TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[lawstudent2]

Does the mishcon test have a VI or is it all typing based? Am trying to see if I can do it in the library

 

[jojo23]

Starting the day strong with Cms dtc pfo before I even woke up 🤡

 

[c.t.tc]

Starting the day strong with Cms dtc pfo before I even woke up 🤡

Actually blows my mind that firms seem so able to send PFOs on weekends and outside of working hours but can't possibly give us any updates for about 4 months at a time

 

[jojo23]

Actually blows my mind that firms seem so able to send PFOs on weekends and outside of working hours but can't possibly give us any updates for about 4 months at a time

If a firm is sending us emails at such obscure times, it probably tells us all we need to know about their work life balance. Maybe we dodged a bullet🤔

 

[LaDiva]

Any else still waiting

Hi,

For open Day application at law firm with strong private wealth practice.

Is it safe to mention Russia on my essay? I know when I worked 3 years ago at the UN the sanction just started to be lifted.

I recently read in 2025 sources that countries where wealth offshores are mostly happening and where self made millionaire (not inheritance) are born. Russia is on top of both list, followed by China and the UK.

But I also saw competitors like BCLP and HSF Kramer got fined and shuttered their offices because of serving Russian clients and managing related transactions within that country. Surprisingly I heard rumours that Unilever still operate in Russia this day?

I just wondering whether the ban has been loosened or getting tighter instead. If so, then I must remove and just mention the next on the list like Indonesia and Turkiye. These countries are also part of emerging markets, geopolitically neutral and where exactly this law firm has offices.

That's some interesting insight! I'm also interested in firms with a strong private wealth practice area. Other than firms' own websites, which websites do you use to keep expand your knowledge? I use thoughtleaders4.com, they sometimes do free webinars on private wealth

 

[Dogecoin GC]

CC, Dechert, GD open days updates?

Anything from Willkie Farr post-VI yet?

Weil - any updates post application stage?

 

[nonlawstudent98]

White & Case interview day and I'm bricking it! Does anyone have any tips for calming nerves considering my interview only takes place later this afternoon?

 

[Dogecoin GC]

White & Case interview day and I'm bricking it! Does anyone have any tips for calming nerves considering my interview only takes place later this afternoon?

Did their interview two years ago. Just be familiar with their values. Also following task instructions really help. Cover yourself on the screen, IMHO. It can help reduce the distractions.

 

[Trophy]

CC, Dechert, GD open days updates?

Anything from Willkie Farr post-VI yet?

Weil - any updates post application stage?

Nothing from Weil I applied 12/10

Willkie WE invite couple weeks ago

 

[Dogecoin GC]

Nothing from Weil I applied 12/10

Willkie WE invite couple weeks ago

Cool both of those make sense.

Waited util attending he open day.

Same for Weil, applying just after.

 

[Lawlawland]

Latham Open day PFO.
Now I can peacefully attend Reed Smith Open Day the same day 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

 

[Amgrad]

Any else still waiting

That's some interesting insight! I'm also interested in firms with a strong private wealth practice area. Other than firms' own websites, which websites do you use to keep expand your knowledge? I use thoughtleaders4.com, they sometimes do free webinars on private wealth

Hey, I worked at Venture Capital and Small Investment Banking before which handled hedge fund clients, startup, and family office.

For up-to-date sources, I am following venture capitalists on LinkedIn.

And for data sources like self made vs inheritance millionaire they cited from Voronoi: https://www.voronoiapp.com/money/Self-Made-vs-Inherited-Wealth-5655

Or the outflows and inflows of wealth https://www.voronoiapp.com/wealth/UK-Faces-92B-in-Millionaire-Wealth-Outflows-in-2025--6665

You can also check MSCI, WTO, World Bank for the emerging market trends. Post the due diligence last year, I made a diagram venn below:

 

[lawschool123]

Cleary AC! Would really appreciate it if anyone who has done the AC recently could PM me.

 

[Lawlawland]

Can I sign my name in the Cover Letter for Travers Smith (despite it being pasted in the vantage platform)?

Or should I keep it free of any person identity?

 

[Vakil]

Can I sign my name in the Cover Letter for Travers Smith (despite it being pasted in the vantage platform)?

Or should I keep it free of any person identity?

I got an interview for TC last week, and in the Cover Letter, I signed my name at the bottom. I hope that helps you.

 

[manifestingthetc]

ugh! my 4th cycle it is bleak out here

 

[routetotrainingcontract]

Is this for the WVS?

yeah 😔

 

[Andrei Radu]

White & Case interview day and I'm bricking it! Does anyone have any tips for calming nerves considering my interview only takes place later this afternoon?

Two things helped me a lot when trying to calm nerves before (and during)my interviews:

Firstly, instead of going in with a mindset that you need to showcase exceptional brilliance to succeed instead of other strong candidates, go in with the mindset that all you need to get through is to simply score well in all the assessment criteria. I think a lot of candidates put unnecessary pressure on themselves to prove some incredible ability or skill in one are or another, as they imagine this kind of thing is the only aspect that can pull them apart from an already incredibly skilled crowd. Nonetheless, what I observed in practice is that the people focusing on "knocking the ball out of the park" tended to stress themselves out too much and would end up tripping themselves up. Thus, they would not score well at all in one or more assessment criteria, and would be rejected for this reason. If you instead have an attitude that you should avoid making big mistakes and should simply focus on answering each question well and being an all-around good candidate, you will not as constantly be mentally criticising yourself for not having done better, which will allow you to relax more and focus on the next question.

Secondly, I would advise you to slow down when speaking and to use silence strategically: when in an interview, your nerves naturally cause your heartbeat to increase and thus you are put in a bit of a "fight or flight" mindset, which can make you react quickly (and hastily) to questions. This can:

1. Make you speak really fast, which reduces the clarity of your speech (as it simply requires more processing power and concentration from the other side to make out what you are saying) and makes you appear less articulate (when speaking quickly, you will more often find yourself stumbling mid sentence for loss of words and have to reformulate because you have not had enough time to find the right initial formulation).
2. Make you not consider the substance of your answer enough: In rushing to answer a question immediately, people often end up basing their discussion on the first thought that comes to mind, which can often not be the best one. Then, having started this way, it is difficult to retract and reformulate even if they realise they went wrong 20-30 seconds in.

To avoid these issues, my advice is to (i) consciously bring down the pace of your speech, (ii) take 2-3 second strategic breaks during your answer (particularly when in-between points) to consider how to structure and formulate the next part of your answer; and (iii) generally, take at least 5-10 seconds before you start answering a new question to make up a "mental plan" as to what you will say. If you take these steps, it should improve both the substance of your points and the form they are expressed in, and, more importantly, it will likely have a positive loop effect (if you slow down and take breaks, you will both appear more composed, but also cause yourself to actually become more composed and experience less "flight or fight" emotions, effects that will reinforce one another).

 

[user9809]

I got an interview for TC last week, and in the Cover Letter, I signed my name at the bottom. I hope that helps you.

When did you apply? I thought they were non rolling

 

[JBM]

Would it be worth reaching out to grad rec if no updates by today.

Im in the same boat. rejections have gone out so maybe they are comparing and waitlisting. Let me know what they say should you reach out