TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[zonnonomo]

I'm mid-30s and never used tiktok 😅 do enjoy a good book though

ah i would love a good book rec 🧑‍🏫 need to read something other than the FT and diary of wimpy kid

 

[Sonia2004]

Hello, if the grad rec has not replied to a grade correction email, good idea to follow up?

Hi,

Yes, give it 3-4 working days and then chase up. If it is urgent, then 1 day is fine.

 

[Suii]

Seeing these Skadden PFO's I am so happy I did not apply for the Galactico's Real Madrid of law firms.

 

[Sonia2004]

Would anyone please be able to share if Weil VI is primarily motivational or competency/strengths/situational questions or an even mix of both? Though I suppose it doesn't really make a difference as long as I'm clear on my answers for why commercial law and why Weil 🤔

Hi!

Mix of both including commercial questions. Although not exactly this, but something akin to 'Why would a client select us?' 'How can we remain competitive?'

 

[Sonia2004]

Do law firms that use AllHires monitor our app progress? Debevoise sent me an email to remind me about their deadline and to fill in the rest of my app lmao. Is this normal? 🥲​

It is normal, it is an automatic email sent to everyone, don't worry!

 

[Sonia2004]

Hi! Is time factored into SJT/WG results? For example, Weil says “The SJT portion of the assessment is untimed, but we recommend it should take around 45 minutes to complete.” Will I be penalized if I take let’s say double the time?

Hi!

You will not be penalised, they will not go around checking. They give that time frame in case people are busy and have things like work/uni seminars etc, so just helps in terms of planning time better.

 

[yk1906]

Paralegal role? What’s your previous experience to get this?

It’s a legal internship in a big American consulting firm (known for loooong hours) in the EU

 

[Giannis_218]

Any advice for CMS VI?

Hey Olivia,
First of all, congrats on getting through to the VI stage. From what I remember last year, there were four questions covering a mix of commercial, situational, and strength or attribute based topics. One key difference compared to other VIs is that the talking time is only one minute (thinking time is also 1min I believe), so make sure you are as direct and concise as possible. Best of luck!

 

[Somefriendlyadvice]

Any advice for CMS VI?

Hey

I would say the best piece of advice for VI's generally is to speak clearly, and not to speak too fast. Graduate recruitment knows you will be nervous, and that is ok! I would say the best VI's are delivered in a composed, and thought through manner. In terms of CMS specifically, I would say their scale and sheer number of offices are worth mentioning, but make sure you substantiate this with the numbers!

Here is a link to what CMS have put out, it will be helpful for you to take a look over!

Hints & tips · CMS Emerging Talent

cmsemergingtalent.com

All the best for the VI

 

[Sonia2004]

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

Hi!

You will get quicker with applications as you write more. So, the first few you might spend a day or two because you don't really understand what you are doing, how to structure, what content is useful etc. But, once you get 3-4 successful applications in, you are able to re-use some of the responses (especially the skills based questions), so you will get quicker as you go

 

[Trophy]

I hope not to attract any hate here, but I am the first class Oxford law undergraduate described (with society positions, legal volunteering and research internships).... I am willing to tell you how things go and if it really does matter how well your written apps are written...... I think it probably still matters a lot!

Written application does matter regardless of the university however you still have an advantage. Oxbridge candidates are always looked upon favourably. Skadden may not have for that one person but in the grand scheme of things they are.

I know someone who went to a very low ranked NG university never made it past the first stage. Went to oxbridge for their masters. Almost every application got progressed and they now have a TC.

Unconscious bias is rife in law no matter how many background questions we fill out. President of the rowing society, clay pigeon shooting exec, college senior student. There are so many ways to tell what university a person goes to without the university name.

*This message isn’t an attack on you im just replying to your comment as its the most recent on this topic.

 

[Sonia2004]

People applying to Kirkland, could you please tell me if you're answering the open question at the end? "Is there anything else you would like to add in support of your application?"

I've just noticed this and not sure whether they are expecting an answer

Hi!

This is usually for things like medical issues impacting academic performance, or like if you have a huge gap in a CV and you want to explain why that's happened e.g family grievances. They don't expect that part to be filled with more information on why you want to join Kirkland.

 

[BealMcAlly]

I hope not to attract any hate here, but I am the first class Oxford law undergraduate described (with society positions, legal volunteering and research internships).... I am willing to tell you how things go and if it really does matter how well your written apps are written...... I think it probably still matters a lot!

Very interesting that you are willing to tell them how things go...

Your experience is your experience and will look completely different to the next person's? Maybe consider that others have seen success by doing the complete opposite of what you have done?

