TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[GiveMeTC2026]

Is Addleshaw Goddard rolling

 

[DavidJC]

Has anyone heard back from Latham and Mayer Brown Open Days at all?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

P,W interview! It says "first-stage" though I didn't know there were multiple before VS

Hello!

Whilst it may have changed this year, I got an invite last year to a 'first-stage' interview at Paul, Weiss but it was actually the final stage before VS offers. It might be worth confirming with the graduate recruitment team if you're not sure from the website!

 

[berocca567]

Nope! On the PW forum, the recruitment manager Paul said this:

“Once your vacation scheme application is submitted, it will be reviewed. Successful applicants will then be invited to a first stage interview in our London office.

If you are successful at the interview, you will then be invited to join one of our vacation schemes. During the vacation scheme there will be three assessments: a partner interview, a numeracy test and a presentation.”

Thanks so much. This was really helpful – I would have been stressing!!

 

[AS24]

Hi guys, I am applying to White & Case, and this is their question: Discuss a deal that White & Case has advised on in the last two years. What do you think were the strategic considerations and complexities involved, and how did the firm navigate them?

I was wondering if I only need to analyse the consideration of complexities that the firm's client faced, or if I should have an overall approach?

@Andrei Radu any tips?

 

[lissa2006]

Has anyone heard back from Latham and Mayer Brown Open Days at all?

For Latham, did you apply for October or November? I applied for the October one and was progressed over a week ago to stage 2. I completed assessments but haven't heard back since...

 

[lawyerladyhopefully]

It doesn’t look like it. I will say I went to their open day last year and they told us the video interview questions so I rlly recommend

What are the questions?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Do you know if Paul Weiss releases interviews in batches or all at once?

Hi!

I can’t remember for certain, but I believe it was in batches last year!

 

[Tattyasha]

Do you know if Paul Weiss releases interviews in batches or all at once?

I’m really hoping it’s batches given only one person has mentioned it and, if it isn’t, I know what I’ll be getting 🙏😅

 

[DavidJC]

For Latham, did you apply for October or November? I applied for the October one and was progressed over a week ago to stage 2. I completed assessments but haven't heard back since...

I applied for the October one pretty much on the 5 Oct deadline (my understanding is that Latham don't review applications on a rolling basis and I completed the online tests 2 days later. I was under the impression that there might be a 2nd online test with a VI component but maybe that was for the VS? I never got a 2nd online test invite or VI invite.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi guys, I am applying to White & Case, and this is their question: Discuss a deal that White & Case has advised on in the last two years. What do you think were the strategic considerations and complexities involved, and how did the firm navigate them?

I was wondering if I only need to analyse the consideration of complexities that the firm's client faced, or if I should have an overall approach?

@Andrei Radu any tips?

I think you can have an overall approach, in that even if some complexities mainly had to do with the party on the other side, normally the counsel for the two parties will have to work together to address them. Nonetheless, if you are struggling with the word count, it makes sense to prioritise discussing complexities from the perspective of W&C's client.

As for any general tips, I have quoted bellow a recent post I wrote where I analysed this question in depth:

Hi @berocca567 my advice would be to read about several deals the firm advised on while looking proactively for mentions of the elements the question asks about. Afterwards, I would divide my answer in separate parts to ensure I have a clear structure and that my points are easy to understand:

Paragraph 1: Introduction and strategic considerations:

I would discuss the rationale for the transaction - why did the buyer (assuming this is an M&A deal) look to acquire the target company? Was it to increase general market share, to achieve synergies, to scale, to grow in particular new geographies, to expand in new sectors/sub-sectors, to acquire specialist expertise, or perhaps sought after IP, improve band reputation, or maybe to enter into a regulated market easily and without requiring approvals? Likely the rationale included a number of these considerations, which gives you some space for discretion in your analysis. Here, you can also mention any strategic risks the company was taking, such no regulatory approval of the transaction, or problems integration and talent retentions.

