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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26
- Thread starter Ram Sabaratnam
- Start date
How long does the Mayer Brown first test take, am trying to figure out when to do it this week and am not sure how much time to set aside?
Can anyone who has taken Cleary's WGT temme if it's similar to or tougher than the CC WGT (both have the same provider)!
So Who exactly then got the White & Case Open day, or did they PFO everyone??!🤨🤨🤨🥺
struggled to understand what you were “alluding to” at so asked ChatGPT incase anyone else wanted to know !Hint: Paul, Weiss was heavily criticized for being the first firm to do this.
I'm not naive and I realize that law firms have to face commercial realities but it made me feel that values really are quite hollow when push came to shove. I guess it makes me feel better when I get rejected but I'd also face commercial reality myself if I was offered a role at a firm like Paul, Weiss as I would be the first to accept with really no qualms about it
Likely OK, but you should try pushing for an 80pct+ score (heard some firms cutoff around 70--buffer to be safe). Practice helps a ton; pattern recognition etc. I started around the 50/60th pct and after a few weeks of consistent practice managed 90pct+'s. That said, a strong WG score alone isn't enough, got 99th pct for Links last year but wasn't progressed past stage 1...
Love the pfp/user by the way. LOL
Lol, I guess that's a clear solid lesson in why you don't rely on AI.
I didn't want to spell it out because I appreciate everyone has different opinions on it. I was referring to the deals that law firms including ones on here made with the US administration just a few months ago. It's been well-reported that law firms have been doing pro-bono work for the Trump administration and while details are scant, the administration has a very different concept of pro-bono versus what the firms were thinking when they made deals with the administration.
That's why I was referring to commercial realities of law firms needing to exist while also bowing down to deep political pressure. And instead of the legal industry standing together, the co-chair of Sullivan & Cromwell was putting pressure on other law firms to sign a deal and law firms were trying to poach other partners from Paul, Weiss who were under attack (i.e. law firms' commercial realities for making deals). I was responding to someone asking how to pick themselves up from rejection by making a cynical remark about how firms don't really practice what they preach but that I'd also be the first one to accept an offer if it came to me (i.e. my commercial reality)
When Donald Trump calls, one Big Law firm answers
As President Trump waged war on Big Law, the head of Sullivan & Cromwell played double duty as his personal lawyer and a White House go-between.
www.businessinsider.com
Thanks for the input! Are there any platforms that you would recommend to practice them? I have to complete the test by tomorrow for the current firm so it's highly unlikely to be of any use, but I would like to be prepared for the next ones.
Thanks for the pfp/user appreciation. I just changed it an hour ago, as my my previous one was my real name and just wanted privacy XD.
I assume this might be to do with Paul, Weiss striking a deal with the Trump administration to remove DEI initiatives and DEI sections from their websites and provide $100m worth of pro bono services, followed by a bunch of other US firms under pressure. Totally support Perkins Coie and WilmerHale for standing up to Trump but I also think it's quite pragmatic and commercial to succumb to the threat from the Trump administration. In a way, FF may have been the most pragmatic as they've somehow gotten away with both striking a deal with Trump and signing an amicus brief supporting Perkins Coie's challenge to the order from Trump to purge DEI from their firms.
There's a letter out there defending Paul, Weiss somewhere in the FT from Charlie Geffen (ex-Sr Partner Ashurst and ex-Head of PE Gibson Dunn London). He also talked about it in a Non-Billable podcast episode a few weeks ago where he mentions how the US is really the central axis for law firm revenue globally today and how these firms could've been completely crippled by the US govt in a very cutthroat market where any other firm would happily swoop in to take your clients. There's also a view out there that these firms are businesses that employ thousands of support staff as well as lawyers, and a crippled firm would mean their people lose job security due to lower revenues etc.
I've also accepted that if I want a career in commercial law in the current climate, I've just gotta bite down and live with it, but there's nothing stopping me from finding other ways to combat political pressure like this and promote DEI more subtly (I'm an ethnic minority so that's a start!) until more inclusive climates come along. There's also that cliché of "be the change you want to see", and I think that we as the future of the profession can have a hand in preventing this kind of pressure in future (but maybe that's just wishful thinking). Anyway, just my two cents, didn't mean to ramble about this in a thread for VS applications 🤣 but hopefully someone finds this info helpful 😅
JobTestPrep is great, would recommend. Includes 'explanations' on the logic behind the answer. (in air quotes because who the hell trusted a psychologist with logic?) Just grind and do an hour of WG prep a day for a month and you'll get used to the questions eventually.
Re pfp/name; was LITERALLY just rewatching Andrew Garfield's reactions to Emma Stone winning the Oscar... they're lalaland in real life my god
EDIT:
Bringing it back on topic, I guess this is why nobody should be relying on AI to complete their applications. Haha!
