TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[llblawstudent]

On the current topic, does anyone know any other firms with shorter apps, past from ff Weil Mishcon and Clyde?

 

[johnsmith]

Impressive! Teach me your ways!!

Working 3 days per week and dedicating all outside work time to apps! Just locked it down for the last 12-16 weeks.

 

[Lawlawland]

Anyone applied to Reed Smith on the day of the deadline and secured a VI?

 

[Jennifer2003]

Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?

I think about 12! So far got 2 rejections but one AC!

 

[johnsmith]

Anyone applied to Reed Smith on the day of the deadline and secured a VI?

Too soon it seems!

 

[elle woods]

On the current topic, does anyone know any other firms with shorter apps, past from ff Weil Mishcon and Clyde?

mayer brown is fairly short - just work experience and one 300 word Q about interests and stuff

 

[Jennifer2003]

Anyone applied to Reed Smith on the day of the deadline and secured a VI?

I applied on the 14th and got it just yesterday and they said in the email they were extending the deadline for it to January 5th - sorry if this is unhelpful!

 

[johnsmith]

for those planning to apply to more firms, can you name some that are still open!? i keep getting pfos so might need to widen my search...

Legal cheek deadlines list - honestly essential for anyone applying

 

[Harvey Specter]

On the current topic, does anyone know any other firms with shorter apps, past from ff Weil Mishcon and Clyde?

Milbank’s app form is work history, academics and personal details so also pretty short.​

 

[DavidJC]

I managed three, not sure I'll finish the full four more apps before Christmas after all 😅

Hopefully it'll be alright though and everything will be seen come the 27th (that one random half week of work that typically exists between Christmas and New Year's)

Also finished the Mayer Brown SJT and VI and I tried changing things in the SJT but had largely similar scores to what I had for Weil (6497 MB vs 6467 Weil), hopefully everything will prove good enough

 

[safari3]

Does Simmons use Amberjack?

 

[elle woods]

guys idk why I'm so stressed man I hate VIs
I think the idea of a 15s prep time is making me anxious lol

how do you guys just go in and do it 😭

 

[DavidJC]

guys idk why I'm so stressed man I hate VIs
I think the idea of a 15s prep time is making me anxious lol

how do you guys just go in and do it 😭

I think at some point you just expect that you gotta just bite down and do it. All you can really do is be prepared with points about why the firm, why law, why you (each competency I guess), and probably a couple of commercial issues relating to the firm.

You've got this, good luck!

 

[Vakil]

Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?

5 PFOs , 3 ACs, 14 tbd — have been patiently waiting on HSF, Weil, Willkie, Kirkland for ages though.

 

[whywhy88]

Just finished Mayer Brown assessment, excelled in verbal and numerical and got 7,7,7,7 across the pillars. Can't recall ever doing an amberjack before, so is this considered a good score? I really hope so because I think I bombed the most important VI question 😭

 

[elle woods]

Just finished Mayer Brown assessment, excelled in verbal and numerical and got 7,7,7,7 across the pillars. Can't recall ever doing an amberjack before, so is this considered a good score? I really hope so because I think I bombed the most important VI question 😭

that is a very good score!!! woah well done! I flunked my MB one so hahah

 

[pepsicola96]

Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?

I’m gonna be a bit defender of the less is more method.

Last year I applied to I think 35 firms, only successful with 2/3 really. Genuinely barely progressed even to second stage with any.

This year I’ve applied to 8 so far. Been much more focused on firms I really want, done more research. Progressed to AC with 4, 1 to VI (so far) and 3 PFOS

 

[elle woods]

I’m gonna be a bit defender of the less is more method.

Last year I applied to I think 35 firms, only successful with 2/3 really. Genuinely barely progressed even to second stage with any.

This year I’ve applied to 8 so far. Been much more focused on firms I really want, done more research. Progressed to AC with 4, 1 to VI (so far) and 3 PFOS

woah which firms have already done ACs this early? also congratulations! you're doing so so well this year!

 

[kukubird]

Thanks for the insight guys!

Just out of interest, how many firms has everyone applied to?

Thanks for the insight guys!

 

[llblawstudent]

Anyone else that applied MDR and received the email about a new deadline for the test, since we haven’t received one yet can we assume we don’t have to do it by the time it said in the original email?