TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[lawyersum]

Kind of insane that they’re offering places before the open day has even taken place

At a law fair grad rec said that waiting for the open day is not a good strategy since they take so few people on it anyway...then lowkey just get rid of the open day at this point its madness

 

[Snickerdoodlesolicitor]

Baker McKenzie open day invite and CC insight day PFO 🌟

Congrats on Bakers open day!! may I ask which one you applied for?

 

[llblawstudent]

Anyone heard anything for Simmons ai vac scheme?

 

[GiveMeTC2026]

Hello!

That has potential to be a good example! To make it stand out, make sure you clearly explain how and why this was an ambitious goal. For instance, improving commercial awareness takes sustained effort over time, especially where you are taking the initiative to organise discussions and lead sessions outside your studies.

You could explain that your goal was to develop a deeper, more practical understanding of commercial issues (something that many students find difficult to maintain consistently), and then explain how you pushed yourself (i.e. setting up the Whatsapp group).

Make sure you also show the outcome - how your confident or analytical ability improved, or how it helped you perform better in interviews or applications. That way, you are demonstrating ambition and drive, and linking these to tangible results.

I hope that helps!

Thank you this is really helpful and it is really helpful. I agree with you about explaining why. Just a follow up would you say including figures help to make it a stronger answer.

 

[Lawlawland]

Anyone heard anything for Simmons ai vac scheme?

When I met them this week, they said they'll make decisions only around the deadline, as this is new and they're evaluating the kind of applications and interests people display.

Thay said, they're offering around 8 seats for this!

 

[c.t.tc]

When I met them this week, they said they'll make decisions only around the deadline, as this is new and they're evaluating the kind of applications and interests people display.

Thay said, they're offering around 8 seats for this!

Did they give you any insights into how they were structuring rolling out ACs for the usual vac scheme?

 

[JBM]

Kind of insane that they’re offering places before the open day has even taken place

open day is for first years vac scheme for second and third i would assume is their logic

 

[Lawlawland]

Did they give you any insights into how they were structuring rolling out ACs for the usual vac scheme?

I didn't question anything on that, as you can only apply to one and I am choosing the AI internship 🙈

 

[Bread]

At a law fair grad rec said that waiting for the open day is not a good strategy since they take so few people on it anyway...then lowkey just get rid of the open day at this point its madness

The way certain firms manage recruitment makes me wonder how dare they think I’m not good enough for them 😂😂

 

[Harvey Specter]

Cleary Gottlieb WVS PFO​

 

[c.t.tc]

I didn't question anything on that, as you can only apply to one and I am choosing the AI internship 🙈

No worries! Was just wondering

 

[silonthesofa]

When I met them this week, they said they'll make decisions only around the deadline, as this is new and they're evaluating the kind of applications and interests people display.

Thay said, they're offering around 8 seats for this!

Did they by any chance indicate if this leads to potentially receiving a training contract? I've been meaning to get in touch with them about it because it's not immediately clear if it's just an AI themed vacation scheme with the intention of leading to a standard type of training contract or if it potentially leads to some other kind of job route that does not necessarily follow the SQE route.

 

[c.t.tc]

The way certain firms manage recruitment makes me wonder how dare they think I’m not good enough for them 😂😂

I personally love a good typo in an APPLICATION FORM when god knows a typo from us would get the whole application binned

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Cleary PFO. Lol, 6 PFOs already this cycle- Covington WVS, Willkie, Latham Open day, Ashurst WVS, A&OS WVS, Cleary

 

[lawyersum]

The way certain firms manage recruitment makes me wonder how dare they think I’m not good enough for them 😂😂

I personally love a good typo in an APPLICATION FORM when god knows a typo from us would get the whole application binned

I know right😂😂Another incident - I was at a law fair and asked one member of a grad rec team about a certain question on an application form and she said she didn’t know what the questions were and couldn’t help😭😭You have one job!!!!

 

[Lawlawland]

Did they by any chance indicate if this leads to potentially receiving a training contract? I've been meaning to get in touch with them about it because it's not immediately clear if it's just an AI themed vacation scheme with the intention of leading to a standard type of training contract or if it potentially leads to some other kind of job route that does not necessarily follow the SQE route.

Yes, they have 3 potential paths, given we perform really well:
1. If we wanna continue in the legal tech space, they'll note us as priority when a role opena up and reach out and hire us directly.
2. If we wanna take the solicitor path, and if we wanna do a vac scheme for exposure, or if they think they wanna know us better before offering a trainee contract , they'll send us to the Vacation scheme AC, where we meet other direct applicants in the pool, same process.
3. Highly unlikely, but if they're satisfied with our work, they'll put us on a direct trainee contract assessment centre (where we again have to meet the people in the pool).

Long story short, this would not be a short cut to VS/TC, and you still have to get through another assessment centre and filtering, despite the 2 week internship.

 

[llblawstudent]

When I met them this week, they said they'll make decisions only around the deadline, as this is new and they're evaluating the kind of applications and interests people display.

Thay said, they're offering around 8 seats for this!

Did they give any indication as to whether the process was the same as the usual vac schemes? Eg AC after tests?

 

[GiveMeTC2026]

Fieldfisher pfo post test. The most annoying test I have ever done. They have a diversity scheme but their test is the opposite like 1 second to click on 2 options.

 

[silonthesofa]

Yes, they have 3 potential paths, given we perform really well:
1. If we wanna continue in the legal tech space, they'll note us as priority when a role opena up and reach out and hire us directly.
2. If we wanna take the solicitor path, and if we wanna do a vac scheme for exposure, or if they think they wanna know us better before offering a trainee contract , they'll send us to the Vacation scheme AC, where we meet other direct applicants in the pool, same process.
3. Highly unlikely, but if they're satisfied with our work, they'll put us on a direct trainee contract assessment centre (where we again have to meet the people in the pool).

Long story short, this would not be a short cut to VS/TC, and you still have to get through another assessment centre and filtering, despite the 2 week internship.

Thank you so much for the reply! That's really helpful. Although I have to say, I don't really see the point then of doing it... not sure about the idea of a direct TC assessment centre either given that they don't accept applications for direct TCs, so surely they don't make their vac schemers then go through an additional assessment centre after having been there for a couple of weeks...

I kind of get the feeling they haven't figured out yet what they want to do with this exactly.

 

[Mikeross750]

Fieldfisher pfo post test. The most annoying test I have ever done. They have a diversity scheme but their test is the opposite like 1 second to click on 2 options.

Is this for the Pathways to Practice? Could you please say when you submitted your application and how long it took for you to get an invite for the test?