TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Amgrad]

Wrap up from Legal Cheek Law Fair today 🎉:

• Clifford Chance: They didn't attend the booth though it's advertised
• Gibson Dunn: All invites for Open Day have been sent, even though it's virtual, it's competitive and if you don't get the invite, that means PFO, but don't discourage to apply VS.
• A&O Shearman: DTC result will be announced in next/second week of December and AC will be held a week before Christmas. There is an option for Virtual AC for international candidates outside of the UK, but not for those in holiday.
• Kirkland & Ellis: Recruitment is almost the same as previous year, they don't set the fixed date scheme yet and encourage international students to apply VS and will be happy to offer DTC if its VC cancelled again or unable to attend VS due to work/college commitment.
• Morgan Lewis: Same as Kirkland, the dates have not been set yet, but allow candidates to reapply to DTC if unsuccessful in the VS app stage in the same cycle.
• Slaughter & May: Grade thresholds are fixed, they will prioritise to screen first those who submitted app with breakdown of module and attach final transcript or unofficial one.
• Charles Russell Speechlys: Open Day invites have not been shared yet for both In-person and virtual! Good news for us as they will send it as early as this Friday depending on your chosen date.
• Travers Smith: They will finalise the 2027 DTC and VS app first, then start reviewing 2028 DTC next year after the deadline. They'll happily sponsor visa for VS, and allow to reapply to 2028 DTC if failed in the app stage for VS this cycle, but if failed in 2027 DTC, you can't reapply for 2028 in the same cycle.
• Fried Frank: App is not open yet and it's Non-rolling, you have plenty of time to apply.
• Eversheds Sutherland: DTC conversion rate is around 33%, last year 25 came from VS, among them 10 in London. There's VI after app no SJT/WG
• MoFo, Dentons, Ashurst, Greenberg, AG, Baker McKenzie: Run out of time, it was supposed to be 4 hours fair, but due to rescheduling seems to be 2 hours only (Happy to share here if you were attending their booths, please!)

 

[Trophy]

Yes, so for Kirkland you submit your written application (there are 5 questions this year, all ranging from 200-400 words). If you’re successful, they’ll invite you to complete their VI. If you pass that, you’ll be invited to their first AC, and if you do well there, you’ll move on to the final AC. From what I’ve been told (I know someone who reached the final stage last year), the first AC includes a Q&A where you’re in a group speaking with partners, and a group exercise, both of which are assessed. The final AC includes a written exercise and an interview with partners. I call it an “AC,” but I think they refer to theirs as assessment/insight days, but don’t be fooled, they’re definitely still assessed.

Please don’t take my word as gospel though, because they seem to change the process slightly each year (for example, in previous years you had to submit a CL, but that was removed this year). But overall, that’s the general structure. Hope that helps!

You’re a star! Thanks

 

[Bread]

• Gibson Dunn: All invites for Open Day have been sent, even though it's virtual, it's competitive and if you don't get the invite, that means PFO, but don't discourage to apply VS

Ngl the recruitment at that firm is really putting me off applying cause wdym i have to write an entire cover letter for an open day (which takes place after you’ve already offered vacation scheme places!!!) and you don’t even respect me enough to send a rejection

 

[Amgrad]

Ngl the recruitment at that firm is really putting me off applying cause wdym i have to write an entire cover letter for an open day (which takes place after you’ve already offered vacation scheme places!!!) and you don’t even respect me enough to send a rejection

Yeah ikr, they don't send a PFO email for open day. Some asked here before so that just made it clear, maybe a red flag.

 

[Andrei Radu]

Dear @Andrei Radu, the Davis Polk cover letter states "Please include your cover letter in the space provided below. Within your cover letter please include why you are specifically interested in Davis Polk, why you are attracted to the work that we carry out, and the skills that you have developed that would contribute towards your success in the role." How do you think we should go about structuring it, and should we still mention why commercial law (as in typical cover letters)?

I have no specific insider knowledge about what the firm expects candidates to write about in the cover letter, but I think it is quite likely that you would not be expected to discuss an interest in commercial law that goes beyond the kind of work the firm does in London. Firstly, a general rule you should stick to in figuring out how to approach an answer is to start from the literal interpretation of the question as formulated by the firm. Under the natural meaning of the language used, a broad "why commercial law" answer would be beyond the scope of the prompt, and I have been told by recruiters on many occasions that a mistake candidates often make is to look beyond what they are asked and read into it things that are not there. Secondly, the particular wording the firm used is substantially different from how most other firms formulate their requests for a cover letter, which again I generally assume reflects a conscious choice to change scope rather than an oversight.