Not sure how and why you thought this would go down nicely.

 

[Somefriendlyadvice]

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)

Hey!

When I did the Kirkland VI last year, it was 3 questions. I'm pretty sure it was more than 15 seconds to prepare (30 if memory serves me correctly!). If you have any other questions about the VI, just reply to this

 

[johnsmith]

ah i would love a good book rec 🧑‍🏫 need to read something other than the FT and diary of wimpy kid

If you want to stay sort of law adjacent I’m really enjoying “Barbarians at the gate”

 

[adh3]

This is definitely a tendency at firms like Skadden or to some extent, maybe even all firms. Sometimes application answers don’t get much attention or their flaws are overlooked because a candidate is so impressive that grad rec just doesn’t care (tbf I wouldn’t care about your alternative career choice if you graduated top of your cohort in Cambridge law either…) - but based on my personal experience, this is not the rule and tailoring answers still matters a lot in general. I’ve gone through a whole cycle of applying to 30+ firms with untailored, generic answers and barely progressed post application stage, while this year I have a strategy, understand how firms are different, submit extremely tailored application, and already see success.

This said, firms are soo random sometimes, I’ve made it to interview with SC and US firms with applications that were retrospectively, mid at best, probably cause the person reading mine saw something that other firms didn’t. Or that specific firm was looking for my kind of profile more than other firms. Or it was pure luck. The point is we can never know for sure but as long as you try your best and put in the effort you know you have to, and you have a clear strategy and idea of where you want to work, you’ll succeed! (Provided that you meet minimum academic criteria)

I disagree with this. In my second year of university, I held some society positions, was on track to get a first at a RG, but did not tailor my applications at all, wasn't sure what kind of firm I wanted and blindly applied to a lot of firms, and also wasn't sure what firms were actually looking for. I did not progress past application stage once.
However, since then, I've tailored my applications, and became more focused on what firms I wanted, and I progressed to interview stage with the exact same firms that rejected me in second year, with the same credentials and have not been rejected at application stage yet.
I do 100% believe that there is an element of luck and certain firms take a chance on you, and maybe if you're a first class Oxford student with loads of commercial awareness and society positions your applications dont matter. But I would say for the vast majority of people the quality of your applications can make or break your chances.
I also believe that once you get past the initial application stage/any first stage tests, it is so much easier to progress.

I don't disagree with either of you!

That's what I meant by the application answers acting as "filters". Writing something completely generic (without ties to the firm's strengths, or your personal motivation/experience) will increase the chance of being rejected. So, I agree that it's worthwhile to tailor your application answers as much as you possibly can if you want to have a good shot at progressing.

I'm certainly not advising people to spam low-quality applications because they have an impressive background. All I was saying, is that when there are hundreds (if not thousands) of exceptional applicants with tailored applications – all of whom are using the same resources to tailor their applications – the ones who tend to stand out are those with better experience (and underlying academics) which help them to craft a more compelling case.

Having said that, I also believe recruitment is (frequently) a luck-based process. As both of you have said, sometimes graduate recruitment see something unique in your application answers which makes you stand out. Therefore, to maximise your "luck" I agree that you should definitely tailor your application answers.

 

[Giannis_218]

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

I get the feeling. Last year I spent a lot of time on my CC application and still got rejected at the first stage. You need to focus on quality, but it is also a numbers game at the end of the day. Onwards and upwards. Just keep going and stay consistent with the quality, and I promise the results will come 😊

 

[elle woods]

Lowkey I’m very appreciative of Skadden for being so transparent about their timelines and adhering to them too 🤞

 

[floral.tcla]

could anyone please advise on this please on understanding what a firm is looking for in their video interview process?
- Format: 3 mins to prep 90 seconds to respond
- Told we are being assessed on skills and competencies, and the VI email invite explicitly stated that the VI assesses 4 competencies
- But the firm's video advises us to focus just on how we would approach the situation - to not bring in past examples - but to also show your unique perspective and how we would approach the situation.
- am I correct in thinking that this is what the firm is saying: your skills/past experience is not directly assessed, only how you would approach the situation (which can be informed by past experiences, no matter what that encompassed and how much you have).
- but if everyone is saying similar things and making similar points, how would the firm distinguish between candidates (this is the final stage before the AC)?

 

[floral.tcla]

love it when my linkedin feed is full of £60,000 a year privately educated students getting tcs👍👍

real...
one big reason for why i'm so glad things like tcla and linkedin exist, I couldn't imagine going through the process without things ike these...