TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[tcapplicant.1]

HL WVS AC

 

[whywhy88]

Than you, is the written questions short like 200 words or longer?

250 each

 

[Goingtogetatc]

HL WVS AC

Congrats! Did you just get the email now?

 

[tom-sawyer]

Hi @tom-sawyer I do not think there is a right or wrong way to tackle this question vis a vis the number of questions you should mention. I can both see how mentioning 1 question and then providing an 130 word explanation of the background and context of the question, but also the way it ties to your motivations, could be compelling in its show of depth; and how mentioning 3 questions, each with a 30-40 word explanation, could be attractive in terms of showing a breath of interests and research.

In my opinion, the option you go for should just depend on the specific of your interests and the firm; if you have one central interest in the firm that comes before all others, and especially if a question related to it may take a longer while to spell out, it wold make a lot of sense to go for the first approach. If instead you have a variety of reasons for interest, and the questions related to such interests are also easier to explain, it would definitely be sensible to go for the second option.

What I think is central to get this question right is to come up with good questions and clear explanation as to why they matter to you. As such, you should avoid doing the following:

• Asking questions which could also be researched online - a good question is one that you could only get a good answer from at the interview from someone with insider knowledge of the firm;
• Asking too broad or ambiguous questions: seek to be specific in the details of how you frame your question, showing that you know what kinds of aspects can truly differentiate the firm from its competitors;
• Asking questions solely meant to impress: while it is important to ask questions that reflect the depth of your research into the firm and of understanding of the legal market, you should also not ask questions only for asking's sake; instead, I think you should seek to connect each question with a plausibly-held motivation;

Thank you @Andrei Radu !

 

[tcapplicant.1]

Congrats! Did you just get the email now?

Thanks, I got an email around 4

 

[flower1]

Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

This may seem ridiculous, but I was wondering what's the best way to actually gain commercial awareness to the point I'm fluent in using terminology and understanding the implications of things. Right now, I'm extremely new and don't know where to begin. I was thinking of first understanding terminology like equity, bonds etc and then after 2 weeks, start to read articles and see if I can apply this to the articles, but I don't know how to go about it. What did you find was successful for you? I feel like there's so much and am worried in interviews I wouldn't be able to answer follow-up questions. Also, how do you actually remember what you've read - like keep a log of it, and also how can I keep track of a news story from start to finish? Sorry for lots of questions, just really don't know where to even start

Thank you

 

[TortillaTC]

HL WVS AC

Congrats!! When did you do the 2nd test if you don’t mind saying?

 

[Bbhu19]

250 each

Ok thank you

 

[msclm]

Dechert interview 😎 (and hsfk pfo, the second PFO they sent me this week💀)

 

[Spector.Ross]

Anyone still waiting to hear back from W&C after completing the Cappfinity test? As in they have not yet received the VI yet?

 

[legal18]

Is there a word limit for the TCLA Application review?

 

[abc124]

HL WVS AC

Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, when's your AC? I think rejections often tend to come after invites so it'd be useful to have a date until when I can remain somewhat hopeful haha

 

[lawstudent2]

Do hogan lovells usually send ACs in batches?

 

[futuretraineeincoming]

Should we put any careers breaks as entries in work experience ?

 

[arbitrationfan]

Anyone still waiting to hear back from W&C after completing the Cappfinity test? As in they have not yet received the VI yet?

Same boat, have seen lots of VI invites go out so I think its safe to assume this = PFO unfortunately

 

[Dannie]

Same boat, have seen lots of VI invites go out so I think its safe to assume this = PFO unfortunately

for winter or spring/summer...

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi Abbie,

Thank you so much for your reply!

So would you say I shouldn't mention any deals in the cover letter though? Again, if I had a separate question to expand on it further, I for sure wouldn't because it can be a bit tedious to read, but I'm afraid that without examples, statements that I make about the firm may come off a bit hollow or superficial. Along the lines of your work in life sciences is really interesting, without giving an example of what's interesting or being able to exemplify why.

Hello!

No problem at all

That’s a really fair point, and I get where you’re coming from. I wouldn’t say you shouldn’t mention any deals - in fact, including one or two carefully chosen examples can really strengthen your points and make your interest feel genuine rather than surface level. I would just make sure to be selective and concise with the examples you choose.

If, for example, you reference a deal, you could briefly outline what it involved and then focus more on why it stood out to you or what it says about the firms strengths - rather than describing the facts of it in too much detail. By making a reference to the deal, you are still grounding your statements in something tangible without taking up too much space.

I hope that answers your question!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Do you think it's too late to apply to Mayer Brown vacation scheme given it's rolling and it opened on 1st Sept (deadline 16th Dec)? Also, as someone eligible for both, would you recommend applying vacation scheme or straight tc? Many thanks!

Hey!

As the deadline isn’t until early December, I’d say there’s still plenty of chance to be progressed for the vacation scheme! Whilst it is advantageous to apply as early as you can in the application window, the graduate recruitment team will receive the majority of their applications towards the end, and this doesn’t necessarily put you at a disadvantage! The most important thing is that you submit a strong application that is personal and tailored to the firm

In terms of whether to apply for VS or DTC, I would always recommend applying for the VS. It’s really valuable to actually experience the firm for a week or two, and it’s often nicer to be assessed across that time period (instead of in one afternoon). Most firms will also offer most of their TC’s via the VS route as well!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hello @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu

This may seem ridiculous, but I was wondering what's the best way to actually gain commercial awareness to the point I'm fluent in using terminology and understanding the implications of things. Right now, I'm extremely new and don't know where to begin. I was thinking of first understanding terminology like equity, bonds etc and then after 2 weeks, start to read articles and see if I can apply this to the articles, but I don't know how to go about it. What did you find was successful for you? I feel like there's so much and am worried in interviews I wouldn't be able to answer follow-up questions. Also, how do you actually remember what you've read - like keep a log of it, and also how can I keep track of a news story from start to finish? Sorry for lots of questions, just really don't know where to even start

Thank you

Hello!

