TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[hanz123]

Should I be concerned that people have received VIs for AG? I completed the critical thinking test the day before the deadline - has anyone heard post-test (for Manchester) who also submitted close to the deadline?

same here haven't heard anything post critical thinking test for another office, was thinking of sending an email for an update

 

[hey1238390u]

Hi everyone 😊

I’ve got a Burges Salmon assessment centre in Bristol coming up soon and I’m honestly SO nervous 😭😭

If anyone has done it before (or has any tips), I’d really appreciate any advice on how to prepare and what to focus on.

From what I’ve been told it includes:

• scenario discussion
• group exercise
• written exercise
• interview with a lawyer

I’m not sure what answers / examples I should be prepping in advance (like what competencies they usually test, what interview questions tend to come up, how detailed commercial awareness needs to be etc).

If anyone could share:
✅ what the tasks were like
✅ what you wish you’d done beforehand
✅ how to stand out in the group exercise without being annoying 😭
✅ how to approach the written task
✅ common interview questions / best prep

I’d be so grateful!! Thank you 🙏🤍

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Yeah but people are still allowed to be worried about converting any AC they get, whether that’s 1 or 6. When you think about the amount of time and effort it takes just to get an AC in the first place, it’s completely understandable. It’s that feeling of not wanting all the sacrifices you’ve made to go to waste and really wanting to do well for yourself.

There’s also the added pressure of not knowing whether you’ll convert the 1 VS you already have so feel the need to do well on other ACs to make the TC conversion chances somewhat stronger.

I can only speak for myself but I’m alr bricking it and I’ve only gotten 2 ACs so far. This process is intimidating and I don’t rly believe those feelings of anxiety or nervousness disappear post 1 AC.

People work extremely hard to get through these app processes and as this person wrote, it’s about not wanting all those sacrifices to go to waste and wanting the best outcomes.

Best of luck to everyone who’s got interviews or ACs coming up soon! I hope over the next weeks and months we’re all able to post about our VSs and TCs as a result of our hard work this cycle!

 

[user55998384]

anyone doing acs for latham spring do you know when acs are due to finish - i still havent heard back and dont want to get hopes up since ac invites seem to be a few weeks in advnace

 

[lawconvert]

As firms often recruit 2yrs in advance (eg 2026 vac scheme with view to start TC in 2028) what activities are recommended for final year/conversion students to do in that time? This would likely mean sitting SQE1 and 2 in 2026/27 but what about the other “gap year” of 2027/28. Is it frowned upon to look for non-legal work, or entry level roles at other firms? Sorry if a weird question, I know some people travel but money is tight so I’d need to work in that spare year

 

[wrpark]

Hey guys possibly stupid question, in online applications asking "were you educated in the UK?" I usually answered no because I did secondary school outside the UK even though I'm in a UK university and then provided details with my secondary school's grading system. Is this question asking about secondary education or undergrad? I'm worried I potentially misunderstood the question.

 

[Bread]

Hey guys possibly stupid question, in online applications asking "were you educated in the UK?" I usually answered no because I did secondary school outside the UK even though I'm in a UK university and then provided details with my secondary school's grading system. Is this question asking about secondary education or undergrad? I'm worried I potentially misunderstood the question.

It depends where it is in the application form

 

[qwerty!]

Anyone heard back for the BBC solicitor apprenticeship?

nope! it’s been so long since i did the VI too (just before xmas)

 

[hmevey]

does anyone have any insight on the dac beachcroft video interview?

 

[Applicant7874652]

This is like my biggest fear ngl cos imagine you’d put in all the work to get the VS and then the firm tells you to kick rocks cos Barry123 was a stronger candidate (no hate to Barry123 btw).​

I describe it to friends like watching your sports team lose a final, that's the feeling I got

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

I describe it to friends like watching your sports team lose a final, that's the feeling I got

This brings flashbacks of England vs Italy for the 2020 EUROs final and England vs Spain for 2024 EUROs final (they fkd it up both times at that final hurdle smdh). The scenes on campus for the 2024 one was like this every 3 mins:

 

[Applicant7874652]

This brings flashbacks of England vs Italy for the 2020 EUROs final and England vs Spain for 2024 EUROs final (they fkd it up both times at that final hurdle smdh). The scenes on campus for the 2024 one was like this every 3 mins:

Facts lol, England will win the World Cup this year dw

 

[Saul_specter]

anyone know success rate for HSF AC to Vac scheme?

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

anyone know success rate for HSF AC to Vac scheme?