As for a general structure, there is no right or wrong approach; but if I was applying to the firm today, I would probably go for something like this:

1. Paragraph 1: I would explain the less strictly work-related aspects of Davis Polk that attract me, and connect these points with relevant experiences and motivations (i.e. training culture, growth in London, global strategy, history and reputation, etc)
2. Paragraph 2: I would explain why I am interested in the work done in Davis Polk's main practice areas in London, illustrating my claimed interests with concrete examples from my experiences; I would also aim to showcase my understanding of what makes Davis Polk strong in these areas in the market.
3. Paragraph 3: I would draft this as a normal "why me" section describing my relevant skills and connecting them with experience; the only particular way I would deviate from the way I normally write it is to perhaps explain why my skills are particularly useful for the kind of work done in Davis Polk's practice areas, rather than those of any other commercial law firm.

 

[co1004co]

Just got an email saying I passed the WG for DLA, they said they will be shortlisting from those that have made it this far and be in touch in due course, anyone else heard back yet?

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

To everyone that received a DLA wg, how long did it take for you to receive the test post-app? Submitted my application on the deadline so just wondering what to expect.

 

[LRR23]

Does anyone have an updated list of which law firms are using the WG for this cycle?

 

[co1004co]

To everyone that received a DLA wg, how long did it take for you to receive the test post-app? Submitted my application on the deadline so just wondering what to expect.

i submitted my app 11/11 and got invited 22/11 then heard back today that i was successful

 

[jojo23]

Does anyone have an updated list of which law firms are using the WG for this cycle?

Too many.


Assume they all do and be pleasantly surprised when they don't.

 

[panda1989]

Wrap up from Legal Cheek Law Fair today 🎉:

• Clifford Chance: They didn't attend the booth though it's advertised
• Gibson Dunn: All invites for Open Day have been sent, even though it's virtual, it's competitive and if you don't get the invite, that means PFO, but don't discourage to apply VS.
• A&O Shearman: DTC result will be announced in next/second week of December and AC will be held a week before Christmas. There is an option for Virtual AC for international candidates outside of the UK, but not for those in holiday.
• Kirkland & Ellis: Recruitment is almost the same as previous year, they don't set the fixed date scheme yet and encourage international students to apply VS and will be happy to offer DTC if its VC cancelled again or unable to attend VS due to work/college commitment.
• Morgan Lewis: Same as Kirkland, the dates have not been set yet, but allow candidates to reapply to DTC if unsuccessful in the VS app stage in the same cycle.
• Slaughter & May: Grade thresholds are fixed, they will prioritise to screen first those who submitted app with breakdown of module and attach final transcript or unofficial one.
• Charles Russell Speechlys: Open Day invites have not been shared yet for both In-person and virtual! Good news for us as they will send it as early as this Friday depending on your chosen date.
• Travers Smith: They will finalise the 2027 DTC and VS app first, then start reviewing 2028 DTC next year after the deadline. They'll happily sponsor visa for VS, and allow to reapply to 2028 DTC if failed in the app stage for VS this cycle, but if failed in 2027 DTC, you can't reapply for 2028 in the same cycle.
• Fried Frank: App is not open yet and it's Non-rolling, you have plenty of time to apply.
• Eversheds Sutherland: DTC conversion rate is around 33%, last year 25 came from VS, among them 10 in London. There's VI after app no SJT/WG
• MoFo, Dentons, Ashurst, Greenberg, AG, Baker McKenzie: Run out of time, it was supposed to be 4 hours fair, but due to rescheduling seems to be 2 hours only (Happy to share here if you were attending their booths, please!)

hey just a bit confused - i sent off my slaughters with just my grade breakdowns on the education section of the app, was i meant to attach a transcript??

 

[Andrei Radu]

i just got my freshfields stage 1 results back, top strength: we thrive as a team; thriving under pressure and delivering extraordinary outcomes. less developed skills: challenging ourselves and embraching transformation. Really concerned I'm not going to progress to stage 2, am i cooked?

