TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[qaz99]

Some of these firms (Debevoise, Ropes & Gray and Cooley) are non-rolling and their deadlines aren’t until the new year, so it’s likely you won’t hear back until mid Jan onwards. Idk about all of the other firms though. Akin Gump is super rolling from what I gathered at their open day.​

Hi, could you expand on Akin being super rolling? During the open day did they indicate when ACs will start?

 

[Mara]

RS PFO post VI
This one made me really sad

 

[Jennifer2003]

They aren’t rolling - based on past years, they start getting back to candidates post deadline + it’s stated in their 2022/2023 grad rec brochure that they might start looking at applications before the deadline but won’t send further stages.

Thank you for clarifying that! I was really confused by their brochure!

 

[itsallgoodman]

Has anyone heard from HSF post benchmark with an AC invite? Only seen PFOs so I’m not sure if they've been sending out invites yet

 

[LawAspirer]

Anyone else here able to get top-notch work experiences outside all these vac schemes? I managed to basically get in everywhere else like in house in bigtech/fintechs etc but I haven't been able to get a single vac scheme... wondering if that's something that's maybe off putting to law firms?

 

[RSK]

two PFOs on my birthday (Skadden & Reed Smith), please enough is acc enough. Should I just not check my mailbox for the rest of the day so i can actually get in the birthday spirit loool

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Has anyone heard from HSF post benchmark with an AC invite? Only seen PFOs so I’m not sure if they've been sending out invites yet

If this is for summer, it'll be mid or late Jan 😁

 

[Harvey Specter]

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!

Likewise I’m pretty interested too cos my grades aren’t exactly the best at least on paper (ABB at A-level), mixed GCSEs and a high 2:1 (68.5) law degree from a northern RG (think Sheffield, Lvpl, Newcastle). Despite that I’ve just progressed to Skadden’s written exercise, so idk if they placed most of the emphasis on academics and maybe they did look at everything holistically?​

 

[RSK]

If this is for summer, it'll be mid or late Jan 😁

hey, do you know when ACs are sent for spring for HSF?

 

[Dannie]

two PFOs on my birthday (Skadden & Reed Smith), please enough is acc enough. Should I just not check my mailbox for the rest of the day so i can actually get in the birthday spirit loool

Happy Birthday! I'm sorry this is happening on your birthday, you deserve to celebrate yourself fully without all this stress!! Hope you do something nice, sending lots of bday wishes xx!

 

[Harvey Specter]

Hi, could you expand on Akin being super rolling? During the open day did they indicate when ACs will start?

Yeah they said they were aiming to do one in Dec and the rest in Jan, or all of them in Jan.​

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

hey, do you know when ACs are sent for spring for HSF?

Last year, it was late Dec and early Jan.
Hope that helps!
And hsf does send out rejections first for most candidates and then gives out AC's.

 

[Trophy]

Likewise I’m pretty interested too cos my grades aren’t exactly the best at least on paper (ABB at A-level), mixed GCSEs and a high 2:1 (68.5) law degree from a northern RG (think Sheffield, Lvpl, Newcastle). Despite that I’ve just progressed to Skadden’s written exercise, so idk if they placed any emphasis on academics and maybe they did look at everything holistically?​

This is not an average background. Your a level grades meet many requirements that firms have. You went to a RG university none of the ones you mentioned are ‘bad’ and there are trainees from each of those universities. Your degree grade is neither low in the slightest. Therefore meeting most if not all firm requirements of a ‘good 2:1’.

I don’t see a disadvantage from what you’ve stated which means they took a holistic approach. Nothing you’ve said puts you in a worrying position of not progressing.

(Not bullying just stating)

 

[BobThebIlly]

Likewise I’m pretty interested too cos my grades aren’t exactly the best at least on paper (ABB at A-level), mixed GCSEs and a high 2:1 (68.5) law degree from a northern RG (think Sheffield, Lvpl, Newcastle). Despite that I’ve just progressed to Skadden’s written exercise, so idk if they placed most of the emphasis on academics and maybe they did look at everything holistically?​

Have you graduated? Maybe that’s a factor as well as your high quality app answers?

Regardless, Well done fr Harvey !

 

[Madison Pinewall]

two PFOs on my birthday (Skadden & Reed Smith), please enough is acc enough. Should I just not check my mailbox for the rest of the day so i can actually get in the birthday spirit loool

Happy Birthday!!!

 

[LawAspirer]

Yeah they said they were aiming to do one in Dec and the rest in Jan, or all of them in Jan.​

Did anyone get an AC yet? Or no invites out?

 

[SamiyaJ]

Hey I hope my advice on DM for Clyde VI would get you to AC. Good luck!!! I'm planning to apply 6 of your submitted apps by end of Jan!

You certainly gave me brilliant advice, thank you! If I get through to the AC then all credit goes to you 😂

Feel free to PM if you want any advice on the 6 apps you’re planning to make! Will only give advice if I actually pass the app stage though 😂

 

[AGB2060]

Anyone else here able to get top-notch work experiences outside all these vac schemes? I managed to basically get in everywhere else like in house in bigtech/fintechs etc but I haven't been able to get a single vac scheme... wondering if that's something that's maybe off putting to law firms?

I don't know about top-notch, like I haven't gotten those in particular but let's say I got something adjacent. In all honesty it's all about initiative. Before summer I think I emailed about 50 places across London and my other place I live and in the end only got like three interviews and one acceptance. It's all about showing interest, networking and praying they like you (and you being willing to slave it off for free).

I was looking at mid-range companies, because those with 10 employees may be unlikely because they simply don't have resources to train you (even if you worked for free it would likely be more of a burden than positive for them). I also avoided major major companies as those had many hoops to jump through and often wasn't as easy as networking.

That left me with companies with 25-250 people. I searched on LinkedIn for companies matching what I was looking for and emailed either HR or a particular partner/director that I could find some niche with. If not, then my email would be general but that's life.

 

[Saul_specter]

anyone heard back from slaughters for vac scheme? If so, when did you apply and when did u hear back

 

[Madison Pinewall]

Likewise I’m pretty interested too cos my grades aren’t exactly the best at least on paper (ABB at A-level), mixed GCSEs and a high 2:1 (68.5) law degree from a northern RG (think Sheffield, Lvpl, Newcastle). Despite that I’ve just progressed to Skadden’s written exercise, so idk if they placed most of the emphasis on academics and maybe they did look at everything holistically?​

68.5 is a great score in my view!! and A Levels are so not indicative of talent, I got comparatively low grades in relation to my peers but some of the best end of year results at degree level so I think the A Level stuff is mostly about hitting a 'benchmark' though I actually don't agree with firms that have a high minimum (like AAA for example. People do not always have linear progressions educationally and people who improve later in life should be rewarded for their resilience.