TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[BealMcAlly]

Why do some firms take on so many vacation scheme candidates but only take on less than 50% of scheme candidates?

It's almost like you're so close but not quite there.

I personally think of a VS as part of the recruitment process and also a trial for you to see if X firm is the right fit for me. Otherwise, you won't really know what the firm is like aside from going to open days and engaging with them.

This might be a dumb question but do you guys mention open days and insight evenings in the work experience section?? I was just attending an event and grad rec advised against doing that which seems a bit weird.

I was at this event and I think they meant they want to only see volunteering, paid employment and significant roles where you developed tangible skills.

You can use open days and insight days in your motivational questions. If not for this firm, you can just put it in your why commercial law answer?

 

[Indigo71]

Got a PFO twice from DLA Piper. Why so aggressive

DLA hasn’t responded to me post WG since early December. Should I assume pfo?

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

Does anyone know how long Paul, Weiss too to get back to candidates for the winter vacation scheme?

 

[Afuturetrainee]

any insights on latham AC would be greatly appreciated this is my first AC ever so i'm really scared

Latham are giving out ACs 😮😮??

Wow congrats girl 🫡🫡🥰

 

[msclm]

Does anyone know how long Paul, Weiss too to get back to candidates for the winter vacation scheme?

I applied on the deadline and got an interview for the third week of October!

 

[Afuturetrainee]

Sorry has anyone heard back post App&SJT from White & Case Summer?

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

I applied on the deadline and got an interview for the third week of October!

Oh amazing, that's so helpful - thank you so much. And congratulations on getting an interview!!

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

Just did the Mills & Reeve SJT and VI. It was an amberjack so thought they would be looking at Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force. Got the feedback report and realised they have their own 5 categories that they were testing. I was so focused on trying to score highly on the Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force that I scored poorly of their specific criteria 🥴 The feedback report doesn't measure in numbers as I expected. They provide a written summary of how you did on their criteria and based on the feedback, I didnt do well in any of the main ones apart from analysis and problem solving. I also scored high on numerical and verbal intellect. Considering I didn't do great in many of their criteria (Client focus and collaboration!!) I'm anticipating a PFO. Or who knows, maybe the VI will be so great that they let me pass...Sorry for the long paragraph but useful heads up for anyone planning on doing it.

 

[jamieclarke]

Just did the Mills & Reeve SJT and VI. It was an amberjack so thought they would be looking at Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force. Got the feedback report and realised they have their own 5 categories that they were testing. I was so focused on trying to score highly on the Grit, Applied Intellect, Digital Mindset, Creative Force that I scored poorly of their specific criteria 🥴 The feedback report doesn't measure in numbers as I expected. They provide a written summary of how you did on their criteria and based on the feedback, I didnt do well in any of the main ones apart from analysis and problem solving. I also scored high on numerical and verbal intellect. Considering I didn't do great in many of their criteria (Client focus and collaboration!!) I'm anticipating a PFO. Or who knows, maybe the VI will be so great that they let me pass...Sorry for the long paragraph but useful heads up for anyone planning on doing it.

I got to AC few years back with:

Collaboration - missed opportunities to demonstrate
Growth mindset - demonstrated exceptional capability
Getting things done - demonstrated natural talent
Resilience - room for improvement
Client focussed - exceptional capability
Commercial mindset - further development
Analysis - could improve

3/3 for verbal, 2/3 for maths

 

[Gottagetthroughthis101]

I got to AC few years back with:

Collaboration - missed opportunities to demonstrate
Growth mindset - demonstrated exceptional capability
Getting things done - demonstrated natural talent
Resilience - room for improvement
Client focussed - exceptional capability
Commercial mindset - further development
Analysis - could improve

3/3 for verbal, 2/3 for maths

Thank you for sharing! I only scored excellent in one so I need to be realistic 🤣

 

[Ijustwanttobealawyer]

Does anyone know a circumstance where they were offered a summer vacation scheme and were able to move it to a spring one instead? I know of the other way round but I haven't heard of this way being done

 

[stilltrying]

anyone know what time sidley closes dont want to make the mitake of missing the deadline when ive spent soo long on it 😂

 

[msclm]

anyone know what time sidley closes dont want to make the mitake of missing the deadline when ive spent soo long on it 😂

Winter closed at 5pm I believe (but pls double check)

 

[radssss]

anyone know what time sidley closes dont want to make the mitake of missing the deadline when ive spent soo long on it 😂

I would finish it before 5pm.

 

[BobThebIlly]

Winter closed at 5pm I believe (but pls double check)

Do uk when spring closes?? Pls say its 11:59 tmr

 

[sunnysan]

WFW VI! Finally starting to regularly pass the application stage !

Hi do you have any insight for the VI?

 

[ladyhaleinthehouse]

has anyone had a PFO from Bakers?

 

[ilikelaw]

quick question, after you submit white and case app do you get sent an sjt? is it just the test? haven’t submitted yet but just wanted to be prepared

 

[Partcore22]

Fieldfisher Vac Scheme (Pathways to Practice) AC. Would appreciate any advice.

did u do the telephone interview?

 

[xMontmorency]

I’m not sure on the situation with all firms but with FF in particular they have an extremely low conversion rate from their vacation schemes (I think around 6 people got a TC last year from both cohorts).

I was told they over hired previously so had less spaces, but my uni had an event with grad rec so I asked them directly. Essentially, the lady laughed because she knew the question was controversial. She said that they tend to give out 6/7 TCs total to vac schemers and didn’t particularly give a reason as to why.

Instantly regretted applying to the vac scheme over a direct TC after that (had just finished stage 2 that same day 😐).

I think grad rec lied to you. They took around 40-50 in 2024, and 60-70 in 2023.

Freshfields overhired in previous years, lots of people deferred their TCs, and then legal AI came along and they predicted they wouldn't need as many trainees. That's why they did the King LLM thingy.

On a side note, I have very negative things to say about Freshfields grad rec. But I'm gonna hold myself back.