Hi @SemperParatus I would not be too worried about this. The very nature of many of these tests necessitates there will be one area that is classified as a 'weakness' - that does not tell you about how close you are to the firm's overall desired personality profile. If anything, I would be tempted to speculate that if there was one area of the ones you mentioned where scoring lower would likely be less relevant, it would be "embracing transformation". While a focus on innovation and change is something many firms now focus on in their marketing strategy, from my conversations with lawyer about the day to day life of a trainee (and even a junior associate) it does not play a huge role.

 

[ttlaw12344]

is there any point even applying to Skadden if you go to a RG uni but not an Oxford?Cambridge/ top London Uni lol

 

[Harvey Specter]

is there any point even applying to Skadden if you go to a RG uni but not an Oxford?Cambridge/ top London Uni lol

I got into their open day and went to a RG uni not in London or Oxbridge. I asked them about it and they encouraged me to apply for the VS. Wonder if they were just being nice though. 🥲​

 

[Andrei Radu]

hi all, when mentioning a transactions in an application how far back are we allowed to go? Would it be safe to say that transactions completed 3 years ago is improper to mention?

There is no clear consensus on this point from what I am aware, and I expect this is an issue that can depend significantly on the particular recruiter's opinion and on the context of the points you are making (i.e. if you are making points that could have easily been connected to many more recent transactions, it is more likely that graduate recruiters will not like the fact you chose to discuss an older deal). Nonetheless, I have never heard about recruiters complaining about transactions that took place 3 years ago. Personally, if I were to draw a line for a general "safe to discuss zone" I would say to not go back more than 5 years.

 

[Andrei Radu]

What is the best way to practice WG tests? Any website recommendations in particular? Thanks! 🤩

Hi @seriouscandidate_ I do not believe there is a clear "best" way to prepare for WG tests. Instead, I think there are a variety of different tests and courses that each have their strengths and weaknesses in terms of the sections they prepare you for. You should also bear in mind that different firms have slightly different types of WG tests, where the balance of hard/easy questions, the weighing of the different sections, and the overall pass/fail threshold will all differ. As such, to maximise your overall likelihood you get good scores in the WGs you complete in various applications, my advice would be to use a variety of different sources to have as holistic of a preparation as possible.

Nonetheless, I were to mention one resource to focus on if you have limited time to prepare, with the risk of sounding biased, the best resource for my own WG preparation has been TCLA's course on it. After I carefully went through it and made detailed notes and then created a document with best tips to remember when taking the test, I saw a marked improvement in my results. Besides that, probably the most representative test I have taken of a real WG test has actually been this mock one offered for free by Clifford Chance.

I have also copied bellow a list of some other free WG resources you may want to look at:

• The Lawyer Portal Free Practice Test
• Pearson Free Practice Test
• Practice Aptitude Tests Free Practice Test
• Assessment Day Free Practice Test

 

[Andrei Radu]

Would also appreciate insight into this! I applied on Oct 22, received the WG on Oct 30, and passed it on Nov 3 with my report saying I scored very highly, but I haven’t heard back from them since. Now I’m wondering whether my application was the issue and if I should expect a PFO soon, but they haven’t rejected me yet, so is it still early days?

My impression is that the firm staggers its progression a lot during the application cycle, so different people will hear back at widely different points in time without any particular reason to explain it. Back when I was applying as well, I was in a similar position as you are, and I only heard back from DLA with a VI invite around mid-December.

 

[Goodbyetc]

If Willkie don’t get back to you after the VI in the 15 days is this a pfo?

 

[CuriousTrainee]

My impression is that the firm staggers its progression a lot during the application cycle, so different people will hear back at widely different points in time without any particular reason to explain it. Back when I was applying as well, I was in a similar position as you are, and I only heard back from DLA with a VI invite around mid-December.

Is it possible that they look at the application as well as the WG? Or is it WG alone? I'm not really sure what their benchmark is to get a VI. 🤔

 

[firmfirm]

My impression is that the firm staggers its progression a lot during the application cycle, so different people will hear back at widely different points in time without any particular reason to explain it. Back when I was applying as well, I was in a similar position as you are, and I only heard back from DLA with a VI invite around mid-December.

That's reassuring, thanks Andrei!