TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[JBM]

In general, AC's are less about “trying to catch you out” and more about whether you can think clearly under time pressure, communicate in a measured, commercial way and work effectively with others in a professional setting.

From my knowledge, Links have a group exercise and a written exercise followed by a partner interview.

1. For the group exercise, focus on collaboration rather than domination. Linklaters places real value on calm, measured contributions, active listening, and building constructively on others’ points. You do not need to be the loudest voice to stand out.
2. For the Written / case exercise, this is primarily a test of structure, judgement, and commercial awareness. Clear issue-spotting, logical prioritisation, and concise recommendations matter far more than technical legal detail. Beyond high-level concepts (e.g. asset vs share sales, raising capital through debt or equity and the mechanisms for doing), no deep technical knowledge is expected.
3. For the Interview, preparing well-rehearsed but genuine answers to competency and motivation questions goes a long way. “Why law?”, “Why Linklaters?”, and “Why you?” are almost guaranteed to come up, so you should be able to answer these confidently and consistently with your application.
4. Linklaters-specific insight, they've made significant investments in legal tech and AI, including developing its own in-house GenAI chatbot (“Laila”) on Microsoft Azure and integrating external models such as Legora into day-to-day workflows. The firm also runs an AI sandbox and structured internal idea campaigns, encouraging lawyers at all levels to propose practical AI use cases. This reflects a systematic, firm-wide approach to innovation rather than isolated pilots, a useful point to reference when discussing culture, future-facing work, or commercial awareness (be sure to link it to your interests!).


I hope this helps and good luck!

I got the offer last year. i think they have changed it this year but i would say:
1. Have your motivations very clear and lots of examples of competencies- they really value a breadth of experiences. Be sure to really understand the role of a trainee in terms of the challenges, tasks, opportunities etc.
2. For the case study make sure you know the mna process inside out as well as understand key provisions in a term sheet/SPA agreeement and how to negotiate them
3. Stay calm under pressure and try and get the interviewers to prompt you- if unsure say ' this is what i think am i along the right tracks'
4. We didnt have a written task last year it was a email which was then used in your interview but didnt really matter it was more about what you said in the interview.
5. they sell themselves on their organic growth in the us, focus on developing of in house legal tech tools, mna capabilities, capacity to carry out non commoditised work and being towards the lockstep side of the pay structure which naturally incentivises cross border and cross team collaboration

 

[woof]

milbank ac !
relatedly- when vac schemes clash what are firms’ general response for moving to a scheme later in the year? I know this will vary firm to firm but does anyone have any idea?

Congratulations! I was under the impression that Milbank is non-rolling, is that still the case?

 

[Icantstopeatingfood]

hi,
how long does milbank take to go back after the first test?

 

[JBM]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to be in a position where I have two AC's. However, they are both next month and I am quite stressed about them. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with nerves? I believe my nerves are what ultimately get in the way. I need to stay calm somehow. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

see if AS does mock interviews for that firm

 

[yk1906]

LSE sending me an offer again this year… please give me the scholarship and I’ll come 😁

 

[Goingtogetatc]

Hey so the advice I got for my AC this year was to treat it like a mock interview rather than the real thing - this allows you to come across more authentic and at ease rather than blanking due to nerves. I know it’s easier said than done, but truly calming down helps a lot with performance (speaking from experience)

I also find just engaging with the other candidates there helps me forget about my stress a little haha

And congratulations on your two ACs that’s amazing!

Thanks so much that’s really useful advice

 

[boots pharmacy]

Hi guys, I'd really appreciate tips from anyone who's sat an AC with Bird & Bird. The email says it will include a timed WE and an interview. Some primers on what to expect/how to prepare would be really great

 

[Amgrad]

Got an email from Candid in my dinnertime, expect it was PFO from Weil, but turns out invite details from Stephenson Harwood! What a day full of jumpscare 🤣

 

[Madison Pinewall]

On another note would love to know if Mishcon is expecting ppl to do an sjt over christmas and nye…the whole 2-4 weeks thing sort over expires basically on Christmas day…

has Mishcon sent the SJT out? I'm still waiting after the AI thing

 

[LawAspirer]

Hi @LawAspirer

I definitely do not think that the work experiences you have listed is off putting to law firms.

During my vacation scheme, I met candidates with experiences ranging from simple retail roles (like myself) to work experiences in tech start-ups, banks and other large corporations. Therefore, I believe it is very unlikely that your work experiences itself is preventing you from getting a vacation scheme.

Instead, I would reflect upon how you are potentially framing your experiences throughout your applications and interviews. Are you properly tailoring your experiences to your interest for each firm and commercial law more widely? Are you correctly using your experiences to demonstrate alignment with the skills required of a trainee solicitor at a particular firm?

A simple shift in the way you sell your experience can genuinely take you from receiving rejections to receiving a yes.

Feel free to reach out via DM - hope the above helps!

I see - thank you!
I suppose part of my issue is that I am not clearly linking it to the specific law firm, and instead, I'm simply stating my roles and responsibilities within that role... Tough it's something to realize after I've already sent out most of the applications

 

[ali-k]

seeing HSF PFOs go out is terrifying, opening my email feels like an explosion waiting to engulf me... "Unfortunately..."

 

[Dannie]

Are links spring ACs already coming out?

 

[elle woods]

seeing HSF PFOs go out is terrifying, opening my email feels like an explosion waiting to engulf me... "Unfortunately..."

frrrr im so worried haha

 

[elle woods]

Are links spring ACs already coming out?

ive not heard of anything and I thought they were going to get back to us after the new years

 

[TheLegalEdit]

Hi @TheLegalEdit

I applied to Reed Smith in my last two cycles. I do not recall any particular timing in relation to when the test invite is sent out. From what I can remember, it was very different for me and a lot of my friends.

Regarding the Amberjack assessment, it’s helpful to practise numerical and verbal reasoning and situational based questions. You may find free samples online with ‘JobTestPrep’ and ‘Practice Aptitude Test’. From my experience, the sample questions are not very similar, but are great for warming up your mind to think logically and critically.

I hope this helps! 👍

Hey!

Thank you so much for your tips! I will definitely do some prep. I’m the same, I find the practice tests are nothing like the real thing!!

Thank you again!

 

[sjm251102]

Assuming no one has heard back from W&C or Sidley yet? I'm just forgetting about them atm and focusing on my applications that aren't US firms cause I have no energy anymore 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[RSC2001]

omg are they just constantly handing out PFOs? I'm so scared ahhhh honestly I feel like most people have amazing applications already and sometimes it comes down to which one resonates with grad rec more... imo (especially for the question on a topic that interests you)

Oh great so I'm just boring ahahaha

I'm so sorry. I know this is insensitive but can I ask when you applied. I think from what I've seen they give PFOs first and are screening the earlier applications. I didnt apply til the day before the deadline.

28th October

 

[maylawwww]

Congratulations! I was under the impression that Milbank is non-rolling, is that still the case?

Yes, they definitely were historically non-rolling, but the application has changed a lot this year so ig they have changed the process too! The deadline hasn't passed and they're clearly assessing and progressing candidates already so theyre defo rolling now. However, my AC is not until a week or so after the deadline, so there is still definitely a chance for those who applied after me

 

[sadlawyer01]

Just received Kirkland VI invite, anyone else heard back yet?

 

[elle woods]

Oh great so I'm just boring ahahaha

28th October

ur nottttt don't put yourself down like that