TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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

 

[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 🫡

 

[Bbhu19]

4:59pm 🫡

How do you know that?

 

[fbtrainee]

DLA Piper TI invite, if anyone has any inisghts I would be very grateful!

congrats! did you get the invite yesterday?

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Early morning Skadden PFO

 

[SamiyaJ]

Early morning Skadden PFO

Likewise

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

i will be taking the mayer brown OA tomorrow. their deadline is 15th 11.59 pm and they operate on a rolling basis. i know someone here said that they passed the assessment but the firm stopped reviewing apps. i am quite anxious this will happen to me since i will be submitting so close to deadline. is that something i should be concerned about?

Is this confirmed?

 

[marisachr]

Skadden PFO was not expecting this as I had my application reviewed by TCLA and tailored it to the firm

 

[AtticusFinch]

WFW VI invite 👍

Have you completed? can i please PM?