TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[sadboi]

Three - and I passed.

Good luck!

Do you have any tips for the HSFK test? I've been told that it's kinda arbitrary

 

[abc124]

Hello!

I wouldn't assume a rejection based on the timeframe - I waited over a month in between completing my Reed Smith online assessment and receiving an assessment centre invite! There are various factors that go in to when invites are sent out, and the application window is still open - for the time being, I would take no news as good news

I was under the impression that most people would hear back within a month, so that's really reassuring to hear. Thanks so much for replying

 

[BillSikes]

DLA Piper TI invite, does anyone have any insights? please would be grateful!

When did you do WG

 

[anonymous.15]

i got an email as soon as i did it

I just got a mail saying hit the benchmark that's it

 

[anonymous.15]

when did you complete your wg if you don’t mind me asking?

nov first week around

 

[anonymous.15]

Just finished the HSFK test, got moderate fit in all and high fit for one. Praying I've passed the benchmark lol!

How do you see 'moderate fit' and high fit? I have just gotten a mail saying you hit the benchmark nothing else

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Guys I just saw this on my portal for DLA piper: ‘Thank you for working with us during our recruitment process. We are enjoying getting to know you’.
What does this mean? I wonder if this is a pfo in disguise

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

 

[SemperParatus]

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

They probably updated mine by mistake haha, I haven’t received a TI invite, I’m really pessimistic tbh

 

[Legallylaw]

You can and definitely should keep some things similar, particularly main themes and motivations. Since you have previously progressed, graduate recruiters will likely expect less in terms of how much you will have changed your answers. That said, I would highly encourage you to at least change some things, even if it is only a change in terms of how you structure an answer and how you formulate a given substantive point - you want to avoid similarity checkers showing your answers as nearly identical to last year, as this is generally not a good look ( some recruiters say they interpret this as you not having enough motivation to try to seek to improve).

Thank you Andrei, this has been really helpful. In terms of why this firm? I was talking about a deal which I really liked and cannot find another one in the firm news that mirrors that. Would you recommend changing that still or using the same one but maybe updating it slightly with new legislation or my experiences? Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question

 

[RSC2001]

Mine still says "thank you for completing your assessments"... oof

Mine says something different 🤔

 

[QuillandCounsel]

Mine says something different 🤔

What does yours say, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[tcla02]

was just wondering what is the best font and font size for NRF cover letter ?

 

[tcla02]

can the CV I send for NRF be 2 pages?

 

[MONA23]

I had mine today so idk if maybe im one of the last interviews? I was told that we’d probably hear in the next week for ACs which are in December/jan

Hi, How did it go for you, if you don't mind could you tell me what type of questions did they ask in telephone interview? any commercial awareness related one or if you remember any? Any tips would be helpful too. Thank you!

 

[WeGotThis!]

Is it still worth applying to Reed Smith? Considering they have already sent out ACs.

 

[wooliewoo]

How do you see 'moderate fit' and high fit? I have just gotten a mail saying you hit the benchmark nothing else

Hahah I honestly wish I just got one of those - still waiting! I saw this in the feedback report, in the chunks of paragraph you can see 'moderate fit' etc.,

 

[TheSlapDotCom]

GUYSS has literally anyone heard from the following firms:

HSF Kramer: summer vs post passing SJT
Mishcon: summer vs post chat interview
HL: summer vs post job simulation
BCLP: summer vs post SJT

pls im suffering through this excruciating wait i cant take it any longer😭swr they’ve all gone MIA what is this

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
This is a question I've come across quite a lot in this cycle in VI's, and I'm not entirely sure if I'm saying everything the firms wish to hear. What do you think would be the best points for this question - What will the future of legal work look like? In what ways do you think the profession is changing?

 

[Lawlawland]

GUYSS has literally anyone heard from the following firms:

HSF Kramer: summer vs post passing SJT
Mishcon: summer vs post chat interview
HL: summer vs post job simulation
BCLP: summer vs post SJT

pls im suffering through this excruciating wait i cant take it any longer😭swr they’ve all gone MIA what is this

Two of these are non rolling.
Some people are yet to complete there SJT for HSF Kramer, and they clearly say they don't read the applications until deadline passes.
Mishcon is also non-rolling. Given they have introduced a new method of application, I'm sure they'll take sometime before getting back.
Nobody would have possibly heard for either of them yet.

I'm unfamiliar with other two conditions other than the fact that they're rolling.

 

[Lawlawland]

Hi @Abbie Whitlock @Andrei Radu
This is a question I've come across quite a lot in this cycle in VI's, and I'm not entirely sure if I'm saying everything the firms wish to hear. What do you think would be the best points for this question - What will the future of legal work look like? In what ways do you think the profession is changing?

I know where this is from XD.
It was an interesting question NGL. I was glad it didn't have a time limit so I took some time to prepare my answer LoL