TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[johnsmith]

is this for spring or summer ?

Spring!

 

[AGB2060]

I saw a post from a couple of years ago that Kirkland & Ellis VI is two questions with 15 seconds prep and 1 minute answer. Does anyone know if this is still the case? (or was a year ago --> something more recent than 2020)

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

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?

Hey!

From my understanding, this question is meant to be more specific than just the four broad departments. While it's fine to anchor your answer in one of the main areas (e.g. Private Wealth, Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate), Forsters is really looking for an insight into specific practice areas or teams within those umbrellas (e.g. Residential Property, Planning, Contentious Trusts & Estates, etc.)

In your answer, I would:

• Name two specific practice areas/teams, not just two main departments
• Show you understand what that team actually does at Forsters
• Explain why those areas appeal to you (e.g. skills, type of work, client base, exposure during a TC).

That said, you definitely don't need to be overly niche - choosing a well-defined sub-area within the main practice areas is absolutely acceptable, and can show that you've researched the firm properly rather than giving a generic answer.

Hope that helps, and best of luck with your application!

 

[Legalfreak212]

CMS VI invite! Any insights into this stage would be much appreciated, thank you 🎉

I forgot the exact questions, but I remember there were 6 and they were mostly motivations based. Onewas about a recent news story that would impact CMS and their clients, something along those lines. Sorry I blanked out mid VI so my advice is a bit shit 😭

 

[DavidJC]

Thank you! I’ll keep the forum updated

Fwiw, hopefully this is reassuring, but I got the SJT + VI invite today and I have an overall 2:1 with lots of 2:2 modules and even 2x 3rds (assuming this is how it works cos my uni has a weird grading system unlike anything else in the UK) with mitigating circumstances, so I'm sure you'll get something soon, otherwise maybe worth popping them an email.

Also just generally for everyone, speaking from a friend's anecdotal experiences, but do remember to regularly check your Spam folders as well. They'd missed out on an invite/scheme with Gowling a few years ago because it somehow ended up in their Spam folder instead of the Inbox

 

[Rejections PFO]

Its been 41 days since I last heard from simmons.

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

Me with Bird and Bird for just the WG test invite and it has been nearly a month ffs 😭

 

[calebnash]

Anyone else a bit confused by Macfarlanes? I completed their stage 2 back in September and haven’t heard anything yet and have seen a mix of both offers and PFOs so slightly odd. Same with BCLP as I haven’t received a PFO despite doing their test a while ago and have also seen lots of people getting interviews/acs?

 

[Amgrad]

Anyone else a bit confused by Macfarlanes? I completed their stage 2 back in September and haven’t heard anything yet and have seen a mix of both offers and PFOs so slightly odd. Same with BCLP as I haven’t received a PFO despite doing their test a while ago and have also seen lots of people getting interviews/acs?

We're in the same boat! I think being in the reserve list means nothing more than that. All we can do is hoping the for the best. Let's see if everybody got 14 days in total to complete both test after the deadline on 05/12 with 2-3 days interval for each one after they reviewing it manually, that means they can wrap the decision by Christmas at its longest. Then we will be hearing back in January. That'd be a surprise if I got an AC cause I messed up VI, but not getting instant PFO

 

[Harold Gunderson]

When did you do the first test?

Over the weekend

 

[elle woods]

guys the amount of all nighters my degree and applications have made me do is unfathomable - I guess this is how they train us to adjust to commercial law life 😍 I can't actually imagine going to bed any earlier than 2am anymore

 

[asplawyer100]

Does anyone know what kind of question is asked at the end of Mishcon de Reya’s AI chat assessment?

 

[DavidJC]

Praying for all the Skadden applicants to get progressed today, myself included 🙏🙏🙏

 

[yk1906]

guys the amount of all nighters my degree and applications have made me do is unfathomable - I guess this is how they train us to adjust to commercial law life 😍 I can't actually imagine going to bed any earlier than 2am anymore

Okay, so this happened to me during the first two years of law school. I slept continuously for 3 hours every night, woke up at 6 for classes, didn't eat breakfast, barely had any lunch and only came home at around 7 pm. One day, I fainted at 6 am in front of my mum and had to go do the MRI lol.

Be careful, we need strong and well-rested lawyers! I do understand the insane pressures of uni, though 😭

 

[Rads]

Could anyone please help me what HL test 1 looks like?

 

[Amgrad]

Okay, so this happened to me during the first two years of law school. I slept continuously for 3 hours every night, woke up at 6 for classes, didn't eat breakfast, barely had any lunch and only came home at around 7 pm. One day, I fainted at 6 am in front of my mum and had to go do the MRI lol.

Be careful, we need strong and well-rested lawyers! I do understand the insane pressures of uni, though 😭

Mmmhh already smelling Milbank's culture here wherever the office its pressure and work intensity is on another level. I also went to ICU and discharged a month before sitting for my CGSE eq level, that's why I had a mediocre grade at least far from my expectation.

 

[yk1906]

Mmmhh already smelling Milbank's culture here wherever the office its pressure and work intensity is on another level. I also went to ICU and discharged a month before sitting for my CGSE eq level, that's why I had a mediocre grade at least far from my expectation.

I'm going to work at an American firm from Jan, and I can't wait to throw my healthy sleep schedule out of the window 😂

 

[tball]

Does HL second test have VI?

 

[alphabravocharlie]

when should we expect to hear from Skadden today?

 

[ali-k]

whats ashurst first stage like anyone please, normal SJT?

 

[johnsmith]

when should we expect to hear from Skadden today?

4:59pm 🫡