TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[johnsmith]

Graduate Recruitment Open Day — 13 November 2025

Nice! I never got a VI invite, so I'm guessing it's a no!

 

[Lawlawland]

Latham open day invite! Failed so many times on getting this open day previously💪

Congratulations ✨

Do you know if the ones attending the open day are fast-tracked for a vacation scheme? Or is it the same process?

 

[STEM Student]

OD's are massively competitive - don't be put off, still apply!

But so are vacation schemes, are you sure it’s still worth doing a VS application given I couldn’t get the OD (mb if I’m being pessimistic)

 

[Maddy]

White & Case final interview 😁 anyone have any tips or tricks?

Congratulations. If you don't mind could you share when you completed your VI and when you received the final interview invite?

 

[l789]

Nice! I never got a VI invite, so I'm guessing it's a no!

same, but I wouldn’t be disheartened. I definitely will be looking into substantial help for the SJT - even paid resources.

FYI- I used my Latham open day structure and template for other firms open days and (apart from Paul Weiss, because, I was flumoxxed by gauging how they assess people, as it’s a new recruitment process) and have been successful in those. So it’s probably just that pesky SJT we gotta nail.

 

[Afuturetrainee]

You don't need to do this though? AllHires allows you to centrally add all your grades - mine were in there from when I last applied in 2013!

Not Work experience though

 

[AP2000]

Hi,

I was just wondering, if a firm rejects you for their open day, is it worth still applying to their Vacation scheme?

Does a rejection from the firm open day effect chances of getting into the VS?

But so are vacation schemes, are you sure it’s still worth doing a VS application given I couldn’t get the OD

I'd say you can't know unless you give it a go! From my experience too, and quite anecdotally, I've found that with open days early applications make a massive difference (unless the firm explicitly says they review applications after the deadline). I've done 4 open days so far, with 6 applications pending and 6 rejections. All the rejections came from firms where I submitted my application the day of the deadline, despite the quality of the apps being identical as far as I'm concerned. All this to say: (a) you don't know why you got rejected, but if you applied late that could play a role!, (b) even if you don't think that's the reason, just give it a go for the vac scheme. You might be positively surprised!

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Congratulations ✨

Do you know if the ones attending the open day are fast-tracked for a vacation scheme? Or is it the same process?

There isn't really a fast track, just that you won't have to take any tests. You are not guaranteed an AC if you attended the open day.

 

[Jennifer2003]

Do HSFK recruit on a rolling basis? Thinking of applying to their spring or summer vac scheme but the deadline for both is december 1st and not sure if I should still apply? has anybody heard from them in regards to either of these, or is it just for their winter one people have heard?

 

[Lawlawland]

Do HSFK recruit on a rolling basis? Thinking of applying to their spring or summer vac scheme but the deadline for both is december 1st and not sure if I should still apply? has anybody heard from them in regards to either of these, or is it just for their winter one people have heard?

They are not rolling!

 

[Jennifer2003]

They are not rolling!

Thank you!

 

[DavidJC]

Re this, does anyone know how to edit the work experience section in vantage? It fills out automatically for me but it’s outdated and id like to change it instead of having to manually edit it each time
Thanks 🙏🏻

Honestly worst part re Vantage Work Exp is that the firm will ask you to fill it in with newest experiences at the top but when I exit Vantage and return to it later to complete and submit it, it reverses the order and puts oldest experiences at the top

 

[c.t.tc]

Genuinely feel like I'm going insane waiting to hear back from Bird & Bird🥲

 

[Jennifer2003]

Hogan Lovells ask 'Tell us about any open days and events that you have attended in the legal sector' in their VS application, but I've not been to an open day with them or a virtual event. If I talk about other firms, will it hinder me that I haven't interacted with their firm, or are they simply just testing that I have demonstrated interest and motivation in the legal sector?

 

[marisachr]

Can graduates apply to Fieldfisher's Pathways to Practise Insight Scheme or only students? Its not specified in the website

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock & @Andrei Radu
I hope you are doing well
Recently I completed a VI in which they asked 'why commercial law at X firm'. I structured it in this way - First - why commercial law and then why commercial law at this firm. It was also only 2 minutes - so I'm trying to prepare more in case it comes up again.
I would deeply appreciate any thoughts on how you would structure this?

 

[Unknowncabbage]

There isn't really a fast track, just that you won't have to take any tests. You are not guaranteed an AC if you attended the open day.

so if you apply for their VS, they just assess your written application? (obvs because you have already passed the tests/VI).

 

[applicant3000]

For Cleary's Watson Glaser - does anyone know whether you have to meet a minimum benchmark or if they invite the candidates with the higher scores to the AC?

 

[l789]

Latham open day PFO- got a whole 365 to perfect that SJT

 

[TCLA0322]

Can graduates apply to Fieldfisher's Pathways to Practise Insight Scheme or only students? Its not specified in the website

Same question here, confused on their eligibility. And also on the app form for Pathways to Practice-there is a question: This programme has been designed for underrepresented student groups, please can you confirm which under-represented student group(s) you identify with.* But they did not say their criteria or under-represented category in any place-what accounted as their criteria.