TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Cookiemonster]

Welcome new forum members 👀 - can we at least get some lovely introductions, if poss, so we can better direct our queries?

Hi everyone! I’m a graduate and I currently hold a TC at a UK firm. I’ve done a mix of vacation schemes across UK, US and boutique firms, so I’ve seen a few different processes and cultures.😄

I’m a non-RG graduate and definitely dealt with imposter syndrome, especially when going into US firms. I didn’t secure a TC during university or in my first application cycle (so if you’re a graduate and feeling stressed, you’re not alone). I also didn’t convert every scheme, so rejection is very familiar to me 😬

Happy to help where I can and share anything useful from my own experience.​

 

[ali-k]

thanks! I think I'm just nervous because it's not a feedback call for an unsuccessful application haha, I'm not too sure what to expect and want to leave a good impression

i think you should be excited! its nice hearing good things about yourself. pay attention to the things they said you could work on of course, but in my experience they are nothing to worry about and its definitely not an assessed call haha, youve already left a good impression by now !!

 

[Novaa]

Sooo… does anyone have any tips on not being nervous and feeling like time is running out as a graduate LOL?! 😀

 

[Amgrad]

I've heard varying things - my friend apparently is "on hold" and then my other friend has already gotten an offer lol

And here i am, still not having applied HAHA

Made me wonder whether still worth applying to GD after open day rejection. It was virtual OD but yet I was rejected, two of my 8 ODs were rejected and it were all virtual!

Also wanna to say that I hate firms who put me on hold! It felt like you date someone or you're born second and after and not a heir to your parents, you've always being second for them as they preferred another one 😭😢😂

 

[alphabravocharlie]

How would you go about answering why transactional law and not investment banking?

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

thanks! I think I'm just nervous because it's not a feedback call for an unsuccessful application haha, I'm not too sure what to expect and want to leave a good impression

Ahh that makes total sense. The fact it isn’t a standard post-rejection feedback call is a really good sign, not a bad one.

You don’t need to “perform” on the call. Treat it as a professional conversation rather than an assessment. Being engaged, reflective and appreciative will already leave a good impression. Listening carefully, asking one or two thoughtful questions and thanking them for their time is more than enough.

If it helps, you can frame things like “That’s really helpful to hear, I’ll definitely work on that going forward.” From my experience grad rec tend to love that kind of self-awareness.

Try not to overthink it. They wouldn’t be taking the time to speak to you if they didn’t see potential!

 

[Applicant3728299643]

Hi all! I received a call yesterday that I got Freshfields' Summer Vac Scheme, and I just wanted to ask if anyone had any insight into what the VS to TC conversion rates are like? I heard last year that they were quite low... apparently they've been oversubscribing spots for the last couple of years/business demand has been lower and that's why? I'm penultimate non-law, so I'd only start a TC in 2029, which I'm hoping hasn't had many spots taken yet. I'm just trying to work out whether it is worth still applying to a bunch of places in the hopes of perhaps getting a second vac scheme as a back up (but I admit, even getting a single one feels impossible lol.)

 

[Cookiemonster]

Hi all, quick check if anyone’s had something similar with Slaughters. I applied for the work experience scheme and my application portal now shows “withdrawn". They emailed me saying they don't sponsor visas but I literally don't require one cus I’m on a Student visa, don’t require sponsorship, and the scheme dates are outside my term dates. I wanted to ask whether this is usually just an automatic eligibility screen on the portal, or if it means the application is dead.
Any insight appreciated.

Hi, sorry this has happened, that’s understandably stressful.
This does sound like it’s likely been triggered by an automatic eligibility screen, rather than someone actually reviewing your circumstances properly.


That said, “withdrawn” on the portal usually does mean the application has been closed on their end, rather than still being live. It’s important to not assume it’s final without checking.

I would recommend emailing graduate recruitment directly.​

• You are on a Student visa
• You doo not require sponsorship
• The scheme dates fall outside your term dates
• Asking whether this was an automated decision that can be reviewed

Good luck

 

[lalalailovelife]

Hi, sorry this has happened, that’s understandably stressful.
This does sound like it’s likely been triggered by an automatic eligibility screen, rather than someone actually reviewing your circumstances properly.


That said, “withdrawn” on the portal usually does mean the application has been closed on their end, rather than still being live. It’s important to not assume it’s final without checking.

I would recommend emailing graduate recruitment directly.​

• You are on a Student visa
• You doo not require sponsorship
• The scheme dates fall outside your term dates
• Asking whether this was an automated decision that can be reviewed

Good luck

Yes I'll do that, thank you so much. I was actually panicking lol...

