TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Lawlawland]

Does anyone have any advice as to how to balance applications with uni? I have submitted 2 VS so far, I am behind a few lectures, and I haven't even started my coursework due next week. I also have another coursework on December and one in early Jan worth 100% of my modules. The prob is that most SVS applications, especially the rolling ones, close that time. I was at first aiming for 15 law firms, but now Idk if I can make 5 apps!

Hey!
I understand how chaotic application season gets, especially when both the deadlines pile up. I would like to share a few practicea that genuinely helped me stay sane amidst the chaos:

For applications:
1. I made a full list of firms, their deadlines, what appealed to me, and whether they were rolling. It helped me narrow my list down to around 15–25 firms and prioritise the important ones first.
2. I handled all the long answer questions together. I logged into every portal at once, pulled out the long-answer questions, and put them all into Obsidian (notion like platform) so I could draft offline. Then I grouped similar questions and slowly built pointers for each over 2-4 weeks, usually on my phone on the Tube or while eating, just like chatting. By the end, I had a strong content bank that only needed tailoring for each firm. I didn't have to think or brainstorm much when applying, as that took the most time for me tbh.
3. I dealt with all the admin sections together too. I grouped applications by platform (AllHires, Vantage, CVMail, SmartRecruiters) and filled in all the basic, repetitive info across multiple tabs at once. On days when I didn’t feel like writing answers, I used that time to complete these sections so they weren’t a chore later.

Doing everything in small, manageable pieces made the whole process so much easier. And because I spaced it out, it never clashed with my academic work.

Academics:
I broke big tasks into simple steps too... one day to brainstorm, one day to plan the structure, another to draft one section, another to refine it, and so on.

Distinctions mattered to me, so I didn’t let application stress take over. I even skipped a few applications when they clashed with my immediate priority (that crucial 70+).

Whenever I felt torn, I asked myself one simple question:
“What will I regret more in five years, missing an application or missing a distinction because I didn’t focus enough?”
For me, the answer was always the latter. That question helped me decide what to prioritise, and it's a useful trick whenever you’re conflicted. I hope that helps you to prioritise what matters to you.

Wishing you the best ♥️

 

[legal18]

For video interviews where you have two minutes to speak, how many points do people recommend making?

 

[p2bv]

anyone heard from bird and bird post VI

 

[lawstudent2]

Sorry about your rejections - these are always quite difficult.

I think firstly, it is important to note that rejections are inevitable in this process even for 1st class graduates and applicants with strong work experience. As such, it is important to understand that the rejection does not always reflect on your grades or written application responses. Secondly, it would be good to maybe revisit your answers and see whether they are extremely tailored to the firm, have you had interactions with the firm, work experiences that link to the firm, and if your work experience sections are detailed and highlights transferable skills.

As you have gotten to Acs before and you are progressing through test stages with other firms, I wouldn't be too worried in these instances. Different firms focus on different parts of the application and its not always quite easy to understand what these factors are.

In light of this, keep your chin up and keep applying! Best of luck.

Thanks for the kind response, I think it just surprised me to not even get past the initial sift (I am v used to rejections post test, having had about half my applications rejected so far but these were v quick)
Appreciate the advice tho and I will definitely have a good look over them

 

[Bob142]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

 

[whywhy88]

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu do either of you have any advice on how to approach this question for DLA Piper? 'Describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions?'. I'm unsure whether to mention a legal event/scheme or whether it has to be outside of this and more personal (though I'm not sure anything in my personal life has done much to shape my motivation for a career in law!😂)

 

[ali-k]

macfarlanes summer VS , thank you @Abbie Whitlock your advice on preparing before my AC genuinely helped a lot

 

[Chriss]

anyone heard from mayer brown after the first stage assesement and video interview?

 

[Prudentia]

I had a DTC interview at Slaughters last week and my application has now changed from 'under consideration' to 'interview confirmed'. My references haven't heard either - should I lose hope

I always assume I'm still in the running until I've heard otherwise.

 

[Prudentia]

Does anyone have any advice, in the last 24 hours I have been rejected from Reed Smith and DLA Piper post application (so didn't even get the test for either) and both rejections were received within a week of me applying.

I'm not really sure what to make of it as I've gotten to ACs before and am progressing thru test stages with other firms. My weakest part of my app is my grades but they both say they take a 2.1 and I thought they were strong applications, maybe I was too late idk.


Any advice on this as I am struggling to move past these rejections since I don't really know what to learn from it/what I shld have done differently.

I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling low. Unfortunately, rejection is just part of the game. Having been on both sides of the recruiting table, you can do everything right and still not get the job. Getting a rejection doesn't always mean you're a weak candidate. TCs/VSs are highly competitive, and there is a huge element of subjectivity and luck that goes into deciding who progresses.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Does anyone have any advice, in the last 24 hours I have been rejected from Reed Smith and DLA Piper post application (so didn't even get the test for either) and both rejections were received within a week of me applying.

