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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

BealMcAlly

Valued Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Feb 3, 2025
112
95
I think Madison was just offering insight on their experience as someone from Oxbridge with high grade credentials. Whether they think, from their experience, firms are swayed by the uni prestige or not. Not a brag on the forum but rather just to add some nuance to the conversation? I, myself, am not from Oxbridge/ Durham/ Exeter/ St Andrews/ Bristol etc but I would be interested to hear from Madisons experience too!
Yeah, I understood this in the end.

I think what ruffled my feathers was actually the other person implying tailoring apps doesn't matter if you have the right credentials. I think the correlation between the posts probably got the better of me there.
 

Giannis_218

Standard Member
Dec 16, 2025
7
9
Skadden PFO. Caught me pretty off guard as it was my best application so far and sent it to get reviewed😭. I also have a decent amount of legal experience and hold a few positions of responsibility

Really sucks. That’s my 5th rejection out of the 8 firms I’ve applied to currently
Hey, I know the feeling. This happened to me many times in the past. Unfortunately, sometimes there really is nothing more you can do. For Freshfields, I attended their workshop, which required an application, spoke to many lawyers, and spent a lot of time on my application, yet I still did not make it past the first stage. It is also a numbers game. You just have to stay consistent with the quality of your applications, and I am sure the results will come. Onwards and upwards!
 
I just don't see how that is helpful when your friend has previously said you submitted generic applications and relied on your profile? Clearly other candidates who don't have a similar profile will not see the same success and will rely on other aspects of the application process, such as the motivational and competency based questions to succeed? Hell, maybe they're just really good at the tests like you say.

I don't see how saying 'I stopped tailoring my apps because they took time and I got through anyway' is in any way helpful? Of course someone with an insane list of extracurriculars and a degree from an elite university will be looked at favourably, not sure it constitutes as sound advice... I will agree and say it's a very interesting topic of discussion and it just shows the unconscious bias majority of firms have towards Oxbridge, but it does not help anyone.
The person who said they had a friend who submitted generic applications was someone else. Madison was just piggybacking off of the conversation. The person your referring to made the point that this friend had generic answers to questions, but presumes the uni prestige and grade credentials was what got them through. And that if someone from a non-Russel group uni put the same, they wouldn't have. Not my views, just hoping to clarify the conversation!
 
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Sorry, I think that other person saying they know an Oxford student on track for a first submitting generic apps and getting through and you then saying you are the Oxford graduate in question confused me.

thanks for clarifying. I just saw red hahah
OMG nooooo! I was just saying I have this profile and so far I definitely have not been able to do that (righty so lol, there's more to being a lawyer than grades for sure + what a waste of time the rest would be) I have really been trying to make my apps specific and tailored but tbh I don't know what I am doing. I just meant I will keep updating when I hear back from places and give my opinion on how much it helped lol
 
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Reactions: BealMcAlly
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!

All the best for the VI :)
This certainly was some friendly advice! Thank you so much! Have a lovely day
 

Amgrad

Legendary Member
Oct 2, 2025
303
320
Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps
 

yk1906

Legendary Member
Aug 26, 2024
464
501
Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps
I’m so sorry! :( I am doing the numbers game this year just to check where I stand more globally… So if you have enough time, it might be a good approach
 
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Reactions: Amgrad

johnsmith

Legendary Member
  • Oct 2, 2025
    328
    437
    Skadden PFO! My Top 1 Firm is gone, for me it hurts more than P,W or CC I keep following skadden on LinkedIn and now need to be unfollowed, bye my heart breaker 💔

    My 4th rejection of VS/TC app after P,W, CC, and Gowling!!! 4 NOs among 18 apps, am I screwed?

    This is so randooom why do firms keep me on wait-list while some progressed me without me to expect as I didn't go to their open day or events and not placed them on my dream firms

    I guess I need to delete my ranked/list of my top firms :'( just shot more apps
    It’s ok I’ve had like 15 🤣 but honestly you'll still find a great home to train at and you can always move later once qualified.

    Edit: it's actually 17!
     
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    BobThebIlly

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Dec 6, 2024
    133
    209
    Guys can anyone PLEASE shed some light on what to expect for Weils SJT and VI

    Is the SJT similar to lathams? How many VI qs are there and are the questions mostly motivational/competence rather than commercial?

    I’ve never sat a VI before so I’m bricking it and am clinging onto this small glimmer of hope with dear life
     
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    yk1906

    Legendary Member
    Aug 26, 2024
    464
    501
    Guys can anyone PLEASE shed some light on what to expect for Weils SJT and VI

    Is the SJT similar to lathams? How many VI qs are there and are the questions mostly motivational/competence rather than commercial?

    I’ve never sat a VI before so I’m bricking it and am clinging onto this small glimmer of hope with dear life
    I haven’t done it yet (received an invite yesterday), BUT I do believe VIs are going to be heavily motivational, due to lack of such questions in the application. Also, I am going to prep “why me?”
     

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