 

[adh3]

I absolutely don't want to diminish what you are feeling, and as you have said you have already tried to spin your experiences, but I truly think that any experience you have can be used in an impressive way. I found that the work experience/CV sections meant a lot for my applications, so While I didn’t need to write about how working at McDonald’s made me want to be a solicitor in my main application, it was hugely beneficial in the work experience section to highlight transferable skills and basically tell firms that if I can handle all the downsides that come with a job like that, I can handle a law firm.

My second piece of advice is to call/email anywhere with a legal team and see if they have the capacity to offer you work experience. Most of my experience was outside traditional law roles and I really struggled to secure vac schemes, but I managed to get experience in a company’s in-house legal team. It’s probably one of the most valuable things on my CV now.

I know how disheartening the process can be. All it takes is one firm to say yes, and that will happen if you keep going!

Once again, I do appreciate the advice.

However, I disagree that I have what firms want to see.

I have retail experience. I have tried my hardest to highlight the wide array of transferrable skills which I gained from these experiences.

However, when a firm asks you to describe a time "...where you overcame a challenge" or "...where you showed initiative", one's experience working at Sainsbury's (etc.) pales in comparison to somebody else's experience throughout their internship in finance or completing a vacation scheme.

If I'm being completely honest, firms want to see potential. After graduating with a mid-high 2:1, without extensive experience in a relevant field, I have essentially proven to firms that my potential is minimal. And, the likelihood is that I won't land a role in commercial law by completing forage experiences to bolster my CV... so, you're right that cold calling law firms might be one of my best options at the moment.

If I can chime in, I just want to broaden the perspective a little, because what you’re describing is honestly very common.

It’s completely normal not to have anything secured before graduating, even though it can feel like you're falling behind when you see people around you succeeding. However, I personally know many people who only secured training contracts after graduating. I’m one of them. I came to the UK for an LLM with absolutely no UK law firm experience and still managed to secure a TC after completing my degree.

After my first two rejections, I realised I was becoming really stressed and couldn’t keep up with both my studies and constant applications. Everyone around me was applying to countless firms, but that approach just wasn’t working for me. When I was almost done with my degree, I took a step back, waited until I had less academic pressure (though I was definitely stressed about my visa timeline), and focused properly on the quality of my application rather than the volume. That’s when things finally clicked.

In my final-stage interview, the other candidates were a mix of final-year students, people who had paralegalled for a few years, consultants, and career-changers. It really reinforced for me that there isn’t one “right” timeline. If you don’t secure a vac scheme, there are still plenty of other ways to build relevant experience that firms value.

There are genuinely many paths to becoming a solicitor. It doesn’t have to look like the fresh-out-of-uni route we often imagine. The average age of qualification is around 30 for a reason. Taking longer, working elsewhere, or doing things in a different order doesn’t mean you’ve failed;it just means your path looks different.

Yes, you can chime in!

I understand that my experience isn't uncommon and that everybody works at their own pace towards getting a TC. That's why I'm making these posts – in the hope that they resonate with other people (graduates) in my position.

I have been focussing on the quality of my applications – I have actually always been the type of person to spend days on an application, rather than firing them off without much care. This cycle, I've managed to send off 11 high-quality applications. As mentioned earlier, the outcome has been less than desirable.

I agree that working elsewhere might be valuable for securing a career in commercial law. However, finding a role in an adjacent field is nowhere near as easy as it is described on this forum. Most paralegal roles I see going nowadays require applicants to be future trainees. And, alternatively, other (legal) roles in related fields (e.g. tech, finance, life sciences) are highly competitive.

Yes, I do agree that taking longer (or doing things in a different order) isn't indicative of failure. Still, what frustrates me is how undesirable I am to firms at this point in time (despite my genuine desire to work within the areas of law I have developed a passion for throughout my degree and personal life).

 

[e_turbo2]

Hi everyone! I’m a graduate and I currently hold a TC at a UK firm. I’ve done a mix of vacation schemes across UK, US and boutique firms, so I’ve seen a few different processes and cultures.😄

I’m a non-RG graduate and definitely dealt with imposter syndrome, especially when going into US firms. I didn’t secure a TC during university or in my first application cycle (so if you’re a graduate and feeling stressed, you’re not alone). I also didn’t convert every scheme, so rejection is very familiar to me 😬

Happy to help where I can and share anything useful from my own experience.​

Such a lovely introduction! Your experiences are inspiring, thank you very much for sharing your story with us 🙏

 

[elle woods]

i think you should be excited! its nice hearing good things about yourself. pay attention to the things they said you could work on of course, but in my experience they are nothing to worry about and its definitely not an assessed call haha, youve already left a good impression by now !!