Generative AI, Yes! I agree!
I used Comet Browser once and automated the process of manually entering the module grades and work experiences in allhires. That did save me a huge chunk of time! And it was accurate (with all the entries!)
Task automation by augmenting the AI seems to be efficient, especially for such repetitive tasks.
<---- certainly my face when I saw Simmons' app form ask how I've used AI and stating that it's encouraged! Hi everyone, I'd appreciate advice on allocating vacation scheme applications between Spring and Summer.
My Situation:
The Dilemma:
My Question:
Is the security of Strategy 2 worth the "Worst Case" risk of being locked into Firm C? Or is the focused approach of Strategy 1 ultimately safer for aiming higher?
(This is a theoretical scenario, not assuming I'll get these offers! Just planning strategically.)
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
My Situation:
- 3 firms offer both Spring & Summer: Firm A (Top Choice), Firm B (Strong Alternative), Firm C (Good, but lower tier).
- 7 other firms are Summer-only, some of which I prefer over Firms B and C.
The Dilemma:
- Strategy 1 (Focused): Apply only to Firm A for Spring. Apply to B, C, and others for Summer.
- Pro: Maximises chance with my top choice.
- Con: If I fail with A, I've "wasted" the Spring period.
- Strategy 2 (Maximised): Apply to A, B, and C for Spring. Apply to the 7 others for Summer.
- Pro: Maximises my chance of getting any Spring scheme and an early TC.
- Con: Risks a "Forced Early Decision":
- Best Case: Get Firm B's offer. I'd be happy to accept, even if it means withdrawing from A's process.
- Worst Case: Get a TC from Firm C in May. I'm then forced to either accept a TC from a less-preferred firm or gamble it by declining to pursue my preferred Summer firms.
My Question:
Is the security of Strategy 2 worth the "Worst Case" risk of being locked into Firm C? Or is the focused approach of Strategy 1 ultimately safer for aiming higher?
(This is a theoretical scenario, not assuming I'll get these offers! Just planning strategically.)
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
could anyone give me some advice on how to approach this question? i'm being asked 'focus on a situation where you had to think critically to solve a problem or make a decision. in your response, please cover
-how you identified the key issues
-what information you sought to complete your research
-how you involved others
-the outcome of your actions or decision
-how the experienced influenced the way you have approached similar situations since'
the word limit is quite long (500 words). feeling a bit intimidated because i'm only a recent graduate with limited work experience haha
-how you identified the key issues
-what information you sought to complete your research
-how you involved others
-the outcome of your actions or decision
-how the experienced influenced the way you have approached similar situations since'
the word limit is quite long (500 words). feeling a bit intimidated because i'm only a recent graduate with limited work experience haha
This is assuming you get the schemes lol. Just apply to all of them and be mindful. I would do A and B spring and the rest summer/
I have different strategies. Usually, I don't mind about spring or summer as most firms do not specify exactly which scheme dates (especially between spring and summer) you could choose, it will eventually decided after you pass the assessment day or final recruitment stage before VS. The exceptions are Milbank, Weil, and few others.
Instead, I'd be more focused on:
• The scheme deadlines: All firms provide different deadlines, whilst scheme dates might be still TBC like Kirkland & Ellis. I'd rather focus on this first among all. Based on my overall observations, UK firms (city, magic and silver circle firms) are closing their recruitment timeline earlier than international and the US counterparts.
• Your calendars: Whether you are students or professionals, you might have clashed schedule with the scheme dates, so be aware to look at which dates you can't attend, particularly during exam week or critical day when you can't take a leave. For example, not all UG and PG university students both local or overseas can attend summer schemes on 8-19 June 2026 as it's still in your term dates, precisely among RG universities, except Bristol, QMU, Kings, UofM, and few.
• Their open days: If the firms among your top choices, it's highly recommended to attend their ODs, before submitting your final VS applications. It's unlikely the Open Day will fall after the deadline (except for winter), so don't rush your submission. OD isn't essential to secure VS, but it gives you glimpse of views about the firms and industries, especially if you are non-law that helps you in the written to mid application stage.
• The firm's recruitment stages and ACs: The only thing you could consider is the recruitment stage, if the firm's rolling and has shorter phase (without VI, SJT), then you should apply earlier than those non rolling with bunch of tests and later ACs.
• The firm's rolling and rolling: This is the last thing to consider, I've seen many asked for the methods of evaluating candidates. As Abbie said, don't worry too much. I started to relieve after each submission and pause I made.
Why am I thinking like this?
• After PW PFO, I don't care if my app takes days even weeks to complete, as long as it's quite polished and confident, I should not be worried.
• If you are able to create a list of your top firm, now you should do what I suggested to check their dates and your calendar, so you would not missed any classes or potentially turn down offer because of clashed schedule or multiple VS at the same dates.
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