TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[e_turbo2]

How long did it take for you to hear back after receiving feedback from SJT please?

3 weeks!

 

[futuretrainee101ac]

3 weeks!

Thank you !

 

[Amgrad]

I applied to my best firms first this cycle and I regret that. What this meant is that, I have used my best firms as a trial and error training ground and ofc gotten the PFOs. Now I am a stronger candidate, both in written apps and interviews which means I am progressing further with firms I'm not hugely in love with. Anyways, the game goes on. Happy Friday...

It reminds me when applying to College, I applied early admission to Stanford and got rejected. Then I got other ivy schools which I don't put on Top 3. Yet, I chose non ivy either because I got full scholarship despite the ranks drop huge. As a foreign student who came from low income and first gen university I take that as pride and shows my capability.

You don't know where you can thrive and destiny carry you. I advise you to keep go on!

 

[abc124]

Dreading the Reed smith VI, anybody who's done it - was it really hard?

Dw it’s not bad and there’s unlimited prep time!!

 

[lolololol]

Jones day Interview invite, any tips / advice / insight would be really appreciated please!!!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Dw it’s not bad and there’s unlimited prep time!!

Thank you!

 

[abc124]

Thank you!

Also it’s mostly scenario-based if that’s of any help!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Also it’s mostly scenario-based if that’s of any help!

It is!!! You're a gem❤️❤️

 

[JBM]

Anyone heard back from W&C re winter scheme? Ready for a rejection 🥹

offers went out in the last 2 weeks

 

[jojo23]

Reed smith pfo while on holiday... duolingo didn't teach me enough swear words for this😤

 

[YS391]

Reed smith pfo while on holiday... duolingo didn't teach me enough swear words for this😤

Sorry to hear that. Post app or test?

 

[e_turbo2]

PFOs post AC are just a completely different type of PFO ... iykyk

 

[shadowboxer909]

Are there alternatives if you don't secure a training contract but want to be a lawyer at a Big Law firm?

I know there are some law firms like Baker McKenzie that hire tax accountants to be fee earners and I've seen two people become lawyers that way. But it does mean you would have to specialize in tax law. Does anyone know how easy it would be to move from tax law to another specialty?

Senior Tax Associate | Careers | Baker McKenzie

The Senior Tax Associate will be given the opportunity to lead as part of a team on a very wide range of both domestic and international tax projects. ...

www.bakermckenzie.com

 

[lelezb1]

I’m packing for my vacation and suddenly remembered that in my Gibson application I never addressed it to the grad rec and didn’t even sign off with ‘Yours faithfully.’ A whole week later.
My brain really chose violence today.

 

[Donuttime]

Any tips for the Pinsent Masons blended assessment please?

 

[tcla02]

does anyone know NRF cover letter's word limit? @Ram Sabaratnam @Abbie Whitlock

 

[firmfirm]

Is Osborne Clarke’s online verbal reasoning test and deductive reasoning test timed?

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

does anyone know NRF cover letter's word limit? @Ram Sabaratnam @Abbie Whitlock

Hello!

I don't believe there is a word limit for the cover letter this year! In practice, I would aim to write around 750 words (as I believe that is what the limit was in previous years), but there is definitely some flexibility to write a little more or less than that

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

For DLA Piper's question, describe a specific personal experience that shaped your motivation to pursue a legal career. How has this influenced your career ambitions, my draft is based on a vacation scheme experience, but would that be considered a personal experience? I might be overthinking it here, but are they asking for an experience outside of work (extracurriculars or leadership positions)?

Hello!

I would say that a vacation scheme can absolutely count as a personal experience, as long as you describe it in a way that shows how it genuinely shaped your motivation and direction.

In this context, "personal" doesn't have to mean outside of work or extracurriculars - it just means an experience that you had that has had a meaningful impact on you. If something from your VS helped crystallise your interest in law, exposed you to a type of work or client that you hadn't appreciated before, or made you realise what kind of lawyer you want to become, that's valid and often stronger than something more detached.

The key is to make sure that you show:

• What happened and why it stood out to you
• What it taught you about the reality of legal work
• How it influenced your ambitions going forward.

If you can do all of the above, it won't matter that the example came from a professional setting - it will still read as personal and reflective.

Therefore, I would still stick with your VS example if it's the one that genuinely shaped your motivations. It'll likely be more compelling than something chosen just to feel "personal" for the sake of it.

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

 

[aschi23]

What can I expect from Mischon chat interview? is it written and then VI? Or what is the spiel? Very confused!!

Set out for wayyyy more time than they say (it took me almost 3 hours). Starting questions are the same for everyone and mainly behavioural / competency, but then as you answer they all change for each candidate so no real way to prepare your answers. The AI interview is all written (unless you wanna send them audio notes lol) and then 1 final VI, 1 min to prep, 1 min to answer (cant take it twice and no preparation question). My advice - make a doc of all your experiences and the skills/values they taught you, but dont bother pre-writing out answers because that's what I did and just wasted hours of my time. Good luck!!!!