So true haha thank you!! I’m just overthinking it haha

 

[AMullin]

Hi Amullin,

I really wouldn’t worry about this. Firms are very used to applications having minor date overlaps or typos, especially where someone’s been in continuous employment. It’s extremely unlikely they’ve interpreted this as you having a decade+ of paralegal experience or that it played any part in the decision to give you a test invite.

That said, I’d probably suggest flagging it briefly for transparency, especially if it’s playing on your mind. A short, factual email is more than enough — e.g. “I’ve just noticed a date overlap in my work experience section and wanted to clarify that my paralegal role ran from 2012–2013.” Grad rec will understand it was an honest admin error.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, that's exactly what I did in the end. Except I then started stressing about the fact I didn't apologise for the mistake and was worried my email would come across as "Hey, FYI, I made a mistake on my application. Cheers" 🤦‍♂️

BUT, they replied with a "Thanks for the clarification" and nothing about binning me off so I'm assuming it's full steam ahead!

 

[Amgrad]

I got to the WE so hopefully I'm qualified to give some advice haha
This is just my personal opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

- Usually I would use up as much as the word count as possible - I see your draft is at around 320, so it's close enough, but I personally would always aim for at least 340 if it's a 350 maximum. But don't fill it with words for the sake of it, each line or word you write has to add value and substantiate your answer.
- Usually I would also try to stay away from any negative phrasing such as "despite..."
- The use of the em dash stood out. Grad Rec usually think em dashes equal AI so just try to stay away from using them nowadays.
- The question is on why SKADDEN, and not why you, so I personally wouldn't include your second paragraph here unless you can link it to a concrete Skadden USP (in which case it still may need to be made more concise).
- I usually give 3 concrete reasons for Why the Firm (3 distinguishing factors that the firm has that draws me to them) and then substantiate that with WHY it appeals to you (maybe by linking it to a personal characteristic or alignment), but the main focus of the answer must be on the firm specifically, and then why THAT particular aspect of the firm motivates you.
- You could also be slightly more concise. For example "the second reason is" isn't needed. You could use "secondly" or just go straight into the reason. But then again, that's just a personal writing preference of mine (it definitely helps with cutting word count to use for more reasons though)!
- Usually I would reference a deal in your practice area paragraph as that helps tailor the answer to the firm - as this means you can't apply this answer to any other firm.
- Also idk if the extra paragraph space was intentional or an accident, but if that was how it was on your application, I think grad rec may care about small details like that too.

I do like how personal your answer sounds though and your use of varied sentence lengths which help readability! Once again, take this lightly as I'm not grad rec!! Best of luck with your future apps - you're doing really good!

I've already done all of your advice, esp abt using the max word count, but I do believe for my case I was not aware of:

• Transactional focus, at the end of paragraph of 'why Skadden' I linked it back with my regulatory aspect of my work at the UN, I should have highlighted more of the non-contentious work and London office in this section.
• I made 2 abbreviations like my CC's TC & GD's OD apps. I knew I wrote things like 'don't' or "it's" which is grammatically correct, but I've realised that some firms don't like this type of writing, especially for bigger firm. I made to Goodwin, Cooley, and Taylor Wessing Open Day with these mistakes, but they care more about your topic than sort of aspects.
• I do believe I've also had some unmatched to their expectations on different part of other Essay Qs 😭 I am wondering that by written TCLA when they asked about "which organisation help you on this application?" won't lower your chance to pass as I didn't request for one on one paid session like others prev said yet got PFO as me.

Their feedback on to ask other poofreading provider to review your app is so vague! I only use general tips from everybody on this forum esp Abbie and Andrei. 🥲

Now I am wondering "WOULD KIRKLAND DUMB ME TOO?" as these firms share common value lmao I applied on Friday (2 days before deadline), yet no VI invite

 

[Saloman_Dormeus]

How would you go about answering why transactional law and not investment banking?

As a future trainee at a US firm with a strong transactional focus, I’ve come across this question (or variations of it) quite a lot, and the strongest answers I’ve seen tend to do three things well.

Firstly, they acknowledge the overlap. Transactional law and investment banking both sit at the heart of deals, involve intense workloads, and require strong commercial awareness. Recognising this upfront shows you’re realistic about what the work actually looks like.

Secondly, they demonstrate a clear understanding of the distinction between the roles. Interviewers want to see that you understand lawyers and bankers do fundamentally different things on the same transaction. Lawyers act as advisers and problem-solvers, focusing on structuring, legal risk, negotiation and drafting, while bankers concentrate on valuation, financing and driving commercial execution. You don’t need technical depth, just clarity.

