TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BobThebIlly]

😂 one time I contemplated whether I should carry my laptop out to the fields so I could just do it in 10 mins and head back

but then I realised I wouldn't have good enough wifi...

last year, I did SH's VS SJT and VI in the lake district in the middle of my hike. I didn't get it, but i gen recommend doing a VI in a field for funsies bc it was probabaly the least stressful VI i've done lmao

 

[HarveySpecta123]

Has anybody heard from DLA Manchester?

 

[Bread]

Do you think it would disadvantage an applicant to have business and work experience within the political ecosystem itself? I have worked for MPs and have a political consultancy, although I'm very careful about the way I frame these (Strictly parliamentary procedure/constituency work and the business/legal admin involved in running a business)... I hope it's not seen as an automatic rejection to have worked with politicians?

Don’t be ridiculous 😂😂

 

[elle woods]

last year, I did SH's VS SJT and VI in the lake district in the middle of my hike. I didn't get it, but i gen recommend doing a VI in a field for funsies bc it was probabaly the least stressful VI i've done lmao

bahaha i think i might give it a go one day then

the fields around here are really peaceful...apart from the occasional cow LMAO

do you think having a cow look over your shoulder at the questions counts as violating the terms and conditions of the exercise?

 

[alphabravocharlie]

Don’t be ridiculous 😂😂

unless its reform uk.....

 

[TheSaulGoodman]

Do you think it would disadvantage an applicant to have business and work experience within the political ecosystem itself? I have worked for MPs and have a political consultancy, although I'm very careful about the way I frame these (Strictly parliamentary procedure/constituency work and the business/legal admin involved in running a business)... I hope it's not seen as an automatic rejection to have worked with politicians?

Definitely not! Sorry to alarm I was referring to American politics specifically

 

[kukubird]

Cleary WG invite, also did Goodwin VI today I have no idea how to feel about it 😥

 

[BobThebIlly]

Cleary WG invite, also did Goodwin VI today I have no idea how to feel about it 😥

just about to sit goodwin i've been procrastinating til the very last second

 

[Saul_specter]

God this empty inbox is killing me

 

[corporatebaddie1506]

Hi everyone!

I have applied to Hill Dickinson LLP (Manchester office), and completed the online assessment (Amberjack & recorded interview) on the 5th of January.

Does anyone have any idea of when roughly to expect any information regarding the Assessment Centre? Or the average time I can expect to hear back from them regarding this, as I know they recruit on a rolling basis 🧐

Many thanks in advance!

 

[kukubird]

just about to sit goodwin i've been procrastinating til the very last second

wishing you all the best!

 

[Harvey Specter]

My understanding from my WE (at US firm) is that political talk is pretty much banned among staff at US firms - for me personally I wouldn't bring it up in an interview

Cooley must be gangsta then cos at the open day the partners and associates were firing shots at the administration at every opportunity they could find. They brought up representing Jenner & Block in fighting against their executive order and how they are still standing for DEI as a firm unlike others firms (names were mentioned as well lmfao). 😭

 

[Miles Edgeworth]

Just did my goodwin VI and I hope it went well??? I feel like it was good (Basically guessed 3/4 of the questions so if I don't make it then rip)

 

[Novaa]

Cooley must be gangsta then cos at the open day the partners and associates were firing shots at the administration at every opportunity they could find and made the point about representing Jenner & Block in fighting against the executive order and how they are still standing for DEI as a firm unlike others firms (names were mentioned as well haha).

Wait but I love when Firms throw shade at eachother! I be sat in the corner writing my notes like 🤭

 

[Eeeeeeeek]

Has anyone heard anything from hsfk for summer Vs? Passed benchmark for test in early Nov.

 

[Laurel Lance - Black Canary]

Cooley must be gangsta then cos at the open day the partners and associates were firing shots at the administration at every opportunity they could find. They brought up representing Jenner & Block in fighting against their executive order and how they are still standing for DEI as a firm unlike others firms (names were mentioned as well lmfao). 😭

Not gangsta, but democrats! Cooley and Jenner are west coast based just like Perkins Coie, so they are literally against Trump.Only Ashurst and TW, the UK Law firms that merge with another donkey - Midwest (Winston & Strawn).

Yankee and Yeehaw law firms are likely republican, so it's better not to talk about em on app and interview. A&O, HSF, and Hogan merge with em sadly...

 

[lividowl03]

Am I tweaking or are Reed Smith reviewing applications not based on when theyre submitted (maybe alphabetically??)

Seen people who applied on deadline get progressed/rejected, and subsequently people that applied before the deadline get progressed/rejected. Super confused on their approach to reviewing…

I attended one of the application webinars they hosted and somebody asked something similar. Rik Palmer, one of the grad rec team bascially described it as they categorise people at each stage of the process. He didn't go into too much detail but essentially something like Exceptional, Very Good, Good, Average, Poor. etc.

E.g like this. Person A applied in September, Person B applied in November. Person A had a 'Good' written application' so they're put on hold for a bit. Person B has an 'Exceptional' so even though they applied two months later, they're progressed to test + VI straight away. But now Person B had a 'Poor' SJT + VI performance, so they are rejected/put on hold, and they'll now go back to Person A and progress them through etc.

He specifically mentioned plenty of people categorised lower at application stage, make it through the whole process and secure places on the scheme, because they perform well on the other components. It's generally a matter of waiting until higher scoring people progress/fail. Hence why some people have vac scheme offers, and some people have been waiting for months. Not a great feeling of course, but does not = PFO at all.