TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

[Novaa]

I know this is not helpful at all, but I applied to them last cycle and they ghosted me post-VI. No PFO or any sort of update

Sorry they did what.. Is this an isolated thing or common?

 

[abc124]

I know this is not helpful at all, but I applied to them last cycle and they ghosted me post-VI. No PFO or any sort of update

Sorry this is quite specific but do you happen to remember if they also mentioned a deadline by which they'd get back to people?

 

[Dogecoin GC]

Can we assume Willkie rejections now?

If so, why is this the case?

 

[Kenomy]

View attachment 7903
That's for you Osborne Clarke.

God I hate that. Gives you just that tiny irrational hope

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Morgan Lewis PFO

 

[Jessica Pearson - Managing Partner]

Guys I'm spiraling a little. Back from an AC and all I can think about are the things I didn't mention. I feel sick

 

[Novaa]

Guys I'm spiraling a little. Back from an AC and all I can think about are the things I didn't mention. I feel sick

If your commercial awareness thread tells me anything, it is that you know what you’re talking about!!

So I trust that you smashed it, and I believe the offer is coming for you!! Take some time for yourself this evening!!

 

[LawAspirer]

Anything from Orrick?

 

[M_m]

Sorry this is quite specific but do you happen to remember if they also mentioned a deadline by which they'd get back

No, they didn’t give a date for post-VI communication last year. I only realised it was a PFO because others on the forum had gotten AC invites.

 

[Bread]

ugh Mishcon is / was my dream firm, but this recruitment cycle has really put me off. They’re almost a week overdue communicating with the rest of us Spring applicants and whilst it’s likely a PFO, I wish they’d just let us know. So disappointing to be let down like this

Mishcon’s recruitment this year is the laziest I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something

 

[johnsmith]

Guys I'm spiraling a little. Back from an AC and all I can think about are the things I didn't mention. I feel sick

If it’s the one I think it was then it was a tough AC, particularly for a 1st one so cut yourself some slack

 

[Bread]

Answered you earlier but ok.

They have a new approach this year where they leave you waiting even though they could just reject people. Sees to be in fashion this year.

They have a ranked list of people highest to lowest on their WE performance. They’re doing down that list and inviting. If you’re at the bottom they won’t tell you, they will leave you waiting and having false hope until 5:30 tomorrow.

They invite 55-60 to interview but won’t say how many made WE. All ambiguous tbh. We were told it’ll be the same as last year when Gemma did it but it’s actually been anything but the same.

They’ll send a mass rejection tomorrow evening. They will invite a small amount of people in the morning though. They also don’t have may interview slots left so I reckon maybe less than 6 will get an invite tomorrow (source: from 3 people who got an interview and told me the slot options left)

Also NO feedback post WE. Insanity is you ask me.

I don’t mean to brown nose recruitment but Willkie has been unbelievably communicative

While I think it’s weird that they have some people whom they haven’t progressed from the app stage, you really can’t lump them in with firms who’ve seemingly progressed people randomly and have had no contact with candidates. For instance, writing on TCLA how many interview slots there are is so informative, most firms disclose absolutely no figures

 

[futuretrainee10123]

Are we expecting Forsters response this week?

No idea. I’ve been so stressed waiting haha.

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

I don’t mean to brown nose recruitment but Willkie has been unbelievably communicative

While I think it’s weird that they have some people whom they haven’t progressed from the app stage, you really can’t lump them in with firms who’ve seemingly progressed people randomly and have had no contact with candidates. For instance, writing on TCLA how many interview slots there are is so informative, most firms disclose absolutely no figures

I completely agree. I understand the frustration of waiting when you feel like it's going to be a pfo, but Willkie have arguably been the most transparent out of any firm this cycle. The fact that their graduate recruitment is willing to take the time out their day to answer all of our questions on the TCLA forum is both laudable and certainly NOT the norm. They let us know that we'd all hear back by Friday, which they will ofc stick to, but the reason they cannot reject everyone else now, is because some people may still be invited to Partner Interview.