This might not be super accurate but at their open day earlier in this cycle grad rec had said they’d received around 5,000 apps last year and invited the top 10% so around 500 to AC. From those the firm invited around 100-130 to do a VS and made around 60 TC offers. So I imagine that it’s 1 in every 4 or 5 people convert AC to VS. I don’t know the exact numbers this is just what I’ve got from one of their more recent open days.​

 

[Afraz Akhtar]

Hi everyone, today was my last day at TCLA and I’m now getting ready to begin my TC in March. I really enjoyed my time here, and just wanted to say thanks to each and every one of you that made me feel welcome! I know the journey is long, gruelling, often crippled with self-doubt but just know that you will eventually come out on the other side, and you’ll look back and feel very proud of what you accomplished. Wishing you all the best…

@Abbie Whitlock and @Andrei Radu will be around to answer your questions, and @Jaysen will still be keeping an eye on you all (so, in the words of Shakira, no fighting).

 

[yasmars]

Seems like OC has handed out London ACs

 

[Harvey Specter - Presiding Partner]

Hi everyone, today was my last day at TCLA and I’m now getting ready to begin my TC in March. I really enjoyed my time here, and just wanted to say thanks to each and every one of you that made me feel welcome! I know the journey is long, gruelling, often crippled with self-doubt but just know that you will eventually come out on the other side, and you’ll look back and feel very proud of what you accomplished. Wishing you all the best…

@Abbie Whitlock and @Andrei Radu will be around to answer your questions, and @Jaysen will still be keeping an eye on you all (so, in the words of Shakira, no fighting).

Thank you for all your contributions on the forum these past few weeks! Best of luck with your TC at Travers I’m sure you’re gna smash it out the park lad! Future partner in the making! 🤩​

 

[radssss]

Seems like OC has handed out London ACs

Really? I thought everyone who got an invite was Bristol?

 

[elle woods]

Hi everyone, today was my last day at TCLA and I’m now getting ready to begin my TC in March. I really enjoyed my time here, and just wanted to say thanks to each and every one of you that made me feel welcome! I know the journey is long, gruelling, often crippled with self-doubt but just know that you will eventually come out on the other side, and you’ll look back and feel very proud of what you accomplished. Wishing you all the best…

@Abbie Whitlock and @Andrei Radu will be around to answer your questions, and @Jaysen will still be keeping an eye on you all (so, in the words of Shakira, no fighting).

Thanks for all your hard work Afraz! Best of luck with your TC and do come back to say hi once in a while maybe 🫶

 

[I’m a celebrity get me out of here - VS/TC edn]

Yeah but people are still allowed to be worried about converting any AC they get, whether that’s 1 or 6. When you think about the amount of time and effort it takes just to get an AC in the first place, it’s completely understandable. It’s that feeling of not wanting all the sacrifices you’ve made to go to waste and really wanting to do well for yourself.

🥹 haha thank you for conveying what I was too scared to say - didn't want to come across as ungrateful (I am really grateful, but also just super anxious now)

There’s also the added pressure of not knowing whether you’ll convert the 1 VS you already have so feel the need to do well on other ACs to make the TC conversion chances somewhat stronger.

I can only speak for myself but I’m alr bricking it and I’ve only gotten 2 ACs so far. This process is intimidating and I don’t rly believe those feelings of anxiety or nervousness disappear post 1 AC.

People work extremely hard to get through these app processes and as this person wrote, it’s about not wanting all those sacrifices to go to waste and wanting the best outcomes.

Best of luck to everyone who’s got interviews or ACs coming up soon! I hope over the next weeks and months we’re all able to post about our VSs and TCs as a result of our hard work this cycle!

I get all your points but It just felt a little tone deaf saying I really want another VS or I need another VS. Having an AC is an amazing achievement many on the forum have yet to experience. I get your nervous and I wish you all the best in converting but it’s also good to look at it from the other side. Which others have pointed out.

Coming on here and seeing “guys I need another VS” when some have got 5 rejection in the space of 3 days😬😬 or complaining about rejections when you have multiple ACs alongside it so the worry is far less than someone with no ACs and constant rejections. Some are looking towards the next cycle already whereas other are looking at prep for the AC’s they’ve secured or VS they have coming up. That’s not to say I’m not liking all of your AC posts and cheering you all on which I definitely am!!

It’s important to be mindful 🧘 but also celebrate those wins! @elle woods hope you smash your AC

I hope this message doesn’t get me blocked by admin 😭