TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Abbie Whitlock]

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?

Hello!

It definitely is still worth applying! The application process for the open day and the vacation scheme are both competitive, but they are looking for completely different things.

As long as you submit a strong, tailored application for the vacation scheme, there is no reason why you can't be progressed to the next stage (despite being rejected for their open day).

Best of luck!

 

[Goingtogetatc]

Anyone here apply for Deloitte litigation, advisory and settlement graduate programme

I did !

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

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?

Hey!

Try not to worry - it definitely won't hinder you if you haven't attended a Hogan Lovells event specifically. That question is mainly there to see whether you've engaged with the legal sector as a whole and taken steps to learn more about the profession, rather than to test that you've interacted with that firm specifically.

You can absolutely talk about other firms' events or broader legal-sector experiences - for example, insight days, commercial law webinars, student law society panels, or even networking sessions where you heard from lawyers. What matters is that you show:

• You've actively sought opportunities to understand the world and culture of commercial law firms
• You can reflect on what you learned and how it's influenced your motivation to apply to Hogan Lovells specifically

So for instance, you could say something like:

"Through attending X firm's insight day, I developed a stronger understanding of how cross-border work operates in practice, which particularly attracted me to Hogan Lovells given its international client base."

In short - they're testing your curiosity and initiative, not whether you have attended an event of theirs specifically. You'll be absolutely fine as long as you show genuine engagement and how what you learned has drawn you to Hogan Lovells.

Best of luck with the application!

 

[Trophy]

You asked ChatGPT to clear something up which is literally the definition of 'relying on AI', no?

I didn't elaborate because I didn't think it needed explanation considering it's probably the biggest legal news story over the past year and I didn't want to clog the forum up with a debate about it. Some people got it, some people didn't and that's okay lol.

This has nothing to do with me or anyone else not knowing about the “biggest legal story”. You were being cryptic. Others on the forum asked you to explain further. Simple.

This also does not mean I use/rely on AI in applications.

Good day and good luck this application cycle😄

 

[Bbhu19]

I did !

Have you completed the job sim?

 

[Goingtogetatc]

Have you completed the job sim?

yup like 2 weeks ish ago

 

[baj5]

Has anyone heard from covington?

 

[c.t.tc]

Mishcon test finally came through!

 

[Lawlife5]

Hey, I spoke to them at an event a few weeks ago and they said they want to see how you have interacted with Hogan Lovells through these events or how they relate back to Hogan Lovells. So for example, in my application, I talked about attending Skadden's Open Evening and a discussion I had about Competition Law, and linked that back in terms of international firms doing international work at the intersection of government/regulation and business (something HL strategically aims towards).

As a general rule of thumb with questions like these, you should try and list what it was, talk about what you learned/gained from it or any positive outcomes, and try and link that back to the firm you're applying to.

The question does not ask this though lmao they just make up their own rules

 

[Lawlife5]

Does everyone get invited to do the Macfarlanes simulate? Does it mean my app review was successful?

 

[Harvey Specter]

The question does not ask this though lmao they just make up their own rules

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go.​

 

[Lawlife5]

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go.​

That is not fair at all. If they want this then they should be asking it. How is everyone who applies meant to know this?!

 

[Lawlawland]

Yeah I also attended an open day at Hogans last week and the early careers person said that with this question, they wanted you to select 3 or 4 open days or events, discuss them in detail and how they link back to the firm.

It is the same for the other question which I think was about experiences outside of work or study, in that they want you to tie the experiences back to the firm, despite the question not asking for it at all, so it seems they make it up as they go​

This is true.
In the last week open day, they advised me to always link back all the questions to the firm specifically, even if that wasn't explicitly stated in the question!

Given the fact that they wouldn't read our application until we clear their 3rd stage of application (job simulator), this seems tiresome.

 

[ali-k]

Hello,

I have asked a similar sort of question before but just wanted to make sure now. I have an AC coming up in a week, I got told about it 3 weeks ago and have been prepping since. I have got my answers for motivational and competency style interviews, and I am just now brushing up on commercial awareness (reading the FT etc.). My AC has a written exercise, group exercise, case study interview and motivational and competency interview. How can I maximise the utility of this week? I probably have not done as much for the written exercise: all I have done is learnt the structure of a memo, report, and letter. For the group exercise I am also unsure, just been learning the ins and outs of M&A deals and other types of stuff. Is this enough?

Would appreciate any help anyone could give me on how they have prepared.

 

[jojo23]

Anybody heard from:
cms post test
Reed smith post test
taylor wessing post test
Akin

 

[c.t.tc]

Anybody heard from:
cms post test
Reed smith post test
taylor wessing post test
Akin

Taylor Wessing won't be in touch until they've finalised all people they are putting through to the written exercise I don't think - that's how they did it last year and people found out at the end of November.

 

[qwop881]

White & Case AC!
Also, Linklaters said they filled places for the winter scheme but offered an AC for the spring scheme instead.

 

[johnsmith]

Taylor Wessing won't be in touch until they've finalised all people they are putting through to the written exercise I don't think - that's how they did it last year and people found out at the end of November.

Think one of their emails advised this was the case for this year as well!

 

[Jennifer2003]

For Pinsent Masons, how much time do you get to prepare for the VI and how long do you get to record your answer?

 

[whywhy88]

Safe to assume PFO from freshfields if I haven't heard back post-stage 1 test and it's been three weeks? 😅