TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[W5690]

From what Andrei has mentioned earlier in the forum and through looking at last year's cycle, I don't think the WG is automatic since some were rejected even before being sent a WG invite. I understand that they do screen your app before the WG then if you pass they view everything (WG and app) together, which is why it probably takes more time since they don't really have any grades cut offs to go by like other firms... But then again, there's only so much you can take as word by others and just wait and see.

No news is good news as the phrase runs here!

@CuriousTrainee Oh I see. Thanks a lot for your reply. The portal says "We are enjoying getting to know you". 😅

 

[corplawperson23]

if you dont mind me asking could you share the timeline of when u received and applied?!

I received the invite on Tuesday evening and I applied 19 October!

 

[vweewcvew]

Those GCSE requirements are for their apprenticeships, not for their TC. The reason they have those for the apprenticeship is because they are aimed at year 13 students who won’t even have A level grades yet.

I don’t know of any law firm that has GCSE requirements for training contracts or vac schemes, and I really doubt they’ll care so long as your uni grades are good.

Ohhhhh was looking at the wrong page haha, thank you

 

[user55998384]

😭 me too haha it's been like 2 weeks since i did test 1, just reject me already - my friend did their AC yesterday so I don't have much hope LOL

wait latham ac??? for which vac scheme

 

[Rejections PFO]

Gowling PFO after 43334 in the arctic shores?! what more do they want 😭

I got the same score as you and got a VI so honestly this validates my theory that grad recruiters make choices blindfolded with a dartboard

 

[Suii]

Do you want to exchange ideas 😂 I got 4for the ones you got 3 and I got 2 for the last one😂😂, although you did get 17 which some succesful candidates got, and I got 16

Guys just to jump in. It's not about the games score only. In the event they did say that most people do not answer the sector question in detail to illustrate their interest in the sector. Also they said understanding how the skills from your experiences link to a trainee at Gowling. Maybe your app was not as strong as others.

I got all this info from speaking to their graduate recruitment team at an in person legal Cheek live in the city.

 

[Amgrad]

Guys just to jump in. It's not about the games score only. In the event they did say that most people do not answer the sector question in detail to illustrate their interest in the sector. Also they said understanding how the skills from your experiences link to a trainee at Gowling. Maybe your app was not as strong as others.

I got all this info from speaking to their graduate recruitment team at an in person legal Cheek live in the city.

Yea, as long as you met their cut off score and tailored the essays exceptionally, you'll be shortlisted.

 

[TCtoothfairy]

Guys just to jump in. It's not about the games score only. In the event they did say that most people do not answer the sector question in detail to illustrate their interest in the sector. Also they said understanding how the skills from your experiences link to a trainee at Gowling. Maybe your app was not as strong as others.

I got all this info from speaking to their graduate recruitment team at an in person legal Cheek live in the city.

I appreciate that, as it is the case with any other law firm. But, after 4 years of applications and one vac scheme I do feel like I have honed the first round question stage to the best of my abilities. It's just a shame that despite of what I feel was a genuinely strong application, strong wex, and an event attended by them, this wasn't enough alongside 17 in the arctic shores!
onwards and upwards I guess!

 

[TCtoothfairy]

I got the same score as you and got a VI so honestly this validates my theory that grad recruiters make choices blindfolded with a dartboard

congrats on the VI!!! I hope it goes all well for you

 

[TCtoothfairy]

(for context I applied for a direct TC- Others with more experience may have been better suited for the role!)

 

[Bree]

Hey! Would anyone have insights for Macfarlanes VI? What should I focus on prepping?

 

[whywhy88]

Just did my first ever arctic shores test and I can safely say NRF will not be progressing me 😂 scored 3,3,2,1 and never want to do another one ever again!

 

[elle woods]

Just did my first ever arctic shores test and I can safely say NRF will not be progressing me 😂 scored 3,3,2,1 and never want to do another one ever again!

me and you both!! 😂

 

[i-want-a-tc]

Guys just to jump in. It's not about the games score only. In the event they did say that most people do not answer the sector question in detail to illustrate their interest in the sector. Also they said understanding how the skills from your experiences link to a trainee at Gowling. Maybe your app was not as strong as others.

I got all this info from speaking to their graduate recruitment team at an in person legal Cheek live in the city.

I thought my answer was so good when I wrote it but reading it again, I did not tailor the sector question properly so you are right in that.

 

[MaryAra299]

Hi, just got the simmons result- high in both verbal and numerical reasoning, for the 3 pillars I got 9/4/8 out of 10, commercial mindset being my lowest how does it look

 

[Bbhu19]

Someone said post-deadline, so in January

Hi, just got the simmons result- high in both verbal and numerical reasoning, for the 3 pillars I got 9/4/8 out of 10, commercial mindset being my lowest how does it look

I thought the Simmons pillars were out of 9?

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Are there any video interview questions in Baker McKenzie's Amberjack assessment? Thanks!

 

[RJ Ruban]

Just saw a TikTok from CMS saying they will be starting AC in Jan - has anyone got any offers or rejections from them after VI?

 

[AMullin]

Has anyone applied to Hill Dickinson this cycle? They have a max word count of 50 for each work experience entry. As a career changer I am struggling to fit 12 years of experience into 50 words, anyone know whether it would be advisable/acceptable to put an entry for each role I have held in my current employment?

 

[johnsmith]

Just submitted my Goodwin application - so many questions and I didnt see a section to put in any mitigating circumstances either which was annoying!

Also after all that proof reading I somehow managed to write my a level subjects wrong and wrote history twice instead of maths and history Is it something I should contact them about because I know this makes me look silly and has probably ruined my chances

There is space for mitigating circumstances - with the vantage system, it's always in the contextual information section, where you answer the soci-economic questions toward the bottom.