TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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!

 

[adekuku]

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?

 

[pepsicola96]

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

thanks! to be clear these are for vac schemes, but only had the AC with Reed Smith, have BCLP, Bird and Bird and CMS coming up in Jan/Feb

 

[sadlawyer01]

the kirkland VI was insane, the timer is the stupidest system i have ever seen. other than that, quite a standard VI.

 

[elle woods]

thanks! to be clear these are for vac schemes, but only had the AC with Reed Smith, have BCLP, Bird and Bird and CMS coming up in Jan/Feb

that's amazing!! Well done again! Best of luck on your upcoming ACs! I would be so drained preparing for that many haha but it seems like you're in good stead!

 

[whywhy88]

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

Thank you!! My scores surprised me tbh but fingers crossed they make up for my scrambled VI answers 😅

 

[Lawlawland]

I have a weird question...
Is there any thread in this forum where people just log/journal the situation/pressure they're in and others hear or offer comfort?

Something safe and secure and devoid of "i'mma be honest talks" and also that doesn't block the flow of knowledge sharing happening in the main VS/TC thread?

If there isn't one, would it be a good idea to have one, so people feel comfortable to open and seen enough to get hope and pick themselves up? @Jaysen ✨

 

[elle woods]

I have a weird question...
Is there any thread in this forum where people just log/journal the situation/pressure they're in and others hear or offer comfort?

Something safe and secure and devoid of "i'mma be honest talks" and also that doesn't block the flow of knowledge sharing happening in the main VS/TC thread?

If there isn't one, would it be a good idea to have one, so people feel comfortable to open and seen enough to get hope and pick themselves up? @Jaysen ✨

this sounds like my cup of tea 😣 I would love a thread like this too!

 

[lawrlah]

the kirkland VI was insane, the timer is the stupidest system i have ever seen. other than that, quite a standard VI.

what were the timings like? do you have any insight on the questions?

 

[Lawlawland]

this sounds like my cup of tea 😣 I would love a thread like this too!

I knew you would XD

But being real, I think it will help a lot of people to open up, seek comfort and get things off their chest, coz most people (like me) have nobody around to understand how excruciating or tiring this process is, and we could use a space where we don't have to put up a brave show about this and be real for once around people who truly understand how emotional it could be!

 

[FutureTraineeMaybe]

Anybody who did the willkie VI - how'd it go?? Was it fairly standard?