Other paragraphs: Complexities + what the firm did to address them

Complexities: here, you need to look for aspects of the deal that would have likely made it more difficult to execute. Perhaps the transaction was highly leveraged, or involving a distressed target which required restructuring, or involved liasing with multiple institutional shareholders with different goals that had to agree to the sale. Or maybe it involved a consortium of investors that entered the transaction, with W&C only advising one or the group - which would add to complexities of negotiations between the investors; maybe it involved a competitive bidding process with lots of turnarounds in terms of what the leading offer was, which meant W&C had to consistently analyse what terms other bidders were offering. Perhaps it involved a target company which was in a highly regulated sector, or which had ongoing reputational/legal issues, or which had internal governance difficulties with tensions between executives and shareholders? Or maybe the target just had many businesses across a variety of countries in different economic sectors, which made a huge tasks getting regulatory approvals everywhere and ensuring every part of the business is properly scrutinised to mange risk.

These are just some of the many types of complexities involved in an M&A transaction: to identify them, the key is to constantly ask yourself what could be an issue or pose a risk when researching the deal.

How the firm addressed them: In terms of structure, after the introductory paragraph, I would write 2-3 following paragraphs which would each discuss one type of complexity and also how the firm can address it. In looking at that, I would describe both:

• How complexities of that nature are generally dealt with and by what teams in the firm - i.e. an ongoing legal proceeding against the target would be addressed via an indemnity clause in the SPA, which the corporate team would draft with some limited input from the disputes practice; and
• How complexities of that nature can be best addressed by White & Case in particular: here, you can look at particular strengths W&C has in delivering a good client outcome - i.e. if it has many international offices it is well positioned to deal with cross border deals touching on many jurisdictions, if it has good regulatory teams it is well positioned to deal with complexities having to do with regulatory approvals etc.). I would perhaps also look to see who are the particular practitioners working on the deal and mention them in the answer (while perhaps also making mention of their relevant past expertise and market recognition).

Pro tip: To make very easy for the recruiter who reviews your application to understand that you have addressed each part of their question, beyond this useful structure try to use their specified terms ("strategic considerations" and "complexities") often.

 

[RSK]

Has anyone heard back from Latham and Mayer Brown Open Days at all?

haven't heard back from Latham - when did you apply?

 

[Mart1nVa1l]

Has anyone heard back from Latham and Mayer Brown Open Days at all?

I got a Mayer Brown Open Day offer last week.

 

[WeGotThis!]

If I submit my app for White & Case by this Friday, am I too late for their Winter VS considering they are rolling basis? My first draft is ready but need to make tweaks but haven't had the time because of work unfortunately.

 

[sooae]

when did you apply?

Sept 28! Received wg 2 weeks after

 

[lissa2006]

I applied for the October one pretty much on the 5 Oct deadline (my understanding is that Latham don't review applications on a rolling basis and I completed the online tests 2 days later. I was under the impression that there might be a 2nd online test with a VI component but maybe that was for the VS? I never got a 2nd online test invite or VI invite.

Oh yeah, I was also confused by the fact there was no VI initially. The second part had it. I applied in the early September and got the link to the 2nd round of assessment 6th October I believe, so there was quite a huge gap. I know their first year scheme is non-rolling, but ig they do rolling for Open Days? I hope they reach out to you with the link soon!

 

[GiveMeTC2026]

Anyone heard post application for DLA regional offices?

 

[johnsmith]

How do people tend to approach applying for VS’ when you’re waiting on hearing about an OD from the firm? Do you hold off until you find out?

 

[helloj]

Oh yeah, I was also confused by the fact there was no VI initially. The second part had it. I applied in the early September and got the link to the 2nd round of assessment 6th October I believe, so there was quite a huge gap. I know their first year scheme is non-rolling, but ig they do rolling for Open Days? I hope they reach out to you with the link soon!

When do you think we will find out about the open day. The October one is coming up

 

[Hopefully2025]

Has everyone who applied to TW at least a week ago received the test invite?