TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[wooliewoo]

Left my Bird & Bird app way too late. Can anyone shed some light on the question: "Based on your research, what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" Is it a genuine question on the sector, or am I meant to tie this back to B&B? Or is it in fact a redundant question, because an opportunity for the sector is an opportunity for B&B? HELP!

Hi! I personally answered the Q like this: (1) Describe some recent news / updates and how it's affected individuals / clients. (2) Highlight one of their sectors, and explain how they could help or what kind of work they would receive as a result of this news and be specific e.g., renegotiating insurance contracts. (3) Result e.g., can expand the firm's client base, strengthen their expertise in that sector etc., Hope this helps and good luck

 

[johnsmith]

Clifford Chance was a rejection today. No I won't be answering DMs. It's always the asme questions honestly. When did you apply etc etc. Time to focus on the future.

Sorry to hear, and also got a no today for DTC.

 

[georgianprincessmwuah]

Bird & Bird PFO with no VI. i thought i had done well aswell hahaa

 

[abc124]

Are there any commercial awareness questions in the Weil VI?

Actually if anyone has insight into the Weil VI, I could help with Reed Smith, Mayer Brown, Freshfields, Hogan Lovells VIs (also A&O but I think it's closed already?)

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Does anyone have any tips for answering Macfarlanes' VS Q:

If someone were to read your story so far, what would make them think, ‘This person belongs at Macfarlanes’? Max 300 words

For example, should I connect my own experience's to the firm's values, or more their strategy / work e.g., private client work, buddy firm strategy etc.,? Thank you!

Old boy's clearly a Macfarlanes man, through and through.

 

[ghost08]

Where do legacy gold members submit applications for review?

 

[futuretraineeihope]

If an application has a (1) Why firm question and (2) question about one of their sectors of your choice, if I mention a primary reason for applying is based on a specific sector-strength in q (1), is it best to talk about that same sector in q (2) or does that make me seem a bit limited in my interests?

 

[BillSikes]

Left my Bird & Bird app way too late. Can anyone shed some light on the question: "Based on your research, what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" Is it a genuine question on the sector, or am I meant to tie this back to B&B? Or is it in fact a redundant question, because an opportunity for the sector is an opportunity for B&B? HELP!

Honestly don't deep it. It's gonna be too late and you'll get auto rejetecion as spaces will be filled.

 

[silonthesofa]

Honestly don't deep it. It's gonna be too late and you'll get auto rejetecion as spaces will be filled.

This isn’t true. I submitted my bird application a day before the deadline and got through the stages.

 

[deejaykay]

Hi! I personally answered the Q like this: (1) Describe some recent news / updates and how it's affected individuals / clients. (2) Highlight one of their sectors, and explain how they could help or what kind of work they would receive as a result of this news and be specific e.g., renegotiating insurance contracts. (3) Result e.g., can expand the firm's client base, strengthen their expertise in that sector etc., Hope this helps and good luck

That helps a lot just to direct my thoughts a bit better. Thanks so much!

 

[wooliewoo]

This has been exactly what I have been pondering about throughout the past few weeks. It's disheartening, and because I am also at a highly-academic university, keeping up with both demands has been impossible. I've been having one meal a day plus vending machine snacks to sustain myself haha. It feels like exam season every term.

To add to that, every firm is adding to their process and making the whole application harder with VIs, more OTs etc. I was talking with a partner from Ashurst at an event and he said all he had to do back in the day was ring up the firm - he got a place on their interviews and their vac scheme the next day haha. Oh the good old times.

Best of luck, I really hope we both get something out of this application season!

I feel for you!! Exactly, it's been so hard to balance with my degree! I don't want to burn out completely before exams, but it's hard not to with how hard it is to get a VS / TC nowadays. Imagine how nice it would be to just call up firms lol.

Good luck to you too, and I'm sure we will!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Honest opinion sought - is it worth applying to V&E now even though its rolling?

Hey!

I would encourage you to still apply - whilst it is advantageous to apply earlier for a rolling deadline, the applications don't close for V&E until January so there is still plenty of time!

The most important factor is submitting a strong and tailored application, that demonstrates genuine motivation towards the firm. If you are confident that you can submit this before the deadline, it's definitely worth a shot!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

For NRF, given their website only mentions "Tell us why you want to join, what excites you about our programme, and how your skills match our values. Keep it personal and specific." for their cover letter, am I right in saying we don't need to mention why law in the cover letter?

