TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[e_turbo2]

Weil PFO 🤪 (done test on Saturday)
Dechert WE invite! (spring)

 

[EfficientBag123]

Joining the Weil amberjack hypetrain - I got 6,4,9,7 and waiting to hear back 🫡

That should be sweet. I progressed to VI for bakers with 6,6,7,3😂. Best of luck

 

[EfficientBag123]

Weil PFO 🤪 (done test on Saturday)
Dechert WE invite! (spring)

Congrats! What’s WE stand for?

 

[radssss]

NGL sorry if this sounds brutal, but firms which pay lower obv won't attract calibre candidates (including stellar grades), unless you have undeniable mitigating circumstances that you can't hinder, eg, you went coma at Hospital ICU, etc. Also, if you aren't part of DEI, your chances are low. If I were you, I'd be realistic not apply to competitive firms like HSFK, though many firms mentioned they'll consider mediocre grades, oftentimes you'll be competing with highly skilled candidates. I don't mean it's impossible, but you must be super lucky if you ended up get it. In the end, you should utilise extra last minute time to build your profile esp if you're still a student, WYATB!

Whilst, I really appreciate your advice on my chances of making it for HSF AC from your personal experience, I do not appreciate you saying not to apply to any competitive firms not only because I feel that’s unfair to me but unfair to a lot of candidates who have been applying since many cycles and one message like this can dishearten a lot of them . A candidate is not “lucky” if they make it with average grades but it takes a lot of hard work, part time roles, work experience, street smartness, etc and maybe 10% luck to get a vac scheme or tc. I say this because that is how I got my legal work experience year at a top silver circle firm.
Whilst, DEI is very important and should be considered (I am a female, ethnic minority) I do not think if a candidate doesn’t fall into the DEI bracket with average grades will have low chances.
I am building my profile every minute and getting work experience everyday as a recent graduate

Just to add to this, I have made it to MacFarlanes stage 2, fresh fields stage 2, Latham stage 2, eversheds Vi, kennedys test, Bclp ac (last year) with these same grades so don’t give up hope . I wrote this message about HSF because I was very stressed and tired of this process like everyone else and wanted some info if someone has had grades like me and still progressed

Edit - thank you everyone for your kind messages, I love this community❤️

 

[BobThebIlly]

I just completed a VI and now I wanna jump off a bridge. I tried to throw in some giggles in between cause I was crying internally 😭

this is so relatable it couldve been written by me

 

[elle woods]

friend got HSF AC today 🎉
(I'm still salty at HSF Kramer)

 

[Maria56]

friend got HSF AC today 🎉
(I'm still salty at HSF Kramer)

Is that for spring or summer?

 

[FutureTrainee100]

Milbank VI post stage 2? I thought the next stage is AC

Wait im so confused I just did Stage 1 and I thought there is a VI in Stage 2? Is there not...? When is the VI then?😭

 

[yk1906]

Wait im so confused I just did Stage 1 and I thought there is a VI in Stage 2? Is there not...? When is the VI then?😭

Congrats on stage 2! It’s a WG (I’ve done it so I know), I’m pretty sure there’s no VI afterwards. Next stage would be an AC

 

[applicant457]

friend got HSF AC today 🎉
(I'm still salty at HSF Kramer)

Congrats to them! hopefully that means that many people that haven't heard yet will get ACs! They've sent out so many PFOs already surely no news is good news until now?

 

[Disgruntled SQE Student]

Whilst, I really appreciate your advice on my chances of making it for HSF AC from your personal experience, I do not appreciate you saying not to apply to any competitive firms not only because I feel that’s unfair to me but unfair to a lot of candidates who have been applying since many cycles and one message like this can dishearten a lot of them . A candidate is not “lucky” if they make it with average grades but it takes a lot of hard work, part time roles, work experience, street smartness, etc and maybe 10% luck to get a vac scheme or tc. I say this because that is how I got my legal work experience year at a top silver circle firm.
Whilst, DEI is very important and should be considered (I am a female, ethnic minority) I do not think if a candidate doesn’t fall into the DEI bracket with average grades will have low chances.
I am building my profile every minute and getting work experience everyday as a recent graduate

Just to add to this, I have made it to MacFarlanes stage 2, fresh fields stage 2, Latham stage 2, eversheds Vi, kennedys test, Bclp ac (last year) with these same grades so don’t give up hope . I wrote this message about HSF because I was very stressed and tired of this process like everyone else and wanted some info if someone has had grades like me and still progressed

You're exactly right. I applied to HSFK for the third time now with mit circumstances and a couple 2:2. Equally I have quite a bit of experience in the DR space, I'd dare say quite a bit more targeted experience than most applicants. Does that mean I won't be successful, absolutely not. Is my candidate profile diminished because I underperformed previously, don't fall into any DEI categories and aren't "filling a equality quota", no! Making it to AC is much more of a luck thing than people realise. Don't be disheartened by what you think is a firm making a character judgment of you. We have no idea why we are unsuccessful, we can only work on bolstering our applicant profile and improving on metrics we think are important. There is no set recipe for success.

Don't take this persons rainy cloud mentality to heart. You are in the race until you either cross the finish line or you give up.

 

[elle woods]

Is that for spring or summer?

I'm actually not sure sorry! But they are a BA so maybe they get first notice or smth

 

[e_turbo2]

Congrats on the Dechert written exercise!!! Can I ask when did you submit your app to them?​

3rd sept

 

[vweewcvew]

Is it worth quickly applying for Jones day summer today as I heard they are super rolling?

 

[fbtrainee]

I'm actually not sure sorry! But they are a BA so maybe they get first notice or smth

whats a BA?

 

[anon78365222111]

Anyone received a reply since their Akin TI?

 

[johnsmith]

Has anyone heard from Pinsent? I did my blended assessments in early Nov and never heard back from them...

Which office did you apply for? London ACs were earlier in December.

 

[elle woods]

whats a BA?

Brand ambassadors

 

[floral.tcla]

That should be sweet. I progressed to VI for bakers with 6,6,7,3😂. Best of luck

ahh hopefully. well done you and thanks!!

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Weil PFO, with an Amberjack of 6566!

Bro your username 😭😭