight on this forum has been invaluable to me. Thanks so much to everyone, there are so many current and past TCLA staff who have been so helpful. I used to have no clue what was going on and didn't even know the difference between a sector and a practice area hahaha!! I am so glad I chose to keep persevering.

I would be grateful for any and all pgdl advice

 

[sagekensuke]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, do you have any advice on delineating between whether something is work experience or a hobby?

For context, I began doing something as a hobby and it would typically be regarded as a recreational activity, but eventually started earning money (not a huge amount, but roughly around £5,000) from it which is why I’m unsure how to categorise it.

Some application questions ask us to discuss our extracurricular activities etc. so for those I think I would benefit from not including it as a work experience, but where the application form doesn’t mention this, I might as well include it as a work experience entry? Or do you think it’s better to just save it until interview instead of potentially mischaracterising as a work experience

 

[Enyonam]

Hi all,

I am one year post grad from a non RG and working as a paralegal in house. I have done one vac scheme at HSFK which was unsuccessful. I have decided that I want this to be the cycle that I secure a training contract and I will work as hard as it takes to make it happen.

I will be documenting my journey here to hold myself accountable, hopefully this will be the community I need to keep me pushing.

This week, I’m applying for Macfarlanes’ Winter Vac Scheme… it opened so early!!

 

[Jaysen]

I got a TC offer!!!!!!

Honestly can't believe it. When I say I couldn't have done it without TCLA I really mean that. All the support and insight on this forum has been invaluable to me. Thanks so much to everyone, there are so many current and past TCLA staff who have been so helpful. I used to have no clue what was going on and didn't even know the difference between a sector and a practice area hahaha!! I am so glad I chose to keep persevering.

I would be grateful for any and all pgdl advice

This is awesome. Well done you! I'm so glad to read this

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I got a TC offer!!!!!!

Honestly can't believe it. When I say I couldn't have done it without TCLA I really mean that. All the support and insight on this forum has been invaluable to me. Thanks so much to everyone, there are so many current and past TCLA staff who have been so helpful. I used to have no clue what was going on and didn't even know the difference between a sector and a practice area hahaha!! I am so glad I chose to keep persevering.

I would be grateful for any and all pgdl advice

Huge congratulations - that is incredible news!! I hope you take some time to celebrate this amazing achievement

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock, do you have any advice on delineating between whether something is work experience or a hobby?

For context, I began doing something as a hobby and it would typically be regarded as a recreational activity, but eventually started earning money (not a huge amount, but roughly around £5,000) from it which is why I’m unsure how to categorise it.

Some application questions ask us to discuss our extracurricular activities etc. so for those I think I would benefit from not including it as a work experience, but where the application form doesn’t mention this, I might as well include it as a work experience entry? Or do you think it’s better to just save it until interview instead of potentially mischaracterising as a work experience

Hey!

I think the fact that you've earned money from it makes it perfectly reasonable to include it as work experience, particularly if you were taking on responsibilities that went beyond simply doing the activity recreationally.

I would focus less on the label and more on what you actually did. If you were effectively running a small business/service, dealing with clients or customers, managing finances, marketing yourself, meeting deadlines, etc, there is definitely work experience value there.

For applications that specifically ask for extracurriculars/hobbies, I would still mention it there if you think the activity itself demonstrates something interesting about you. You don't necessarily have to choose one category exclusively - you can frame the same experience differently depending on the question. For example, in a work experience section you could focus on the commercial/responsibility side, whereas in an extracurricular section you could talk about how you developed the hobby and what you enjoy about it.

I also wouldn't worry about it being seen as "mischaracterising" it as work experience. If you were genuinely earning money from it and undertaking work as part of that, you can explain that clearly in the entry. I'd only leave it until interview if you don't have enough space or the application's categories make it difficult to include.

Ultimately, the substance of the experience matters much more than which heading you put it under, and I think either will work

 

[legallybrunette8]

Has anyone applied to CRS' CRED academy, or done so previously? Wondering what the timescales look like between apps closing and response

 

[e.jy336]

Does anyone know which firms typically use the Watson Glaser (or a 'critical thinking test' which is basically the WG repackaged) in their application process? In my experience it I've seen it with Hogan Lovells, Milbank, Linklaters, and Latham.

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Does anyone know which firms typically use the Watson Glaser (or a 'critical thinking test' which is basically the WG repackaged) in their application process? In my experience it I've seen it with Hogan Lovells, Milbank, Linklaters, and Latham.

In addition to these, Cleary, Orrick, Winston Taylor, CMS, DLA Piper, Freshfields, Clifford Chance, BCLP, Macfarlanes, and HFW. Idk if other firms use it too but these came to mind.​

 

[TortillaTC]

Does anyone know the application form/application questions for Jones Day's Open Evening from last years cycle? It opens tomorrow and I'd like to submit as early as possible.

Is it just the standard 'why do you wanna attend' Q or also a CV and other Qs?

 

[wooliewoo]

Hi! This is my third cycle now (hopefully third time's the charm...) and I wanted to ask if anyone had any tips for video interviews as that seems to be where I always get rejected - I would really appreciate it!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi! This is my third cycle now (hopefully third time's the charm...) and I wanted to ask if anyone had any tips for video interviews as that seems to be where I always get rejected - I would really appreciate it!

Hi!

I have previously written a few posts on video interviews, so I have quoted those below in case they are useful! Just shout if you have any further questions

Hello!

It's totally normal to feel nervous, especially if it's your first video interview - a bit of structure and preparation can make a huge difference! Whilst I have not completed the VI for Latham & Watkins before, I've copied some advice below that I have previously provided for approaching VIs, which is hopefully a useful starting point!

