TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Andrei Radu]

Hello!

A question for RPC’s vac scheme is “In what ways do you see yourself as ‘strikingly real’, and how does that connect with your motivation to apply here and your confidence in succeeding?”

How should I go about answering this question?

Hi @fatimaanjum56 this is certainly a strikingly unusual question - my interpretation of what the firm is looking for here is that they want you to discuss some of your qualities/abilities that are both:

• Connected more strongly to your sense of who you are, your conception of yourself (from the "real") part; thus, here you will want to look for abilities/qualities that are tied to your important character traits and to your major passions/interests.
• Somewhat unusual or very noticeable (from the "striking" part): I think your answer will have to go beyond a usual story about how an example of an experience evidences a relevant skill or ability; it will have to be something more unusual or extreme, which will capture the attention of the reader.

If I were answering this question, I think I would go for the following structure:

Paragraph 1:

1. Name the relevant quality/ability/passion and provide a brief explanation of why this is something that is deeply important to who you are.
2. Provide an example of an experience where that quality/ability is showcased in a particularly unusual/noticeable manner. To the extent applicable, you can also elaborate your previous explanation of why this is so important to your sense of self.
3. Explain how this quality/ability is connected to the any of the firm's unique selling points (i.e. if, say, the quality is a relentless passion for advocacy, and the firm is great in disputes work, there would be a clear overlap).
4. Briefly explain how this quality/ability would be relevant for your work at the firm and your success in the TC (here, there may be some overlap with step 3, so you can consider merging them into one).

Paragraph 2/3:

• Repeat the above for a new ability/skill/passion if you have available word count.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Do people actually reapply to firms where they were rejected after completing a vacation scheme? I'm just curious 🤔

I do not know how often this happens, but I definitely know some examples of people who have ended up receiving a TC after an unsuccessful VS - a firm that comes to mind where I know this happened is White & Case. Nonetheless, I know there are also some firms that do not allow replications following rejections at that stage, or who only allow them provided you can show a substantial improvement of your candidate profile. As such, if you are considering reapplying, I think you should try to directly contact the relevant firm to ask about their policy.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I just checked back on my application and there was a section for undergraduate modules after putting in the summarised year averages. I wonder if they’ve changed it since?

Hey!

Yes, I remember there being a section to include individual module grades when I applied last year. It might just be that they've changed it for this year!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Anyone know what I might expect from the final partner interview for Sidley? Any and all help appreciated!

Hi - I found this older TCLA post (from the 2017 cycle) and this thread from 2018 where some candidates described their experiences interviewing at Sidley. There are also some more in depth and recent descriptions of interview experiences at Sidley (from 2024 and from 2022) which you can find on the premium database here - nonetheless, you must have a premium TCLA subscription to access them.

 

[johnsmith]

Hey!

Yes, I remember there being a section to include individual module grades when I applied last year. It might just be that they've changed it for this year!

Sorry I meant I applied in September and that section was there 😄

 

[c.t.tc]

If anyone else has applied to Osborne Clarke with a law conversion were you able to put your module grades in (for the post-graduate bit)?

 

[BT0901]

So drained after the Freshfields assessment:/

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

In the work experience section, if a firm is asking for open days - would it be alright to list firms that are very different from them? Or should I just exclude it?

 

[Andrei Radu]

In the work experience section, if a firm is asking for open days - would it be alright to list firms that are very different from them? Or should I just exclude it?

Yes - this will definitely be fine and I would argue it is actually advisable to do so. Firms are well aware of how competitive the commercial law job market is, so they expect any candidate with a serious interest in this career to be applying to a multitude of firms. Moreover, having attended open days at other firms shows that you have taken the time to properly research the field and find out what firms are out there and what differentiates them. This will make any claims you make to be interested in their firm appear more informed - arguably you can only really know you are interested in their particular offering if you also know what other offerings were available. Finally, firms also know that many open days are selective and sometimes involve a highly competitive process, so showing you attended several will suggest you are a competitive candidate.

 

[aspringlawyer25]

So drained after the Freshfields assessment:/

when did you apply and receive the assessment?

 

[Spector.Ross]

I just took the W&C test and I did get the Cappfinity 'Your answers have been recorded' outro but the W&C portal shows 'In progress' and the 'Take test' button didn't disappear, is this normal?

Hi, could i ask if the test was more like a situational judgment test or a watson glaser?

 

[BT0901]

when did you apply and receive the assessment?

applied on the first day and got the invitation this week

 

[TA04]

Can anyone see their work experience section after submitting their Clifford Chance application when looking back on it? I can't see mine for some reason

 

[berocca567]

What does the HL second test consist of please?

 

[tk.42_]

Does anyone have any insights into NRF VI please?

 

[futureharveyspecter]

So drained after the Freshfields assessment:/

is there only a WG/ SJT element or VI too?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Wishing everyone a positive week ahead, smash all these applications and next stage shenanigans! 🫶🏾✨📚

 

[i-want-a-tc]

is there only a WG/ SJT element or VI too?

VI will show up in second stage assessment, not in the first one

 

[berocca567]

Freshfields - is the 'second stage' automatic, or is that one you get progressed to? thr website doesnt mention multipel stages so how does everyone know there are 2?

 

[oliviabeijing]

Applying to Denton's vac scheme, any tips for answering this question: What do you understand to be the day-to-day responsibilities of a commercial lawyer? What attracts you to this reality and which aspects do you anticipate to be most challenging for you to navigate? I find I always struggle to make my answer to these questions unique/ stand out?