TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[User2640]

Does anyone know whether NRF places more weight on some components than others? Got 1/4 4/4 4/4 3/4, messed up the emotions game so bad... feel like it's a very important component, probably suggesting I'm not good team player and have low EQ (tho I really don't think that's true 😔

 

[anon78365222111]

Hi!

Congratulations on the AC invite!! I'm happy to share a few general tips that might be useful!

With 30 minutes to prepare, I would aim to define one key message you want them to take from your presentation, and then build 2-3 clear points around it. You don't need loads of detail - clarity and structure will be much more powerful.

Whilst it'll depend on the exact task, a simple structure you could use:

1. Introduction: briefly introduce yourself and outline what you'll cover so they know what to expect. You could start by acknowledging the task or scenario they gave you and summarising it in your own words. This shows understanding straight away and makes the direction of your presentation clear. In terms of starting, I would say that a calm and confident start is a good way to engage the room - even things such as taking a moment, making eye contact, and speaking clearly helps draw attention.
2. Context and Problem Understanding: I would explain the situation in your own words as you understand it, and highlight why it matters or what the key challenge is within it. This is a good way to demonstrate your analytical thinking.
3. Your Approach and Solution: walk them through your thought process and the steps that you would take. I'd give a little reasoning behind each point, as they are often interested in how you think, rather than just the conclusion. If if fits, it might help to add a simple example or comparison to make it relatable
4. Recommendation and Next Steps: I'd be clear about what you would do and the impact that it should have in the long-term. Make sure to keep this realistic and actionable, as it will need to have practical workability.
5. Summary: end your presentation with a short recap of your main message and summarising the key points - a concise and confident conclusion will leave a stronger impression than trying to cram loads in!

In terms of engaging with them during the presentation, I can totally relate as I was never particularly confident in presentations and public speaking! A few tips that I started to adopt:

• Make eye contact with different people as you speak, as this helps hold their attention and shows that you are engaged
• Use your voice - I always used to speak too quickly and try and get it 'over and done with' (which isn't the best method!). You can use slight pauses, vary your pace, and place an emphasis on key lines to keep it dynamic.
• Ask a light rhetorical question or invite them to consider something (such as "we might ask ourselves..." or "one thing to think about is...") - this gets them mentally involved without actually needing a response
• Bring energy and interest - show some genuine enthusiasm for the topic you are presenting on!

Overall, I'd focus on being structured, clear, and human! You don't need to be flashy, and they aren't expecting an expert public speaker - just show how you think and communicate confidently in your presentation.

I hope that helps, and good luck!!

Thank you so much!

 

[lawstudent2]

For those who applied to NRF, how long was your cover letter?

one page

 

[elle woods]

I'm trying to work out which other VS' are worth applying to in terms of date clashes - does anyone know when Debevoise and Kirkland's summer VS are held? I've tried searching but the information is scarce...lol

 

[iklawapps]

This might be a silly question. I've just gotten my first AC ever coming up :' D but it's in a couple days, so I've only had like 3/4 days to prep, whereas some people got like weeks for the same date.

I know I can't just ask them to go easy on me haha, but is there something I can say or do to level my chances, cause I feel like there's so much to do, and I would've loved a few more days. Sorry about the question, I've never gotten to an AC before, so I have no idea if it's totally typical to just get a few days.

Thank you in advance; I really appreciate the help!! < 3

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

@Abbie Whitlock Hi Abbie! How would you advise answering "Why should we offer you a place on the __ Vacation Scheme?" if there is also another question on the application form asking "tell us why you wish to pursue a legal career at ___"?

Hi!

Great question - these two prompts do overlap a bit, but you can use them to highlight different things!

For the "Why a legal career at ___?" question

I'd focus on the firm itself - what genuinely attracts you to them. This could include:

1. Practice areas, sector focus, or recent deals / cases you are interested in
2. The culture, training style, responsibility, international work
3. How their values or approach to clients align with your career goals

This is where you can show that you have done your research on the firm, and discuss how you picture yourself at the firm long-term.

For "Why should we offer you a place on the vacation scheme"?

Shift the focus onto you and what you'd bring to the scheme. This can be along the lines of:

1. Relevant skills (i.e. teamwork, communication, commercial awareness, and organisation)
2. Experiences that demonstrate those skills - it's important to back up the above by providing one or two examples
3. Your motivation to learn and contribute during the scheme (perhaps discussing any particular things you'd like to learn by the end of the scheme)
4. What you hope to gain from the experience, and how you will make the most of it

Essentially, the first question is "why them", and the second question is "why you + why this opportunity".

I'd try to make the two answers complement each other without repeating too much information - one is about your fit with the firm, and the other is about your strengths and potential contribution.

I hope that helps - best of luck with your application!

 

[JasmineM9]

Those are good results.

I think Resource and work management and leadership are two skills that develop the further you get into your career especially as firms hire people as young as 19 they won’t be expecting a leader but rather a team player.

I’ve attached their framework for you to look at.

