TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Dannie]

Samsies, got to the AC this year and had such a weird interview experience. Partners were standoffish and didn't seem like they cared. I kept wondering what I did wrong and got such wack feedback.

I worshipped the firm. I thought I knew everything about them until I met them in person and had an unpleasant experience with recruitment. All I am going to say is that this new tests are a reflection of their recruitment team.

 

[LawAspirer]

People that did the simmons assessment. What were your scores? I got 8 , 4 ,6. Wondering if that hits their benchmark (High verbal & middle numerical reasoning as well)

 

[Lelawyer]

Clearly they’

Do you think A&O S WVS acceptances have all been sent?

Clearly they’re forgetting some🤪🤪🫣

I got a response an hour ago with a WVC 😭😭 best of luck to everyone

 

[l789]

I got cleary wgt last week and did wnc vi two days ago

Congrats!

I’m really keen on cleary, may I ask what your grades are like and how much work experience you have?

 

[Dannie]

I got cleary wgt last week and did wnc vi two days ago

How did you find the Cleary wg? is it timed?

 

[JBM]

Congrats!

I’m really keen on cleary, may I ask what your grades are like and how much work experience you have?

a levels did not meet requirement.
Firsts in first and second year.
One vac scheme at a MC, another form of competitive internship at a international and paralegal experience in Argentina.

 

[JBM]

How did you find the Cleary wg? is it timed?

Yes it’s timed but it’s a typical wg

 

[l789]

a levels did not meet requirement.
Firsts in first and second year.
One vac scheme at a MC, another form of competitive internship at an international and paralegal experience in Argentina.

Thank you so much for responding.

Your grades and experience are amazing!
Sorry. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but when you say your Alevels don’t meet the requirement, are you substantially far off, or just one or two grades. Cleary has AAA, which is objectively the highest A level grade requirement (alongside Sidley).

Just trying to see if they take a holistic approach. Cleary is a fantastic firm, congrats and wishing you success for the next stages

 

[JBM]

Thank you so much for responding.

Your grades and experience are amazing!
Sorry. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but when you say your Alevels don’t meet the requirement, are you substantially far off, or just one or two grades. Cleary has AAA, which is objectively the highest A level grade requirement (alongside Sidley).

Just trying to see if they take a holistic approach. Cleary is a fantastic firm, congrats and wishing you success for the next stages

I was one grade off.

 

[iwatchsuits]

People that did the simmons assessment. What were your scores? I got 8 , 4 ,6. Wondering if that hits their benchmark (High verbal & middle numerical reasoning as well)

Hey, I got 7,9,4 and got high numerical and verbal. Not sure what the benchmark is, though.

 

[yasmars]

Spending so much time on those 2 stages... before they even read your application, so then getting rejected is so []. Hence, US firms are better at this, as most of them review your application personally and, only then, if successful, invite you to the next stage nvm about doing 2 tests for HL that contained SJT + WG + VI, and then a document-scanning exercise. It's not even a magic firm, either. Feels like way too much.

Agree. At least Freshfields have removed written answers from their applications

 

[l789]

I was one grade off.

Thanks for the honesty!

 

[Chriss]

anyone receive a paul weiss open day invite?

 

[STEM Student]

Anyone still waiting for Freshfields second online assessment?
Also have L&W sent out all OD invites now?

 

[pfoapplicant]

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well!

I graduated from university last year - I did well in my exams, but I graduated without a TC. After having done a bit of travelling over the last few months, I'm now about to embark on a new application cycle.

My dilemma is as follows: I'd like to get some work (ideally as a paralegal) over the next few months, in order to bring in an income to my household - would this make it inadvisable for me to apply for vac schemes as well (as if I'm working as a paralegal next summer, and I get offered a place on a summer vac scheme at another firm, this could cause problems)?
In other words, if I'm probably going to be in paid employment (quite probably as a paralegal, or something similar) by the start of next summer, should I restrict myself to just doing direct TC applications?

If anyone has any advice, I would be hugely grateful!

 

[AngelB]

Bird and bird PFO!

 

[johnsmith]

People that did the simmons assessment. What were your scores? I got 8 , 4 ,6. Wondering if that hits their benchmark (High verbal & middle numerical reasoning as well)

I got an 8, 7 & 5, high numerical and verbal but nothing back yet - there was one person who did get an AC alread but all they said was the date they did their test!

 

[TCGrad1642]

Has anyone heard back from Covington yet? I need to book a holiday and want to know confirm dates.

sadly not, hopefully soon

 

[Bread]

Has anyone heard back from Covington yet? I need to book a holiday and want to know confirm dates.

At one of their events grad rec said next week, hopefully beginning of!

 

[InterestInPublicLaw]

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well!

I graduated from university last year - I did well in my exams, but I graduated without a TC. After having done a bit of travelling over the last few months, I'm now about to embark on a new application cycle.

My dilemma is as follows: I'd like to get some work (ideally as a paralegal) over the next few months, in order to bring in an income to my household - would this make it inadvisable for me to apply for vac schemes as well (as if I'm working as a paralegal next summer, and I get offered a place on a summer vac scheme at another firm, this could cause problems)?
In other words, if I'm probably going to be in paid employment (quite probably as a paralegal, or something similar) by the start of next summer, should I restrict myself to just doing direct TC applications?

If anyone has any advice, I would be hugely grateful!

You would ideally accumulate some holiday entitlement so that you can attend the vac scheme. Depending on the firm such as their flexibility and understanding of your situation, you may want to mention you are applying for TCs so might need some time off booked at short notice for prep of AC and they may also offer you some help in in the process.