Also, I cannot understand why people are annoyed that the process is different this year; it has been improved this year in order to allow for more partner interviews. Previously, when they sent out all invites and PFO's at the same time, it didn't allow for what is happening right now, that being, some people saying no to doing the interview, and that place being passed onto someone else. Previously, that didn't happen!

Finally, out of all firms, they seem to be the most meritocratic with regard to each individual recruitment stage. Everything was marked anonymously, and it was reviewed by TWO separate associates in order to ensure upmost fairness. I'm not sure if some people are aware, but an associate at a top US firm like Willkie can be billed out every hour for eye watering amounts of money. So, the fact that they are willing to forego that revenue in order to allow us to compete in a fair process is again tremendously laudable.

We can all relate to rejections as 90% of the time, that's what we all face, yet, unfairly taking it out on their graduate recruitment just seems wrong, especially when they seem to be trying their hardest for us.

 

[lolololol]

hi does anyone know if you can apply for white and case dtc and vs in the same cycle?

 

[Novaa]

hi does anyone know if you can apply for white and case dtc and vs in the same cycle?

Unfortunately not, they’ve got it in bold at the top of the page on All Hires



(They saw me coming with my chef hat ready to cook )

 

[Myparentsdream]

I don’t mean to brown nose recruitment but Willkie has been unbelievably communicative

While I think it’s weird that they have some people whom they haven’t progressed from the app stage, you really can’t lump them in with firms who’ve seemingly progressed people randomly and have had no contact with candidates. For instance, writing on TCLA how many interview slots there are is so informative, most firms disclose absolutely no figures

Definitely informative no doubt on that part.

 

[Bread]

It’s easy for you to say that as you have an interview though.

You were also consistently asking for updates.

I don’t think the process changed for the better. Especially as they said it wouldn’t change. The last WE was vastly different to this year did you do it? I assume not giving your user name.

Genuinely why are you so salty? It’s a highly selective process, you made it to one of the final stages and might still be offered an interview. Would you rather have received a rejection immediately just because you weren’t offered an interview right off the bat?

 

[1stCycleApplicant]

It’s easy for you to say that as you have an interview though.

You were also consistently asking for updates.

I don’t think the process changed for the better. Especially as they said it wouldn’t change. The last WE was vastly different to this year did you do it? I assume not giving your user name.

Your bitterness and hostile nature won't get you anywhere. If only you could see the irony behind you using "consistently asking for updates" as an insult. The very fact their grad rec responded in such a timely fashion only goes to show how communicative they are. On that point, I must say I did feel some second hand embarrassment when I read your rather unpleasantly written questions towards Kirsty, who is on here trying to help us. There are correct ways of doing things and handling yourself in times of stress; berating a firm and their grad rec certainly falls short of that standard.
I waited an entire month to hear anything after my Milbank ac, while many people who took part on the same day heard back weeks before me. Did I privately rant to my friends and family about being stressed, certainly! But I didn't petulantly and most significantly, publicly attack a firm or its representatives. I hope you can appreciate the stark contrast between being left in the dark post ac with a firm for a month, and receiving clear dates and open communication from Willkie.
If you were ranting about GD or FF about keeping us in the dark, i'd be the first to agree with you. But I'm afraid you're choosing to die on the wrong hill here mate.
Best of luck to you, I really mean that.

 

[pepsicola96]

Some firms INSIST you can reapply even after interviewing, but I am seriously skeptical now. I have improved my profile and applications, yet I still get PFOs or no responses from firms I previously interviewed with.

Am I allowed to not disclose a prior interview? I am changing my last name next month (for unrelated reasons lol), so I am wondering if there’s any way they would find out next cycle.

Also, which firms genuinely wont let you interview again, regardless of whether they disclose that policy (bc I am seriously tired of wasting time and energy on apps for nothing)? I know Jones Day and Travers are two of them.

There's no obligation to disclose that, unless explicitly asked on the application. Many firms unfortunately do have a "have you applied for any role here before question" which you would have to answer truthfully.

I have no list of firms, but I've generally heard UK firms in general seem to be more open to it than US firms? Happy to be corrected as I've not been in the position myself, but that's the idea I've gotten from what i've seen