TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[WillKitchen]

How long do you typically spend on applications?

Back in the Spring, I was aiming to complete an application in a single day. Focus and complete. But as time goes on, I am drawing it out and sleeping on things several times before finalising the draft.

In terms of actually writing the answers (excluding research), it takes about one or two hours a day for 3-5 days. Lots of proofreading and firm research alongside the editing process. Tweak, step away, think, and come back.

I recently completed the Debevoise application, which asks for nearly 2000 words across 7 questions. That took longer because it was unusually long.

 

[Lawyergyal123!]

last year i applied to bakers at got 6,6,6,3 (in digital mindset) and didnt get an AC but they acc gave me personalised feedback and said it was just that digital mindset where i fell off.

I have just done it again this year and ive got 7,4 (applied intellect), 9,9. I fell like the 4 in applied intellect will mean i now just fall off the bench mark cuz it seemed from the feedback last year the benchmark is a min of 6 in each trait. Anyone know anything on this 😭😭😭.

I know ill end up finding out soon so no reason to stress and theres nothing i can do now but im soooo annoyed like i waited a whole year improved what they want and for some reason it is saying i lack emotional intelligence which is just not the case!

 

[A worried paralegal]

Anyone that did DLA AC yesterday PM me

What office was that AC?

 

[A worried paralegal]

last year i applied to bakers at got 6,6,6,3 (in digital mindset) and didnt get an AC but they acc gave me personalised feedback and said it was just that digital mindset where i fell off.

I have just done it again this year and ive got 7,4 (applied intellect), 9,9. I fell like the 4 in applied intellect will mean i now just fall off the bench mark cuz it seemed from the feedback last year the benchmark is a min of 6 in each trait. Anyone know anything on this 😭😭😭.

I know ill end up finding out soon so no reason to stress and theres nothing i can do now but im soooo annoyed like i waited a whole year improved what they want and for some reason it is saying i lack emotional intelligence which is just not the case!

Is that benchmark of 6 the same for all firms?

 

[A worried paralegal]

Does Macfarlanes read your application before Stage 2 assessment?

I don't think so

 

[Harvey Specter]

How long do you typically spend on applications? Say a typical 3 x 200 words/ cover letter application form?

I have spent two days on one application qs, but I hear people submitting a lot more within a smaller time frame!

I fear giving too much energy on one application form which might get rejected post test or something

If it’s a short form with 2-3 x 250 word questions then probably 2-3 days. I just sent off my Akin app which had 6 x 250 word questions and that took me at least a week. In terms of hours, It’s at least anywhere between 8-20. Some people can finish apps faster others slower. Certain apps can be as fast as 1-2 hours if they only ask for work history, grades and personal info (e.g., Weil, Freshfields, Milbank and Hogan Lovells).​

 

[Bbhu19]

I’m not too sure what you mean? I only applied to my top choices 😂 so I guess Uhm rejections in general?

Ok that makes sense I would say choose firms similar to your top choices or that have similar questions, psychometric test and use it to practice to better prefer for next cycle

 

[Lawyergyal123!]

Is that benchmark of 6 the same for all firms?

the 6 was just what i interpreted from the feedback call but is not confirmed at all.

 

[DavidJC]

Has anyone particularly responded to Mayer Brown's extra question about "anything not covered elsewhere in this form that is relevant to your application"? I've been mulling over whether to put anything in there but I have at best one extra-curricular item that's really more of a hobby rather than a society or anything like that, and I doubt I would fill the 300 words available anyway, so wondering if I should just do a relatively brief description of what I did, what I gained, how it relates to being a trainee etc. Not to mention the fact that the Work Exp section is limited to 150 words instead of 250 like most of the other AllHires forms

 

[TortillaTC]

the 6 was just what i interpreted from the feedback call but is not confirmed at all.

To second this, what’s the usual approach to Amberjack scores? Is having a 25/36 the usual minimum and if that’s met, individual pillar scores aren’t that important, or some firms have minimum per each pillar?

 

[Shaky_Pete]

Hi, just out curiosity, what was your total score for the amberjack test?

25 / 36

What a load of nonsense it is!

 

[elle woods]

Ok that makes sense I would say choose firms similar to your top choices or that have similar questions, psychometric test and use it to practice to better prefer for next cycle

That is true! Thanks for the tip! Not sure what other firms are open with cappfinity testing tho :0 maybe BCLP? But lowkey a bit put off by the whole essay we need to write 🤣

 

[Lawyergyal123!]

To second this, what’s the usual approach to Amberjack scores? Is having a 25/36 the usual minimum and if that’s met, individual pillar scores aren’t that important, or some firms have minimum per each pillar?

how do you find out the number ? ive just got the regular feedback report

 

[TortillaTC]

how do you find out the number ? ive just got the regular feedback report

Some firms like Simmons, Bakers and Reed Smith send you your scores per 3 or 4 pillars, others don’t.

 

[Bbhu19]

That is true! Thanks for the tip! Not sure what other firms are open with cappfinity testing tho :0 maybe BCLP? But lowkey a bit put off by the whole essay we need to write 🤣

Very true if you haven’t applied to Gibson Dunn, white and case they auto send capp tests

 

[elle woods]

Very true if you haven’t applied to Gibson Dunn, white and case they auto send capp tests

ooh I see thank you! Yea I'll be doing Gibson Dunn seriously, so hopefully it goes well... Thanks for letting me know! Will give this a go if I have time!

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Has anyone particularly responded to Mayer Brown's extra question about "anything not covered elsewhere in this form that is relevant to your application"? I've been mulling over whether to put anything in there but I have at best one extra-curricular item that's really more of a hobby rather than a society or anything like that, and I doubt I would fill the 300 words available anyway, so wondering if I should just do a relatively brief description of what I did, what I gained, how it relates to being a trainee etc. Not to mention the fact that the Work Exp section is limited to 150 words instead of 250 like most of the other AllHires forms

Hey!

I don't think you're expected to force something into that box, and plenty of people either leave it blank or keep it very short. If you do have something that hasn't fitted neatly elsewhere, even if it is more of a hobby, a brief explanation can work well! It definitely does not need to fill all of the 300 words available - a few focused sentences on what you did, what skills you developed, and why it is relevant to your application is more than enough.

That said, if you feel discussing the hobby doesn't really add anything beyond what is already explained in the rest of your application, it is completely fine to leave it blank (as I often did!). I'd say that it's better to be concise than to include something for the sake of it

 

[EfficientBag123]

I got max applied numerical intellect and pillars 6,6,7,3. Am I cooked for bakers SJT?🤣

 

[anonymous.15]

I have a question for firms which operate on a non rolling basis do they view apps from the ones which were submitted earlier and then go onto the ones submitted later post deadline or do they start viewing apps but don't fill spaces until the deadline? very lame question I know pls don't come @ me

 

[Madison Pinewall]

gosh I just did my Hogan Lovells test and found the video questions so hard and unnatural. I spoke about the topic of the third question in my second question so it felt a bit too repetitive too, though I did shift focus. I am usually a good speaker but it feels too artificial