I am following up from this thread: I got ad strengths working with others and excellence but also got Resource and Work Management as weakness. Not quite sure on their criteria and what counts as good or bad. Any advice? 😊

 

[elle woods]

Has anyone heard back from Freshfields regarding the summer vac scheme? I'm still doing the tests so I just want to know if they've started handing out AC invites yet

 

[Dannie]

Is chat gpt genuinely a good resource to use for watson glaser prep? I found job test prep too simple and not like the real test and ive done every free practice/TCLA/CLA test out there. I was thinking id put some tricky tes style questions into chat and ask if to make me practice tests but i find sometimes its answers don't seem fully right? like it will give 'false' as an answer for a question it made when basic logic would say its ID. Let me know what you think would love to hear x

 

[Applicant3728299643]

Has anyone heard back from Freshfields regarding the summer vac scheme? I'm still doing the tests so I just want to know if they've started handing out AC invites yet

Yes, I have an AC for Freshfields on the 11th! Still waiting to hear back from A&O today 😬

 

[lawberri3]

has anyone heard back from macfarlanes post job sim ?? any ac invites ?

 

[RJ Ruban]

Anyone hear back from FF after Stage 2 for DTC

 

[marisachr]

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

the grad rec said December but i have not heard anything since I got the ''you passed the benchmark'' email after the TI

 

[wooliewoo]

Hi! Does anyone have any tips for the HSF Kramer online assessment, as I know the benchmark can be a bit funny sometimes? Also, has anyone completed Evershed's critical thinking test? How many Qs were there and what was it like? Tysm

 

[Trophy]

I am following up from this thread: I got ad strengths working with others and excellence but also got Resource and Work Management as weakness. Not quite sure on their criteria and what counts as good or bad. Any advice? 😊

This is just my own opinion I’m not affiliated with linklaters whatsoever (yet👀)

But I’d say again those are good results I wouldn’t focus on the weakness as there are far worse ones to have. The TC is a learning process and you’ll learn to manage your workload as your move along and familiarise yourself with the job and tasks being asked from you.

Good luck 😄

 

[Lawlawland]

How soon one might get a reply if you mail the Linklaters team for the WGT test report?

 

[anonymous.15]

Hi! Does anyone have any tips for the HSF Kramer online assessment, as I know the benchmark can be a bit funny sometimes? Also, has anyone completed Evershed's critical thinking test? How many Qs were there and what was it like? Tysm

I think try to look at the values HSFK is looking for specifically and not "general lawyer traits" , 8Qs with 4 subparts each WG legal para based Qs for the ES test

 

[oliviabeijing]

Has anyone been invited to assessment for Baker McKenzie?

 

[yk1906]

For anyone successful with Willkie post-app: do you reckon I should include my mooting and pro bono experience in the WE section? I would like to talk about my other achievements and positions of responsibility in the dedicated section. Or shall I include my experience there? Thanks!!

 

[Andrei Radu]

Hi @Andrei Radu ,
I was wondering whether you might be able to offer some advice on preparing in advance for the final interview on Sidley's winter vac scheme: particularly around the big macro stories and developments I should be up to date on specifically for the firm as well as Sidley's strengths/position versus other US firms?
Sorry if this is a bit general!
Thanks so much

On Sidley's market position and strengths:

• Sidley is a Top 10 global law firm by revenue (sitting around the $3.5bn mark), is more international than most US rivals (with 20+ offices), with a large both New York and London presence (currently the 17th by London-generated revenue, having surpassed the $225m mark).
• The firm is known for its high-value transactional work, and is therefore uncontroversially deemed to be part of the newly formed group of "global elite" law firms (a group of highly-profitable firms with strong offerings in both London and New York, who are expected to increased their hold over the transatlantic deal corridor over the coming years).
• While sitting just bellow the traditional "Vault 10" group of firms (a US publication ranking the biggest US firms by prestige based on associate reviews every year) in terms of historical reputation and also profitability (most V10 firms are sitting around the $7 million average PEP figure, while Sidley's PEP is approx $5 million), the firm could be compared with the likes of Milbank and Paul Hastings in terms of its embrace of private capital work and its huge recent growth to catch up with the historical New York elite.
• Speaking of an embrace of private capital, while Sidley had historically been very strong in traditional banking, securitisation, and financial regulatory work, but, as this type of work took a hit post 2008, the firm has shifted to servicing the booming PE industry.
• In London, this is reflected in their practice area strengths, as the firm has top tier teams for PE Funds work and PE buyouts, and more recently has hired one of the best leveraged finance teams in the market from Latham. This move was very talked about last year as it is thought to demonstrate (i) Sidley's growing ambition in London; and (ii) its increasing clout, having been able to hire rainmaking partners from Latham, a larger and more profitable firm, that has traditionally been seen as more dominant in the private capital space.
• Finally, in London Sidley is also known for its regulatory work, being particularly strong in financial services and life sciences - a feature that differentiates it from most of its US rivals. This is apparently also helping Sidley secure work on PE deals that come with particular regulatory complexity.