TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[adrianchkong]

Quick question on application strategy:

I've already drafted applications for two firms' winter schemes (Jones Day and Dechert), both with rolling deadlines on 17th October.

Knowing I might be at a slight disadvantage applying this late, is it still worth submitting now, or would I be better off applying for their spring schemes instead, which have later deadlines?

Also, do firms that are full for winter often automatically consider strong late applicants for their spring scheme, or are the two processes usually treated separately?

Would greatly appreciate any thoughts you all might have!

 

[GiveMeTC2026]

How does one handle the pain of meeting a firm youreally like and absolutely disliking it? I attended a Weil open day and everyone seemed so cold and uninterested ☹️ I really like their sectors and was considering applying for their vac scheme but I don’t think culture wise, it’s for me… should I still apply?

I am sorry you felt that way. But now you know they are not the firm for you. Tbh every time I have gone an open day I have been motivated to apply for their VS more. Think of it as time you have saved as you know that you won't want to apply for them. But I think it is also important to avoid applying for other US firms if you felt like that about Weil because most US law firms are similar in it's culture. This is from my experience of working in other industries and attending lots of US law firm open days. I hope that is helpful mate and don't be upset you will be a future trainee soon.

 

[msclm]

Quick question on application strategy:

I've already drafted applications for two firms' winter schemes (Jones Day and Dechert), both with rolling deadlines on 17th October.

Knowing I might be at a slight disadvantage applying this late, is it still worth submitting now, or would I be better off applying for their spring schemes instead, which have later deadlines?

Also, do firms that are full for winter often automatically consider strong late applicants for their spring scheme, or are the two processes usually treated separately?

Would greatly appreciate any thoughts you all might have!

Hi! I’ll give you my 2 cents. I’m in the app process (have done the WE for dechert a week ago and have a jones day AC in 2 weeks) for the 2 firms you mentioned. Dechert have given out a lot of WE invites, so they are actively recruiting - however it seems like their process may have plateaued as I don’t believe anyone has progressed past WE yet so maybe they are waiting for strong last min applications. Jones day I haven’t heard much other than their direct contact with me.

Regarding applying last min to firms that roll, I applied on the last day a few hours before deadline for Sidley Austin but am now through to the final stage in their process. If you think you have a good chance then absolutely go for it - the only way you for sure won’t progress is by not applying !

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Hi there, this is vey good insight! Thank you for this! Did you yourself take it recently and have this info or is it individual research? I am a bit surprised because all these years it has been competency based mainly so it would be good to know if they have changed the question format to prepare accordingly.

I did the test myself dear. This is my first time doing an application to them so didn't know their process before

 

[flower1]

Has anyone heard back from White & Case after doing their online assessment for vacation scheme?

 

[mjc7777]

Has anyone heard from the following?
-Gibson Dunn
-Penningtons
-Covington SVS
-Vinson & Elkins
-Dentons
-Reed Smith
-Mayer Brown

I have a first-stage interview with Gibson Dunn next week and an invite to Mayer Brown's open day on the 23rd if that helps.

 

[Amgrad]

How does one handle the pain of meeting a firm youreally like and absolutely disliking it? I attended a Weil open day and everyone seemed so cold and uninterested ☹️ I really like their sectors and was considering applying for their vac scheme but I don’t think culture wise, it’s for me… should I still apply?

Defining the right firms to work is not that cushy.

My advice is that you need to balance their quality of work, demand of work with their work ethic and culture. In that case, you might find it interesting to work at Weil due to their practice areas, etc which fall outside of culture, so that means you are not fully resonate to it.

Ikr to work in the US firms may have different atmosphere, especially myself had an experience with it at non-law firms, but that is just vast of majority or stigma.

There are some US firms that are friendly, to make it simple to navigate you can check Legal Cheek's social life score card. Weil has B score on it, so you should consider those with A* or A just to be transparent.

To mention, I knew someone who went to VS at Weil, but she didn't like it just like you, so she chose TC offer from Hogan Lovells instead despite their salary is lower than Weil, but it has contrast culture compared to Weil, she said.

You could see other firms that are on the same boat, but this is just IMO. I found Vinson & Elkins, Akin, Sullivan & Cromwell are cold too despite some had A score on Legal Cheek's social life score card.