Not ridiculous at all - in my first application cycle, I wasn’t able to pass ACs and interviews as I just couldn’t hack building my commercial awareness, so I totally understand what you mean! After a lot of trial and error, I was able to work on this skill and achieve runner-up of BIUCAC last year, so I can share what helped me!

I think your plan of starting with the basics is the best approach - this is the main thing that I focused on, and it is nearly impossible to analyse commercial deals without understanding the basics first. I found it helpful to use Investopedia and the Finimize glossary to review terms I wasn’t confident in. Whenever I came across an unfamiliar word, I’d note it down and revisit it later to make sure it stuck. Focus on understanding core concepts such as bonds, equity, securitisation, and derivatives - and keep an eye on topical versions of these (for example, green bonds came up in BIUCAC!).

Once you’re comfortable with the terminology, I’d recommend picking one or two reliable sources and following them consistently - for example, the FT, BBC Business, LittleLaw, or TCLA’s commercial awareness insights. Instead of trying to read everything, focus on a few key sectors that interest you or relate to firms that you are interested in. Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns and recurring themes, which makes it a lot easier to understand the bigger picture. I found it helped to work this into my routine - for example, I listened to the FT News Briefing every morning on my commute which gave me a brief overview of the most important business news each day.

As for following a story from start to finish, you could set up a Google alert or save articles on the topic so you can see how it develops over time. This is something that you will (inevitably) have to develop over time, so pick a few deals / topics that interest you and start following them now in preparation for interviews later down the line.

When reading a commercial news story, I always found it helpful to think about where a law firm might be instructed and which practice areas would be involved. This dual perspective shows that you understand both the legal and commercial dimensions. For example, in one of my VS interviews, I discussed the new Universal park being built in the UK, and highlighted how various departments across a firm would be instructed (e.g. employment, construction, finance, tax, real estate, etc.). It also shows that you can explain how law firms bring value to their clients!

You are definitely not expected to know everything! In my opinion, if you know the basic terminology, the most important things currently happening in the market, and how to look at a commercial deal with a legal viewpoint, you will be absolutely fine! It’s perfectly normal to tell an interviewer if you are not too sure on the topic, but make sure to give it a go and show them your thought process - this is often the most important part.

Try not to worry too much about being “fluent” straight away - commercial awareness builds gradually as you stay curious and consistent. Even trainees and associates are always learning!

I hope that helps and if you have any other specific questions, let me know! Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint - if I can do it, so can you!

 

[flower1]

Hello!

Not ridiculous at all - in my first application cycle, I wasn’t able to pass ACs and interviews as I just couldn’t hack building my commercial awareness, so I totally understand what you mean! After a lot of trial and error, I was able to work on this skill and achieve runner-up of BIUCAC last year, so I can share what helped me!

I think your plan of starting with the basics is the best approach - this is the main thing that I focused on, and it is nearly impossible to analyse commercial deals without understanding the basics first. I found it helpful to use Investopedia and the Finimize glossary to review terms I wasn’t confident in. Whenever I came across an unfamiliar word, I’d note it down and revisit it later to make sure it stuck. Focus on understanding core concepts such as bonds, equity, securitisation, and derivatives - and keep an eye on topical versions of these (for example, green bonds came up in BIUCAC!).

Once you’re comfortable with the terminology, I’d recommend picking one or two reliable sources and following them consistently - for example, the FT, BBC Business, LittleLaw, or TCLA’s commercial awareness insights. Instead of trying to read everything, focus on a few key sectors that interest you or relate to firms that you are interested in. Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns and recurring themes, which makes it a lot easier to understand the bigger picture. I found it helped to work this into my routine - for example, I listened to the FT News Briefing every morning on my commute which gave me a brief overview of the most important business news each day.

As for following a story from start to finish, you could set up a Google alert or save articles on the topic so you can see how it develops over time. This is something that you will (inevitably) have to develop over time, so pick a few deals / topics that interest you and start following them now in preparation for interviews later down the line.

When reading a commercial news story, I always found it helpful to think about where a law firm might be instructed and which practice areas would be involved. This dual perspective shows that you understand both the legal and commercial dimensions. For example, in one of my VS interviews, I discussed the new Universal park being built in the UK, and highlighted how various departments across a firm would be instructed (e.g. employment, construction, finance, tax, real estate, etc.). It also shows that you can explain how law firms bring value to their clients!

You are definitely not expected to know everything! In my opinion, if you know the basic terminology, the most important things currently happening in the market, and how to look at a commercial deal with a legal viewpoint, you will be absolutely fine! It’s perfectly normal to tell an interviewer if you are not too sure on the topic, but make sure to give it a go and show them your thought process - this is often the most important part.

Try not to worry too much about being “fluent” straight away - commercial awareness builds gradually as you stay curious and consistent. Even trainees and associates are always learning!

I hope that helps and if you have any other specific questions, let me know! Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint - if I can do it, so can you!

Thank you so much for your detailed response - this is given me so much reassurance. I really appreciate your time answering, thank you