TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[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

 

[calebnash]

Is milbank first test just a SJT?

 

[Harvey Specter]

Is milbank first test just a SJT?

Timed SJT and two written questions (motivational and commercial awareness). Both 20 mins each.​

 

[BealMcAlly]

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

Not sure how relevant this is but when I did a graphic design course before uni, and the general rule was serif (Times New Roman for example) is for print and sans serif (let's say Arial) is for screens.

The only time you see serif on screen is when it's a stylistic choice and for hierarchy on a webpage.

I would personally try and find what you can edit/make more concise over changing fonts to fit a page.

 

[meredithgrey]

Is White & Case test SJT or WG?

 

[A little silly]

Is it too late to apply to Milbank spring as they seem to be rolling this year ?

Hiya, I submitted mine on 31st, like an hour before the deadline💀 and just got their test invite so incase you ended up applying and are worried, there is hope! Good luck xx

 

[Diana54]

Yes, I submitted the app a few minutes before the deadline

 

[Jaysen]

@Jaysen, we need a flexed bicep emoji to react to posts like this. Or the one with a cat shedding tears of joy.

Will see what we can do

 

[Vakil]

HSFK PFO, spring, benchmark passed 29 Sept.

 

[aria_d]

Hi! @Abbie Whitlock Hope you are doing well! I will be doing the Reed Smith AC in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if you have any general, as well as Reed Smith specific tips? As far as I am aware, it has a case study + motivational interview and proof reading exercise. Please let me know if there will be certain types of documents, or other situation based questions that one can expect in this. Thank you!

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

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

Hi @legal18 this should automatically apply when you enter in your email address for the request. If there are any issues with this, please email [email protected] and a member of the team will be in touch. Thanks!

 

[switchingup]

Update (have consolidated previous updates into quoted message):

• HSF Kramer (Spring VS): applied 1st Dec
  • Received assessment: 1st Dec
  • Took assessment: 5th Dec - scored 'balanced' for technical expertise and 'moderate fit' for the rest lol
    • Report came immediately after completing the assessment
  • Reached benchmark: 8th Dec
  • PFO: 2nd Jan ❌
• Cooley(Summer VS): applied 31st Dec
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan

• Bird & Bird: applied 10th Dec
  • PFO: 22nd Dec ❌
  • Deffo applied too late lol! Will get it in early if I have to apply to firms again next cycle.
• DLA Piper (London): applied 19th Nov
  • Received WG invite: 26th Nov
  • Took WG: 29th Nov - scored 'Strength to leverage' for assumptions and arguments, 'Further exploration' for Critical thinking, and 'Opportunity for development' for conclusions. My worst performance on any WG! Don't take these tests when exhausted. 💀
    • Report came immediately after completing the assessment
  • Received what vaguely resembles a passed benchmark email: 1st Dec
  • Portal updated to (paraphrase) "We're enjoying getting to know you": 4th Dec
  • Portal updated to "Thank you for your interest in DLA Piper. We are fully considering the information provided": 9th Dec
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan
• Linklaters: applied 1st Dec
  • Received assessment: 1st Dec
    • Took assessment: 3rd Dec - scored highest in 'Resilience' and 'Motivation,' lowest in 'Resource and Work Management'
    • Report came one day after completing the assessment
  • Received WG invite: 3rd Dec
  • Application under review email: 4th Dec
  • Second holding email from recruiters: 15th Dec (everyone received this)
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan
• Reed Smith: applied 14th Dec
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan
• Simmons & Simmons: applied 14th Dec (last-minute app, also probs too late 🤪)
  • Received assessment: 14th Dec
  • Took assessment: 15th Dec - scored high verbal/numerical expertise, 8 (Self) / 8 (Commercial) / 4 (People) loool
    • Report came immediately after completing the assessment
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan
• White & Case: applied 21st Dec
  • Probably applied too late, but decided to switch from DTC to VS at the last minute.
  • No further communication as of 2nd Jan
• Willkie: applied 10th Dec
  • PFO 17th Dec ❌

I've also applied to the following firms DTC: CC, CMS, Freshfields, Lewis Silkin, Slaughter and May (pending: Ashurst). Will continue to update these apps in the DTC thread.

Best of luck to everyone 🍀

 

[BobThebIlly]

Just got Milbanks test

 

[EfficientBag123]

Anyone heard from baker mckenzie for the spring vac scheme?

 

[user9809]

Hi! @Abbie Whitlock Hope you are doing well! I will be doing the Reed Smith AC in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if you have any general, as well as Reed Smith specific tips? As far as I am aware, it has a case study + motivational interview and proof reading exercise. Please let me know if there will be certain types of documents, or other situation based questions that one can expect in this. Thank you!

Congratulations! When did you do your VI?

 

[Jessica Pearson]

Hi! @Abbie Whitlock Hope you are doing well! I will be doing the Reed Smith AC in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if you have any general, as well as Reed Smith specific tips? As far as I am aware, it has a case study + motivational interview and proof reading exercise. Please let me know if there will be certain types of documents, or other situation based questions that one can expect in this. Thank you!

Heyy, congrats on your AC! If you don't mind me asking, when did they get the AC invite and when did you do your VI?