I would also really recommend this forum post by Andrei for approaching competency questions - there is a specific section for competency questions in VIs, which is super useful!!

In terms of what you should do in the 1 minute preparation time, i would use it to quickly outline your answer rather than trying to script it. For example, I'd try to:

1. Identify the example you'll use (try not to overthink this - pick one and commit to it!)
2. Map it to STAR in bullet form: what was happening (S), what was your responsibility (T), what you did (A), and what happened + what you learned (R).

Since you don't have a lot of time, I'd just jot mental notes like: "Group project - tight deadline - I organised tasks - finished early + communication improved". You should be able to fill in the gaps from memory once you start speaking!

There are a few ways to make your answer stand out - a strong video interview usually shows three things:

1. Clear structure: using something such as STAR helps you stay focused and prevents rambling. This allows you to deliver your answers in a more clear and concise way, which allows the graduate recruitment team to follow along easier
2. Personal insight: the graduate recruitment team want to understand why you made certain choices and what you learned. Adding reflection is what lifts a seemingly generic answer into something memorable and personal
3. A real sense of motivation: this is where your genuine enthusiasm and research can come in. Show that you understand the firm, the role of a trainee, and that you've thought about how your skills and ambitions make you a good fit.

As some more general tips in order to stand out in video interviews, I always used to try to:

• Prepare a bank of examples for each competency in advance: this meant that I was able to refer to them quickly if they were asked in a video interview, which made it easier to incorporate more of my own personal experiences when I didn't have loads of time
• Be specific, not vague: instead of simply saying "I worked well in a team", explain exactly what you did and what the impact was. This is where specificity is really key - using measurable results can really help hone this in!
• Bring energy and presence: I always found that in my earlier video interviews, I came across as slightly robotic and 'stiff' due to not being used to the VI format. However, this isn't necessarily how you would act in a normal interview - things such as good posture, eye contact with the camera, and natural tone make a big difference and really let the graduate recruitment team see your personality. Remember, whilst you have to have the skills for the role, they are also looking to hire trainees they can imagine would be a good fit!
• Link back to the role of a trainee: wherever you can, it's always useful to link how any skills or traits that you discuss will help you succeed as a trainee at their firm. Even a quick line such as "This is relevant to the role of a trainee at X because..." shows that you understand the role and the firm.

Overall, I think most successful answers will be structured, genuine, and reflective - I used to think of it as not being rehearsed, but clearly prepared!

For video interviews in particular, structure is really important - using the STAR method can help keep your answers focused and prevents rambling (which I used to be guilty of!). It also really helped me to practice in advance, particularly making sure that you are speaking clearly and at a steady pace - don't be afraid to pause briefly to think before answering. I can totally understand how awkward video interviews can feel, but making sure that you are looking at the camera and treating it like you would a normal interview is really important.

It is also worth brushing up on a few recent commercial or legal developments that interest you so that you can demonstrate commercial awareness if prompted, particularly with the firm's key practice areas / sectors. I would try to show genuine enthusiasm and authenticity - this can feel tricky over VI, but they're assessing how you communicate and whether you'd be a good fit for their culture, so it's important that you are yourself!

I've linked the TCLA Wiki page on video interviews - there are a couple of resources here that might be useful to have a read over before your VI.

Lastly, it's totally normal to feel anxious before / during any kind of interview (and I know I definitely do!). I would keep water nearby, and make short bullet-point notes during the preparation time to give you something to refer to in case your mind goes blank. They're assessing communication and self-reflection, not perfection - it's completely fine if something goes slightly wrong!

I hope that helps - and best of luck with your VI, I'm sure you'll smash it!

Hey!

I can definitely relate, as video interviews were always my weakest point! I would really recommend checking out the TCLA Wiki page for video interviews - many of the posts (especially Andrei's competency interview advice) was super helpful for me last cycle!

In general for video interviews, it's really important to make sure that you are fully answering the question and that any examples that you use actually fit with the question. I used to have a tendency to want to use my strongest example and try and fit it to the question, however, the graduate recruitment team can usually tell and it'll look better to use an example that fits best (even if it is a less 'substantive' experience)

Another main thing I did was practice - it can be very weird to talk to a computer screen, so it really helped me to have a go at answering the most common interview questions in the mirror (even if it felt a little silly!). I had a tendency to ramble in my video interviews, so knowing roughly how long it would take me to cover my main topics was really helpful.

If you are given unlimited prep time, make sure that you utilise this, as it is really useful to have a clear idea of what you are going to say before you start recording. I would avoid writing a script as this can sound robotic and could reflect badly on your overall performance, but I stuck a post-it note with all the key points I wanted to discuss and used that when practising (and in the recording). If you are only given a minute or so to prepare, I would try to make a rough bullet-point plan that just highlights the main points you want to address and any specific examples - just in case your mind goes blank and you need to jog your memory!

Overall, just answer truthfully and be yourself. I think there's a tendency to think you have to come across as super composed and scripted for a video interview, but this isn't necessarily how you would behave in an actual interview. Take a moment to relax before recording, and try and come across as approachable and friendly - show them your personality and what your strengths are!

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the video interview!!

 

[SanchezKing123]

If anyone is about to start applying in to US/Magic Circle law firms in the next cycle and wants to know about what the work is actually like from the point of view of a current trainee take a look at the weekly newsletter (https://corporatelawdiaries.substack.com/) which will run through legal concepts, commercial awareness and application technique! Happy to have conversations with prospective applicants about applying to these firms - just give me a message!

 

[Novaa]

Question for my visual learners, how are you approaching commercial awareness?

I’ve had the realisation that I can’t passively listen to podcasts So does anyone have any good visual sources or tips for retaining commercial awareness?