TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[aspringlawyer25]

My friend applied after and has the ac

Oh, can I ask how long it took between the steps as there are 2 interviews post test.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Hey, is this the 1st meet on November 20th? could you ask at the open day, when would they sent invitation for the 3rd (December) open day which closed yesterday?

The 1st Meet Cooley open day app closed on the 23rd Oct and invites were sent last Fri (31st Oct). I reckon the 2nd Meet Cooley open day will follow a similar process so invites might be sent around the 13th to 15th of Nov, since apps closed yesterday. If open day invites aren’t sent by the 20th, I can ask them for a timeline on when they will.​

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Hey have you received an invite?

RT, and also when you applied.

 

[TCchaser1]

Stage 1: normal SJT. You get to do it immediately after your application.

Stage 2: if you meet the benchmark for the SJT, you'll be passed on to the second stage, which is also a test and VI. This is for behaviour and critical thinking (similar to WGT but bespoke to Latham). This part is untimed. The video interview happens in a different way. Unlike the usual ones where they just as a question, here you'll be reading a case situation, it's relevant content and a crisis associated with that situation. It is followed by two questions testing your competency to handle the situation. 2 videos. Each can be 3 minutes long (maximum) and they give you one minute to prepare. Each question has 3 components (thus really long to read). That was the toughest part for me. One minute runs out by the time you read and process the question, thus barely any time to prepare.

As I did not make it to the second stage last year I'm unaware if it was the same.

I hope that helps.

Hi, thanks so much !

 

[YS391]

My friend applied after and has the ac

There’s an interview stage before the AC though? Did they do the interview as well then?

 

[Shahenshah]

if i got ABB at A level but graduated from a RG uni with a 1st (non-law degree but traditional subject). what firms are worth applying for that have AAB requirements? i don’t want to waste anymore applications on a firm that might not take me because of it.

It does vary significantly, I had disastrous A levels, that I've not hid at any step of the application process - got AAD and then privately sat an A level at university alongside my LLB to make sure I met the minimum requirements for law firms, so its AADA now. Likewise, graduated from a RG university with a 1st but in law, and now at a very prominent RG university doing my masters while working as a paralegal at the same time. Slaughters put me through the paper shift but at both the vacation scheme and TC interviews the partners rejected me. Sidley and Macfarlanes likewise didn't bother, but I've managed to get through Jones Day's AC, and am hearing good things from Skadden. Got a PFO from HSF Kramer's Open Day though, so it's a mixed bag to be honest!

 

[BobThebIlly]

Does anyone know how to cancel the TCLA Academy (commercial awareness) subscription? I can’t find it anywhere

 

[Freshcutgrass]

@Andrei Radu Reed Smith">@Abbie Reed Smith I was wondering if we should mention non-selective law firm insight events we've attended at other law firms in our application as well as the events that pertain to that firm? Thank you!

 

[LawAspirer]

Has anyone completed a Covington AC before please PM me!

Did you get a response from Covington yet?

 

[LawAspirer]

In this question from Orrick:

Have you used AI in preparing your application? If so, how? If not, why not?

They allocate max 300 words. Do they expect this to be filled to the brim? And is there any structure/principle to follow?

 

[johnsmith]

It does vary significantly, I had disastrous A levels, that I've not hid at any step of the application process - got AAD and then privately sat an A level at university alongside my LLB to make sure I met the minimum requirements for law firms, so its AADA now. Likewise, graduated from a RG university with a 1st but in law, and now at a very prominent RG university doing my masters while working as a paralegal at the same time. Slaughters put me through the paper shift but at both the vacation scheme and TC interviews the partners rejected me. Sidley and Macfarlanes likewise didn't bother, but I've managed to get through Jones Day's AC, and am hearing good things from Skadden. Got a PFO from HSF Kramer's Open Day though, so it's a mixed bag to be honest!

Just shows there is more to it than grades for some of the firms - well done on all your successes!

 

[Bread]

Does anyone have any reviews of the TCLA application review? Is it worth the money?

 

[V2002]

Has anyone heard from Cleary WVS?

 

[c.t.tc]

In this question from Orrick:

Have you used AI in preparing your application? If so, how? If not, why not?

They allocate max 300 words. Do they expect this to be filled to the brim? And is there any structure/principle to follow?

I have answered similar questions about AI for other firms, and usually just mention my genuine reasons for having/not having used it - i.e. if I felt like it would compromise the authenticity of my application answers. In one where I did mention using it I talked through which parts I used it for and how but then made sure to make it clear my use of AI was limited - I had made it through a few stages of a vac scheme last year that I was reapplying for so described using ChatGPT to create a checklist against which I could compare using my application this year to last year's successful one to make sure I was ticking the same boxes and making it stronger. My answer was around 100 word ish but not sure if expectations are different per firm. Hope that helps!

 

[Lawlawland]

Has anyone heard from Cleary WVS?

They replied to my mail saying that now they're receiving all of the WGT scores (as most people were given time to do it until today), and will shortly be in touch with the outcome.

Best to anticipate it in 2 to 5 days time!

 

[Harvey Specter]

if i got ABB at A level but graduated from a RG uni with a 1st (non-law degree but traditional subject). what firms are worth applying for that have AAB requirements? i don’t want to waste anymore applications on a firm that might not take me because of it.

I’m not sure whether this will be applicable to VS or DTC applications necessarily, simply because of how competitive they are, but there are a few firms which seem more willing to consider applicants who marginally miss their A-level criteria. I also achieved ABB in my A-levels and graduated with a very high 2:1 in law from a RG uni. This cycle, I secured competitive open days with Weil, Hogan Lovells and Goodwin (all ask for AAB). I secured selective open days with Skadden, Willkie, Reed Smith and Cooley with these grades too. Whilst not selective open days, I went to Akin, Dechert, Mayer Brown, Jones Day and Travers Smith, who seemed flexible with their approach to A-levels.

I believe Akin Gump, Skadden, Willkie, Milbank, Davis Polk and Ropes & Gray have removed their A-level requirements entirely. Outside of US law firms, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, HSF Kramer, Macfarlanes and BCLP do not have minimum A-levels requirements either. I think in any case, A- level requirements are more of a guide for firms, as opposed to being a strict cut off. For example some firms use rare recruitment so consider the contextual information behind grades. So even if you don’t meet the requirements, you can still be considered for VS and/or DTC. I know people who got TCs with White & Case with ABB-BBB. I think firms look at everything holistically.​

 

[coolwizard22]

Jones Day WVS

 

[JasmineM9]

Anyone heard from W&C today? (Post-app)

 

[msclm]

PW WVS <3

 

[chiichii]

PW WVS <3

Huge!!!! Congrats 😊😊