TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[M85672]

Is the Perkins LBA deadline 2nd January midnight or midday?

 

[M85672]

I have a question:

I think one of the only ways to make my cover letter fit the 1 page limit is to use times new roman. Will this be disadvantageous for my app? Personally Times New Roman is an eyesore lol but need to get this cover letter down to 1 page one way or another

 

[elle woods]

I have a question:

I think one of the only ways to make my cover letter fit the 1 page limit is to use times new roman. Will this be disadvantageous for my app? Personally Times New Roman is an eyesore lol but need to get this cover letter down to 1 page one way or another

I'm pretty sure traditionally Times New Roman was always used for cover letters, so no, I don't think it'll be an issue. I personally use it still since it's just more formal imo.

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

I have a question:

I think one of the only ways to make my cover letter fit the 1 page limit is to use times new roman. Will this be disadvantageous for my app? Personally Times New Roman is an eyesore lol but need to get this cover letter down to 1 page one way or anothi

Depends on the firm! I saw some ask to write in Times New Roman only like Cleary, but Slaughter, TW, etc don't explicitly say it as long as the font is readable and appropriate for cover letter like Arial and Calibri. Don't use Old English or Comic sans fonts of course.

 

[iklawapps]

I have a question:

I think one of the only ways to make my cover letter fit the 1 page limit is to use times new roman. Will this be disadvantageous for my app? Personally Times New Roman is an eyesore lol but need to get this cover letter down to 1 page one way or another

HI sorry, did PC say their CL should be 1 page : O there's no way I can fit it in that haha. Would 1.5 pages be a bad idea? Thank you!!

 

[Saul_specter]

Have ppl alr started getting bakers summer assessments and VIs?

 

[M85672]

HI sorry, did PC say their CL should be 1 page : O there's no way I can fit it in that haha. Would 1.5 pages be a bad idea? Thank you!!

So at the webinar they said 1 page ideally, 2 pages max. So in theory they did say that it should be fine. But others have told me to try to keep it to a page - and I’m super paranoid so. If I’m unable to cut it down I will just send it off how it is, mine is currently 1.5 too!

 

[M85672]

I still haven't received the Milbank test and I applied on Tuesday lol

 

[zara elles]

I've completed a few VI's recently where when asked questions similar to the application I have used similar examples in both. For example used the same commercial topic, or used the same reasons for wanting to join the firm. Given that I havent heard back from them yet, I'm starting to think that this may not have been the best idea - is this a non-issue or should I be avoiding this going forward? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

I've completed a few VI's recently where when asked questions similar to the application I have used similar examples in both. For example used the same commercial topic, or used the same reasons for wanting to join the firm. Given that I havent heard back from them yet, I'm starting to think that this may not have been the best idea - is this a non-issue or should I be avoiding this going forward? Any advice would be appreciated!

Hey @zara elles personally, I don’t see this as being an issue.

The reason being that:

1. You’re being asked about skills you’ve most likely already mentioned in your application form, so repetition is guaranteed
2. You’re VI is a chance to hear from you and not an application form, it’s a chance to go into more detail about those experiences you mentioned in the application form (this time using STAR).
3. The VI is most likely assessed externally (aside from your application form) and both aren’t marked side by side - so whoever is assessing your videos isn’t cross referencing to your application form to mark you down everytime you repeat something.

I appreciate that you may think otherwise, but maybe the issue is that you’re not going into enough detail in your VI answers, or highlighting specifically how that experience meets that skillset. Other than that, there’s the nuances of tone and delivery that need to be considered as well.

It’s definitely a difficult part of the process to pin down, but my first suggestion would be to reflect on how you’re explaining it as opposed to what it is you’re saying.

 

[Bread]

For Forsters’ work experience question (Please describe up to three roles, such as paid employment, voluntary work, or positions of responsibility, that you believe are relevant to your application for a training contract. For each, outline your responsibilities, what you learned, and how the experience has helped you develop skills or insights that are applicable to a legal career. Be sure to include the dates for each role. (Approx. 100 words per item) 300 words max), should we answer in prose or in more of a list format? Like should there be a title before each paragraph with the job title and dates as you would have on an allhires/candid work experience entry? there is nowhere else on the form to add work experiences or a cv

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

For Forsters’ work experience question (Please describe up to three roles, such as paid employment, voluntary work, or positions of responsibility, that you believe are relevant to your application for a training contract. For each, outline your responsibilities, what you learned, and how the experience has helped you develop skills or insights that are applicable to a legal career. Be sure to include the dates for each role. (Approx. 100 words per item) 300 words max), should we answer in prose or in more of a list format? Like should there be a title before each paragraph with the job title and dates as you would have on an allhires/candid work experience entry? there is nowhere else on the form to add work experiences or a cv

@Bread I think there’s no set approach here. It could be approached either way. Personally, I prefer prose, as it allowed you to detail the role, outline your responsibilities and takeaways and link it back to a legal career coherently. Whereas, this may be tricky to achieve in list format - it would just feel forced.

Try writing it out in prose, and if you feel like you’re wasting too much words this way (as 100 for each isn’t a lot) then revert back to list format.

Like I said, I don’t think there’s a set approach here - you just need to figure out which way best works for you.

 

[Bread]

@Bread I think there’s no set approach here. It could be approached either way. Personally, I prefer prose, as it allowed you to detail the role, outline your responsibilities and takeaways and link it back to a legal career coherently. Whereas, this may be tricky to achieve in list format - it would just feel forced.

Try writing it out in prose, and if you feel like you’re wasting too much words this way (as 100 for each isn’t a lot) then revert back to list format.

Like I said, I don’t think there’s a set approach here - you just need to figure out which way best works for you.

Thank you. I guess what I mean by "list format" is having a title before each entry saying the job title and dates, then have the description in prose. Would this be preferable, or should the answer read as more of an essay?

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Thank you. I guess what I mean by "list format" is having a title before each entry saying the job title and dates, then have the description in prose. Would this be preferable, or should the answer read as more of an essay?

@Bread I think for the purpose of the dates, it would be useful to include a heading of the position and dates before each paragraph.

 

[Bree]

do all EC teams continue with regular working hours today?

 

[James Wakefield]

do all EC teams continue with regular working hours today?

It’s a working day but one many people book-off as leave.

I’d suspect some grad rec will be working, but not all.

 

[legal18]

How do I use the 50% off my first application review as a premium member?

@Afraz Akhtar do you know anything about this? thank you

 

[safari3]

So at the webinar they said 1 page ideally, 2 pages max. So in theory they did say that it should be fine. But others have told me to try to keep it to a page - and I’m super paranoid so. If I’m unable to cut it down I will just send it off how it is, mine is currently 1.5 too!

@TS.Law​

 

[Diana54]

Kirkland VI!

 

[meredithgrey]

Is Milbank 1st test timed? I have requested extra time but this hasn't been confirmed and today is the last day to do it so not sure whether to email or not