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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2026-27

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When applications ask for the dates you were at school, are you putting accurate dates? Because, hm… LOL

Like I’m trying to search the term times, but they’re gone💀

Update: Turns out local councils set term times and have it on their websites 😭😭😭😭
 
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Also on the topic of DLA Piper, their discovery days felt like a real opportunity to actually network and then show something good on your applications. Does anyone know what the point of attending them will be this year if their recruiting this year is quite strict?
Would be useful once you get to the interview stage but not as useful not as before since they've gotten rid of the application questions :/
 
Real talk. Is there a specific reason why all law firms decided to either introduce A Levels grade requirements or increase their existing requirements? 🫪
I think alongside the points other people have made on AI meaning a lot of firms just aren't bothering with application questions so need to assess some other way, the SQEs being so hard/pass rate being so low means they don't want to risk going through the whole application process only to have to take away a TC because they didn't pass the SQEs in time to start the TC. I think their logic is your academic achievement is an indication of how well you'll do in them (even though they're MCQs and most exams aren't...)

Not to scare anyone, but I have heard more firms are also taking away your TC last yr/this yr if you don't pass first-time... Don't even get one resit :((
 
Real talk. Is there a specific reason why all law firms decided to either introduce A Levels grade requirements or increase their existing requirements? 🫪
One of the firms at a law fair the other say said firms are introducing/re-introducing requirements because they’ve seen a correlation between better grades and better performance at the SQE. Whether that’s true or not it feels like a massive step back 🤦🏼‍♀️
 
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TCLA Workspace
Prepare for each firm, in one place.Firm research, practice tests and application tracking.
Explore Workspace →

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