Thirdly, they explain why law genuinely appeals more. This is where the focus shifts back to personal fit. Many strong answers touch on enjoying analytical and detail-driven work, preferring an advisory role with ongoing responsibility rather than a revenue-driven one, and being interested in being involved throughout the lifecycle of a transaction (for example, from the early structuring discussions, through due diligence and negotiation, and then seeing the deal through to signing and completion). You can lightly anchor this to relevant experiences, but the emphasis should be on reasoning rather than credentials.

I’d finish by reinforcing that your interest in transactional law comes from a genuine understanding of what the role involves and a considered comparison with investment banking. The aim is to leave the grad rec team with the sense that this is a deliberate, well-informed choice rooted in how you like to think, work, and add value on deals, rather than a default option. Framed this way, the answer demonstrates clarity of motivation and long-term commitment, which is ultimately what this kind of question is testing.

I hope this helps, feel free to DM me!​

 

[lawrlah]

Has anyone heard from Kirkland since applying?

yes i just got the video interview. anyone have any advice?? do you know what they may ask?

 

[Trophy]

Hi everyone! I’m a graduate and I currently hold a TC at a UK firm. I’ve done a mix of vacation schemes across UK, US and boutique firms, so I’ve seen a few different processes and cultures.😄

I’m a non-RG graduate and definitely dealt with imposter syndrome, especially when going into US firms. I didn’t secure a TC during university or in my first application cycle (so if you’re a graduate and feeling stressed, you’re not alone). I also didn’t convert every scheme, so rejection is very familiar to me 😬

Happy to help where I can and share anything useful from my own experience.​

Finally a human response 🤯

How did you overcome rejection after your vacation schemes?

 

[Cookiemonster]

Once again, I do appreciate the advice.

However, I disagree that I have what firms want to see.

I have retail experience. I have tried my hardest to highlight the wide array of transferrable skills which I gained from these experiences.

However, when a firm asks you to describe a time "...where you overcame a challenge" or "...where you showed initiative", one's experience working at Sainsbury's (etc.) pales in comparison to somebody else's experience throughout their internship in finance or completing a vacation scheme.

If I'm being completely honest, firms want to see potential. After graduating with a mid-high 2:1, without extensive experience in a relevant field, I have essentially proven to firms that my potential is minimal. And, the likelihood is that I won't land a role in commercial law by completing forage experiences to bolster my CV... so, you're right that cold calling law firms might be one of my best options at the moment.



Yes, you can chime in!

I understand that my experience isn't uncommon and that everybody works at their own pace towards getting a TC. That's why I'm making these posts – in the hope that they resonate with other people (graduates) in my position.

I have been focussing on the quality of my applications – I have actually always been the type of person to spend days on an application, rather than firing them off without much care. This cycle, I've managed to send off 11 high-quality applications. As mentioned earlier, the outcome has been less than desirable.

I agree that working elsewhere might be valuable for securing a career in commercial law. However, finding a role in an adjacent field is nowhere near as easy as it is described on this forum. Most paralegal roles I see going nowadays require applicants to be future trainees. And, alternatively, other (legal) roles in related fields (e.g. tech, finance, life sciences) are highly competitive.

Yes, I do agree that taking longer (or doing things in a different order) isn't indicative of failure. Still, what frustrates me is how undesirable I am to firms at this point in time (despite my genuine desire to work within the areas of law I have developed a passion for throughout my degree and personal life).

Hey,

Just to add another perspective here, because I recognise this mindset and I fell into it myself.

I also had part-time retail experience and for a long time I avoided using it in competency answers. Whenever I was asked about challenges, initiative, or teamwork, I’d default to my legal experience because I assumed that’s what firms wanted to hear.

Interestingly, feedback I received from one firm was the opposite. They said I was diminishing my non-legal experience, and that they actually wanted to see candidates who valued all of their experiences, not just the “legal” ones. Retail roles can show resilience, communication, problem-solving, and handling pressure far more convincingly than some vac scheme examples, if they’re reflected on properly.

That doesn’t mean retail experience magically levels the playing field, and I completely get why it feels weaker when you’re comparing yourself to candidates with internships. But firms are often more interested in how you extract learning and insight from an experience than how prestigious it sounds on paper.

I know it’s frustrating when effort doesn’t translate into outcomes, especially as a graduate, but I wouldn’t write off your experience or your potential on that basis. A lot of people reading this will be in the same position, even if they don’t say it out loud.​

I hope this helps

 

[oliviabeijing]

If I haven’t been invited to VI, and someone on here has for Bakers, am I screwed? Do they release them in rounds?

 

[W5690]

How long does it generally take for DLA Piper to inform whether you’ve passed or failed the WG? Just got my feedback report and I can’t lie it’s not looking good 😭

@whywhy88 Hi! What do you mean by "not looking good"? Thank you.