Hello!

I would agree with other users and say that since the NRF guidance focuses on why you want to join them, what excites you about their programme, and how your skills fit their values, you don't need a long "why law" section.

That said, it might be useful to incorporate a bit of your motivation for commercial law into your reasons for wanting to join NRF (i.e. an interest in their main practice areas could tie into why you are interested in commercial law work). I'd just keep it brief and integrated into why the firm and the programme appeals to you, rather than treating it as a separate point

 

[Goodbyetc]

Anyone that’s had a dla TI can you remember when they said we’d hear about ACs I cannot for the life of me remember

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Left my Bird & Bird app way too late. Can anyone shed some light on the question: "Based on your research, what do you understand to be the biggest opportunity for one of the sectors in which we specialise?" Is it a genuine question on the sector, or am I meant to tie this back to B&B? Or is it in fact a redundant question, because an opportunity for the sector is an opportunity for B&B? HELP!

Hi!

I'd say it is a sector-focused question, but you're not overthinking it - I think it is a good idea to link it back to Bird & Bird as well! The aim is to show you understand an industry they specialise in and can assess the commercial implications for clients and the firm.

I would pick one sector (such as tech, life sciences, energy, etc.), identify a specific opportunity for that the firm can utilise (i.e. AI regulation opening advisory work, renewable tech investment, etc.) and then explain why this creates work for Bird & Bird and how the firm is well-placed to help clients.

So it's not redundant - the key is showing that you can spot a sector trend and think commercially about its impact. If you can explain how this opportunity could drive client needs and the type of work Bird & Bird might be involved in, it demonstrates that you understand both the sector and the firm's positioning in it.

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

 

[p2bv]

Anyone that’s had a dla TI can you remember when they said we’d hear about ACs I cannot for the life of me remember

I think I was just told in December at some point. As far as I know though no one has gotten an AC or PFO in this thread yet so guessing decisions haven’t been made. People are still on WG stage so idk when we’ll hear

 

[Goodbyetc]

I think I was just told in December at some point. As far as I know though no one has gotten an AC or PFO in this thread yet so guessing decisions haven’t been made. People are still on WG stage so idk when we’ll hear

Thank you! For some reason I thought the ACs were late dec early jan no clue why I think I’d blanked at that point

 

[deejaykay]

Hi!

I'd say it is a sector-focused question, but you're not overthinking it - I think it is a good idea to link it back to Bird & Bird as well! The aim is to show you understand an industry they specialise in and can assess the commercial implications for clients and the firm.

I would pick one sector (such as tech, life sciences, energy, etc.), identify a specific opportunity for that the firm can utilise (i.e. AI regulation opening advisory work, renewable tech investment, etc.) and then explain why this creates work for Bird & Bird and how the firm is well-placed to help clients.

So it's not redundant - the key is showing that you can spot a sector trend and think commercially about its impact. If you can explain how this opportunity could drive client needs and the type of work Bird & Bird might be involved in, it demonstrates that you understand both the sector and the firm's positioning in it.

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

Thanks, Abbie, that helps a lot. With this and @wooliewoo's advice, I feel more confident approaching this. Thanks so much for the outline. Super grateful for this community keeping me sane.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

If an application has a (1) Why firm question and (2) question about one of their sectors of your choice, if I mention a primary reason for applying is based on a specific sector-strength in q (1), is it best to talk about that same sector in q (2) or does that make me seem a bit limited in my interests?

Hi!

I'd say it's completely fine to talk about the same sector in both questions - in fact, it can make your application feel more focused, as long as you add new depth rather than repeating yourself.

In the "Why firm?" answer, you'd frame the sector as one reason you're drawn to them (e.g. their reputation, clients, recent deals, etc.). Then in the sector-specific question, you'd go deeper and discuss the trends, opportunities, risks, and how the firm could respond.

You won't look limited unless you only talk about that sector across the entire application. Therefore, if you're concerned, I would briefly reference other appealing areas that they practice in - but keeping one consistent sector thread can make your motivations look intentional and genuine.

I hope that helps!

 

[Lawlawland]

Goodwin and Kirkland have such long applications I almost wanna give up applying smh.

No WGT or SJT is the sole fuel that's driving me to apply there at this point.