TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[TA04]

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!

Ok thank you very much for clearing that up for me

 

[lawstudent2]

I have not gotten a PFO or a WE invite from Skadden?

Neither, there must just be several rounds of emails

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Skadden, Akin and Macfarlanes PFO, what a morning.

 

[LawAspirer]

Skadden PFO

 

[LawAspirer]

Skadden, Akin and Macfarlanes PFO, what a morning.

Sorry to hear... not a great morning for me either
When did you apply to Akin if I may ask?

 

[Trophy]

I have not gotten a PFO or a WE invite from Skadden? Does this mean a PFO?

Have you checked your spam/junk mail?

 

[Rads]

Have you checked your spam/junk mail?

It is not there

 

[Bread]

There is never a benefit of applying early at Willkie as all applications are reviewed and treated the same regardless of when you send it. The rolling aspect is progressing to VI > written exercise. Spots don’t fill up. You can apply on the first day and not progress or on the deadline and get through all the preliminary stages. It’s semi rolling 😄

Also their grad rec recently changed most likely a back log of applications and maybe a different approach than what Gemma used 🤔 who knows!

The benefit would be getting progressed to VI/WE earlier, or getting a rejection instead of nothing 🙏🏻

 

[aspringlawyer25]

Sorry to hear... not a great morning for me either
When did you apply to Akin if I may ask?

applied oct 10

 

[aspringlawyer25]

The skadden one really hurt cause that was one of my best applications.

 

[Rads]

Have they forgotten about my application

It is not there

 

[abc124]

I have not gotten a PFO or a WE invite from Skadden? Does this mean a PFO?

Same 😭 I’m thinking maybe they’re doing it in an alphabetical order idk lol

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Has anybody heard back from simmons lately? Or have they closed applications?

 

[yk1906]

Same 😭 I’m thinking maybe they’re doing it in an alphabetical order idk lol

Same

 

[Trophy]

The benefit would be getting progressed to VI/WE earlier, or getting a rejection instead of nothing 🙏🏻

That’s fair.
Nothing is not bad news!
Good luck!

 

[Rads]

Same 😭 I’m thinking maybe they’re doing it in an alphabetical order idk lol

Rejecting in alphabetical order?

 

[Trophy]

Has anybody heard back from simmons lately? Or have they closed applications?

They closed applications last night. I’m not sure if they’re filled all spots as I know they’re rolling.

 

[Bree]

Milbank Test invite, got it in an hour of submitting

 

[LawAspirer]

If I remember correctly from last year, Skadden sent out emails in batches. I remember being in the same shoe as many of you that didn't get a reply. I waited a couple of hours and eventually received a pfo

 

[Aspiring_CommercialLawyer2026]

Any tips for a written exercise? What can we expect?

Hi!

Congratulations on receiving a written exercise invite! I have outlined some general advice below.

• Practice timed writing - pick a recent business or news article, summarise the points in a structured way with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
• Use a clear structure - a crucial area where I obtained success was having a clear structure in an answer and practicing this for different documents. For example, a written exercise could invite you to answer a letter, an email or a memo. Familiarise yourself with the structure of what these should be and practice drafting a couple ahead of the assessment to ensure you are comfortable with all types.
• Proofread under pressure - just like any exam under timed conditions, mistakes are likely to find their way into your responses. This is something easy to forget when considering the content of the exam, making sure you display commercial awareness and having a good overall structure. However, it is crucial to practice both leaving adequate time to review your response and having a clear strategy when double checking your work. It may be following your answer with a pen or finger helps you to not miss anything.
• Review sample case studies - there are plenty of good examples both to assist you with the thinking process involved with technical terminology and to get an idea of what it may look like. TCLA has some available such as this great M&A case study by Amma Usman (attached at the end of this response).

To summarise, it is a good idea to practice condensing down large volumes of information into clear, concise summaries, and presenting them using a clear structure that flows logically and leads to a well substantiated conclusion.

I hope that helps, and best of luck with the written exercise - I am rooting for you
M&A case study (by Amma Usman) - https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/mock-m-a-case-study-analysis.9136/