I'm not really sure what to make of it as I've gotten to ACs before and am progressing thru test stages with other firms. My weakest part of my app is my grades but they both say they take a 2.1 and I thought they were strong applications, maybe I was too late idk.


Any advice on this as I am struggling to move past these rejections since I don't really know what to learn from it/what I shld have done differently.

Hello!

I'm really sorry to hear about the rejections - it is an incredibly competitive process, and sometimes really good candidates unfortunately don't make it to the next stage because the competition is so high. As you have stated you have gotten to ACs / test stages before, it may have been that it wasn't a good fit at this time - it's important to remember that you'll end up at the firm that is the best suited to you

I thought I would just add my thoughts on this as an SQE intern in the Reed Smith early careers team - to confirm, we do simply check that you are on track for / have achieved a 2:1 (even if this isn't in all modules), so your grades wouldn't have played a factor in the decision (for Reed Smith).

One thing I would really recommend is making sure that your application answers clearly demonstrate research into the firm - not just what they do, but why those things matter to you personally. Make your motivations really specific and genuine rather than general, and tie in your previous experiences, hobbies, and overall interests. It also helps you back up every point you make with a concrete example. If you say you're interested in a particular practice area, mention a deal, initiative, or piece of work that shows you actually understand it - but focus on showing how your previous experiences made you interest in this kind of work. I would also try to link your skills and experiences directly to what the firm is looking for, such as the traits and qualities that they highlight on their website.

Strengthening those elements and ensuring your application is super tailored can make a big difference in standing out, even when the competition is this tough.

Wishing you all the best this cycle

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

For video interviews where you have two minutes to speak, how many points do people recommend making?

Hey!

It really depends on the question, but as a general rule I wouldn't try to cram in too much. For questions such as "Why Law?" or "Why this firm", I always used to aim for around 2-3 well-developed points. This usually gives you enough space to explain each one properly and back it up with an example, rather than rushing through a long list. It also helps to practice in advance (for the more common questions) so you know how much you are able to fit in the time frame, which avoids you running out of time when you go to record.

Quality over quantity tends to come across much better, particularly for a short 2-minute video interview answer

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu do either of you have any advice on how to approach this question for DLA Piper? 'Describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions?'. I'm unsure whether to mention a legal event/scheme or whether it has to be outside of this and more personal (though I'm not sure anything in my personal life has done much to shape my motivation for a career in law!😂)

Hello!

You don't have to use something deeply personal if nothing in your personal life has directly shaped your motivation - a legal experience can absolutely work, as long as you make it specific to you and reflective.

The key with this question is to pick one concrete example (legal or non-legal) and then focus on:

1. What exactly happened
2. What you realised or learned from it
3. How that insight shaped your motivation or ambition going forward.

If a legal event, scheme, or piece of work genuinely shaped something for you - e.g. clarified what type of work you enjoy, showed you the impact lawyers can have, or helped you see where you fit - then I'd say that's perfectly valid! I would just avoid making it sound like a generic "I did this scheme so now I want to be a lawyer", and make sure that you add a personal element so it is specific to you and your experiences.

If you did want to pick something outside of law, it doesn't need to be a major experience. Even a small experience (such as a responsibility you had, a challenge you solved, or something that made you realise you enjoy problem-solving) can work if you explain the link clearly.

I would try not to overthink it (easier said than done, I know!) - choose the experience that genuinely gave you the clearest insight into why law fits you, and build your answer around that.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with your application!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

macfarlanes summer VS , thank you @Abbie Whitlock your advice on preparing before my AC genuinely helped a lot

This is amazing news (and has made my Saturday night!) - huge congratulations!! I hope you celebrate well, and you should be super proud 🥳

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

I'm not able to find the link to apply for Clifford Chance's London VS - just the Direct TC? Is anyone else having the same issue?

 

[lawyersum]

does anyone know where the how to write successful applications with osborne clarke event recording is? i can only seem to find the reed smith one.

 

[ayiiii05]

i completely bombed the weil test and vi😭 i actually just have to laugh at this point, after each question i shook my head not because the content was bad but the mind blanks and stuttering were not cute at all

edit: did freshfields and ... idk whats going on today im normally pretty good at vis and i was prepared omg

 

[Prudentia]

I'm not able to find the link to apply for Clifford Chance's London VS - just the Direct TC? Is anyone else having the same issue?

I couldn’t find it either. I assumed applications for them aren’t open, so I’m applying for the DTC.

 

[RJ Ruban]

does anyone have any tips for the VI - I feel like that’s my weakest point right now. How can I prepare for questions and is there a certain structure that I should use?

 

[yk1906]

The thing with VIs is that the questions are sometimes unpredictable. I once applied for an internship at an IB and got asked, "If it weren't [insert sport], what sport would we sponsor?"

Loooooooool