For the US office, I saw news that Willkie associates departed to Cooley because of this issue too, especially when the firm defended Trump.

Hope that helps and not discourage you to apply.

 

[nsa1]

I was invited to Ashurst Written Exercise on Friday

Hi, would you mind sharing when you submitted your application?

 

[aspringlawyer25]

I have a first-stage interview with Gibson Dunn next week and an invite to Mayer Brown's open day on the 23rd if that helps.

Can I ask when you applied for Gibson?

 

[TCLAUser1]

I have a first-stage interview with Gibson Dunn next week and an invite to Mayer Brown's open day on the 23rd if that helps.

Can I ask if your Gibson Dunn interview is for an Open Day or Vacation Scheme?

 

[legallybrunnette]

I did the test myself dear. This is my first time doing an application to them so didn't know their process before

Amazing, good luck! Hope it goes well!

 

[Milpasoak]

Does the White & Case cappfinity test include any video responses?

no

 

[mjc7777]

Can I ask if your Gibson Dunn interview is for an Open Day or Vacation Scheme?

Vacation scheme via zoom. I applied on the 27th Sep. Completed the Capptivate on 4th Oct. Invited to book an interview over the following two weeks on 9th 👍

 

[Sachin Chandra]

Milbank application has no questions. Just need to input grades, work experience etc.

Can anyone confirm that this is the case on their end? it seems a bit unusual for there to be no questions (and, also unusually, the application form contains no SQE section).

Thanks in advance!

 

[silonthesofa]

Milbank application has no questions. Just need to input grades, work experience etc.

Can anyone confirm that this is the case on their end? it seems a bit unusual for there to be no questions (and, also unusually, the application form contains no SQE section).

Thanks in advance!

A few firms changed their applications this year to not include any questions (Freshfields and Mishcon de Reya are the two I know of), so it's probably not a mistake.

 

[SamiyaJ]

Reed Smith PFO post app :/ I got through to the test last year so idk what happened this time 😭

But very nice of the firm to even provide generic feedback at this stage!

 

[futuretraineeihope]

Hello!

I’d say it’s a good idea to link your answer back to CMS - even if this isn’t necessarily explicitly. The firm will be looking for evidence that your qualities and mindset align with their values and culture, such as collaboration.

You can do this subtly in your reflection. For example:

1. When describing how you handled the complex situation, highlight behaviours that CMS values beyond resilience (e.g. adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork). Make sure you do discuss resilience, as that is what the question is wanting you to show!
2. In the reflection (“how this affected the way you approach challenges”), show how you’ve developed traits that fit with CMS’s way of working - such as staying calm under pressure or being open to feedback.

You don’t need to name-drop their values directly, as your answer should be focused on the resilience you have shown, but you can make the connection through the tone of your answer. It can show self-awareness that you have thought about how your traits fit the CMS environment.

I hope that helps!

Thank you, this is so helpful!

 

[YS391]

Spoke to Grad Rec at Legal Cheek's event yesterday, and they said they would send it out in batches. EVERYONE will get an invitation, and they haven't started reading apps yet, but will soon. She said the first round of tests should go out before mid-October. But your application will be read before being sent a test. Then both results will be reviewed holistically before being progressed to an HR interview.

It's a Cappafinity test with some elements of SJT and SPAG/Proofreading exercises. No WG

Just a heads up for everyone, there are also WG questions in the test. They contain all the 4 types of WG questions apart from interpretation.

 

[Ancika]

How does one handle the pain of meeting a firm youreally like and absolutely disliking it? I attended a Weil open day and everyone seemed so cold and uninterested ☹️ I really like their sectors and was considering applying for their vac scheme but I don’t think culture wise, it’s for me… should I still apply?

Weil definitely has that reputation. I worked with a secondee from Weil at my company and met most of his team at client dinners - that’s very much their vibe. I actually considered applying but decided against it. You really need to figure out whether you’d thrive in that kind of environment and whether it suits your learning style. When I asked the secondee about their training, he said it was “very much a learn as you go culture”. Take that as you will, but it didn’t appeal to me personally.

 

[c.t.tc]

Just did the Bird & Bird VI and there were way less competency questions than I was expecting - just as a heads up to everyone else that hasn't done it yet.