TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TheLegalEdit]

I did my Milbank first assessment on 6th Dec and haven't heard anything since. Should I assume a PFO or has noone heard from them post-6th Dec after the first test?

Do you mind sharing what the test was like ?

 

[johnsmith]

Anyone heard from Freshfields post second stage for DTC?
I’m assuming the ACs being spoken about is for vac scheme ?

I'd be interested to know this as well!

Any responses from any of the following? :

Debevoise

Cooley

Osborne

AKIN

Squire Patton Boggs

Ropes & Gray

Davis Polk

Eversheds Sutherland

Taylor Wessing

SIDLEY

I'm still waiting and applied around 2-3 weeks ago

OC too early, won't come back until after the closing date re ACs

 

[lesh]

Is this for their Milton Keynes office? I believe the London office has around 20 TC's a year, or is that not correct

Is this for their Milton Keynes office? I believe the London office has around 20 TC's a year, or is that not correct?

london office DIRECT TC app.

 

[elle woods]

Just had to jump in here - I totally get that feeling, but it is definitely not a fluke or luck!

This process is super competitive, and they clearly saw potential and believed in you - you should be super proud (and it is clearly well deserved). Your determination to make the most of the vacation scheme will get you far!

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the encouragement 😊 I just realised it's most likely my imposter syndrome causing such feelings ahah, imposter syndrome can be difficult at times, but it really helps to hear this!

 

[pepsicola96]

anyone heard from bird and bird in a while?

 

[Harvey Specter]

Any responses from any of the following? :

Debevoise

Cooley

Osborne

AKIN

Squire Patton Boggs

Ropes & Gray

Davis Polk

Eversheds Sutherland

Taylor Wessing

SIDLEY

I'm still waiting and applied around 2-3 weeks ago

Some of these firms (Debevoise, Ropes & Gray and Cooley) are non-rolling and their deadlines aren’t until the new year, so it’s likely you won’t hear back until mid Jan onwards. Idk about all of the other firms though. Akin Gump is super rolling from what I gathered at their open day.​

 

[Amgrad]

Any responses from any of the following? :

Debevoise

Cooley

Osborne

AKIN

Squire Patton Boggs

Ropes & Gray

Davis Polk

Eversheds Sutherland

Taylor Wessing

SIDLEY

I'm still waiting and applied around 2-3 weeks ago

Hey I can answer these firms as I attended their ODs, met at law fair and asked WVS participant:

Cooley	Non-rolling	Get back to you after deadline 01/01 to invite WG on mid January
Taylor Wessing	Semi rolling	AC Invite (Spring) and WE invite (Summer) both in mid January

Eversheds Sutherland	Semi rolling	VS tests have been sent out and there's a lite version of WG test on it. DTC won't be reviewed until deadline
Sidley Austin	Semi rolling	Spring/Summer app will be reviewed starting on Thursday this week all the way to mid January with a TI invite

 

[WeGotThis!]

Do you mind sharing what the test was like ?

It was an SJT with 2 written questions

 

[Amgrad]

So it goes in the PFO pile for me🥲

I won't go that easy, better has a list for 'maybe' which indicates a reserve or wait-list. Until they send you an official PFO, then you should go for it, especially if you apply for summer one.

 

[elle woods]

guys prioritising everything is actually overloading my head hahaha I think by the end of this I will become a ninja jiu jitsu master at time management...



why do I have 4 essays due this break and mocks to revise for on top of everything - God please have mercy on my sanity 😂
I shall lock myself out of this forum now, need to lock in pro max version

 

[Harold Gunderson]

Does the Milbank second test include VI or it just WG?

 

[jojo23]

you are the funniest person ever please never go bald and never change ur name (unless you want to change it to jojosiwa23, then I wouldn't mind) 🤗

I think the nrf test and Reed smith shaved years off my life and hairline 😭

 

[jojo23]

Its been 41 days since I last heard from simmons.

Chances of me getting married seem to be higher at this rate🙄

 

[yk1906]

I wonder if having undergrad abroad (very “niche” country lol) is increasing my chances to meet basic requirements solely because law firms don’t understand my system 😁 I have good grades but still

 

[LawAspirer]

I wonder if having undergrad abroad (very “niche” country lol) is increasing my chances to meet basic requirements solely because law firms don’t understand my system 😁 I have good grades but still

Hahah, honestly I was hoping the same here. Educated abroad as well. I think it really depends on who ur also competing with. I know my brother and another friend (both same uni) got a TC at a magic circle firm and they were the only foreign educated people in their cohort during the vac scheme. I imagine they like having a "foreigner" mix in to see how they do but again just anecdotal experience

 

[yk1906]

Hahah, honestly I was hoping the same here. Educated abroad as well. I think it really depends on who ur also competing with. I know my brother and another friend (both same uni) got a TC at a magic circle firm and they were the only foreign educated people in their cohort during the vac scheme. I imagine they like having a "foreigner" mix in to see how they do but again just anecdotal experience

Well done!! I’m hoping you’ll get a TC as well, intelligence is surely in the family. I also hope I’ll be that foreigner lol. But I honestly don’t know anyone from my country who applies to TCs in the UK, I’m the only crazy one who is bold enough to try lol.

If I stayed in my country I would’ve been a middle level associate by now 🥲

 

[LawAspirer]

Well done!! I’m hoping you’ll get a TC as well, intelligence is surely in the family. I also hope I’ll be that foreigner lol. But I honestly don’t know anyone from my country who applies to TCs in the UK, I’m the only crazy one who is bold enough to try lol.

If I stayed in my country I would’ve been a middle level associate by now 🥲

Appreciate it! Likewise to you!
I'm in my 3rd cycle and this one seems more brutal than the previous one, despite getting 1 year of really good work experience in-house, so I'm really not sure wtf is going on this cycle

 

[c.t.tc]

Its been 41 days since I last heard from simmons.

Chances of me getting married seem to be higher at this rate🙄

Me too literally since October but hey being forgotten isn't being PFOd! I think? Not sure which one is better🤷‍♂️

 

[yk1906]

Appreciate it! Likewise to you!
I'm in my 3rd cycle and this one seems more brutal than the previous one, despite getting 1 year of really good work experience in-house, so I'm really not sure wtf is going on this cycle

I believe in the fact that we’re still going to live very well no matter what 😁😁 I’m just going to try every year until I succeed, but I do really think I’m ready this cycle. Unfortunately, it also depends on grad rec being sure of that 😂

 

[TA04]

for the Forsters application question: "Forsters offers legal advice across a wide variety of areas. Which two practice areas are you most keen to explore during your training contract, and why?"
does this refer to the 4 main areas which they work in or is it more specific, like their smaller teams within those overarching areas?